Led by Patrick Kane's hat trick and four points, the Chicago Blackhawks scored just enough to hold off a strong comeback effort by the Boston Bruins at United Center on Sunday.
The Blackhawks won 6-4 to give coach Joel Quenneville his 800th career NHL win, despite the Bruins scoring four straight goals between the end of the second period and first 10 minutes of the third. Boston got goals from David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron 11 seconds apart in the final 15 seconds of the second, before Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored in the third to add some drama to the finish. Quenneville is the second coach to win 800 games, joining Scotty Bowman (1,244).
Kane scored a goal in the first, two in the second and assisted on rookie left wing Artemi Panarin's goal in the second to reach 100 points. It's the first time Kane has gotten to 100 points in nine NHL seasons, and he's the first Blackhawks player to reach triple-digit scoring since Jeremy Roenick in 1993-94. Kane is the first American player to reach 100 points since Doug Weight in 1995-96. Kane's hat trick was his second this season and second regular-season hat trick of his NHL career. He and Panarin, who also had four points on a goal and three assists, were too much for the Bruins to handle.
Kane scored off feeds by Panarin and center Artem Anisimov, and beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on a breakaway that he created by intercepting a pass. Panarin scored off a feed from Kane and assisted on two of Kane's goals, plus one by Anisimov to open the scoring at 13:14 of the first on a power play.
Panarin increased his lead among rookies in goals (28), assists (44) and points (72). It was his second straight four-point game; he had two goals and two assists in the Blackhawks' 5-4 overtime win at the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
Panarin had one goal and five points in 12 games prior to the victory against the Jets. His line, which includes Anisimov and Kane, had gone quiet.
What sparked the hot stretch?
The Blackhawks, who've struggled offensively the past month, woke up early against the Bruins. Chicago got goals from Anisimov and Kane in the first, and outshot the Bruins 19-8. Kane scored twice in the second, and the Blackhawks got goals from captain Jonathan Toews and Panarin as well. It was ultimately too deep of a hole for the Bruins, despite their comeback effort.
Boston has three games left and is one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are also one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Scott Darling started his ninth straight game for the Blackhawks and made 42 saves. Brent Seabrook had two assists for Chicago, which split the season series with Boston after losing 4-2 at TD Garden on Mar. 3. Chicago played a second of six games without suspended defenseman Duncan Keith, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, and lost Marian Hossa in the third period. Hossa limped off the ice after a collision in the neutral zone and didn't return.
Prior to the game, the Blackhawks and Bruins honored linesman Andy McElman with a ceremony to commemorate his retirement. McElman, who's from the Chicago area, finished his NHL officiating career by working his 1,500th game. Kane finished with four points, has 43 goals and leads the NHL in scoring with 100 points. "
Hawks Quotes
Patrick Kane: "You're feeling good up 6-0 and you give them those two goals with 15 seconds left in the period. It's not the ideal way to finish the second, especially knowing they're going to come hard and try and press [in the third], which they did. They got a couple more, but obviously we did a great job of starting to give ourselves a little bit of a cushion and hang on for the [win].""It's special. That's kind of a mark you always dream of hitting, and for it to happen this year in front of the home crowd with a few games left is pretty special."
Joel Quenneville: "This one was a little crazier than we envisioned at one point, but certainly I've been fortunate to be with good teams, none better than the one I'm with right here. Been a fun situation, fun working in Chicago and great group of guys."
"[Hossa] seemed to be OK [after the game]. We'll know more [Monday], but we don't think it's much. Hopefully he'll be fine and ready to go on Tuesday [against the Coyotes]. We'll know more [Monday]."
Artemi Panarin: "Kane woke up. And we started playing [better] together." Panarin said through an interpreter.
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