Hawks @ Edmonton Oilers 5-1 - Saturday, February 11, 2017
Richard Panik had two goals and an assist, and Scott Darling made 30 saves for the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. The Blackhawks won the final five of a six-game road trip before beginning their five-day break. Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Trevor van Riemsdyk and Artem Anisimov scored for the Blackhawks (35-17-5).
Patrick Maroon scored for the Oilers (29-19-8), and Cam Talbot allowed four goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Laurent Brossoit for the third period. Brossoit gave up one goal on five shots. The game was Edmonton's first after its five-day break. Maroon scored at 4:01 of the first period to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead, converting a pass in front of the net from Connor McDavid, who stripped defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson of the puck deep in the Blackhawks zone.
Panik tied the game 1-1 at 5:49, one-timing a shot from the blue line past Talbot. Kane gave Chicago a 2-1 lead on the power play midway through the period. In the second period, van Riemsdyk capitalized on a turnover by defenseman Oscar Klefbom to make it 3-1. Panik put the Blackhawks up 4-1 at 18:26 on the power play, collecting a rebound in front of the net and lifting it over Talbot. Anisimov scored his 20th goal at 15:49 of the third period to give Chicago a 5-1 lead, fighting off a check in front to tap in a pass from Kane.
* Kane banked a shot in off Talbot from behind the net at 9:54 of the first period.
Panik tied the game 1-1 at 5:49, one-timing a shot from the blue line past Talbot. Kane gave Chicago a 2-1 lead on the power play midway through the period. In the second period, van Riemsdyk capitalized on a turnover by defenseman Oscar Klefbom to make it 3-1. Panik put the Blackhawks up 4-1 at 18:26 on the power play, collecting a rebound in front of the net and lifting it over Talbot. Anisimov scored his 20th goal at 15:49 of the third period to give Chicago a 5-1 lead, fighting off a check in front to tap in a pass from Kane.
* Kane banked a shot in off Talbot from behind the net at 9:54 of the first period.
* Talbot slid across his crease to stop a one-time shot from Kane at 6:55 of the second period.
* Defenseman Duncan Keith played a Blackhawks-high 23:15, mostly against McDavid, and helped limit the leading scorer in the NHL to one assist.
* Van Riemsdyk intercepted an errant pass in the Oilers zone and scored to give the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead at 8:37 of the second period.
* Maroon ended a 10-game scoring drought. … Kane scored his 270th NHL career goal to tie Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr. … Edmonton has two regulation goals in its past four games.
"When you don't get to play a lot, every game is so important for you to contribute to the team. You only have one shot, maybe two a month to show the boys you're pulling your weight, so it feels extra good to get a win." Scott Darling
"I liked our trip, it was very positive even in the first game in San Jose (3-1 loss on Jan. 31). I thought we did a lot of good things with consistency. That's probably the best four-line rotation we've had in any stretch all year long."
"We're definitely improving our team game. It's tough to win five games in a row on the road." Joel Quenneville said.
"I think now each line, we have four lines that can score, and they're playing the best hockey right now. We have a few days off now and we have to use them to our advantage and be ready when we come back." Panik said.
"We're definitely improving our team game. It's tough to win five games in a row on the road." Joel Quenneville said.
"I think now each line, we have four lines that can score, and they're playing the best hockey right now. We have a few days off now and we have to use them to our advantage and be ready when we come back." Panik said.
Edmonton Oilers @ Hawks 3-1 - Saturday, February 18, 2017
Cam Talbot made 38 saves for the Edmonton Oilers in a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Matt Benning, Milan Lucic and Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers (32-19-8), who extended their winning streak to three games. Richard Panik scored and Corey Crawford made 19 saves for the Blackhawks (35-18-5) in their first game after a five-day break. The loss ended Chicago's five-game winning streak. The Blackhawks outshot the Oilers 12-4 in a 0-0 first period. Artemi Panarin had the best chance of the period, hitting the goal post with 18 seconds left. Benning gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 5:02 of the second period on the power play on a fortunate bounce in front of the Chicago net. Benning collected a loose puck in the corner and threw it in front where it hit the skate of Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and bounced in past Crawford. Lucic put Edmonton up 2-0 at 9:50 of the third period, outmuscling Blackhawks defenseman Michal Kempny for the puck, then shooting it through the pads of Crawford. Panik scored at 15:13 to make it 2-1.
McDavid scored into an empty net with 27 seconds left with Crawford pulled for an extra skater. The goal was McDavid's 20th of the season.
* Panik took a pass in front of the net from Jonathan Toews out of the corner, waited out Talbot and shot the puck over the sprawled goaltender.
* Lucic fought off Kempny for the puck in the Blackhawks zone, went in and scored the winning goal.
* Toews had an assist to give him 600 NHL points (262 goals, 338 assists). … McDavid has a goal and three assists in three games against the Blackhawks. Edmonton has more wins with 23 games left to play this season than it had all last season.
"I thought the shot selection around the net wasn't great, whether it wasn't the feel of it or didn't sense the timing of it, anticipating the puck where it was. We missed a lot of opportunities that could've been high-quality chances that didn't even get developed and we did have some good chances."
"I didn't mind how we played, excellent first period and nothing to show for it. At the same time, they get a fortunate break off our skate and then they were alright in the third. We still generated enough throughout the game, didn't give up much. We'd probably be happy with that effort, that game most nights, and generally, would come out with something better than a loss." Joel Quenneville said.
"[Talbot] played a good game. I think we probably could've gotten some shots up, shoot a little more and had some chances. He kind of sprawls a little bit and I think we just need to get pucks up a little more and we would've had a couple more goals." Ryan Hartman said.
"I can't speak for the other teams that came off it, but I think we worked pretty hard today. We had a lot of chances, we just couldn't find the back of the net. We feel if we had a little bit more puck luck around the net, that game could have had a different outcome." Jonathan Toews
* Panik took a pass in front of the net from Jonathan Toews out of the corner, waited out Talbot and shot the puck over the sprawled goaltender.
* Crawford slid across his net and made a pad save on McDavid 58 seconds into the third period.
* Artem Anisimov hustled back to strip Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the puck on a shorthanded breakaway with 2:54 left in the first period.
* Toews had an assist to give him 600 NHL points (262 goals, 338 assists). … McDavid has a goal and three assists in three games against the Blackhawks. Edmonton has more wins with 23 games left to play this season than it had all last season.
"I didn't mind how we played, excellent first period and nothing to show for it. At the same time, they get a fortunate break off our skate and then they were alright in the third. We still generated enough throughout the game, didn't give up much. We'd probably be happy with that effort, that game most nights, and generally, would come out with something better than a loss." Joel Quenneville said.
"[Talbot] played a good game. I think we probably could've gotten some shots up, shoot a little more and had some chances. He kind of sprawls a little bit and I think we just need to get pucks up a little more and we would've had a couple more goals." Ryan Hartman said.
"I can't speak for the other teams that came off it, but I think we worked pretty hard today. We had a lot of chances, we just couldn't find the back of the net. We feel if we had a little bit more puck luck around the net, that game could have had a different outcome." Jonathan Toews
Hawks @ Buffalo Sabres 5-1 - Sunday, February 19, 2017
Scott Darling made 25 saves, and Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to their sixth straight road win, 5-1 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Kane set up Artem Anisimov's 21st goal of the season 3:29 into the third period to give the Blackhawks a 4-1 lead before scoring his 20th at 6:36. Kane is the first United States-born player in NHL history to score 20 or more goals in each of his first 10 seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Blackhawks (36-18-5) have won six of their past seven games. The Sabres (26-24-10) had their three-game winning streak end.
Marian Hossa gave Chicago a 2-1 lead 9:40 into the second period. After a pass from Marcus Kruger, Hossa skated in from the half-board and took a shot that beat Robin Lehner between the legs for his 21st goal. Kruger's assist was his 100th NHL point. Jonathan Toews made it 3-1 at 15:26 when he put his own rebound past Lehner for his 12th goal. Toews has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the past 11 games. Ryan Hartman gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 13:34 of the first period. Hartman received a pass from Tanner Kero and took a shot that beat Lehner over his shoulder for his 14th goal. Lehner had 32 saves.
Evander Kane made it 1-1 with his 21st goal of the season. Kane shot over Darling's shoulder after a backhand pass from behind the net by Jack Eichel with six seconds left in the first period.
* Hartman's goal was a hard shot that hit off the center bar inside the net.
"That's what you like to see. We had real good consistency. I thought that we progressed. [We] had a decent start, slowed down, had an ordinary start to the second, but after that last half we played extremely well and all the lines were doing the right things."
"He keeps getting better. Coming off an MVP season, he just seems like he can elevate his game with his strength, his quickness, the play-making, and him wanting the puck. He's got a nice thing going with [Artemi Panarin] and that line has been outstanding over the last year and change. You can only say great things about him because he's so special." Joel Quenneville said.
"That's huge for our team. That seems to be when we're playing our best when we have that four-line rotation as we like to call it and every line's producing. It's huge for our team game. It's huge even for all the players as far as taking pressure off and not worrying about certain matchups and different things like that. I think we've been a team in the past where if we can get a lead, we can shut them down in the third and kind of build off some opportunities if they're trying to create too much."
"It's always fun to score in Buffalo. I think sometimes, even in the first period or second period, you're thinking about maybe entertaining everyone that's here and you just kind of settle in and just play hockey. That seems to be when things happen the most. That was nice to get that one for sure." Patrick Kane said.
"I think that's one of my better ones. We had a good screen in front. I haven't even seen the replay, but I don't think [Lehner] even saw it. I think he reacted to the sound of it hitting behind him." Hartman said.
Hawks @ Minnesota Wild - Saturday, February 21, 2017Evander Kane made it 1-1 with his 21st goal of the season. Kane shot over Darling's shoulder after a backhand pass from behind the net by Jack Eichel with six seconds left in the first period.
* Hartman's goal was a hard shot that hit off the center bar inside the net.
* Darling made a point-blank save on Nicholas Baptiste at the end of a Sabres power play at 9:32 of the first period.
* Kane's goal tied him with Denis Savard for fourth in Blackhawks history for the most 20-goal seasons.
* Niklas Hjalmarsson led the Blackhawks in shorthanded ice time (4:54) and had five blocked shots. The Sabres went 0-for-4 on the power play.
* The Blackhawks have won 11 consecutive games against the Sabres (9-0-2) dating to Oct. 11, 2010. … Eichel has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in the past 18 games. … Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen extended his assist streak to five games.
"That's what you like to see. We had real good consistency. I thought that we progressed. [We] had a decent start, slowed down, had an ordinary start to the second, but after that last half we played extremely well and all the lines were doing the right things."
"He keeps getting better. Coming off an MVP season, he just seems like he can elevate his game with his strength, his quickness, the play-making, and him wanting the puck. He's got a nice thing going with [Artemi Panarin] and that line has been outstanding over the last year and change. You can only say great things about him because he's so special." Joel Quenneville said.
"That's huge for our team. That seems to be when we're playing our best when we have that four-line rotation as we like to call it and every line's producing. It's huge for our team game. It's huge even for all the players as far as taking pressure off and not worrying about certain matchups and different things like that. I think we've been a team in the past where if we can get a lead, we can shut them down in the third and kind of build off some opportunities if they're trying to create too much."
"It's always fun to score in Buffalo. I think sometimes, even in the first period or second period, you're thinking about maybe entertaining everyone that's here and you just kind of settle in and just play hockey. That seems to be when things happen the most. That was nice to get that one for sure." Patrick Kane said.
"I think that's one of my better ones. We had a good screen in front. I haven't even seen the replay, but I don't think [Lehner] even saw it. I think he reacted to the sound of it hitting behind him." Hartman said.
Jonathan Toews scored a hat trick to help the Chicago Blackhawks extend their road winning streak to seven with a 5-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks (37-18-5) are 7-1-0 in their past eight games and five points behind the Wild (39-14-6) for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference. Toews scored the first of his three goals 58 seconds into the second period to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Mikael Granlund scored on the power play at 4:20 of the second to tie it 1-1. He has 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in his past 20 games and at least one point in 17 of his past 20. Richard Panik gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead 41 seconds later when he beat goalie Devan Dubnyk with a one-timer. Nick Schmaltz scored 33 seconds into the third period to increase the Blackhawks lead to 3-1. Zach Parise deflected defenseman Marco Scandella's shot past goalie Corey Crawford to make it 3-2 at 6:41. Toews scored his second of the night at 8:23 to give Chicago a 4-2 lead. Granlund pulled the Wild within 4-3 with his second power-play goal of the night at 13:09, but Toews completed his hat trick with the empty-net goal to make it 5-3 with 1:02 remaining. The win was Chicago coach Joel Quenneville's 400th with the Blackhawks. He has 838 in his NHL career. Chicago is 19-10-1 on the road. Crawford made 29 saves, and Dubnyk had 34.
Minnesota, 15-5-1 in its past 21 games and 7-3-1 in its past 11 at home, played its final game before a five-day break.
* Panik put Chicago ahead to stay when he scored his 16th goal off a pass from Toews from behind the net.
* At 11:18 of the second period, Dubnyk made a sprawling save on Patrick Kane to keep the score 2-1.
* Rookier center Tanner Kero blocked Jason Pominville's shot with 1:47 left in the third to keep the Blackhawks ahead 4-3. Kero, who was robbed twice by Dubnyk in the first period, was 5-for-10 on faceoffs.
* Toews had two assists to tie his NHL career high for points in a game, and has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in his past 12 games.
* The Wild have scored 15 power-play goals in their past 14 games and lead the NHL in home power-play efficiency (28.9 percent). … Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past seven games and is one point away from 500 in his NHL career. … Wild defenseman Matt Dumba returned to the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. He was minus-4 with two blocked shots in 15:54 total ice time.
Hawks Quotes
"I think regardless of how big those two points are and where we're at and how close we are in the standings, I think we always look at [the Wild], especially with the way they're playing, as a measuring stick.""I try and go into every game with no expectation. It's just building one game after another to try and follow up good efforts and sew all the weeks together, multiple games back to back.
"Then you have nights like tonight, where you might not have another game like that for a little while and you never really know when it's all going to go in like that. …It's nice for us to get some results and definitely changes the way you see yourself and your confidence." said Toews.
"It's a tough league, and we had some tough road games in some tough buildings. We like the way things are trending, we like our four-line game, and we like the balance in our team. That's the great illustration of when the consistency shows up, what we're capable of." Quenneville said.
Wild Quotes
"I think we had our chances at the end to tie the game. But tonight, that wasn't enough. I think the second period, we didn't play good at all there, that got them their momentum." Granlund said."They're [39-14-6]. I told them to get some rest and enjoy this break but want to get home to play hockey. For four-and-a-half months now, you guys have done a tremendous job and we've got something special going on, potentially. It's great to get away for a couple days, but the desire to play has got to be there. …You've got to want to come back and play, and if we do that, then I think we'll be fine. If not, it might take a day or two." Bruce Boudreau said.
"It makes it tough [when they have so many offensive threats]. That's why they've won the [Stanley] Cup three times. It feels like when one [line's] not going, the other is going. Usually we have that too. We have had that kind of the whole season. Just tonight they were a little better than us." Zach Parise
Patrick Kane had a hat trick to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to their third straight victory, 6-3 against the Coyotes at United Center. Kane has 23 goals after scoring in the first, second and third periods for his third regular-season NHL hat trick and first this season. Rookies Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Hartman each had a goal and assist for the Blackhawks (38-18-5), and Toews had two assists. Michal Rozsival also scored for Chicago, which won for the eighth time in the past nine games (8-1-0). Corey Crawford made 34 saves. Jakob Chychrun, Ryan White and Radim Vrbata scored for the Coyotes (21-31-7), who got 23 saves from Mike Smith. Each team scored three goals in the first period on a combined 23 shots. Schmaltz gave Chicago a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the game with a one-timer off a feed from Toews. Chychrun tied it at 7:36. Hartman put the Blackhawks up 2-1 at 10:28 with his 15th goal, and Kane made it 3-1 at 16:41. White and Vrbata scored 57 seconds apart in the final 2:18 to tie it 3-3. Rozsival made it 4-3 with his first goal of the season at 2:56 of the second. Kane scored his second of the game at 12:41, and his third put the Blackhawks up 6-3 at 9:49 of the third. Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson left in the first period with an upper-body injury and didn't return. He played five shifts.
* Schmaltz's goal was the result of three high-skill plays. Blackhawks forward Richard Panik created a 2-on-1 by sending Toews a pass to the blue line off the boards in the neutral zone. Toews threaded a cross-ice pass to Schmaltz, who scored his sixth goal of the season.
* Crawford, moving right to left, made a blocker save against Alexander Burmistrov's one-timer from the right faceoff circle at 1:39 of the third period to keep the Blackhawks ahead 5-3.
* Kane's third goal came off a strong Chicago forecheck. Following a turnover in the slot, Artem Anisimov sent a pass to Artemi Panarin, who got the puck to Kane for a wrist shot from above the right faceoff circle.
* Toews and Kane are the first Chicago players with hat tricks in consecutive games since Alexei Zhamnov and Eric Daze on April 11 and 13, 1997. ... Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski assisted on White's goal for his 300th NHL point. … Rozsival played for the first time since Jan. 15 against the Minnesota Wild. … Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith needs one point for 500 in his NHL career. ... Toews has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in the past 13 games. … Schmaltz's goal came on his 21st birthday.
"Well, tonight pucks went in. I thought we were a lot looser [defensively] than in recent games, but we like the balance in our lines. We get scoring from [Toews'] line and [Kane] comes up with a hat trick. We're getting scoring from across the board." Joel Quenneville said.
"I'm not thinking. I'm just playing with my instincts, the way I know how to play. It's a lot more fun when I'm playing like that." Nick Schmaltz.
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