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Along the Boards: Blackhawks lose a crazy game to the Canucks 7-5.

  
Along the Boards: Blackhawks lose a crazy game to the Canucks 7-5.
(Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

2019 ended on a high note for the Chicago Blackhawks—and the team looked to continue the momentum into the new year Thursday night in Vancouver.  Due to positive recent results, head coach Jeremy Colliton continued with the same lines that he ended 2019 with.

The Vancouver Canucks would be the Blackhawks’ first opponent in 2020. Their greeting for the Blackhawks might be called “rude” by some people’s standards.

Despite allowing the early goal, The Blackhawks peppered Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom with shots. After dominating most of the period, Chicago got its first goal from an unlikely scorer.

Late in the first period, Blackhawks’ rising star Kirby Dach nearly gave Chicago the lead—missing by inches—when the Canucks were saved by the post.  At the end of the first period, the Hawks and Canucks were tied 1-1 in a very fast-paced game.

The second period began with Chicago coming out red-hot, getting lots of pucks on net. Despite the electrifying start by the Blackhawks offense, the defense allowed the Canucks to take the lead once again.

The Vancouver lead would not last long however, as the Blackhawks responded quickly.

Chicago kept the heat on the home team—Patrick Kane continued his goal scoring streak and gave the Blackhawks a 3–2 lead.

The Blackhawks onslaught continued, with the team seeming to find offensive chemistry that had been sporadic at best in 2019. Jonathan Toews’ turn would be next:

While the offense was clicking, the defense, ironically and predictably, reverted to form, leading to the rapid evaporation of the Blackhawks’ two-goal lead.

In a period where playing defense was clearly optional, the Canucks once again tied the game.

After two insane periods, the third period did not disappoint. The Canucks took a lead 5-4 midway through the third period, when Dennis Gilbert kicked the puck into his own net. Chicago goalie Robin Lehner was openly frustrated by the goal, breaking his stick on the crossbar. Adding injury to insult, Robin Lehner took a beating in the net— with two shots hitting his exposed neck during the game.

After Gilbert’s gaffe gave the Canucks the lead back, the Blackhawks continued their roller coaster ride of a game. Kane continued to shine, especially in the third period, netting his second goal of the game.

Shortly after Kane scored the game-tying goal, Lehner was bulled over by Tanner Pearson and went down holding his knee. Blackhawks trainer Mike Gapski gave Lehner the all clear and the third period resumed.  The night of physical and emotional pain would continue for Lehner as he soon allowed the sixth Canucks goal of the night.

The Canucks would later net an empty net goal to make the final score 7–5.

Along the boards

Kane Remains hot

Patrick Kane continues to get better with age. He netted two goals in the game and was a dominating offensive presence on the ice. People are going to start running out of superlatives before too long.

Lehner beat up in the loss

In addition to allowing six goals for the first time in his Blackhawks career, Lehner took two pucks off the neck/collar area during the contest, may have torqued his knee a bit, and one would expect that after making his fourth start in a row, he might get the next game off, giving Corey Crawford start against the Red Wings Sunday.

The Blackhawks return to action on Sunday for a late afternoon matchup with the Detroit Red Wings at home. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST. 

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