The Chicago Blackhawks simply cannot get anything going in what is turning into a lost season, as the Hawks continue losing games and questions swirl around Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews’ futures in the organization. The only good thing to come out of Tuesday night was not something good for the Blackhawks. Here are your post-game one-timers from the Blackhawks’ game versus Dylan Strome, er…Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.
— In what was one of the best games of the season to catch for Blackhawks fans, you got to see Ovechkin reach another milestone in his storied career. With two goals in the first, and one more in the third, not only did he reach 800 goals in his career, he also did it with style, putting up a hat trick against the hapless Blackhawks team.
— On the injury front, the Blackhawks welcomed back Tyler Johnson after missing over 20 games due to injury, as well as getting Petr Mrazek back in the crease.
— The first period consisted of the two Ovechkin goals, and the Johnson goal. The Blackhawks played that period decently well, although they did give up a power play goal on Ovechkin’s second. Mrazek made some nice stops, and Johnson took advantage of a puck in front of the net (and a little help from ex-Blackhawk Trevor van Riemsdyk) to keep the game close at 2–1 Capitals after the first.
— The Capitals traded goals with the Blackhawks in the second, with van Riemsdyk scoring first, followed by a power play goal from Toews, and then a Nic Dowd follow-up on a 2-on-0 play by the Caps to make the score 4–2 Capitals.
— The third is where things really got away from the Blackhawks. Ovechkin started off 6:34 into the frame, potting his 800th goal, and being one goal away from tying Gordie Howe for second all-time on the NHL scoring charts. Then, Anthony Mantha scored on a simple drive up the ice, which made Mrazek look like he fell asleep in the goal. The Blackhawks then got one back on a nice follow-up to his own shot by Max Domi. Then, Dmitry Orlov put in a slapshot in the last minute of the game to add insult to self-inflicted injury, making the final of the game 7–3 Capitals.
— The ugly: Jack Johnson was -4 and Seth Jones was -3 on the game, both playing terrible defense and looking outmatched by a clearly better team. Mrazek also had a brutal .767 save percentage, and did not look great in his first game back, either.
Alex Ovechkin gets a standing ovation in Chicago after scoring a hat trick for his 800th career NHL goal. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/acCZBYK90H
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 14, 2022
The Blackhawks are back in action on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. CST on NBC Sports Chicago.