The Chicago Blackhawks came into Sunday afternoon looking to right the ship, having dropped their last three games, and looking like they were getting outplayed consistently in doing so. Unfortunately, they came up short once again, dropping this decision 5–3 to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. Here are your one-timers:
— This was just a brutal game in most respects. The Blackhawks lost more face-offs than they won, and they did not convert any of their four power play opportunities, either. They did outhit the Penguins, and outblocked the Penguins as well.
— The Penguins came out of the gate firing on all cylinders and scored the lone goal in the first period. Brock McGinn potted that goal, with Evgeni Malkin scoring in his 1,000th game, and Rickard Rakell following him up to put the Penguins up 3–0.
— The Blackhawks came back after that to make the score 3–2 by the end of the second, on goals from Jujhar Khaira and Patrick Kane. Both of them were scored in the Blackhawks’ area they are good at getting to, grinding to the front of the net and getting a great pass to put the puck past Casey DeSmith.
— Philipp Kurashev tied up the game 4:30 into the third, on a lucky flip out in front of the net that got past DeSmith. Then, a minute later, the Penguins took back their lead, and did not give it up. Sidney Crosby scored that goal, with Jeff Carter potting an empty-netter to put the Penguins up by the final score of 5–3.
— Marian Hossa was back at the United Center to have his jersey retired by the Blackhawks. No one else will ever wear the No. 81 for the Blackhawks, as he had such huge contributions to their three Stanley Cup Championships in the 2010s, both on and off the ice, as a player and as an incredible locker room presence and person.
— Fellow three-time Cup champs Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews were all present to be with Hossa and his family on this special evening.
To view the entire ceremony, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsFmQhVQEPo.
— This was also Malkin’s 1,000th NHL game. He is absolutely in the same category as Hossa, and someone who was critical to have on the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships of 2009, 2016 and 2017. With the Penguins playing on the road, it was not made into the big deal that Hossa’s jersey retirement was, but still the Penguins themselves did some special things with bringing in his son to read the lineup and copying Malkin’s pregame stretches as a team.
Is it getting dusty in the Penguins locker room? 😭 pic.twitter.com/m2WAfLyrCB
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 21, 2022
Getting loose, Geno style.#Ma1Kin pic.twitter.com/nhHgrCLyUp
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 21, 2022
The Blackhawks will be back in action in Texas on Wednesday night to take on the Dallas Stars. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. CST on NBC Sports Chicago.