The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks were both very active at the trade deadline: Both teams selling off players to recoup draft picks to aid in their rebuilding efforts. While the Blackhawks traded away Ryan Carpenter, Marc-Andre Fleury and Brandon Hagel, the Ducks had the bigger of the two selloffs. The Ducks traded Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins for a haul of picks and Rickard Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins for several pieces.
Coming into Wednesday’s game, the lineups were vastly different than the two lineups that were used when the teams met on March 8.
First period
The first seven minutes of the game were fast and furious, with both teams trading scoring chances. Both Kevin Lankinen and John Gibson stopped A+ chances for each team.
At the midway point in the first period, the Blackhawks MacKenzie Entwisle drew a tripping penalty on Kevin Shattenkirk. On the power play, the puck came out Taylor Raddysh, who buried the puck top shelf for the game’s first goal on a top-corner snipe. Less than three minutes later, former Rockford IceHogs forward and current Anaheim Duck Sam Carrick tied the score at one goal apiece. Carrick was able to sneak a shot past Lankinen, as there appeared to be a miscommunication between the Blackhawks’ defense and its goalie.
Despite the first period ending tied at 1–1, the Blackhawks once again appeared to control the play against the Ducks. A big reason for the Hawks’ strong first period was the play of Sam Lafferty. Lafferty was generating scoring chances and using his speed to facilitate other scoring chances for the Blackhawks. Lafferty appears to have found a home with the Blackhawks as a high-energy guy.
Second period
At the start of the second period, the Ducks came out with some energy and drove the puck hard to the net. Lankinen was tested early and often by the Ducks.
With less than nine minutes to go in the second period, Alex DeBrincat was tripped to halt his breakaway attempt. On their second power play of the game, DeBrincat feathered a pass across the ice to Patrick Kane, who buried the one-timer past Gibson for the Blackhawks’ second goal of the game.
With less than two minutes left, Lankinen had to stand tall again, as Seth Jones made an ill-advised pass in the defensive zone. Trevor Zegras intercepted the Jones pass and put a shot on Lankinen. Lankinen was able to fend off the chance and maintain the Blackhawks’ one-goal lead.
The second period ended with the Blackhawks still in the lead 2–1.
Third period
In the third period, the Ducks got themselves back into the game with another goal from Carrick. After Jonathan Toews lost a defensive zone draw, the Ducks got a shot from the point. Adam Henrique corralled the rebound and fired a pass between his legs to Carrick, who tapped in the pass.
With the game tied at 2–2, the red-hot Dylan Strome answered the Ducks’ goal and gave the Blackhawks the lead for good. Strome now has nine goals in his last 10 games. On the play, Strome was assisted by Riley Stillman and Kane. It was Kane’s second assist on the night.
DeBrincat sealed the victory with an empty net goal for the Blackhawks.
Analysis
The Blackhawks now have to sort out who is going to be part of the rebuild. With Fleury no longer in the fold, the team figures to get extended looks at Lankinen and Collin Delia. While Delia’s future appears to be predetermined, the Blackhawks could be still evaluating Lankinen. Saturday’s victory was a good start for Lankinen, who has feasted on lesser competition in the past.
The Blackhawks also signed college free agent goalie Jaxson Stauber out of Providence College. The 22-year-old goalie signed a two-year entry-level contract that starts next season. Stauber went 11–7–5 with a .916 save percentage this season for the Friars. For his college career, he went 21–14–2 with a .921 save percentage. Scouts describe Stauber as quick and athletic but in need of some refinement. He joins Arvid Soderblom as the only goalies currently under contract for next season.
The Hawks return to the ice Thursday night for a road duel with the Los Angeles Kings. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT.