Sunday morning, the Blackhawks wrapped up the bottom half of their matinee home-and-home series with the Boston Bruins. Joel Quenneville had few options as far as lineup juggling, so John Hayden stayed in the lineup for, now injured, Anthony Duclair and Vinnie Hinostroza was back in the lineup after missing the previous game dealing with a family matter back in Chicago. Also in a common lineup decision on back-to-back games, Joel Quenneville gave Anton Forsberg the net.
The Blackhawks starting lines were:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – Nick Schmaltz – John Hayden
Tomas Jurco – Artem Anisimov – Matthew Highmore
Patrick Sharp – David Kampf – Vinnie Hinostroza
Duncan Keith – Connor Murphy
Erik Gustafsson – Brent Seabrook
Jordan Oesterle – Jan Rutta
Special guests not in the lineup, but in attendance, were Olympic gold medalists Kendall Coyne and Alex Rigsby to drop the ceremonial opening faceoff.
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 11: Olympic gold medalists Kendall Coyne #26 and Alex Rigsby #33 of the US women’s national hockey team skate on the ice to participate in the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins at the United Center on March 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
For the first time in quite a while the Blackhawks made a team pay for taking stupid penalties, in the first period, Sunday. The first Blackhawks goal was a redirect off the stick of Artem Anisimov, following a Tim Schaller roughing infraction against David Kampf.
Patrick Kane fed a quick pass to Erik Gustafsson, who immediately pushed the puck over to Jonathan Toews. Toews ripped a one-timer towards Khudobin, who was also screened by Zdeno Chara, that Artem Anisimov tipped over the Boston goaltender for a 1-0 Blackhawks lead.
This was the only goal in the first period, while the Blackhawks out shot the visiting Bruins 12-10 in the opening period.
Even though the Bruins peppered the Blackhawks with 14 second period shots, they were not able to put a dent in the Blackhawks narrow one goal lead. The Hawks threw 11 shots at Anton Khudobin, as well, and were not able to extend their lead, though.
With no goals and no penalties the, still groggy, United Center fans probably needed a “wake-up” call in the third period, and that is just what they got.
Almost halfway through the third period the Bruins finally tied the game up. Trailing defenseman Zdeno Chara took a feed right between the circles and snapped a rocket of a wrist shot past Anton Forsberg. This, though, would be the only time the Bruins could solve the Blackhawks netminder.
Just over five minutes after Chara tied the game, Patrick Kane gave the Blackhawks back a lead that they would never again relinquish. Kane’s goal was also on the power play, which was a St. Patrick’s day miracle in and of itself. Not only were they on a power play, but a four minute high-sticking double minor from Zdeno Chara on Brandon Saad.
It took Patrick Kane only sixteen seconds to make the Bruins pay for the infraction. Red hot defensemen Erik Gustafsson fed Kane from the point. Kane took a stride, locked, loaded and let a nasty shot go from the circle. His perfect shot over Khudobin’s shoulder went post and in.
That Blackhawks held onto the lead until there was 1:05 left in the game, when a Brent Seabrook half clapper went off the stick of Bruins forward Noel Acciari and beat the Bruins goaltender. Icing on top of a St. Patrick’s day celebration cake. A Blackhawks win worth celebrating.
Pluses
- I said it in the previous night’s recap and I stand by it. Do not expect this crazy offensive output from Erik Gustafsson to continue, but enjoy it while it is going on.
- I was really glad to see Anton Forsberg have a rock solid, whistle to whistle, home performance. His 31 saves kept the Blackhawks as close as possible, until they could bust the door down.
- The Blackhawks won 61% of their faceoffs, which certainly helps put them in a better position.
- Jonathan Toews seems to be heating up. He has now had six points in his last five games.
- Matthew Highmore joined Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov with five shots on net each. Glad to see the kid not hesitating and firing the puck.
Minuses
- The Brandon Saad shot in the yap certainly was not good, but he returned to the game. Also, he had a partial break-a-way that he failed on. He is getting the chances, just not finishing. If they were to trade this guy at the draft or in the summer, they will regret it deeply. He will rebound in a big way. Maybe not this season, but I predict a huge season next year.