After a heartbreaking overtime loss to the lowly Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, the Blackhawks had to regroup quickly, as they challenged the Anaheim Ducks less than 24 hours later. A win against a solid Ducks team would help ease the pain of the loss against the Kings.
The DeBrincat-Strome-Kane line finally made its season debut against the Ducks. The rest of the lines were as follows:
Saad — Toews — Nylander
DeBrincat — Strome — Kane
Kubalik — Kampf — Dach
Caggiula — Carpenter — Shaw
Keith — Boqvist
de Haan — Seabrook
Maatta — Gustafsson
Lehner
First period
The first period started in a very calm fashion. The first 10 minutes of play yielded a lot of back and forth, but did not yield any goals for either team in Anaheim.
However, a spark of the future came into view at about the halfway point of the period. After a puck was worked deep, Jonathan Toews found the puck but could not handle it as the puck dribbled behind the Ducks’ net. Alex Nylander picked the puck up and skated out to Ryan Miller’s right side. He found Adam Boqvist at the top of the face off circle to Miller’s right and sniped a shot over the Anaheim goaltender’s shoulder for his first career NHL goal.
.@kdach77 running to grab the puck for his buddy @BoqvistAdam is our second favorite thing about this goal. #Teammates pic.twitter.com/odXA2gouov
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 4, 2019
Boqvist’s new buddy, and possibly his future franchise pillar, Kirby Dach picked up the defenseman’s first goal puck after the tally.
In exciting fashion, the Blackhawks offense would not end there. After working their way into a five-on-three power play, the Hawks found a way to take advantage of Anaheim’s mistakes. After a puck worked its way back to Dominik Kubalik on the point, Kubalik found Patrick Kane on his right wing side of the power play. Kane took a second to set up and scan his options, but ultimately found Alex DeBrincat back door for a tap-in goal from the left winger. The goal gave the Blackhawks the 2–0 lead.
This Kaner pass >>>
My word. @NHLBlackhawks lead 2-0 on @NBCSChicago and streaming here: https://t.co/l15UbPEy2R pic.twitter.com/SbihA4pNqf
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) November 4, 2019
The Blackhawks took that lead into the first intermission with also leading in shots on goal. It was arguably one of the best periods for the Blackhawks all season.
Second period
The second period opened it much better than most middle frames have this season for Chicago. Although the Blackhawks looked better than they have in most second periods this season, they were on the other end of the scoring luck for the period.
After more than 12 minutes of back and forth, the Ducks found a way to finally crack Robin Lehner, who had been spectacular all night long.
After a puck was shot behind the Blackhawks’ net, Ryan Getzlaf found the puck before it could find its way around the wall and out of the zone. He passed the puck to Erik Gudbranson, who wasted no time sending a shot on net. The shot was screened in front of Lehner by Sam Steel and the Ducks cut the Hawks’ lead in half at 2–1 on the Gudbranson blast.
https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/1191187308612993024
The Ducks’ goal was the only scoring action in the period. Anaheim found a way to outshoot the Blackhawks and make the game closer than it felt after the first period.
Third period
The early portion of the third period did not feel great for the Blackhawks. It would only get worse, especially after back-to-back Toews penalties.
After Chicago killed the first power play on the Toews penalties, they found themselves in trouble after a second penalty moments after the first one ended.
After setting up, Cam Fowler found Steel deep on Lehner’s left side. Steel was able to hit Ritchie with a perfect pass, with Lehner diving in hopes of stopping it, and Ritchie made no mistake, finding the back of the net on his shot to even the score at 2–2. The tying goal was excellent execution from the Ducks.
https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/1191191550694264832
Later in the period, the best chance the Hawks had came on a cross ice Kane to Shaw pass. Shaw’s attempt was stopped by Miller on an excellent chance. The Blackhawks also had a great chance after a Boqvist power play shot was deflected by Kubalik, but could not beat the goal post as a power play expired. Two excellent chances for the Blackhawks ultimately went wasted.
Despite good chances from both sides, the contest would require overtime to determine a winner.
Overtime
An opening Toews face off led to immediate Chicago possession to start the opening frame. After regrouping in their own zone, Kane found Toews at the blue line with a long stretch pass.
Toews lowered his shoulder and took the puck toward the net. Despite the good defense, Toews let up and spun around looking for an open player. Toews found Kane crashing to the net on the other side of the ice and he buried the pass to give the Blackhawks the 3–2 win in overtime against the Ducks.
🎶 Give me the puck
I'll hit the game winner 🎶#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/J6HTx8WBgw— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 4, 2019
Quick hits
- The first of many: Adam Boqvist scored his first career NHL goal in the win against the Ducks. Boqvist showed off the offensive prowess that led to him being selected in the top 10 back in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. His first goal was not at all cheap, and, after scoring, his buddy Kirby Dach grabbed the puck for him.
- Lehner to the rescue: Not only did Robin Lehner carry the team on his back, but he also picked up his 100th career victory in the NHL. Lehner will without a doubt continue to increase that career total given how he has played. If he is extended by the Blackhawks, fans could see Lehner pick up his 200th win in a Blackhawks uniform.
- The stars come through: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews came through in the clutch in overtime, ending the game on the first possession of extra time. Not only did they combine for the game-winning goal, but they also each picked up an additional point during the game. Hawks fans should be encouraged if Kane and Toews are having multi-point outings on a regular basis because, more often than not, that will translate to victories.