The Blackhawks entered action Saturday night in Denver having gone 5-4-1 over their previous ten games—a marked improvement versus the ten prior.
Bad news: as improved as 5-4-1 might be, it’s still not playoff worthy by itself, much less for a team buried in the basement of the Central Division. The good news, Colorado had gone 3-6-1 over their last ten contests, including a 2-1 loss to the Hawks at home 8 days ago.
The Blackhawks lines and pairings:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Dominik Kahun
Artem Anisimov – Dylan Strome – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – David Kampf – Dylan Sikura
Andreas Martinsen – Marcus Kruger – John Hayden
Duncan Keith – Erik Gustafsson
Gustav Forsling – Brent Seabrook
Carl Dahlstrom – Connor Murphy
Marcus Kruger (concussion protocol) drew back in for Chicago, replacing Jacob Nilsson. #TheRinkLegend Collin Delia took the net for Chicago, facing off against Semyon Varlamov for Colorado.
FIRST PERIOD
The scoring opened early, with Alex DeBrincat beating Varlamov at 1:46 from the left faceoff circle, off a sweet, spinning cross-ice Patrick Kane feed. 1-0 Chicago.
Kane then scored himself at 9:38 from the opposite faceoff dot, assisted by Artem Anisimov and Dylan Strome, after a neutral zone turnover by Colorado turned into a 3-on-2 break for the Hawks. 2-0 Chicago.
The action was fast and furious throughout the period with many quality chances for both teams. The Avs finally got to Delia at 17:04 of the first, when Mikko Rantanen capitalized on a power play made possible by a Gustav Forsling tripping penalty. Delia was completely screened by Gabriel Landeskog and had no chance on a close in shot: 2-1 Chicago.
That was how the period would end, with shots favoring the Avs 16-15.
SECOND PERIOD
As compared to the first period, he checking was tighter for both teams to start the second, with a couple of decent chances enjoyed by both teams early on. Crossing through the neutral zone was much tougher for both teams.
With 1:39 left in the frame, after a delayed penalty call on the Hawks, Nathan McKinnon beat a screened Delia to tie the game. 2-2.
Chicago had the advantage through much of the period, but Colorado applied significant pressure late, forcing Delia to make several quality stops. And at 18:57, not long after the McKinnon goal, Forsling took another tripping call. Chicago killed the first minute or so of the penalty to end the period. Shots ended 9-9 in the second.
THIRD PERIOD
The Hawks killed off the remainder of the penalty. The ensuing action again featured tighter checking, with a couple of important highlights. The Avs were able to kill off a late 5-on-3, thanks in part to a smart play by Landeskog. However, in what was a very chippy game, Landeskog high-sticked Connor Murphy at 18:48, drew blood and set the Hawks up for a man-advantage in overtime—arguably the best open-ice scoring situation aside form a 5-on-3.
OVERTIME
It wouldn’t be long before Kane once again took a starring role, scooping up a rebound in the slot and quickly flipping past a besieged Varlamov for the win, giving the Hawks their 5th win in their last 6 contests and a nice lift to close out 2018.
THE GOOD
Yet again, Delia, who’s not just making the case for an NHL job, but perhaps an NHL starting job.
Kane. Brilliant. And at the top of his game.
The defense overall. The first period was a track meet and were it not for Delia, the score could have been lop-sided the other way, instead of 2-1 Chicago. But Chicago was able to tighten it up over the latter two periods, as they have been able to do much better of late, especially after pairing Murphy and Carl Dahlstrom.
THE BAD
Not much. The Hawks are playing a better brand of hockey of late. The lines are balanced and team defense is dramatically improved.
THE UGLY
There was, and likely still is, some bad blood between these teams, on display much of the night. Something to watch in future meetings.
All I have on this one. Comment below.