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RECAP: Blackhawks down listless Bruins 5–2 in Boston

  
RECAP: Blackhawks down listless Bruins 5–2 in Boston
The Chicago Blackhawks secured a 5–2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks)

The came into Thursday night’s action looking to put together a few wins before the end of the season. They had just lost the second of a home-and-home series to the in which they did not put up a single goal and looked pretty lethargic against another team that does not have anything left to play for this season. In a repeat of that theme, facing the gave their younger lineup a chance to find some cohesiveness as a group before the end of the season. Here was the Blackhawks’ lineup versus the Bruins:

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First period

It took until the halfway point of the period, but we got a goal in the first. looked like he stuck his knee out to trip , but it was not called. That initiated a turnover that ended up with Pastrnak tipping the puck into the net, 1–0 Bruins. That would be the only goal of the frame, as both teams put up double-digit shots, but were not able to put anything else into the net.

Second period

The second period was more of the same in the goal scoring department. No one had scored anything for the first eight plus minutes of the second. The Bruins tried to make a pass back to the blue line in the offensive zone. managed to steal the puck from there, and went in on a breakaway. He put a wrister on target that beat stick-side, knotting things up at 1–1.

Just a few minutes later, the Bruins got their best chance of the period. They put on a passing clinic, with the puck winding up on the stick of . He put a shot on net that made a diving stop in kicking out his skate to keep the puck out. The second period would end 1–1, with both teams getting some chances to get in front, but neither one being able to put another puck to the back of the net.

Third period

All of the scoring happened in the third in this game. The Blackhawks managed four shots on net in the period; they scored on all of them. The first goal came at the 3:14 mark of the period, with putting home his 30th of the season to put the Blackhawks up 2–1.

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It just started coming fast and furious after that. Just over a minute later, put a shot toward the net that was knocked down by the Bruins’ defense. He picked up the puck again and wristed it past Swayman, 3–1 Blackhawks. The Blackhawks were not done yet. Just 24 seconds later, took a pass in the slot from and snapped it over the glove of Swayman, 4–1 Chicago.

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A little later in the frame, the Bruins would get one back. Pastrnak again got the puck and this time got it to in front. He put his shot past Soderblom, bringing the Bruins within two. That would be it though, as Foligno would add one more empty-netter on the penalty kill, and the Blackhawks would take the victory by a score of 5–2.

Analysis

The Blackhawks put on a clinic in this game. They showed that they are capable of taking advantage of opportunities when they are there, as they made the most of every shot in the third. They also did not have a single player with a negative plus/minus rating in the game, which shows they were doing what they can to be in the right places defensively and offensively in order to generate the most opportunities. Watching the young guys out there can be a bit of a roller coaster depending on the game, but this was one where everyone kept their composure and worked well together. Of course,  special shoutout to The Rink staffer Andy Campbell, who was on hand to cheer the Blackhawks to victory!

The Blackhawks’ next game is on Saturday night versus the . That game will be at 6 p.m. CDT on NHL Network and everyone’s favorite CHSN.

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