The Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks have been playing polar opposite seasons this year. While the Stars have championship ambitions, the Blackhawks do as well…three to five seasons from now. The rebuild continues in the Windy City, but signs of life are everywhere if you look. Dallas came into the afternoon matinee having taken down the Oilers in convincing fashion, and riding on an eight-game winning streak. The Blackhawks have been ping-ponging between the win and loss columns as of late, but are playing some of their most cohesive and competitive hockey we have seen of this team.
The only lineup change made by the Blackhawks from their loss to the Islanders was Colin Blackwell switching in for Taylor Raddysh, with Petr Mrazek once again getting the start in net.
First Period:
The first twenty minutes involved a lot of back and forth from both teams. The first few minutes were especially hectic with both sides getting chances one after the other. Every time he was tested, Mrazek stood on his head and kept the puck out, though he did have his defense helping him for once. Mason Marchment got the best chance for Dallas in the period, putting a shot in tight off of the far post past Mrazek. The period would end as it started, in a zero-zero tie.
Second Period:
The second started off as hectic as the first, with the Stars getting in a bunch of shots on net in the first three minutes. Their best chance in that sequence came on a Roope Hintz wrister from the right circle. Mrazek came out to challenge and made a beautiful glove save. The Blackhawks got their first powerplay opportunity of the game on a Matt Duchene slash of Connor Bedard. Bedard then went to work. He got the puck along the wall, skated in towards the net, and fired a wrister that beat Scott Wedgewood far post, 1–0 Blackhawks.
CONNOR BEDARD. pic.twitter.com/uyRz439rFO
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 6, 2024
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Just over a minute later, Andreas Athanasiou got in on the action with his first of the year. Lukas Reichel was skating through the middle of the offensive zone and drew a penalty, but got the puck back to Athanasiou. He wristed it right into the back of the net, 2–0 Blackhawks.
Three minutes later, Seth Jones was the recipient of a beautiful pass from Ryan Donato. He wristed a shot past Wedgewood, making it 3–0 Blackhawks. The Stars woke up before the end of the period, however. After a Tyler Johnson attempt at one end of the ice, the Stars took the puck quickly the other way. Miro Heiskanen made a beautiful pass tape to tape to Hintz who tipped the puck in past Mrazek, putting Dallas on the board. The period ended with the Blackhawks leading 3–1 despite a heavy shot advantage for Dallas.
Third Period:
Just under nine minutes into the frame, the Dallas Stars looked as though they were clawing their way back in. Mavrik Bourque took the puck into the net and ran over Mrazek, so the goal that followed ended up being disallowed. Heiskanen was around the Stars’ second goal as well. He got a backhander on net that was tipped in by Jamie Benn in front, getting the Dallas Stars to within one goal. Mrazek stood on his head for the rest of the game, though, stopping the ensuing Dallas chances, and leading the Blackhawks to a 3–2 victory.
Analysis:
The Blackhawks had no business winning this game. They were getting outshot by massive margins every period, with the Stars clearly outclassing them in skill as well as desire to win. They did tighten down defensively, allowing high shot totals, yes, but also playing good defense as a team. Chicago had more hits, takeaways, and blocked shots than Dallas, even as they were outshot 44-17 for the game. MacKenzie Entwistle stood out this game, as he was all over the place, and trying to do everything he could in all areas of the game. Athanasiou deserved his first, and Seth Jones played one of his best games of the season too, playing some great defense, and getting on the board himself.
the chicago blackhawks when they play playoff bound teams: pic.twitter.com/sGDfiCOp5Z
— x – addie | #1 lukas reichel defender (@reichelhughes) April 6, 2024
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The Blackhawks are up next against the Minnesota Wild tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. That game will be at 2:30 Central on NBC Sports Chicago+.