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RECAP: Blackhawks Top Sabres In Shootout, 5-4

  
Artem Anisimov Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks returned home from a three-game California road trip to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, looking to avoid dropping their third-straight game. The Blackhawks topped the Sabres 7-3 on February 1 in Buffalo in their previous matchup this season. Behind a two-goal effort from Artem Anisimov, the Blackhawks were able to hold off the Sabres and earn a shootout win.

Blackhawks def. Sabres, 5-4 (SO)

After a stalemate opening 15 minutes, the Blackhawks were able to break open the scoring thanks to Duncan Keith‘s extra offensive effort. Keith jumped into the offensive zone and was able to put a backhand shot on net that found its way behind Sabres starter Carter Hutton for the 1-0 goal. Keith’s tally with just under four minutes to play in the opening period was his fourth goal of the season, doubling his total from last season’s two goal campaign. just over two minutes later, Chicago extended their lead thanks to Artem Anisimov’s 12th goal of the season with 1:34 to play in the first. Although giving up a penalty in the final minute, the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Just as quickly as the Blackhawks took the lead late in the first period, it was gone early in the second period. The Sabres got on the board just under four minutes into the middle frame as Vladimir Sobotka banged in a rebound for his fifth goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game. Just over a minute later, the game would be tied 2-2 thanks to a snap shot goal from Brandon Montour, his seventh goal of the season. To top off the comeback for Buffalo, while on a Blackhawks powerplay, Zach Bogosian was able to out-wait and dangle past Corey Crawford for the 3-2 goal. Bogosian’s third goal of the season capped a three-goal effort over a three and a half-minute span of the second period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NmQHJQhHec

Buffalo took the 3-2 lead into the third period, but it would only last just under five minutes as Anisimov would get on the board for the second time in the game. After ringing a shot off the crossbar, which nearly everyone thought had gone in, even triggering the UC goal horn, Anisimov followed up his rebound and put the puck behind Hutton for the 3-3 tying goal. His 13th of the season would only give Chicago nearly three and a half minutes of relief as the Sabres got behind the Blackhawks defense and Kyle Okposo finished off a two-on-one chance to re-take the lead for Buffalo, 4-3 with over 12 minutes to play in the final period. It would only take 37 seconds for the Blackhawks to respond as Brendan Perlini netted his eighth goal of the season to make it a 4-4 game.

Chicago and Buffalo would remain tied at 4-4 as the final horn sounded, and after a thrilling and seemingly breathless overtime period, the game would head to the shootout. Corey Crawford made 35 saves on 39 shots while Carter Hutton made 41 saves on 45 shots faced. In the shootout, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat all found the back of the net, while Crawford was able to stop Sam Reinhart to be the difference maker in getting the Blackhawks the extra point.

With the win, the Blackhawks move to 28-30-9 on the season, good for 65 points in the standings but trailing the Minnesota Wild by nine points for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Buffalo falls to 30-28-9 on the year, earning 69 points on the year, ten points out of the Eastern Conference wildcard picture. Both teams have 15 games remaining this season.

Blackhawks Notes

  • Patrick Kane tallied 2 assists to move into 4th place on the Blackhawks All-Time points leaderboard, passing Steve Larmer. Kane is 172 points behind Denis Savard in 3rd place.
  • Kane played in his 888th career game with the Blackhawks. He is 4 games away from yet again passing Steve Larmer for 9th on the Blackhawks All-Time games played list.
  • Brendan Perlini has 3 goals in his last 3 games. He had 3 goals in his first 29 games with the Blackhawks this season.
  • Artem Anisimov recorded his first multi-goal game of the season and his first since netting a hat-trick against the New York Rangers on November 15, 2017.
  • Corey Crawford earned the win in his first home game since suffering his concussion on December 16, 2018 in Chicago.

What’s Next?

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday as they travel to take on the Dallas Stars. Puck drop on Saturday is set for 7pm CT at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Stars come into Saturday’s action after topping the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Thursday night. Chicago fell 4-3 to the Stars on February 24 in Dallas in their previous matchup. The Blackhawks hold a 1-1-0 record against the Stars this season with one more meeting scheduled (April 5) following Saturday’s contest.

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