The Boston Bruins entered tonight’s contest with a 12–0–4 record this season on home ice, looking like a potential Stanley Cup contender. The Blackhawks have lost six of their last seven games, showing no urgency in their play and lacking the talent level to compete with playoff type teams.
Jeremy Colliton sent out the following lines and pairings to start the game:
Brandon Saad — Jonathan Toews — Alexander Nylander
Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane
Dominik Kubalik — David Kampf — Anton Wedin
Zack Smith—Kirby Dach — Ryan Carpenter
Slater Koekkoek— Connor Murphy
Calvin de Haan — Brent Seabrook
Dennis Gilbert — Erik Gustafsson
Chicago started Robin Lehner in net to face off against Boston’s Tuukka Rask.
FIRST PERIOD:
Chicago’s penalty kill was tested early when Patrick Kane took a hooking call only 27 seconds after puck drop. Lehner made an excellent save on Boston forward Danton Heinen early in the kill, lost a puck late between his pads that did not cross the line late in the kill, and ultimately helped kill off the penalty. As a team looking to start better in games, this was not the start Chicago needed.
In what would be an uneventful period overall, Chicago was held without a shot for the first 8:45 minutes, where their best chance was a 4-on-2 that ended in Alex DeBrincat missing the net on his attempt.
Anton Wedin took a tripping penalty at the 16:34 mark, giving Boston their second power play of the period, however, Chicago would be the team to take advantage. Ryan Carpenter buried a rebound attempt shot off a 3-on-2 shorthanded rush after a Connor Murphy shot.
Ryan Carpenter puts the Blackhawks ahead 1-0 with the shorthanded goal. pic.twitter.com/xba06aWpZ2
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 6, 2019
Boston forward David Pastrnak took an interference penalty that Chicago took advantage of when Dylan Strome beat Tuukka Rask with a nice tip of an Erik Gustafsson shot from the point. The two Chicago goals were scored only 37 seconds apart.
Dylly Dylly!#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/h4QzZiM9bc
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 6, 2019
After a sleepwalking start, Chicago took a 2–0 lead into the first intermission of the mom’s trip while being outshot 12–8.
SECOND PERIOD:
Another penalty within the first minute of the period by Chicago put Boston on the power play. The Blackhawks did a nice job to kill off the third consecutive penalty to nullify the too-many-men bench penalty.
Both teams took penalties within a few minutes of each other. Midway through the period, Alexander Nylander was sent off for high-sticking and Pastrnak took a roughing penalty on Murphy. Each penalty was successfully killed off by the offending teams.
Chicago outshot Boston 12–10 in the period which is a very good sign for a team that struggles in the middle frame—and went into intermission with a 2–0 lead.
THIRD PERIOD:
Riding a 12-game goal draught, DeBrincat snapped a wrist shot that beat Rask only 17 seconds into the period (yes, 17 seconds against the Bruins) and extended the Chicago lead to 3–0 and put to rest whatever nervous energy fans may have had about the two-goal lead.
#Purr pic.twitter.com/VoMtKmLksK
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 6, 2019
Former Blackhawk Joakim Nordstrom finally solved the riddle that was Lehner when he buried a big rebound in front of the net. The goal came 1:32 after the DeBrincat goal and jumpstarted the sleeping home crowd. Welcome back Blackhawks’ nervous energy, as well.
At the 11:46 mark of the period, Zack Smith and defenseman John Moore dropped the gloves after Moore took exception to a Smith hit on Pastrnak. The tussle did not last long but did bring Zdeno Chara over to Smith for a quick word.
Zack Smith lays a big hit on David Pastrnak before dropping gloves with John Moore. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/yTGLNpEY9C
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 6, 2019
Boston forward Charlie Coyle took a roughing penalty against Slater Koekkoek at the 13:40 mark in the period. The headache known as Gustafsson blew a tire on his attempt to stop a 2-on-1 shorthanded attempt by the Bruins, which left forward Chris Wagner left all alone, who beat Lehner glove side to shorten the Blackhawks’ lead to 3–2.
Not the best defense I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/k48YbOOCxW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 6, 2019
With Boston back into the game, Nylander lost his coverage along the boards and left defenseman Torey Krug with an opportunity on Lehner that he buried. Just like that, Boston had tied the game at 3–3.
OVERTIME:
Chicago took advantage of a turnover in their own end and Jonathan Toews beat Rask on a forehand-backhand and slid a shot five hole for the game-winner. The final shot showed the Bruins ice crew cleaning up the garbage thrown onto the ice from frustrated fans after Pastrnak turned the puck over.
Wait for it…#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/RYP4hDQMMT
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 6, 2019
THE GOOD:
- Jonathan Toews buried his chance in overtime which is a great sign. Toews has had a struggle finding some sustained offense.
- Chicago fought off all four of their penalties.
- Lehner stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced showing his solid play we are used to watching.
- Chicago took 2 points on the road against a cup contender type team. Even after surrendering the three-goal lead.
THE BAD:
- Chicago blew a three-goal lead to a team that could have made them pay for it.
- Wagner’s goal was shorthanded. Those are never good.