The Chicago Blackhawks continued their five-game home stand at the United Center with a Tuesday night matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, owners of the league’s best record. The Hawks, who are seeking their first win in February, are coming off a hard-earned point against the New York Rangers last Friday night when they erased a two-goal deficit in the third period but fell in overtime. Petr Mrazek started for the Hawks against Vezina Trophy candidate Thatcher Demko for Vancouver.
First period
The Canucks got on the board first at 10:05 of the first period. Filip Hronek intercepted an Alex Vlasic pass in the neutral zone and then fed Conor Garland, who skated in 2-on-1 with Dakota Joshua, who took the pass and fed it back to Garland, who tapped it in the open net for his 10th of the season. The Canucks would take a 1–0 into the locker room as they dominated the first period, including a 12–2 shot advantage, with the Hawks’ two shots coming in the final 30 seconds while on the power play.
Second period
Midway through the second frame, Garland scored his second of the game and 11th of the season at the 8:18 mark to give Vancouver a 2–0 lead. Hronek took the puck at the point and his shot was going wide but hit Garland’s skate on the way in and trickled past Mrazek for the goal.
Tyler Johnson cut the Hawks’ deficit to 2–1 with his 10th of the season at 16:43 on the power play. Nick Foligno picked off a Vancouver clearing attempt and skated toward the half boards, dished it to Philipp Kurashev along the goal line, who fed a wide-open Johnson in front, who buried a one-timer past Demko.
TJ on the power play 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MeV3HRQ9sd
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 14, 2024
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Vancouver regained its two-goal lead at 18:28 when Nils Hoglander scored his 17th of the season. Elias Lindholm retrieved his own dump-in off the boards and found Hoglander, who skated in front and beat Mrazek from in tight to give the Canucks a 3–1 lead, which they took into the locker room after 40 minutes.
Third period
At 6:07 of the third, Joshua scored his 13th of the season to give the Canucks a 4–1 lead. From the half boards, Teddy Blueger fed Joshua in the slot and he deked Mrazek and scored on the backhand for his third point of the game.
Kevin Korchinski cut the gap to 4–2 with his third of the season at 13:27 of the third. Lukas Reichel won a board battle against Quinn Hughes in the neutral zone and fed Ryan Donato, who skated in 2-on-1 with Korchinski. Donato backhanded a feed to Korchinski, who sniped one past Demko.
hello kevin score-chinski pic.twitter.com/HUa14NS8qw
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 14, 2024
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Analysis
When the team with the best record plays their A game against the team with the worst record, this is essentially what happens, and of course, it is no surprise. The Hawks were thoroughly outclassed by the deeper and more skilled Canucks, led by its third line of Blueger, Garland and Joshua, which skated circles around Hawks’ defenders. If you are looking for a positive for the Hawks, Johnson had a strong game and was one of few Blackhawks players to generate any consistent chances beyond the goal he scored.
The Blackhawks return to the United Center on Thursday night to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. CST on NBCSCH and 720 WGN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk33AtX-AsU