NEWSLETTER
Sunday afternoon hockey definitely makes the the Siberian-like winter storms more tolerable. The Chicago Blackhawks finally got their first win in overtime on a shootout thanks to Alex DeBrincat’s extra time winner over the Dallas Stars.
Chicago now has a “winning” record at 5-4-4 on the year, going 5-1-3 over their last nine games. The appetizer to the Super Bowl was a decent mix of salty and sweet and really hit the spot.
FINAL: #Blackhawks 2, Stars 1 (OT)
Shot attempts: 58-53 DAL
Shots on goal: 35-31 CHI
5-on-5 scoring chances: 16-16
5-on-5 high danger chances: 7-5 DAL pic.twitter.com/Y5nbacFKl8— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 7, 2021
The Blackhawks powerplay continues to be hot, getting a goal from DeBrincat in the second period to make it 11 of 13 games with a goal on the man-advantage this season. And, indeed, DeBrincat had a first period goal taken away after a high-stick call, but come on … the guy’s like 5’6″, how can he get his stick that high? And don’t worry … as a fellow vertically challenged person, I’m allowed to say that.
He finished with both Blackhawks goals in the game, extending his point streak to his last five games.
Dat power play tho…. #DeBrincat puts the #Blackhawks on the board! pic.twitter.com/SahYcPq9kr
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) February 7, 2021
Also extending his point streak to five games was Patrick Kane with assists on both the powerplay goal from DeBrincat and the overtime winner. Kane leads the Blackhawks in points this season with 18 through 13 games.
RUN IN BACK! #Debrincat with the game winner #CHIvsDAL pic.twitter.com/vBCJiGxVjQ
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) February 7, 2021
Malcolm Subban has looked better in each of the three games he has started this season. The goal given up in the third period, yeah you want that one back, but to rate his whole performance today anything lower than great would be a disservice to him, especially considering that it’s been 12 days in between starts. After making 36 of 39 saves in his second start of the year back against the Nashville Predators on January 26, Subban made 30 saves on 31 shots today against the Stars, moving his record this season to 1-1-1.
With Kevin Lankinen getting a game off after starting eight of the last nine for the Blackhawks, Subban cemented his position as the backup in Chicago. Collin Delia has yet to see the ice since getting the start for the second and third games of the season.
This effort from the Blackhawks this afternoon showed again that they do not give up. After the soft goal given up by Subban to tie the game, Chicago turned continued to pressure and forced the game to overtime. It was the first overtime or shootout win this season for the Blackhawks, now 1-4 in extra time.
Final Thoughts
• Nikita Zadorov leads the NHL in hits this season and it’s no secret that the biggest key to his game is his physicality. We had yet to see the Blackhawks get into a scrap this season, that was until Zadorov and Stars Captain Jamie Benn dropped the gloves in the second period. Not the best fight we’ve ever seen, but it’s the first for Zadorov as a member of the Blackhawks.
That escalated quickly… pic.twitter.com/sViDSCfak2
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) February 7, 2021
• I swear, one day, Brandon Hagel will convert on a breakaway chance. He’s shown that he has a good scoring touch at the Junior level and in the AHL, but once his hands catch up to his feet at the NHL level, look out.
Brandon Hagel intercepted Joel Hanley's pass, but Jake Oettinger made the save on the short breakaway. #Blackhawks #GoStars pic.twitter.com/1nYATWK4ax
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) February 7, 2021
• Even though the Stars scored just moments after the Mattias Janmark penalty expired in the third period, the penalty-kill unit was very effective against the top powerplay in the NHL. Chicago went 3-for-3 on Sunday and have killed off 19 of their last 20 penalties of the last seven games. More of that will be needed on Tuesday.
