NEWSLETTER
In a game that seemed like it shouldn’t even be played, between two teams that have been laughably bad to start the season, the Blackhawks jumped on the Toronto Maple Leafs early.
First, it was Kirby Dach on the power play — the seventh power-play goal of the season for the Hawks — then it was Alex DeBrincat on a breakaway that made it 2-0 Chicago.
The Dach goal gave the Blackhawks their first lead of the season, but despite the DeBrincat goal stretching that lead to a pair, it would be Toronto who had the last laugh on Wednesday night in Chicago.
I do want to talk about this goal real quick, though. Check out the savviness of Alex DeBrincat here as he takes advantage of a Toronto shift change, and then Seth Jones — who played an excellent game tonight — puts it right on the money from long distance at 50 MPH! Very impressive efforts by both players on a rare five-on-five goal for the Blackhawks this season.
What a read by DeBrincat to take advantage of the shift change for Toronto, and Seth Jones delivered a great pass. Goal No. 3 for 12. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/0jnoRLuDV8
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) October 28, 2021
The Blackhawks’ special teams continue to be a bright spot for them as they successfully killed off three Toronto man advantages, which they’ve done very well this season. In addition, the Blackhawks have killed off 23 of 25 opposing power-play opportunities through seven games.
Circling back to Seth Jones, tonight was his best game in a Blackhawks sweater as he tallied an assist on each of the goals scored tonight and nearly won the game in overtime just before William Nylander’s game-winning goal on the opposite end. Jones spent over 28 minutes on the ice tonight and, believe it or not, has looked better in recent games.
The Blackhawks might have notched their first home point of the season and second overall, but the ending tonight kind of felt appropriate for an evening in which it really didn’t feel like a hockey game in Chicago should be played. Maybe that’s why the game just felt very blah. Tonight shouldn’t be about the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs trying to be less crappy than the other. It should be about Kyle Beach. It should be about Beach and his bravery and courage in putting his name to the John Doe 1 label in the sexual abuse investigation that has rocked the hockey world this week.
Why don’t we wrap this one up with a look at Beach’s interview with Rick Westhead earlier this evening on TSN’s Sports Centre, and we’ll talk some more about this Blackhawks-Maple Leafs game tomorrow morning.
Former Blackhawks Player Kyle Beach Speaks Publicly About the Abuse He Endured – https://t.co/kwzZG0sRtY
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 27, 2021
You can find the complete box score here.
