I was fully prepared to talk about how the result of tonight’s game between the Blackhawks and Predators didn’t matter. How it would be more about the way that Chicago responded in their first game since Jeremy Colliton was let go. How Derek King’s ability to bring the team together after night one of his tenure as Blackhawks head coach would be a marathon, not a sprint.
But screw all that.
Blackhawks get a much needed 2-1 overtime win over the Predators in a game where they played a simple game, and come away with two points. Two points they fully deserved.
FINAL: #Blackhawks 2, Predators 1 (OT)
Shot attempts: 56-49 CHI
Shots on goal: 32-21 CHI
5-on-5 scoring chances: 24-23 NSH
5-on-5 high danger chances: 12-7 CHI pic.twitter.com/oIv2BQcUDf— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 8, 2021
Now 2-9-2, the Blackhawks’ season is far from saved, but my God did this club need a win. Brandon Hagel and Alex DeBrincat come away with the tallies for the Blackhawks tonight, Hagel’s fourth goal in his last six games and DeBrincat’s team-leading seventh goal of the season. Kevin Lankinen stepped up and had his best showing of the seasons stopping 20 of 21 shots faced. Yes, you read that correctly. The Blackhawks only allowed 21 shots tonight against the Predators.
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1457537824782274560?s=20
Is Derek King the savior of the franchise? No.
Is this result exactly what this club needed? 100% yes.
Find the full box score here.