It was the first time the Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken played each other in league history. It was an instant classic.
Chicago got out to a 3-0 lead on the struggling Kraken, but Seattle fought their way back into the game late in the third period. After cutting the Chicago lead to 3-2, Jake McCabe was able to score the empty-net insurance goal to seal a 4-2 win for the Blackhawks.
Seattle has now lost their last five games, while the Blackhawks extend their winning-streak to four games and a perfect 4-0-0 record under interim head coach Derek King. Chicago has also never trailed in a game since the coaching change made on November 6th.
The superstars showed up big for the Blackhawks tonight. Getting on the board first for the fourth-straight game, a trio of expectant Team USA Winter Olympic team members connected to put Chicago up 1-0. Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Seth Jones put together a beautiful string of puck movement to get the Blackhawks out front.
SEA-TIC-TAC-TOE pic.twitter.com/pjvee9kSCb
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 18, 2021
Chicago held the 1-0 lead after the first period and held the lead in shots on net after 20 minutes, 8-3. It would be a much different story from there.
Seattle jumped all over the Blackhawks in the final two periods of play, out-shooting them 30-11 over the final 40 minutes of action. Marc-André Fleury, who could have napped through the first period, stood on his head to keep the Blackhawks ahead for the rest of the game.
BY THE POWER OF FLOWER pic.twitter.com/sXpZbFpIwT
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 18, 2021
In his last three games, Fleury is 3-0-0 and has stopped 95 of 100 shots faced. The version of Fleury that the Blackhawks thought they were acquiring this summer has finally showed up for the 2021-22 season.
While Seattle out-shot and out-chanced Chicago in the final two periods, what counts are the pucks that go into the net, not just at the net. In the second period, Alex DeBrincat extended the Chicago lead to 2-0.
this play is giving ✨Seattle Grace✨ pic.twitter.com/TF6gRiEN2Y
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 18, 2021
That wouldn’t be the last contribution on the scoresheet for Debrincat for the night, either. After scoring his team-leading ninth goal of the season, his fifth goal over his last six games, DeBrincat answered the bell against Kraken forward Yanni Gourde early in the third period to complete the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.” While you don’t want to see a player like DeBrincat fighting, you love to see the fight in him.
An unlikely battle but Yanni Gourde and Alex DeBrincat drop the gloves. pic.twitter.com/lCQvYfZ9U1
— Hockey Realm (@hockey_realm) November 18, 2021
While the Kraken were jumping all over Chicago offensively, they forget a very simple defensive strategy: don’t leave Patrick Kane alone…
Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular pic.twitter.com/n0s8zyI4PM
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 18, 2021
That would be enough for the Blackhawks to get out to a 3-0 lead in the third period. Seattle cut it to 3-2 with two late goals, but Jake McCabe buried an empty-net goal from over 100 feet away to seal it 4-2. The Blackhawks are now 5-9-2 on the season, while Seattle falls to 4-11-1. The Kraken a 0-7-0 when trailing after two periods this season, as well.
Find the full box score here.