Enhanced Box Score: Blackhawks 4, Capitals 3 (SO) – December 2, 2021

This was another game where the Blackhawks of old probably would have lost. But we continue to see an improved team when matched against tougher opponents as the season moves forward. Against the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals, on the road, the Blackhawks tied the game in the third period to force overtime and a shootout and get a gutsy win, 4-3 with the help of Patrick Kane in the one-on-one contest.

A big thank you goes out to the goalposts behind Marc-André Fleury tonight, making at least five saves on the night against the Capitals, including two in the shootout. With the win, Fleury improves to 6-9-0 on the year and the Blackhawks improve to 8-12-2. This was the first time since my 16th birthday (January 10, 2006) that the Blackhawks have won a game against the Capitals one the road.

The opening period of the game was arguably the best for the Blackhawks as they stifled one of the best offenses in the league and pulled ahead late in the period thanks to none other than Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

DeBrincat scored his 13th of the season to give the Blackhawks the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. He is on pace for 48 goals this season. Stud.

To begin the second period, the Blackhawks lost Connor Murphy for the night, and likely longer, after Alex Ovechkin smashed into Murphy near the boards. It was a clean hit but an unfortunate outcome with two big bodies colliding. Murphy did not return to the game and looked not-so-hot when leaving the ice. Shortly after, the Capitals tied the game 1-1.

Mid-way through the period though, with Chicago’s powerplay looking more like a power outage over their last dozen games, Dominik Kubalík came through and ended his 15-game goal-drought by burying this great feed from DeBrincat to take a 2-1 lead.

Kubalík’s fourth goal of the season, DeBrincat’s second point of the night and the Blackhawks were back ahead. It wouldn’t last for long. The Capitals big guns showed up for the game-tying goal as Evgeny Kuznetsov tapped-in a loose puck behind Marc-André Fleury to tie the game heading into the third period.

Washington would have to kill a partial penalty to begin the period, but ultimately it worked out in their favor as Garnet Hathaway came out of the penalty-box with perfect timing and buried a breakaway to take the 3-2 lead. It would stay that way until rookie Josiah Slavin, making his NHL debut, carried the puck into the zone with no help, showed some patience and eventually found a wide-open Seth Jones who buried his third goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3.

Slavin tallies his first career NHL assist in his first career NHL game. It would remain tied 3-3 through the rest of regulation and through the overtime period, earning the Blackhawks at least one point on the night. To the shootout we would go and thanks in large-part to the posts behind Marc-André Fleury and this vintage Kane shootout goal, the Blackhawks come away winners over the Capitals.

Fleury made 25 saves on 28 shots, and stopped Alex Ovechkin in the shootout to earn the win, his fifth win in his last seven starts. Seth Jones, after the loss of Connor Murphy from the lineup, logged a team-high 29:38 minutes and had a goal and an assist on the night. This was a tight game that could have gone both ways, and for once, we saw it go the Blackhawks’ way.

Find the full box score here.

written by

Mario Tirabassi is a writer for Bleacher Nation. You can follow him on Twitter @Mario_Tirabassi.

more blackhawks news

Blackhawks 0, Senators 2 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

Remember when the Blackhawks went to California for three games and started each game like they had 45 minutes of hockey to start caring? And dug a deep hole in each game that they were only able to escape from...

Blackhawks at Senators – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Don't look now, but the Chicago Blackhawks have won six of their last ten games. They still sit in second for the NHL draft lottery, but they're trending in the right direction; they're .500 in the month of March with...

These 3 Blackhawks Veterans Are Having Terrific Seasons

Entering Thursday night's action, the Chicago Blackhawks have the second-worst point percentage in the NHL -- even while they're 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. And they own the second-worst goal differential in the league (minus-76). It's been a long,...

28 on 28: Steve Larmer’s Rookie Season Remains the Blackhawks’ Standard

We're ten games away from the end of the 2023-24 regular season, and Connor Bedard continues to put up remarkable numbers for at age 18 in his first professional season. He will likely join Steve Larmer on the list of...

The Greatest Sports Watching Day of the Year, Next Year’s TV, an IceHogs Stunner, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Congratulations, sports fans! Today, March 28, 2024 is the greatest sports viewing day of the calendar year. Hands down, lock it up, no competition. It's Opening Day in MLB and Sweet 16 day one in the NCAA men's basketball tournament....

NHL Notes: Penguins Paradox, Torts Apologizes, Doan’s Dazzling Debut, Rangers Punch Ticket, More

It's a mid-week edition of NHL Notes and we have plenty to cover around the league. The Penguins find themselves with a tricky decision as their season draws to a close. John Tortorella dished out an apology to one of...

We Need to Talk About Jason Dickinson As a Selke Trophy Candidate — Again

Back in early February as the Blackhawks wrapped their pre-All-Star Game schedule, I wrote about Jason Dickinson's case for Selke Trophy votes. We're now ten games away from the end of Chicago's regular season, and with Dickinson reaching 20 goals...

Slaggert’s Big Night, Bedard’s Tape, Felcman to Rockford, Anderson, Tinordi, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

I'm gonna continue to smile, just like Landon Slaggert, because of his performance in last night's Blackhawks win. The former Notre Dame captain had his parents and young brother in the stands and he had one helluva game last night....

Blackhawks 3, Flames 1 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

The message Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson was trying to get across with Monday's bag skate clearly landed. The start Chicago had on Tuesday night was a polar opposite of what they showed in the three games in California. They...

Blackhawks vs Flames – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

After a disappointing road trip that saw the Blackhawks get smoked for 7 of 9 periods, the team got a bag skate on Monday to think about their effort. They'll get back on the ice tonight in front of a...

Latest News

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Friday, Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1) face Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (1-0), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

Rays vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., visit the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Tampa Bay square off against Toronto live.When...

CRAAAAAAP: Justin Steele Exits the Game with an Injury (UPDATES)

Yep. That's about as bad as it gets. All those fears and anxieties you felt when Justin Steele took that liner off his knee in spring training came back tonight, only this time it's a soft tissue injury during the...

Heat vs. Trail Blazers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Portland Trail Blazers (19-54) are heavy underdogs (+14.5) as they attempt to break an eight-game losing streak when they visit the Miami Heat (39-33) at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 29, 2024 at FTX Arena. The matchup airs...

Cavaliers vs. 76ers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers (44-29) take the court against the Philadelphia 76ers (39-34) as 7.5-point favorites on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET on NBCS. The matchup has an over/under of 210 points.Cavaliers vs. 76ers OddsCavaliers odds to win:...

Knicks vs. Spurs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The New York Knicks (44-28) are heavily favored (-10) to continue a three-game winning streak when they visit the San Antonio Spurs (17-56) at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 29, 2024 at AT&T Center. The contest airs on BSSW....

Wizards vs. Pistons Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Detroit Pistons (12-61) are 2.5-point underdogs as they attempt to turn around an eight-game losing streak when they visit the Washington Wizards (14-59) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Capital One Arena. The matchup airs at 7:00 PM ET...

Pacers vs. Lakers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers (41-32) will attempt to extend a five-game winning streak when they hit the road to play the Indiana Pacers (41-33) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as just 2.5-point underdogs. The game airs at...

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Western's top two teams, the Denver Nuggets (51-22) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (50-22), hit the court at Ball Arena on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET on ALT. The Nuggets are favored by 6.5 points at home....

Warriors vs. Hornets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Golden State Warriors (38-34) play the Charlotte Hornets (18-54) as double-digit, 11.5-point favorites on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET on NBCS. The over/under is set at 218 in the matchup.Warriors vs. Hornets OddsWarriors odds to win:...

more blackhawks news