NEWSLETTER
The Blackhawks were not going to let the return of one legend spoil the celebration of another, as they topped Duncan Keith and the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at the United Center.
Before the action got underway, the Blackhawks celebrated the career of Niklas Hjalmarsson, who, like Keith, is one of only six players to raise the Stanley Cup three times with the Blackhawks during the One Goal era in Chicago.
We love you, Hammer! https://t.co/1ie2j2aMQi
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 4, 2022
On the ice, the Blackhawks played one of their best games of the season. The top line of Dominik Kubalík, Dylan Strome, and Patrick Kane was fantastic all night long, generating two of the Blackhawks’ three regulation goals, including this beauty by Patrick Kane to make it 2-1 in period one:
What a pass by Stromer and the finish by 88 on the one-timer! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BxbKbdVzrk
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 4, 2022
Kubalík, Strome, and Kane were on the ice for eight scoring chances for the Blackhawks and just two scoring opportunities for the Oilers and generated three high-danger chances for the Blackhawks.
But it was Sam Lafferty who got the Blackhawks on the board early, scoring his first goal in a Blackhawks sweater with 2:34 seconds into the first period. Lafferty played an excellent game on Thursday night with his name seemingly called every time he was on the ice. The same could be said for Ryan Carpenter, who assisted on his first-period goal and played a very aggressive game all night.
Kirby Dach continued to build on his recent string of solid performances, racking up a hit, two blocks, and two takeaways. Brandon Hagel had a strong game and logged a pair of shots on goal, a hit, and a takeaway.
Edmonton came into the game with the league’s ninth-best offense, scoring 3.26 goals per contest and the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, converting on 26.5 percent of their man-advantages. The Blackhawks did a fantastic job on the penalty kill tonight, neutralizing four of Edmonton’s five chances on the power-play.
Although it took extra time to get the season series-clinching victory over Edmonton after a last-minute goal by the Oilers, the Blackhawks still pulled this one out. In overtime with a 4-on-3 advantage, Patrick Kane took the Oilers to school as he often does when he has open ice around him. Kane lulled Edmonton to sleep with the puck on a string at his feet before he nailed Alex DeBrincat with a dime, and, of course, Alex DeBrincat hammered the one-timer home for the win.
DeBrincat with his 30th of the season. That’s his 3rd 30+goal season of his career. On pace for 45 this season #Blackhawks #CHIvsEDMpic.twitter.com/ZzIDsEgzXK
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) March 4, 2022
The game-winner for DeBrincat was his 30th goal of the season, marking the third time he’s scored 30 or more goals in a season for the Blackhawks. It was also his 50th career power-play goal.
You can find the complete box score here!
