NEWSLETTER
Even though they’ll leave the United Center with one point, the Blackhawks stunk it up for 60-plus minutes against the Boston Bruins in front of the home crowd. So, you might be asking yourself, how does a team get out-shot by 28 shots on goal and take their opponent to overtime with a shot at two points alive after 60 minutes of suckage? It’s pretty simple: a little bit of luck, and, of course Marc-Andre Fleury.
Boston dominated the Blackhawks all night, but Fleury was standing on his head, doing everything he could to keep the Blackhawks in the game despite their nearly non-existent offensive attack. Through the first two periods, the Bruins led the Blackhawks 33-11 in shots on goal and 19-8 in five-on-five scoring chances, but Marc-André Fleury logged 35 saves through the middle frame as the Blackhawks and Bruins took a scoreless tie into the third period on Tuesday night.
Check out this incredible save by Fleury late in the second period on a Boston man-advantage, his 29th of the game to that point:
Marc-Andre Fleury Everybody, 34 saves throughout 2 periods- this being one of the very many unreal ones made tonight. pic.twitter.com/pSULKqKKab
— Blackhawks Nation (@HawksNationfb) March 16, 2022
It wasn’t until Patrice Bergeron could tip one over Fleury in the third period to give the Bruins the first score of the game on the 40th shot on goal of the night for Boston.
Chaos in the crease.
Patrice Bergeron bats a puck home to break a 0-0 deadlock while Taylor Hall gets cut by Stillman's skate.
Looks like Hall is ok. pic.twitter.com/Q1lyXPXUBD
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) March 16, 2022
Brandon Hagel, who scored two goals against the Bruins last Thursday, evened things up at one-a-piece on a re-direct of Caleb Jones’ pass midway through the third period. Then the Blackhawks got a little bit of luck to go their way. Or, maybe it was simply Karma?
With 4:45 left in the third period, it looked like Charlie Coyle put the Bruins on top 2-1, but the goal was waved off for goaltender interference. But was it goaltender interference?
Charlie Coyle’s go ahead goal called goaltender interference. Bruins challenge. Still ruled no goal. I have no idea anymore pic.twitter.com/xFSyau0mUv
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) March 16, 2022
Honestly, I don’t think it was. I think the Blackhawks got away with one there. Or, as I said, maybe it was Karma …
Last time the Bruins were in Chicago, Olli Maatta and Drake Caggiula had a late game-winner negated by a very questionable hand-pass call, then the Bruins won in OT.
If the Hawks win tonight despite getting outshot 44-16 so far, it would be a little poetic.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 16, 2022
Either way, it didn’t matter. The Blackhawks came up with nothing on the ensuing power play and eventually got caught cheating up from the play in overtime, and the Bruins balanced everything out, topping the Blackhawks in overtime.
Marc-André Fleury stopped 46 of the 48 shots he saw on the evening, a new season-high in saves for Fleury (previous was 42). Fleury was scuffling a bit the past few weeks, but if any of the ten scouts in attendance tonight needed a reminder as to why Marc-André Fleury is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and a goaltender who can help a team win a Stanley Cup this season, tonight was their reminder.
You can find the complete box score here!
