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Artem Anisimov scored two goals, and the Blackhawks defeat the Sabres 5-4 in a shootout Thursday at the United Center.
With the victory, Chicago extended its home winning streak to eight games in the season series against Buffalo.
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FINAL: #Blackhawks 5, #Sabres 4 (SO)
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) March 8, 2019
Alex DeBrincat wins it.
Anisimov
Keith
Perlini
Toews
Kane
Kahun
Koekkoek
Crawford 35
3 up
Patrick Kane
Kane had two secondary assists on both of the Blackhawks’ first-period goals to pass Steve Larmer for fourth on the franchise’s all-time points list with 924 points in his 888th career NHL game. Stan Mikita (1,467), Bobby Hull (1,153) and Denis Savard (1,096) are the top three. Kane now has 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 17 career games against his hometown Sabres, including six this season.
Kane on passing Larmer in Blackhawks career points: "It's special. Larmer was a great player, probably should be in the Hall of Fame, obviously had a great career here with the Blackhawks and one of those guys who played the game the right way. To get by him is pretty special."
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 8, 2019
Brendan Perlini
Perlini scored his third goal in as many games after only tallying three goals in his first 29 games with the Blackhawks. Perlini recorded a team-high six shots while skating on the third line with Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. Perlini has stepped up his game since watching “Free Solo” and Drake Caggiula (concussion) being out of the lineup, and is taking advantage of the additional ice time.
Let’s see the Blackhawks’ top-six look like this for a few games:
Saad — Toews — Kane
DeBrincat — Strome — Perlini
Jonathan Toews
Kane wasn’t the only one with two assists as Toews also dished out two helpers. Toews now has points in eight of his last nine games, including four multi-point games. He’s put together a nice bounce back season so far with 69 points (29 goals, 40 assists) in 67 games. His career high of 76 points from the 2010-11 season is within reach.
3 down
Quick letdown
The Blackhawks killed off the remaining time on David Kampf’s tripping penalty to start the second then allowed three unanswered goals in the span of 3:29 minutes for Buffalo to take the lead just 6:45 into the middle frame. It seems like time and time again the Blackhawks continue to give up those early period goals and lose control of whatever momentum they had going.
Special teams
The Blackhawks went 0-for-5 on the power play against the Sabres, and allowed a shorthanded goal by Zach Bogosian.
John Hayden
For the third time this season, the Blackhawks started a game with Brandon Saad, Toews and Hayden on the top line. The Blackhawks dropped the first two games: 8-3 on Nov. 27 to Vegas and 6-3 on Dec. 11 at Winnipeg. Hayden, however, didn’t last too long on the top line as he played a team-low 6:25 minutes of ice time and 26.67 Corsi-For percentage. He did draw a penalty, but the Blackhawks had nothing to show for it.
What’s next?
The Blackhawks visit the Stars on Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas.