The Blackhawks traveled to Le Centre Bell in Montreal for the milestone victory, their ninth in a row. Jonathan Toews and Ryan Garbutt scored as Corey Crawford stayed hot with 39 saves.
The Blackhawks drew first blood at 8:26 of the first period as Andrew Shaw won a board battle off an offensive zone faceoff and found Toews through traffic for a tap-in goal, his 17th of the season. Shaw played another solid game and continues to fortify his spot on the top line with Toews and Marian Hossa. While he possesses a skill set that may seem redundant with some of the additions to the Hawks’ roster this season, there is no one on the team better at the grinder role than Shaw.
Toews goal pic.twitter.com/SYOjtNN7Ma
— Stephanie (@myregularface) January 15, 2016
About three minutes later, Montreal center David Desharnais bounced a pass to the left side of the crease in transition which deflected off the leg of winger Paul Byron and past Crawford to tie the score at 1. Byron did not appear to kick the puck in, so Byron was credited with his eighth goal of the season.
Garbutt put the Blackhawks back ahead at 12:56 of the first period with a blast from outside the left circle at the end of a nice shift from the fourth line. Richard Panik earned his first point as a Blackhawk by dropping a rebound back to Michal Rozsival for a shot from the point, creating a long rebound off the back boards that found Garbutt for his second goal of the season.
Garbutt goal pic.twitter.com/Htgzj6OFYX
— Stephanie (@myregularface) January 15, 2016
After a receiving a passing grade from Joel Quenneville in his debut with the Hawks on Tuesday, Panik seems to be earning quality minutes not only for himself, but also for his linemates Garbutt and Dennis Rasmussen. All three played over ten minutes, indicating that the newly formed fourth line has now been inducted into Q’s circle of trust.
The remainder of the game was highlighted by strong play from Crawford as the Blackhawks looked scrambly for much of the second period and stretches of the third. Les Canadiens had the advantage in play and several quality scoring chances, especially towards the end of the second. The Hawks did well blocking shots, 21 in all for a season high, including Brent Seabrook sprawling out to deny a close-in chance for Alex Galchenyuk with about four minutes left in the second period. Crawford stood on his head for the final two periods and the Hawks held on for the 2-1 victory.
The Blackhawks have now tied the idle Dallas Stars for the most points in the Western Conference. Although the Stars have two games in hand, the Blackhawks have a chance to take over first place tomorrow night and extend their winning streak as they head to Toronto to take on Mike Babcock’s Maple Leafs at 6pm CT.