The Chicago Blackhawks were awful and sloppy in the first two periods and then they flipped the switch.
What looked like an embarrassing loss turned into salvaging a point, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Marian Hossa scored a power-play goal, to break a three-goal run by the Canucks, at 12:48 in the third period, then scored again with just 54.5 second left in regulation to tie the game. The Blackhawks scored twice in the final 2:11 to send the game to an extra frame.
Daniel Sedin scored his second goal just 1:20 into overtime for a Canucks win.
Hossa is the hottest goal scorer in the league as of late, netting six goals in his last three games — two in each game. Brent Seabrook made an incredible play to keep the puck in the zone, then Brandon Saad had a few swats to the net before Hossa put it in the net to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Sedin’s goal with 4:37 left looked to seal the deal for the Canucks.
Former Blackhawk Radim Vrbata committed a roughing penalty against Andrew Shaw that gave the ‘Hawks another power play. With Corey Crawford pulled, Duncan Keith rocketed a shot from the blue line to make it 4-3. Then Hossa scored with 54.5 seconds left on a very Patrick Kane 2010 Cup-like goal to sent it to overtime. Kane had the primary assist on both tallies, giving him three points and the NHL lead with 62 points on the season.
Kane gave the ‘Hawks the lead when his attempt for a cross-crease pass to Brad Richards deflected off Dan Hamhuis and past Eddie Lack 54 seconds into the second period. Then the ‘Hawks fell into dismay, allowing three unanswered goals in less than seven minutes.
The Canucks tied it at 4:42 in the second with a 3-on-1 rush that ended with Linden Vey scoring the tally. Two minutes later, David Rundblad was left flat footed in front of the net, and Bo Horvat smacked the puck past Crawford for a 2-1 Vancouver lead. Lucas Sbisa fired a shot from the point past Crawford with Zack Kassian in front to make it 3-1.
Crawford stopped 31 of 36 shots he faced and for allowing five goals, he looked quite strong in net. The game could have easily gotten out of hand quickly in the second had it not been for some key stops from him.
The ‘Hawks defense looked awful throughout the second period, notably Johnny Oduya and Michal Rozsival, who have yet to foster chemistry. Throughout the game, with every bad pass Oduya made he became more and more hesitant to make another pass or clearing attempt. That will only lead to more mistakes.
The Blackhawks will look for two points the next time out Friday when they host the New Jersey Devils.
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