In their final head to head matchup of the season, the Chicago Blackhawks earned two more points in a late game victory in the Saddledome. The Hawks (12-4-2) got an A+ performance from Corey Crawford who stopped 28 of 30 shots on net, and some late game heroics by Marian Hossa earned the first victory of the circus road-trip.
Chicago opened the scoring when Artem Anisimov found a WIDE open Ryan Hartman for a breakaway chance. Using his backside, Hartman managed to fight off a trailing defender and launch the puck past goaltender Chad Johnson to earn his third goal of the season. With the assist, Anisimov breaks a three game stretch without tallying a point.
Ryan Hartman goal.
Gets behind the D, protects the puck, scores.
CHI 1
CGY 0
11:48 1st pic.twitter.com/tI4qZb8YuB— Blackhawks Breakdown (@HawksBreakdown) November 19, 2016
Calgary (7-11-1) would retaliate with a goal early in the second period after Sam Bennett cleaned up a T.J. Brodie shot. Brodie stole the puck away from Patrick Kane in the Hawks’ end, and helped start the rush that would equal the game tying goal early in the second. Later in the period, the same line of Sam Bennett – Sean Monahan – Troy Brouwer would give the Flames the lead as Monahan banked a shot off Gustav Forsling’s right foot and into the net. Both Bennett and Monahan combined for eight shots on goal in the contest, and proved to be the most effective line for Calgary.
The one goal lead would disappear as the Hawks found themselves on a power play late in the second period. Duncan Keith found an open Brent Seabrook, who would find the net from the top of the right circle for his second goal of the season. The goal was the 13th power play goal for the Hawks this season.
A bizarre moment in the second period came when Patrick Kane managed to prevent his own shot from scoring, keeping the game tied at two goals a piece through two periods.
Patrick Kane double-taps this puck to rob himself of a goal. You don’t see that every day. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/FEi3DDwJ9r
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) November 19, 2016
But the defining moment of the game came with 2:23 left in the game. Marian Hossa followed up an Artemi Panarin shot from the left circle, pushing home the game winner from in front of the net. After a brief review, the goal would stand and eventually give the Hawks a 3-2 victory.
Kempny to Panarin for the zone entry.
Panarin with the shot.
Hossa with the Dunk.(goal) pic.twitter.com/b4yhOGi3VE
— Blackhawks Breakdown (@HawksBreakdown) November 19, 2016
As stated earlier, Crawford was sensational as he stopped 28 of 30 shots. Along with nearly a dozen high quality saves, his play kept the Hawks in the game till the very end. Another key factor in the win was a perfect night by the penalty kill. They have now killed of 25 of their last 27 shorthanded situations, and have definitely turned a corner after starting the season slowly.
Chicago will face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night at 9 p.m. CT on CSN.