To watch the Chicago Blackhawks square off against the division rival Nashville Predators for the first time this year, you’d think Barry Trotz was still behind the bench for the Preds. It was a typically boring affair, as this matchup tends to be of late, with the Blackhawks completely outplaying and outshooting the Predators, but needing overtime to squeak out a win. Even with Carter Hutton in net for the opposition.
The Hawks have now taken points in their first four games of the season, and clearly have yet to play anything even resembling their best hockey. A solid start to be sure, but room for improvement. Regardless of that fact, it’s another win in the books and another edition of three stars for us too look at:
3. Johnny Oduya
I kind of wanted to throw Brad Richards here, because he was visible and clearly played one of his better games since joining the Hawks. Nonetheless, Oduya, even with rough possession numbers, scored the only other goal for the Hawks, ripping a shot through Hutton’s five-hole in the game’s first two minutes. He led the team with five blocked shots and was a plus-2 for the night, even if looking at his Corsi doesn’t paint the prettiest of pictures (a Corsi +/- of just plus-1).
2. Brent Seabrook
Seabrook really had an outstanding night on Saturday. He was extremely noticeable throughout the entire night, and for all the right reasons. He had four blocked shots, including one in which he was sans stick, and added three hits, both no. 2 on the team for the night. He was far and away the leader in Corsi% on the night, with a relative Corsi up over 32 percent.
1. Jonathan Toews
The Captain only won 47 percent of his draws, but we’re not worried about that right now. He scored his first goal of the year, which couldn’t have come at a more perfect time as the overtime winner. In the most Jonathan Toews goal of all-time, he stole the puck shorthanded, in his own end and converted on the breakaway to give the Hawks the W. He led all forwards in Corsi%, at just under 72 percent on the night and added a pair of takeaways, including the one on the GW goal.
Randy Holt is a staff writer for Second City Hockey. You can follow him on Twitter @RandallPnkFloyd.