The Chicago Blackhawks looked slow, sloppy and quite simply out played early on in the regular-season opener but came alive in the third period and went on to record a 3-2 victory over the Stars on Thursday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The Hawks trailed 2-1 midway through the third period when Patrick Sharp fired a blast from the top of the right circle just seven seconds into a Jordie Benn power play to force overtime.
Patrick Kane scored the game-winner on a backhander in the shootout while Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith each and a goal and an assist in regulation. Trevor Daley and Cody Eakin found the back of the net for Dallas.
The Hawks finished 1-for-5 while the Stars were 1-for-6 on the power play. Daley scored the Stars’ goal with the man advantage in the second period. The win is the seventh straight in Dallas for the Hawks.
Rookie defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk made his NHL debut for the Hawks on a three-on-two odd man rush. The 23-year-old was paired with veteran Niklas Hjalmarsson.
From the opening face-off, Dallas controlled the puck with Marcus Kruger registering the first shot on goal after 13 minutes into the game. Corey Crawford came up big for the Hawks in net with several stops on rebound attempts during the first penalty kill.
Keith gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead with 43.7 seconds remaining in the opening period. The reigning Norris Trophy winner fired a shot from the top of the right circle that squeezed past Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Brent Seabrook and Sharp were credited with the assists.
Dallas continued their fast start in the second period, outshooting the Hawks 7-0 before the Hawks’ first power play where they posted just two shots. Bryan Bickell and Brandon Saad broke free on the power play only to have Saad stopped by the Stars’ defense.
Daley tied the game at 1-1 on a rebound after Hjalmarsson went to the box for a double-minor for high-sticking midway through the second period. Dallas looked poised to take the lead when Shawn Horcoff closed in on a one-on-one with Crawford, but the Hawks’ net minder shutdown the attack.
Eakin blasted a wrester from the slot off the iron and into the net for a 2-1 lead before the horn sounded to end the second period.
Blackhawks’ head coach Joel Quenneville rolled out essentially three lines and two defensive pairings for the most of the second period with Daniel Carcillo on the bench and Jermey Morin only having one shift.
With the win in net after a 32 save performance, Crawford tied Murray Bannerman for fifth-most wins in Hawks history with 115. Crawford now trails Jocelyn Thibault with 137.
The Hawks host the Buffalo Sabers in their home opener on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the United Center.
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