Despite scoring the first two goals of the game, the Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Minnesota Wild, 3-2, in the United Center. The victory gives Minnesota the outright lead in the Central Division, knocking the Blackhawks down to the second position midway through the season.
Patrick Kane led the way for the Blackhawks with two goals and an incredible 12 shots on goal. He was a machine as the team double shifted him regularly throughout the contest en route to a team-high 27:09 playing time. Those efforts led to the Hawks’ only goals in the game, which unfortunately wouldn’t be enough.
Kane opened scoring within the first five minutes of the game. Kane would strike again later in the first, giving the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead out of the gates. For Kane, it is his 10th point in his last six games, which includes three goals and seven assists. This was Kane’s first multi-goal game of the 2016-17 season.
Minnesota (28-9-5) would answer in the second period as it collected two unanswered goals. Nino Niederreiter put back a blocked shot on a power play, and Chris Stewart short sided Corey Crawford on a feed from Jordan Schroeder to tie the game.
Early in the third, the Wild scored on a funky bounce that saw Jason Pominville score his first goal since Nov. 29. The goal gave the Wild a lead they would not relinquish, and Minnesota would go on to win the game. This is the eighth consecutive regular season victory for the Wild over the Hawks, and their 17th win in 19th games.
Devan Dubnyk was sensational for Minnesota yet again, stopping 33 or 35 shots on goal in the contest. Corey Crawford stopped 29 of 32 shots faced.
Turning Point
Jason Pominville capitalized on a fortuitous bounce early in the third period to put the Minnesota Wild ahead 3-2. For Pominville, it was his sixth goal of the season and would give the Wild the lead early in the third.
Jason Pominville scores his first goal since November 29th. 3-2 #MNWild pic.twitter.com/z4yIGLbkF3
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) January 16, 2017
SCH 3 Stars
1. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks (2 goals, 12 shots on goal)
2. Nino Niederreiter, Wild (1 goal)
3. Devan Dubnyk, Wild (33 saves)
Play of the game
Patrick Kane fired home a quick shot after a faceoff win by Artem Anisimov to give Chicago an early 2-0 lead. Don’t blink, you’ll miss it.
Patrick Kane goes upstairs in a flash. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/TNPK96YogF
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) January 16, 2017
What’s next?
The Hawks travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche in a Central Division battle on Tuesday night.