Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane both scored in a shootout, and Corey Crawford made two saves for the Blackhawks in a 3-2 win against the Panthers on Saturday at BT&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Despite a slow start, with just five shots between both teams in the first 10 minutes, Mike Hoffman was not slow in rushing down the ice once Slater Koekkoek fumbled the puck in the Blackhawks’ offensive zone. Hoffman beat Crawford on the breakaway, giving the Panthers a 1-0 start to the game four minutes in.
During the rest of the period, the Blackhawks built a lead in shots and in possession, but also managed to find a goal, as Toews took a pass from Adam Boqvist and put the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky:
Jonathan Toews tips Adam Boqvist’s pass into the net to tie it 1-1. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/x0ufM7YPHV
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) February 29, 2020
The Blackhawks would continue to outpace the Panthers well into the second period, as Chicago took 21 of the first 28 shots. That would help get the Blackhawks on the board again as Drake Caggiula deflected Connor Murphy’s shot at 6:21 of the second period.
The goal was credited to Dominik Kubalik at first, but after a closer video review Caggiula got a piece of it.
Dominik Kubalik scores his 30th goal of the season to give the #Blackhawks a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/2h3VwVYiiX
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) March 1, 2020
The Zapruder-esque evidence that the second #Blackhawks goal appears to have been double-tipped and could be Caggiula’s at the end of the day. https://t.co/tszWjACqc6 pic.twitter.com/WX9epdYvPn
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) March 1, 2020
The Panthers roared back in possession to end the period, although two back-to-back penalties by the Blackhawks lended a helping hand. The Panthers had 15 shots to the Blackhawks’ 10 in the second, and five minutes into the third period had taken 18 of the last 21 shots. Chicago took just two shots in the third period.
Eventually, the Panthers broke Crawford’s dam for the second time in the game, as Mike Matheson went on a breakaway with Jonathan Huberdeau and the defenseman chose to shoot it, beating Crawford to tie it 2-2 with 1:28 remaining in the third.
Crawford was the difference maker for the Blackhawks once again, making 38 saves and two more in a shootout. It’s his second straight excellent start, after allowing two goals against the Lightning.
Game charts
Three stars
1. Jonathan Toews (CHI) — 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 shootout goal
2. Corey Crawford (CHI) — 38 saves, 3.64 expected goals against
3. Mike Hoffman (FLA) — 1 goal, 1 assist
What’s next
The Blackhawks return home to host the Ducks at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Center.