Erik Gustafsson’s power play goal — his second of the game — in overtime to lead the Blackhawks to their fourth straight win with a 4-3 victory over the Wild on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
It’s the Blackhawks’ longest win streak since Dec. 8-17, 2017.
Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists and Jonathan Toews had a power-play goal and an assist. Dominik Kahun and Dylan Strome had assists on each of the Blackhawks’ first two goals. Rookie goaltender Collin Delia made 28 saves for his second win this season against the Wild.
Patrick Kane extends his point streak to 11 games, with an assist on Toews’ goal. Kane has nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points over that stretch. Kane played 26:46 of ice time, the most out of any Blackhawks skater.
Jason Zucker opened the scoring near the midway point of the first with a one-timer in the slot from Mikael Granlund on the power play.
Brendan Perlini, who made his return for Chicago after missing three games with a concussion, was hooked by Brad Hunt and awarded a penalty shot. Perlini weaved his way to the net before firing a shot right into Alex Stalock’s lap.
The first Blackhawks goal wouldn’t come until the second period, when Kahun connect with DeBrincat on a stretch pass and DeBrincat sniped a shot from the top of the left circle past Stalock to tie it up.
Gustafsson scored his first goal of the game with a rocket from the point late in the second. Wild coach Bruce Boudreau challenged for offsides, but there was no conclusive evidence, and the Blackhawks went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu tied it up at 2 with a shot from the high slot about 8 minutes into the third, but Toews responded off a backdoor pass from Kane on the power play to give Chicago the lead again with 4:45 left to play.
Victor Rask, who was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Carolina on Jan. 17, tied it up for a second time to send the game to overtime.
With the Blackhawks on the power play, Gustafsson rifled a shot home for the overtime winner.
With the victory, the Blackhawks won the season series with all three Chicago victories under head coach Jeremy Colliton. On a related note:
Jeremy Colliton and Matt Nagy are a combined 5-0 against Minnesota. #Blackhawks #DaBears
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) February 3, 2019
Up Next
The Blackhawks have two days off before they travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers on Tuesday.
3 Starz
- Erik Gustafsson (CHI) — 2 goals (overtime winner)
- Alex DeBrincat (CHI) — 1 goal, 2 assists
- Dominik Kahun (CHI) — 2 assists