In a back and forth competition with the Wild on Sunday at the United Center, the Blackhawks broke their losing streak with a 5-3 victory.
Chicago regained traction on the power-play, which had scored in five straight games before Saturday’s game against the Blues, and Patrick Kane added a hat trick.
Robin Lehner made 23 saves on 26 shots and Brandon Saad and David Kampf added the other two goals.
How it happened
The Blackhawks began the scoring a little less than eight minutes into the game, as Kane got the puck over the goal line, although it took a replay to prove it. His first chance was denied, but he was able to collect the rebound and put it over the line.
Kane’s first tally was the first goal the Blackhawks have scored this season through replay.
Less than four minutes later, Kane would score on the power play to put the Blackhawks up two.
GOAL. Patrick Kane scores on the power play for his second goal of the game at 11:33. It’s 2-0 #Blackhawks against the #mnwild. pic.twitter.com/nHMrqyhSjQ
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 16, 2019
A nice give-and-go play with Jonathan Toews and a great keep-in move from Dylan Strome helped to give the Blackhawks some padding on their lead, but Kane’s shot seals it.
Kirby Dach would almost immediately take a hooking penalty after Kane’s second goal, however, putting Minnesota on their power play, which had been on a 0-for-18 streak prior to this game. Eric Staal scored, point number 1000 on his career, to make it a 2-1 game.
Both Mats Zuccarello and Jason Zucker would leave the game over the course of the first period, Zucker after blocking a slapshot from Brent Seabrook. Both would be back in the game by the end of the period, however.
In the second period, Kevin Fiala scored less than two minutes in, as Kane had a shot blocked by Ryan Suter, and Olli Maatta could not catch Fiala on the breakaway at 4-on-4 (Toews and Jordan Greenway were sitting for coinciding penalties).
David Kampf would get the lead back for the Blackhawks, however, scoring on a deflection off of a Connor Murphy shot during a delayed penalty.
GOAL. David Kampf redirects Connor Murphy’s shot from the point to put the #Blackhawks up 3-2 against #mnwild at 8:13 of the second period. pic.twitter.com/kklErBzTtm
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 16, 2019
The goal is Kampf’s fifth of the season, a new career high for the third-year pro. Kampf missed 55 games combined between the 2017-18 and 18-19 seasons.
Fiala would even the game back up before the second period was out, as what was meant to be a pass deflected off of Maatta’s skate and into the net. Not a good period from him. Ryan Suter had assists on all three of the Wild’s goals.
In the third period, the two sides would trade shots and opportunities, but it would take Brandon Saad deflecting another Murphy shot into the net for the Blackhawks to break the tie.
WOWOWOWOW. The ole up-and-over to give the #Blackhawks the lead!
Stream the end here: https://t.co/uRoc0Z4vXV pic.twitter.com/BnreiUInUa
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 16, 2019
That’s the first third-period go-ahead goal for the Blackhawks this season, as well as Saad’s third in two days, and it sparked a much-needed victory.
Kane would score the empty-net goal to get his eighth career hat trick, providing the 5-3 score.
The Blackhawks played a much better game against the Wild than they did against the Blues, with a 48.98 percent shot share and 58.82 percent high-danger share. The Blackhawks played two periods where they had shot advantages in the first and third as well.
Game Charts
Three Stars
Patrick Kane (CHI) — 3 goals, 7 shots
Kevin Fiala (MIN) — 2 goals, 5 shots
Connor Murphy (CHI) — 2 assists, 24:58 TOI, 3 shots blocked
What’s next?
The Blackhawks host the Western Conference-leading Avalanche at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at United Center.