The Blackhawks’ winning ways are over.
After five straight victories, Chicago fell 3-2 in overtime as Bo Horvat scored 16 seconds into the extra session Monday night at the United Center.
With Arizona’s 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday and the Blackhawks grabbing the loser point, Chicago is now four points back of the Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with just 10 games to go.
Corey Crawford stopped 31 of 34 shots in his first loss in six games since returning from a concussion March 7.
Patrick Kane recorded his second career 100-point season with an assist on Jonathan Toews’ power-play goal with just 35 seconds remaining in the first period for a 1-0 lead. Toews’ 31st tally of the season was Chicago’s first goal on the man advantage since Feb. 27.
Vancouver stormed back in the second period, scoring back-to-back goals from Alexander Edler and Markus Granlund for a 2-1 lead. Edler’s slap shot went by a screened Crawford just 53 seconds into the period, and Granlund knocked in a rebound at 6:22.
Elias Pettersson’s assist on Granlund’s goal put him alone atop the Canucks’ franchise rookie scoring list with 61 points, snapping a tie with Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka.
Erik Gustafsson showed up big for the Blackhawks with 3:13 left in the third period, tying the game 2-2 on a critical offensive-zone draw after a squandered power-play opportunity just moments before. His shot from the blue line found its way through goaltender Thatcher Demko’s five-hole to force overtime.
Gustafsson’s 14th goal of the season puts him one goal shy of becoming the seventh defenseman in franchise history to score 15 goals in a season. Kane picked up his second point of the game and 60th assist of the season, which makes him just the third player in Blackhawks history to record multiple seasons with at least 60 helpers.
Though Chicago managed to steal a point from a non-playoff team, Horvat’s overtime winner put the nail in the coffin. After losing the opening faceoff, the defense backed off and 16 seconds later, it was over. Vancouver heads home 3-1-1 in their last five outings.
Up Next
Chicago will have two days off before hosting the Flyers on Thursday.
3 Stars
- Patrick Kane (CHI) — 2 assists
- Thatcher Demko (VAN) — 29 saves
- Jonathan Toews (CHI) — 1 goal