The Blackhawks Are Back On Track With 2-1 Win In Columbus

Mar 14, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie

(72) makes a save on a shot by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman

(2) at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

After two losses in a row and three days off the Blackhawks had life back in their legs and although they couldn’t get many pucks past the Columbus star of the game they held on for two points after Patrick Kane scored the second goal in the shoot out for a 2-1 shoot out victory in Columbus.

The first period was a spirited affair without many great scoring chances. Andrew Shaw had the best chance when Viktor Stalberg used his speed to win the puck behind the Columbus Blue Jackets net and centered it to Shaw who was stopped by Sergie Bobrovsky the reigning Star #1 of the NHL. Both goalies were sharp in the first period which was a relief to many Hawks fans after Corey Crawford‘s last start in Colorado which was very shaky at best. Andrew Shaw and Matt Calvert dropped the gloves late in the first in a spirited spat. The play of the period came from Niklas Hjalmarsson when he made a very good defensive play on a Columbus 2 on 1 in the final period to preserve the scoreless tie as the first period horn sounded.

The second period save of the game by Bobrovsky was made on Duncan Keith when he had a wide open net, but Bobrovsky got his stick up just in time to prevent the Hawks opening the scoresheet.  The Blackhawks would later get on the board first when Patrick Kane made a great pass to Johnny Oduya who put his first goal of the season in top shelf for the one goal lead. The lead didn’t last long after Sheldon Brookbank took a bad interference penalty, the Blue Jackets won a draw and Jack Johnson buried one past Corey Crawford to tie the score.

The third period was owned by the Blackhawks out-shooting the Blue Jackets 13-3 but neither team could get a puck past either teams net- minder.  Bobrovsky had the third period save of the game when Brandon Bollig had most of the net open but Bobrovsky got his glove up just in the nick of time to stop the Hawks from taking the lead. Marian Hossa had a fantastic third period but ended the night with nothing to show for it offensively.  The Hawks did have to dodge a late power play at the end of regualtion.

The overtime was fantastic end to end action with the shots on goal being 7-6 Hawks. Some overtimes seem like just an exercise to get to the shoot-out but this was exciting and fun to watch.  The overtime save of the game came when Dave Bolland had the entire net and couldn’t lift the puck very high and Bobrovsky got over to smoother the opportunity.

After Columbus struck first in the shoot out, Jonathan Toews scored and then Patrick Kane put on another shoot out highlight reel show for the game winner.  Crawford poke checked the last Columbus attempt to preserve the win.

The Hawks escape the hottest team (Columbus point streak is at a franchise high 9 games)in the NHL home building with two points and have the 2013 train back on track.

Notes

-Bobrovsky was the #1 star of the NHL last week and he was the #` star of this game, he is the reason the Blue Jackets are on this point streak

-Kane picked up his 400th career point in the contest.

–Jimmy Hayes was adequate with Bolland and Kane one would think each game would see improvement out of Hayes  a la Brandon Saad with Toews and Hossa

-The Hawks made 4 really bad turnovers at their own blue line this will come back to cost them if it continues.

-I can’t remember a game where so many guys kept falling down!

-Crawford and Kane where named the #2 and #3 stars of the game.

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