A Darling Effort Leads To A 2-1 Chicago Blackhawks Victory
By Keith Schultz
Sep 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling (33) makes a save during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center. Chicago won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The Blackhawks are coming off two consecutive 3-2 losses on the road and they came home to face the Ottawa Senators at the United Center and here’s what took place on Sunday night.
FIRST PERIOD
The Blackhawks came out kind of flat but in the first 10 minutes the best player on the ice was Scott Darling who was making his NHL debut. Darling stopped 7 shots in the first few minutes and stood tall and kept the puck out of the net.
The Hawks had their chances and the one player that had the most was Jeremy Morin who had three solid shifts 2 shots on goal, but the Morin that pisses Joel Quenneville off showed up too with a penalty (ticky tack weak one) and a pretty bad turnover near the blue line that led to an odd man break.
There was only one ref because the second ref picked up the Blues/Wild flu and went back to his room. The single ref called everything trying to control the play which created 4 on 4 hockey and powerplay chances for both sides, but both goalies were up to the task and both teams skated off without a goal in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The choppy first period led to bench banishment for Jeremy Morin in the second, but it was Brad Richards who made the most frustrating play of the period. With the Hawks on the powerplay and really dominating the play the puck was swung around the boards and the ref clearly got into Richards way which turned into a 3 on 1 the other way and the Senators were able to cash in on the break to tie the game 1-1. Richards instead of hustling back stood there and argued which is unacceptable.
The Blackhawks got another powerplay late in the period and finally Brent Seabrook fired one past Anderson for a 2-1 lead. The key to the goal was wait for it….. Bryan Bickell was parked in front of the net setting a perfect screen. The Hawks hadn’t scored any goals in the second period this season but were able to tally 2 goals to take the lead out shooting them 17-5 in the period.
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THIRD PERIOD
The story of the third period was Scott Darling! The Senators found their legs in the third period and for one of the few times this season the Hawks were out shot in the third, but the Senators couldn’t solve Darling who was up to the task, and when the final horn sounded the Hawks had a 2-1 victory and Darling had his first career win and the #1 Star of the Night.
– Patrick Kane picked up point 500 on the Toews goal.
-Toews is only 3 goals away from 200.
– Hossa is only 3 points away from 1,000 career points.
– The Anaheim Ducks visit Chicago Tuesday night while the Hawks face the Senators again Thursday night.
– Hawks win!!!! Hawks Win!!!
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