Chicago Blackhawks-Three Takeaways From Dominant 10-1 Win Over The Penguins

The 2017-18′ season has begun! The Chicago Blackhawks opened the season with a 10-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, embarrassing the defending Stanley Cup champions.

10 Goals, 44 shots on goal, and an outstanding 28 save appearance in net by Corey Crawford were all key factors in the Chicago Blackhawks 10 to 1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The last time they scored ten goals was on October 12th, 1988 versus the Winnipeg Jets.

It’s obvious now that Stan Bowman meant business when he said the Chicago Blackhawks would go through a dramatic change that would make them more well rounded and overall a better team.

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To embarrass the reigning Stanley Cup champion on your own home-ice is one of the most confidence boosting achievements a team can accomplish, especially starting out the season.

Here are some take-aways from the Hawks’ blowout win over the Penguins.

Strong start lifts confidence

The Blackhawks’ opening period was, how do we say, electric? The boys were buzzing as soon as the puck dropped and were ready to put last seasons’ demons to rest with a first period full of redemption. Within 2:55 in the first half of the opening period, Ryan Hartman, Brandon Saad, and Nick Schmaltz, were able to pile it on former Blackhawks’ goaltender Antti Niemi, igniting the Hawks’ to a 4-0 lead.

Patrick Sharp later scored on a breakaway, adding his 600th career point on the board, itching the Hawks’ closer to blowing out the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Opening the first period like this was vital. The Hawks’ went through a dramatic change-up this offseason, which gave a lot of skepticism their way. However, coming out of the gate with a strong start gave them the understanding that anything is possible, especially with familiar faces in the line-up.

Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane line reigned with alert chemistry

One thing that completely startled fans, was how vital the Hawks’ second line of Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane played. With this being Kane’s first game without Artemi Panarin since the Saad trade, everyone thought he’d be down in the dumps. Little did they know …

Kane leaped off the dramatic start by giving Hartman an amazing, yet well crafted pass from behind the net, catching the Pens off guard for the first goal. Later on, Kaner did it yet again after a spin-o-rama pass from the right circle found Schmaltz for the games’ third goal.

It didn’t stop there. They were the line to watch as the game went along, the trio ended up scoring a total of nine points (Kane 1G, 3A; Hartman 1G, 4A; Schmaltz 2 G, 1A).

Throughout the match-up, they were easily the Hawks’ best line. Kane was able to be strategic on the ice while his counterparts were constantly on the attack and in the Pens’ face. Their unwillingness to give the Penguins some distress was phenomenal and vital to the teams’ success in their embarrassing win.

Chicago Blackhawks

Welcoming home party was riveting

This game was important not only for the Blackhawks’ moral, but for two players; Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad. Those two names were by far the most anticipated to see on a Hawks’ sweater, but even sweater based on their performance.

Saad, who had a hat trick, and Sharp, who scored a goal, combined for four points and rolled out their own red carpet. Both players looked fresh, energized, and ready to roll as they regrouped with their family, a.k.a Jonathan Toews and Co.

Seeing Saad’s elusive style of hockey back in the good ol’ red sweater was refreshing, yet reassuring when looking back on the trade that sent Panarin away.

Next: Patrick Kane Makes Some Great Passes To Start The Season

The Saad-father is back, ladies and gentleman.

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