Blackhawks power play puts NHL on notice after win against Red Wings

The Chicago Blackhawks got their third-straight win on Sunday afternoon, downing the Detroit Red Wings 5-1. The lopsided score was a testament to the Blackhawks’ control of the game despite getting outshot 46-20.

Yes, Arvid Soderblom was brilliant, making 45 saves in the winning effort. But it was the Blackhawks’ power play that told the story. The Hawks went 3-for-3 with the man advantage. Chicago took full advantage of the Red Wings’ lackluster penalty kill, essentially demolishing Detroit’s defensive efforts.

While it’s not uncommon for a team to score three times on the power play, it’s relatively rare to see a team go perfect in a game. But beyond the 100% power play rating on Sunday, it was the turnaround that spoke volumes about the team's commitment to improving.

Firstly, Connor Bedard’s rocket to open the scoring was unstoppable. To begin with, the Red Wings dug themselves into a hole by taking a penalty 26 seconds into the game. Then, it only took Bedard about another 30 seconds to make the game 1-0.

The Red Wings came back to tie the game. However, it was the Blackhawks' power play that did the talking. Teuvo Tervainen’s one-timer was the result of a total breakdown by the Red Wings’ penalty kill. The goal put Chicago up 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

Now, here’s where I’d like to point out the inflexion point. Had the Red Wings killed off the Blackhawks’ third power play opportunity, they could have had a chance to get back into the game. Instead, the Wings allowed Tyler Bertuzzi to score a soft goal. Bertuzzi did not miss the chance in close, tucking the puck between John Gibson’s pads.

That goal made the game 3-1 and sealed the victory. The Blackhawks added two more late in the game to pad the lead. But the story was the three power-play goals that gave Chicago its eighth win of the season.

Soderblom’s outstanding performance kept Blackhawks in the game long enough

So much has been discussed about Spencer Knight this season. Of course, Knight has been brilliant. But it was Soderblom’s turn to shine on Sunday. Soderblom’s 45 saves bought the Blackhawks enough time to pull out the win.

But the performance goes beyond the number of saves themselves. Having a goalie that a team can trust is crucial in building a winning team. After all, it’s not all too often that a team can get outshot like Chicago did and come out with a 5-1 win.

As you can see, that’s what good goaltending can do. The Blackhawks seem to have the luxury of a solid tandem moving forward. Of course, the club has to clean up much of its defensive game. But the confidence that a great goaltending duo provides is something that teams die for.

Don’t look now, but if this level of goaltending holds up for most of the season, the Blackhawks could make a serious push for a playoff spot.