Blackhawks 2, Oilers 1 (SO) – Recap

After a three-day break, the Hawks were back on the ice at the United Center to take on the Edmonton Oilers, a team in the middle of the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. Early on, the Oilers weren’t playing like it, though, as they got a couple nice chances that required great saves from Corey Crawford. The Hawks would pick up their play and get a couple nice chances of their own, but nothing got past Ben Scrivens. The Hawks would get the game’s first power play after Justin Schultz was called for a high stick on Brandon Saad. The Hawks weren’t able to get much set up on the power play and came away empty.

The Oilers would get the game’s first goal with 4:44 left in the period when Derek Roy beat Crawford. The Oilers would control the game following the Roy goal, and while the Hawks would get a couple shots late, nothing found the back of the net, and, after one, it was 1-0 Oilers.

Less than a minute into the second period, the Blackhawks would go to the power play after Martin Marincin was sent off for holding Patrick Sharp. The Hawks would come away empty again, although this time, they would get a couple good looks. Following the successful penalty kill, the Oilers regained control of the game. The Hawks would gradually pick up their play before totally turning the momentum in their favor. Later in the period, the Oilers put together a great possession in their offensive zone, but good defense and good goaltending kept it a one-goal game. The Hawks would answer with a nice possession of their own, but Scrivens, too, was able to keep the puck out of the net. The rest of the period saw back-and-forth action with both teams getting shots and neither getting goals. After forty minutes, the score was 1-0 Oilers.

The Hawks got off to a good start in the third, getting plenty of shots, but Scrivens had an answer for each of them. The Hawks would begin to dominate the action and spend a good amount of time in their offensive zone, but Scrivens made good save after good save. The Hawks would finally end Scrivens’ shutout bid just under 54 minutes into the game when Brent Seabrook beat Scrivens, who had been screened by his own teammate. Following the Seabrook goal, the Oilers would pick up their play and put together a few nice shifts, hoping to regain the lead, but each shot was turned away by Crawford. Both teams would have chances late to take the lead, but nobody did, and we would head to overtime tied at 1.

Overtime saw back-and-forth play from the two teams, but good goaltending won out on both ends. With just four seconds left, Brent Seabrook was called for hooking Derek Roy and Roy was called for embellishment, so we would see 3-on-3 hockey for four seconds, with the draw at center ice. Nobody came up with a near-miracle goal, and we would head to a shootout.

In round one of the shootout, Derek Roy was denied by Crawford, and, at the other end, Scrivens stopped Jonathan Toews’ shot.

In round two, Crawford denied Jordan Eberle, and, at the other end, Scrivens denied Patrick Sharp.

In round three, Teddy Purcell was stonewalled by Crawford, and, at the other end, Antoine Vermette, in his first shootout and second game with the Hawks, got one by Scrivens to give the Hawks the extra point.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ Brent Seabrook, D, CHI (1 G (GTG))

★★ Ben Scrivens, G, EDM (38 SV, 1 GA)

★ Corey Crawford, G, CHI (46 SV, 1 GA)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com

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