Blackhawks 5, Maple Leafs 4 (SO) – Recap

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: October 22, 2016

The Hawks controlled the action early on and took a 1-0 lead on an Artem Anisimov goal. The Blackhawks would go into the locker room tied at one after one, though, as a misplay between Darling and Forsling lead to a late-period Leafs goal. The Hawks would play another lackluster second period and head into the third down 3-2. You’ll never believe this, but one of Toronto’s second period goals came on the power play. In the third, the Hawks again lacked energy and fell behind 4-2 after Nylander scored his second of the night just under five minutes in. The Hawks would pick it up late, and with six attackers on the ice, scored two goals a minute apart to tie the game. In the final minute-and-a-half, Toronto had a couple nice looks, but the Blackhawks were able to keep the game tied and send it to overtime. In OT, the Blackhawks controlled the action and had two power plays (the second was only the final 39 seconds), but were unable to find the back of the net, so we would go to a shootout, which the Hawks would take 2-1.

A few things

The penalty kill was better. They killed one penalty and the one goal the unit surrendered was a great play by the Leafs. Still got some work to do, but that’s progress.
The Hawks need to just start getting pucks to the net. Start firing at the net and work for some gritty goals.
Motte and Panik played well enough to justify keeping Kane and Panarin together.
I’d stick Vinnie Hinostroza back in the lineup. Put him in the bottom six and see what kind of offense he can generate.

My picks for 3 stars

★★★ Brian Campbell, D, CHI (3 A)

★★ William Nylander, C, TOR (2 G)

★ Artem Anisimov, C, CHI (2 G)

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com