Thursday, December 3, 2015

Kane Keeps Streaking, Blackhawks Lose in OT To Senators, 4-3

All eyes were on Patrick Kane tonight as he attempted to tie the Blackhawks All-Time record for points in consecutive games set by "The Golden Jet", Bobby Hull, at 21 games as they visited the Ottawa Senators for the only time this year.  #88 did indeed tie Hull, in great fashion.  He scored a goal and had two assists, both of which were behind the back drop passes.  Unfortunately, the Blackhawks could not get any point production from any other line and the Hawks fell in overtime, 4-3.

The Senators jumped to a lead just 92 seconds into the game.  Mike Hoffman snapped a wrist shot over the shoulder of Corey Crawford and it would get worse just over 6 minutes later as Bobby Ryan, on the power play, would score as Crawford was completely screened in front of the net.  Slow starts are killing this team as did the penalty kill tonight.

In the second period, the Blackhawks came to play, outshooting Ottawa, 16-6.  The Hawks would get a 5-on-3 power play early, and Kane would be left a lone with the puck for nearly 5.5 seconds by the near circle.  He would then snap a shot through the legs of Craig Anderson to cut the lead in half at 2-1.  Late in the period, Kane would give a drop/no-look pass to a streaking Artemi Panarin who beat Anderson glove side to tie the game at 2 before the period ended.

Through two periods, Ottawa was held to just 14 shots.  In the 3rd period, they had 12.  Three and a half minutes into the period, the Blackhawks would get caught for a 'Too Many Men On The Ice' penalty, the most asinine penalty a team can take.  And it bit them in the rear.  Just 20 seconds into that power play, after another face off loss, Mark Stone would tip a deflected puck into the net behind Crawford to give the Senators a 3-2 lead.  Ottawa was 2-for-4 on the power play tonight.  The Hawks would come back, thanks to the Panarin-Anisimov-Kane line...once again.  After some nice puck passing between Panarin and Kane, Kane, while behind the net, performed yet another no-look pass and fed Artem Anisimov, where he had an open side of the net as Anderson was following Kane the other way.  They would head to overtime tied at 3.

A couple of two-time Norris Trophy winners fought for a loose puck once overtime started, and it was Erik Karlsson who beat out Duncan Keith to lead a 2-on-1 break.  Karlsson, chased by Kane, was able to flip a pass to Hoffman, who scored his second goal of the game, very much as he did the first, by snapping a shot over the left shoulder of Crawford to give the Senators the 4-3 win.

Notable mentions: Duncan Keith extended his scoring streak to 5 games with a first period assist.  In his 10 games back from knee surgery, he has 10 points (4G 6A).  He also led all players in ice time tonight (29:14).  The Hawks find themselves playing the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators twice over the next week.  This will be a crucial time to get some important points within the division.

Three Stars of The Game
1st - OTT - Mike Hoffman (2G 1A) 7 shots
2nd - CHI - Patrick Kane (1G 2A) 
3rd - OTT - Bobby Ryan (1G 2A)

Next game: Sunday, December 6th, Home vs. Winnipeg Jets, 4:00PM

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

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