Chicago Blackhawks Win Shootout To Keep Point Streak Alive
The Chicago Blackhawks won 2-1 Sunday in a shootout against the Detroit Red Wings to take their point streak to 22 straight games. Great goaltending set the tone for a low scoring game that looked to be getting away from the Hawks. After two scoreless periods, Tomas Tatar of the Red Wings lit the lamp three minutes into the third period, bringing the home crowd to their feet in “Hockeytown.”
An outstanding defense effort looked to be getting the better of the hottest team in the NHL, until Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson was sent to the box for smothering the puck at the 17:35 mark of the final period. Just 23 seconds later, Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane scored the tying goal giving way to an exciting finish in Detroit.
Neither team found the net in overtime leading to a shootout filled with some of the best players in hockey. Pavel Datsyuk, considerably the best puck handler in the game, was the first to go, but was denied a five-hole chance by Corey Crawford. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was next, but was also robbed of a goal after a great glove save by Jimmy Howard. After a failed spin move by the Red Wing’s Damien Brunner, all eyes were back on Patrick Kane who scored the game-tying goal.
Starting with lots of speed at center ice and drastically slowing down as passed the blue line, Kane added a few deke’s and a shot fake before beating Howard on the blocker side. Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg had a chance to keep the shootout going, but was denied by Crawford who finished the game with 32 saves.
Joe Louis Arena’s sold out crowd was on its feet to watch their captain take on Crawford in their third shootout attempt.
Crawford quickly jolted out of the net to meet his teammates near the bench to celebrate the win.
The Blackhawks last regulation loss came against the Nashville Predators on March 25, 2012 of last season. The six wins to end the 2012 season make for 28 straight games with a point for the Blackhawks, tying the second longest streak in league history.
The Blackhawks return to the ice on Tuesday night at home against the Minnesota Wild after Sunday’s shootout win. The Wild last played Friday night, in a 3-2 loss to the red hot Anaheim Ducks, but still hold the second position in the Northwest Division. You can believe that every Hawks game until a regulation loss will be the highlight of that days NHL games, no matter what team occupies the opposing locker room.
