The Chicago Blackhawks win 5-3 over the Minnesota Wild at the United Center Tuesday night to bring their points streak to 23 games. At 20-0-3, the Blackhawks are in the middle of one the greatest streaks in NHL history.
The Blackhawks were led by an outburst of scoring late in the first period. After going down 1-0 on a goal by the Wild’s Devin Setoguchi, Chicago scored four goals in just over five minutes to end the period.
Brandon Saad was the first Blackhawks player to score, followed by two quick goals by Bryan Bickell. Saad finished with one goal and two assists while Bickell scored two goals for the number one star of the game.
The Chicago Blackhawks star winger Marian Hossa scored the final goal of the first period. The Blackhawks gave up two goals early in the third period to bring the Wild within one before Patrick Kane sealed the win on a goal 11 minutes into the frame. Hossa had nothing but good things to say about his team following the win.
“It’s a great time right now,” Hossa said about playing for the Blackhawks. “Everybody is hungry. We have a strong lineup and the guys are playing well.”
Patrick Kane has had an outstanding start to the season and has been the most valuable Blackhawks player during the point streak. Kane scored a late goal to tie the game at 1-1 in Detroit on Sunday before scoring in the shoot out to secure the victory. Kane leads the team with 27 points.
Corey Crawford made 20 saves on 23 shots for the Blackhawks, moving him to 11-0-3 on the season. Crawford’s 1.53 goals against average is second in the NHL behind Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators.
The Minnesota Wild are second in the Northwest Division behind the Vancouver Canucks. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom has been solid to start the season posting a respectable 9-6-2 record. Backstrom was replaced by backup Darcy Kuemper to begin the second period after Backstrom gave up four goals on seventeen shots in the first.
The Wild return to the ice Saturday to take on the Nashville Predators, who are currently on a three game losing streak. The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Colorado Avalanche in their next two games, a home and home affair. Colorado comes to Chicago Wednesday before the Blackhawks go to Denver for the second contest Friday.
The Avalanche have lost two straight games giving the Blackhawks another shot at keeping their streak alive. The Blackhawks win and have proven time and time again that this streak in no fluke. You can be sure every team in the NHL is hoping they are the squad that finally gets the best of Chicago.