Recap: Blackhawks Beat Islanders in High Scoring Affair

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The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders put on a scoring clinic Thursday night as they squared off in Brooklyn. After the first period, the Blackhawks found a way to erase a two-goal deficit by scoring three straight goals before allowing the Islanders to tie the game themselves.

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Each of the first seven goals of the game were scored by different players, as Andrew Ladd, Casey Cizikas, Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov, Marian Hossa, Ryan Strome and Anders Lee all found the back of the net. Even more impressive was the fact that so many different players recorded points throughout the game. Scott Darling had an uncharacteristicly disappointing game, but was able to keep the Blackhawks in the game just long enough to earn the regulation victory.

At the end of the game, the Blackhawks won by a score of 5-4. There was a total of 22 different point scorers in the game – eleven on Chicago alone. The Blackhawks were able to finally establish some offensive output after a slow stretch where offense was becoming increasingly hard to come by, and earned some well-deserved points in the process.

First Period

After a stretch of games where the Blackhawks were stingy in scoring goals and allowing goals, Chicago and the New York Islanders traded six goals to start their game in Brooklyn. Ladd, a former two-time Blackhawks’ forward, opened up the scoring in the game with assists going to Quine and Chimera at just the 2:14 mark of the first period.

To make matters worse for the Blackhawks, Cizikas was able to bury a rebound off of a Kulemin shot with Blackhawks’ defenseman Michal Kempny the lone defender back on the 2-on-1 break at the 3:48 mark of the first.

Not to be outdone, the Blackhawks were able to cut the Islanders’ lead down to one after Panarin was able to score a power-play goal at 9:47 of the first from Seabrook – who was playing in just his second game since returning from injury – and Keith. Panarin, also known as the Breadman, now has 12 goals on the season as he continues to show that his phenomenal rookie season that resulted in a Calder trophy was anything but a fluke.

Anisimov then buried his 14th of the season while the team was again skating with the man-advantage at the 13:03 mark of the period and Hossa gave the ‘Hawks their first lead of the game just 1:05 of ice time later by scoring his 16th of the season from Hartman and Toews – who was also playing in just his second game since returning from injury.

The Islanders were able to escape the period, however, scoring a goal 1:12 later to tie the game at three apiece. Scott Darling allowed three goals on 11 shots, while Thomas Greiss allowed three on thirteen. Darling has been sensational in the absence of Crawford, however, and the first period against the Islanders was likely more of the exception than the rule.

Second Period

In a game where scoring established less than three minutes into the game, seven goals were scored by the 20:22 mark of the game. Just 22 seconds into the second frame, Anders Lee found the back of the net with Travis Hamonic and John Tavares recording assists. For those keeping track, 19 players had recorded at least one point in the game at this point with Panarin being the only player to record multiple points.

The Blackhawks dominated with the man-advantage through the first two periods, scoring two goals in the first on the power play and one in the second courtesy of Panarin who tied the game for the Blackhawks at 4-4 with just 18.7 seconds remaining in the period.

Third Period

The third period was a relatively quiet one score-wise until Richard Panik managed to score to give the Blackhawks the 5-4 lead over the Islanders.

Dennis Rasmussen made a heads up play behind the goal line to feed Panik in front. The goal proved to be the game-winner as the Blackhawks downed New York 5-4.

Scoring Summary

FIRST PERIOD

NYI – A. Ladd (4) assisted by A. Quine and J. Chimera

NYI – C. Cizikas (4) assisted by N. Kulemin

CHI – A. Panarin (12) PP assisted by B. Seabrook and D. Keith

CHI – A. Anisimov (14) PP assisted by P. Kane and A. Panarin

CHI – M. Hossa (16) assisted by R. Hartman and J. Toews

NYI – R. Strome (3) assisted by B. Nelson and J. Boychuk

SECOND PERIOD

NYI – A. Lee (9) assisted by T. Hamonic and J. Tavares

CHI – A. Panarin (13) PP assisted by B. Seabrook and D. Keith

THIRD PERIOD

CHI – R. Panik (8) assisted by D. Rasmussen and M. Kruger

THW Three Stars

First: A. Panarin (1 goal, 1 assist)

Second: B. Seabrook (2 assists)

Third: D. Keith (2 assists)

Up Next:

Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues

Scottrade Center – 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Broadcast channels – FS-MW, CSN-CH

2016-17 Season Series: 

Oct 12 – Blues 5 – Blackhawks 2

November 9 – Blackhawks 2 – Blues 1