Recap: Blackhawks Win Winter Classic Preview

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As is usually the case, the Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues didn’t disappoint in their matchup Saturday night at the Scottrade Center. With both teams almost entirely at full-strength (the exception being Corey Crawford who still sits on the sideline, though Scott Darling has been exceptional in his absence for the most part), the game had as close to a playoff feeling as possible.

As was the case in Chicago’s game against the New York Islanders on Thursday, the game against the Blues had an early goal and a period with five or more goals. Neither team scored consecutive goals until the third period and the Blackhawks found themselves trailing in the game four times.

For Darling, this was the second time in two games that he allowed four goals, but still came out with the victory. Darling has started every game in relief of the injured Crawford, and while he’s been shaky in his last two, his team has finally re-found their offensive stride to help bail him out.

First Period

Similar to the start of the game against the New York Islanders, Chicago started the game against the St. Louis Blues down a goal. Just 44 seconds into the game, Patrik Berglund knocked a puck past Darling and put the Blues up a goal. Darling looked a bit shaky early in the game before finding his stride and keeping the Blackhawks in it.

For the sake of balancing out the period, Chicago struck with just 36 seconds left in the opening frame to tie the game up for the Blackhawks. Dennis Rassmussen was able to get the Blackhawks back into the game to close out the period.

Second Period

To start the second period, Kyle Brodziak buried a puck past Darling to give his team the lead once again. Additionally, the Blackhawks also received some bad news when they learned that Artem Anisimov would not be returning to the game.

Luckily for the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane is always ready to make a difference and score a goal. Saturday night in St. Louis was no different with Kane burying a puck past Allen on a breakaway chance.

Of course, the Blues did score again less than four minutes later to restore the lead for his team. Berglund buries his second goal of the game with assists going to Alex Steen and David Perron. Up 3-2 now, it’s clear there was a trend occurring in the game.

To this point in the game, all of the scoring came from forwards. Brian Campbell decided to change that, however, scoring his third goal of the season to tie the game for the third time for the Blackhawks with just 1:01 remaining in the period.

Not to be outdone, Alex Pietrangelo showed that he can find the back of the net from the back-end as well. the Blues’ captain scored his seventh goal of the year and once again gave St. Louis the lead with just 12 seconds remaining in the second period.

Third Period

When the Blackhawks are in need of a goal, there’s one player, one secret weapon they can always turn to. This player, of course, is defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson who has scored an elite 21 goals in 581 games heading into Saturday night’s contest. The score was once again tied after a defender scores for the third consecutive goal.

With less than five minutes to go in the game, Vince Hinostroza broke the back-and-forth scoring trend and buried a rebound with a backhand to give the Blackhawks their first lead of the night. The individual effort that Hinostroza showed on the play should not be underestimated as he clearly put in the work to earn himself that goal.

Panarin scored the empty net goal – his 14th marker of the season, to seal the game for the Blackhawks

 

Scoring Summary

FIRST PERIOD

STL – P. Berglund (3) assisted by J. Edmundson

CHI – D. Rasmussen (3) assisted by R. Panik and M. Kruger

SECOND PERIOD

STL – K. Brodziak (4) assisted by R. Reaves and J. Edmundson

CHI – P. Kane (9) assisted by T. van Riemsdyk

STL – P Berglund (4) assisted by A. Steen and D. Perron

CHI – B. Campbell (3)- assisted by A. Panarin and P. Kane

STL – A. Pietrangelo (7) J. Edmondson and J. Lehtera

THIRD PERIOD

CHI – N. Hjalmarsson (4) assisted by A. Panarin and M. Kruger

CHI – V. Hinostroza (2) assisted by B. Seabrook and M. Hossa

THW Three Stars

First: P. Berglund (2 goals)

Second: A. Panarin (2 assists)

Third: V. Hinostroza (1 goal – GWG)

Up Next:

San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks

United Center – 6:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Broadcast channels – CSN Chicago

2016-17 Season Series: 

November 23 – Blackhawks 1 – Sharks 2