The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators faced off for the first time this season. The Blackhawks were looking to build on a two-game win streak and a goal palooza in which they had scored 16 goals in their last three games.
Meanwhile, the Senators came into the game one point out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, so they desperately needed two points, and they got them in a 4-3 overtime win.
Ottawa Takes First, But Blackhawks Had Answer
The Ottawa Senators came out fast, and piled on the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks normally do start slow for whatever reason, and at one point in the first period, they were outshot 7-2.
Sens captain Bradt Tkachuk opened the scoring after a faceoff-win sequence by Ridly Greig, which led to Tkachuk taking advantage in front to make it 1-0.
However, the Hawks had the answer as Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark fumbled the puck, which led to Ryan Donato‘s tying goal, making it 1-1. It was Donato’s fourth goal in the last three games.
Tkachuk took an interference penalty not long afterward, and Teuvo Teravainen extended the Blackhawks’ lead to 2-1 only 44 seconds after Donato’s goal.
It wasn’t a great period by the Blackhawks, and Ottawa was the better team all period, but yet, Chicago’s top-10 power-play was the difference.
A Snoozy Second Adds to Ottawa’s Lead
The second period was quieter as there wasn’t much going on, and it was pretty even between both teams.
There were some chances on both ends, like from Greig and Hawks defenseman Connor Murphy. There was a Chicago breakdown in the defensive zone, where Sens forward Drake Batherson was left alone up the middle, which turned into a passing play goal to Josh Norris to put Ottawa up 3-2.
No penalties appeared in this period, either, and the Senators left that one with a lead.
Shots were 17-13, Ottawa.
A Fast Blackhawks Third Period Muddied by Sens’ OT Win
The third period looked like it would be an exciting one, as Pat Maroon took his own rebound and got the puck to Craig Smith from behind the net to tie the game 3-3 two minutes in.
However, the period was more evenly played than the second period with the shots being 7-7. Ottawa did finally get a power-play opportunity after Teravainen took a tripping penalty with six minutes left in the game, but the Sens had nothing to show for it against the Blackhawks’ penalty kill (which is also top-10 in the NHL).
With the Sens being unable to take the lead on the power play and the Blackhawks being unable to build off the early-period goal, they headed to overtime.
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Overtime lasted over a minute, and Tim Stützle won the game for Ottawa 4-3. It was a debatable goal because it looked like it could have been goaltender interference or a kicking motion. However, it was reviewed and deemed a good goal.
It left the Blackhawks furious, and they hung around the bench for a while even after the game ended.
Nevertheless, the Senators were the ones that left happy with their needed two points.
