Besides the obvious stresses of your franchise player riding a seven game scoreless streak, the Chicago Blackhawks had a lot on their plate Friday before puck drop against the Utah Hockey Club.
PERIOD ONE
Fresh off his contract extension with Utah and a two-goal performance Wednesday in Detroit, Karel Vejmelka drew the start for Utah.
200 feet his opposite was newly acquired Spencer Knight, after his one goal against debut.
Utah opened scoring early as former Blackhawk Nick Schmaltz grabbed a puck knocked loose by Alex Vlasic in the slot. Schmaltz snapped his 14th of the year past Knight with the help of an accidental screen by Ryan Donato. Clayton Keller added his 49th assist of the season with the solo assist, 1-0 UHC.
Following the goal, the first period saw penalties come and go without capitalization by either side. Utah’s backcheck had ratcheted its hold on breakaways after a few good chances for the Blackhawks.
Besides Donato and Michael Carcone exchanging fisticuffs with 3:42 to play in the first, no other big events took place, and Utah had the lead on the score board, 1-0, and the shot column, 7-5, at the end of the first period.
PERIOD TWO
Connor Bedard removed the pointless monkey from his back after an entire month of no points, with his setup pass to Wyatt Kaiser.
Bedard followed the play and found Kaiser on a backhanded pass from the corner setting up a shot in the slot. Kaiser grabbed his third goal, Bedard’s 34th assist and 50th point on the year, 1-1 with 11:37 to play in the middle period.
Ilya Mikheyev added his name to the scoresheet on a backhand goal. Mikheyev pulled away from an initial charge at the side of the net, flipped his hips and best Vejmelka.
Donato grabbed another point with his 24th assist of the season on Mikheyev’s 13th goal of the year, 2-1 Blackhawks.
Pat Maroon and Liam O’Brien dropped the gloves four seconds later. Maroon landed good forearm shots, but ultimately the fight ended in a separation by the referees.
With 5:30 to play, Mikhail Sergachev got caught holding back Frank Nazar on a breakaway. Nazar earned a penalty shot. 3-1 Blackhawks in the second.
Finally leading the game, Chicago still trailed in the shots column after the end of the second period, 15-13, but Knight was standing on his head and the Hawks were entering the third playing with a lead.
PERIOD THREE
John Marino and Utah wasted as little time as possible, slicing into the two goal lead in the third.
Marino’s first of the year had an added assist by Sergachev, 3-2 Blackhawks with 14:56 to play.
Connor Bedard cost the Blackhawks the lead when he got caught tripping Dylan Guenther in front of Knight, and Utah was onto the powerplay.
It took Utah all of :46 seconds to cycle the zone and get a tying goal scored. Keller one-timed a pass from Sergachev (30) by way of Barrett Hayton (20). Keller’s shot at the circle to Knight’s glove side found the far side top corner, 3-3 with 7:44 to play.
Utah grabbed a much-needed point in their playoff push as regulation ended, tied at three.
OVERTIME
Keller, Sergachev, and Gunther started overtime for UHC, and Connor Bedard, Nazar, and Vlasic started for Chicago.
Knight stood tall with multiple great saves and plays in tight, allowing a rush the other way for Bedard and Co.
Chicago grabbed the extra point away from Utah, Bedard snapped his pointless and scoreless streaks, and Knight graduated to 2-0 on the season with the Blackhawks.
The Hawks play their second of a back-to-back tonight against the Nashville Predators, who made decent splashes at the deadline.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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