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RECAP: Levshunov’s game-winner downs Jets 4-3 in overtime

  
Artyom Levshunov celebrates his game-winning goal with Patrick Kane as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime at the United Center on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Harry Figiel)

Artyom Levshunov fired home a wrist shot past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Stuart Skinner in overtime to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory in overtime. The win gives Chicago back-to-back victories since the return of team captain Connor Bedard, who opened the scoring for the Blackhawks with his first goal of the season. The victory lifted the Blackhawks to a record of 3-5-0.

First period

The aforementioned Bedard goal, on the power play, gave the Blackhawks the lead at 1-0 at the 8:11 mark of the opening frame. The goal, assisted by forwards Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi, was a thing of beauty as the 21-year-old ripped home a wrist shot past Skinner.


Frank Nazar would extend the early lead to 2-0 beating Skinner at the 15:10 mark with a wrist shot of his own after a short breakaway. The unassisted goal was Nazar’s third goal of the season.


Chicago had plenty of control of the first period of action and probably could have extended their lead to three on a few occasions but the Jets cut the lead in half at 2-1 after Neal Pionk scored his first of the season, beating goaltender Spencer Knight at the 16:57 mark of the period.

About 20 seconds after the Jets’ tally, forward Ryan Donato beat Skinner for his second goal of the season with an excellent drag move and showed tons of patience before firing home the goal blocker side.


Second period

Winnipeg would take advantage of the intermission and came out with a little pep in their step as Chicago played much of the early part of the period on their heels. After a Ryan Greene tripping penalty, Jets winger Kyle Connor scored his eighth goal of the season to shorten the Chicago lead to 3-2.

Chicago was outshot 13-6 in the middle frame and that did not seem to give justice to some of the pressure the Jets put on in the period.

Third period

The lone goal of the final regulation period came by the way of a tip-in by forward Alex Iafallo at the 5:39 mark. The gaol, Iafallo’s second of the season, tied the game at 3-3 and forced the game into overtime.

Overtime

Levshunov fired home his game-winner after Kane dropped the puck for Bedard, who found some speed and brought a couple defenders his way, leaving the 20-year-old defenseman wide open in front with plenty of time to beat Skinner for the game-winning 4-3 goal.

Chicago is back on home ice as the Dallas Stars fly into town for a 6 p.m. CDT start on Saturday.

Analysis

Chicago won a game in which they found themselves up early, surrendered a two-goal lead and found more in the tank to finish off a Jets team that had been playing very well to start the season. Bedard, Nazar and Levshunov each scoring goals was a great night for the young nucleus of this hockey team still putting things together.

Playing defense in the NHL is a difficult task that many young defensemen struggle with for years. Levshunov is still a baby in terms of his NHL age and continues to grow on offense while trying to figure out how to defend the world’s best forwards every night. Anyone looking for a prime example of a high draft pick who has all the talent in the world but is still trying to figure things out each night should look no further than Owen Power in Buffalo. The 24-year-old has seven points in seven games this season, which is his SIXTH season in the NHL. That’s right fans, it’s taking a “sure-fire” No. 1 pick six seasons to finally show that he may eventually turn into the Norris Trophy candidate many thought he could turn into, myself included. Let’s give the Blackhawks’ 20-year-old defenseman some time to develop and realize he’s trying to develop on a bottom-five type team.

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