Last Thursday night, the Chicago Blackhawks learned what it was like to give up a game-winning goal with 17 seconds left in regulation in Boston—only this time, the game was played in early March during the regular season instead of being Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. Six days later, the Hawks looked to avenge their 4–3 loss at TD Garden in a rematch on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins at United Center. Marc-Andre Fleury started for the home team against the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark.
First period
The Blackhawks started slow (and it would not get much better) as the Bruins played most of the frame in the Hawks end where they generated several quality scoring chances. Fleury was up to the challenge by stopping every shot he faced. The Bruins outshot the Hawks 14–4 in the scoreless period.
Second period
The middle frame was similar to the first with the Bruins controlling the play against the sluggish Hawks, but Fleury had all the answers. On the other end, the Hawks continued to have a difficult time generating any offense against a suffocating Boston defense. The Hawks’ best chance of the period came in the final minute when Patrick Kane sprung Kirby Dach in alone, but Ullmark stopped him with a glove save. Seconds later, Mike Reilly was penalized for tripping Brandon Hagel, so the Hawks went on the power play but did not score during the first 45 seconds. In the second, the Bruins outshot the Hawks 21–7 and led 35–11 in shots on goal after 40 minutes.
Third period
After the Hawks came up empty during their carryover power play time, including an early scoring chance by Dach, the Bruins finally broke through on their 40th shot on net. During a goalmouth scramble, Patrice Bergeron knocked in his 17th of the season to give Boston a 1–0 lead at the 4:43 mark.
Less than five minutes later, the Hawks finally broke through. Jonathan Toews won a board battle and fed Jake McCabe at the right point, who made a cross ice pass to Caleb Jones, who fired a one-timer that Hagel deflected past a screened Ullmark for his 21st of the season at 9:36 to tie the game at 1–1.
HAGEL TIPS IT FOR THE TIE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/eURQMo3RU3
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) March 16, 2022
The Bruins thought they took the lead with just under five minutes left in regulation when a goal by Charlie Coyle was waved off due to goaltender interference. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy challenged the ruling on the ice, but the replay crew in Toronto upheld the call, so the Hawks received a power play for delay of game. The Hawks were able to generate some chances, but came up empty with the man advantage. The game would remain tied 1–1 after regulation. In the third, the Bruins outshot the Hawks 11–9, and 46–20 for regulation.
Overtime
The Bruins needed exactly 100 seconds to win it in the extra session. David Pastrnak found Taylor Hall to the right of Fleury, which created a 2-on-1 down low. Hall fed a wide open Matt Grzelcyk, who one-timed the puck past Fleury for his third of the season and the win. The Bruins registered the only two shots on net in overtime for a full-game total of a 48–20 margin.
The good, the bad, the ugly
The good
Marc-Andre Fleury: This game would have been a blowout if it weren’t for “The Flower” keeping his team in the game with 46 saves. He made a ton of sparkling stops and certainly caught the eyes of the legion of scouts on hand.
The bad
The Blackhawks’ offense: The Hawks registered a measly four shots on goal in the first, seven in the second and nine in the third, although they played much better in the final frame than the first two. Nevertheless, they struggled to get pucks on net, but full marks go to the Bruins’ defensive coverage, which was excellent throughout the game.
The ugly
The Blackhawks’ defense: The Hawks were awful defensively, as they gave up too many good scoring chances to the Bruins and flat out left Fleury hung to dry.
Analysis
It was not a great performance by the Blackhawks despite getting a point, which they can thank their future Hall of Fame goaltender for earning. The rest of the team had no business “earning” anything.
The Hawks will get a few days off before traveling to St. Paul, Minnesota, to face the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is at 1 p.m. CDT on NHL Network and NBCSCH with the radio call on WGN 720.