Chicago Blackhawks Come Close but Lose to Edmonton Oilers

If Friday’s rout by the Colorado Avalanche found the Chicago Blackhawks at their lowest, Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers found them fighting back after a four-goal deficit at the start. Although they ultimately lost 6-5, they clawed their way back to score four goals of their own in one period.

The team looked sloppy and deflated in the first period, but then they came back and gave the fans in attendance at United Center a wild ride. Patrick Kane was the star of the game with three points, bookending the Blackhawks’ scoring with two goals – one of which was on a power play – and picking up an assist along the way. His first goal was the result of Devan Dubnyk straying far out from the net in an attempt to stop him. That left the net wide open, and even a last minute scramble by the Oilers couldn’t protect it from Kane’s shot.

The goaltending on both sides invoked commentary akin to the Hindenberg disaster. After allowing four goals in nine shots, Ray Emery was swapped for Corey Crawford, who didn’t fare much better. For the Oilers, a rush to the net in the second period ended with Teemu Hartikainen tumbling over Dubnyk, who left the ice under his own power but was shaken. He was replaced by Yann Danis because Nikolai Khabibulin is on the injured list.

After playing seven games in 11 days, the Blackhawks will take the next three days to rest and recover before heading out on a four game, seven day road trip. The team sorely needs the time to regroup and remember just what brought them to their record-setting ways. It’s the only way to avoid adding more games to the loss column.