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In the NHL, a road point is generally a good thing, although the Blackhawks have to feel the sting today of not getting two in Columbus last night.
They thoroughly outplayed the Blue Jackets, with a shot margin of 41-19. Many were quality chances and near misses. But the Jackets got a couple of goals the way offensively challenged teams like the Jackets need to: getting bodies in front of the goalie, hustling, getting a bounce here and there.
That, and an outstanding performance by Columbus netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, made a game of it.
When you go to OT, much less the gimmick known as the shootout, anything can happen—and did. The Blue Jackets came away with the 3-2 win. Corey Crawford was outstanding, by the way, in the shootout. Just not quite good enough.
Brandon Saad hitting a post, and Marian Hossa, Brad Richards and Jonathan Toews failing to lift pucks high enough didn’t help either.
The Hawks return home tonight to face the Maple Leafs. Some quick notes on tonight’s matchup:
GAME TIME: 7PM Eastern/6 Central
TV: NHL Network
POWER PLAY: Toronto, 9th, 20.7% Chicago, 18th, 17.5%
PENALTY KILL: Toronto, 9th, 83.9% Chicago, 1st, 91.4%
PROJECTED LINEUPS:
TORONTO
Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel James van Riemsdyk - Nazem Kadri - Mike Santorelli Daniel Winnik - Peter Holland - David Clarkson David Booth - Trevor Smith - Richard Panik
Dion Phaneuf - Cody Franson Stephane Robidas - Roman Polak Morgan Reilly - Korbinian Holzer
James Reimer
CHICAGO
Brandon Saad - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa Kris Versteeg - Brad Richards - Patrick Kane Bryan Bickell - Andrew Shaw - Patrick Sharp Daniel Carcillo - Marcus Kruger - Ben Smith
Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook Johnny Oduya - Niklas Hjalmarsson Tim Erixon - Michal Rozsival
Antti Raanta
I’ll recap tomorrow.
JJ