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Game 55: Hawks 4, Stars 2

May 10, 2021, 3:04 AM ET [155 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In a match that didn't have any playoff implications for either team and that was a chance to grant as much experience for the Blackhawks youth as possible, sometimes moments like this remind us that it's just a game to be shared especially with family:


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Starting Lineup

The starting lineup saw the return of the 11F/7D format allowing Wyatt Kalynuk, Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, and Alec Regula to all lace up the skates for the same game:

And the starters for the opening shift:

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Scoring Recap

1st Goal: Entwistle (1-0)

MacKenzie Entwistle earned his first NHL goal as linemate Mike Hardman returned the favor with a nifty feed to the crease for a tap in as they reversed roles when Hardman registered his first ever on an Entwistle rebound shot last week.

2nd Goal: Gurianov (1-1)

Denis Gurianov scored on his second shot attempt as the Hawks had a breakdown in defensive coverage. Beaudin had Andrew Cogliano covered but Entwistle should have stayed with Jamie Benn while Regula should have taken eventual scorer Gurianov.

3rd Goal: Hagel (2-1)

Dominik Kubalik sent a pass from his defensive zone to the neutral zone where Brandon Hagel was in stride. Hagel retrieved the puck, drove hard to the net, and hit iron with a shot that flew straight up then bounced down past the goal line.

4th Goal: DeBrincat (3-1) PP

While on the power play, Hagel picked up a loose puck after a scrum in the left corner then got it to Patrick Kane on the far side at the right circle. Kane then found Alex DeBrincat alone in the left circle for a one-timer backdoor play.

5th Goal: Pysyk (3-2)

(No video available)

After centering the puck to Radek Faksa in the slot, Mark Pysyk followed up on Faksa's shot to pull the Stars within one. Beaudin again did what he could to protect the crease while Pius Suter and Mitchell got caught puck watching.

6th Goal: DeBrincat (4-2)

DeBrincat and Suter teamed up on a breakout to transition the puck up ice as Suter took a DeBrincat pass from the far blueline to rush down the left flank and get a shot on net that Anton Khudobin saved but redirected the rebound right onto DeBrincat's stick.

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Game Notes

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Player Notes

Kevin Lankinen

In a game where the Stars had a clear edge on metrics for shooting and scoring chances, Kevin Lankinen was stellar between the pipes with 37 saves -- including several outstanding ones from point-blank range -- to give his team a chance to win.

Alex DeBrincat

For the second time in his 4-year career (41 in his sophomore season after 28 as a rookie), DeBrincat reached the 30-goal plateau by netting a pair yesterday for 31 total. He has also scored at least one goal in the last 6 games.

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Roster Updates

Evan Barratt was called up from Rockford yesterday to join the taxi squad. Perhaps he suits up for his NHL debut in the final game of the year for the Blackhawks this evening.

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Rockford Updates

Final Score: Rockford 0, Iowa 2

Starting Lineup

Game Summary

Matt Tomkins kept the IceHogs in the contest stopping 29 of 31 shots but his team couldn't get one past Wild goalie Hunter Jones.

NHL veterans Cody Franson and Brandon Pirri led the Hogs with a combined 13 shots out of the team's 35 total.

D.J. Busdeker and Garrett Mitchell were willing combatants in a game that again boasted a couple of fights.

The game was a testy war between hated rivals with plenty of shoving matches, cheap shots, and spewed vitriol.

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See you on the boards!

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