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Game 15: Hawks 5, CBJ 6
February 12, 2021, 5:16 AM ET [129 Comments]
Theo Fox
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The Blackhawks lost in a 6-5 barn burner against the Blue Jackets spoiling banner games for rookie defensemen Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin who registered their first NHL goals.

While the power play remained hot going 1-for-2, the Hawks also gave up a shorthanded goal. The penalty kill was cold going 1-for-3 after being 21-for-22 over the previous 8 games.

Kevin Lankinen had his worst outing of the season giving up 6 goals but didn't have a lot of help from his defense as they allowed 43 shots to get through.



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Starting Lineup

The starting lineup with head coach Jeremy Colliton drawing up new forward lines as Matthew Highmore slots in again:

And the starters for the opening shift:

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Scoring Recap

1st Goal: Atkinson (0-1) SH

Beaudin tried to skate into traffic against two defenders even though he had safer options behind him in either Patrick Kane or Alex DeBrincat who were in the circles.

This was an example of trying to do too much rather than utilizing teammates. As a result, Cam Atkinson took advantage to score his franchise-leading 15th shorthanded goal for Columbus.

2nd Goal: Mitchell (1-1)

Mitchell earned his first ever NHL goal to tie the game up at one early in the 2nd. Highmore made a touch pass to David Kampf who showed patience attracting three defenders toward him.

With the Columbus defense bunched up on the left side, the right side was free and clear for Mitchell to crash the crease, park next to Joonas Korpisalo, and tap in Kampf's feed.

3rd Goal: Beaudin (2-1)

The Hawks soon after took the lead as Beaudin followed suit by potting his own first career NHL goal in the same spot right of Korpisalo where Mitchell scored 56 seconds earlier.

Beaudin's goal was the byproduct of a fortunate carom. Nikita Zadorov hammered a slapshot from the point that bounced off the end boards back out to Beaudin who roofed the puck home.

4th Goal: Suter (3-1)

Picking up his 6th of the season, Pius Suter scored from what is becoming his office in the slot as Kane found him with a skillful backhanded pass from below the goal line.

Suter padded his lead in rookie goal scoring over teammate Philipp Kurashev and Senators winger Tim Stutzle. Suter's 9 points is tied with Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov for the rookie lead.

5th Goal: Roslovic (3-2) PP

The Jackets scored the first of a pair of power play goals as Seth Jones kept the puck in the zone at the blueline then fed Max Domi who made a quick dish to Jack Roslovic for the one timer.

Defensively, the penalty killing formation wasn't bad. However, Mattias Janmark could have exerted a little more speed and pressure to prevent Roslovic from getting off a clean shot.

6th Goal: Kane (4-2) PP

After Dylan Strome lost the faceoff, DeBrincat hustled to the wall, outworked Jones in a 50/50 battle for the puck, got open to the top of the circle, and connected with Kane on a pass.

Kane did the rest by depositing the puck upstairs with a bullet. His 2nd of 3 points on the night moved him into 4th in league scoring behind Connor McDavid, Leon Draisatl, and Mitch Marner.

7th Goal: Jenner (4-3) PP

Duncan Keith and Calvin de Haan followed Kevin Stenlund and Atkinson on a rush down the right. With the puck bouncing, Atkinson sent a shot on net that Lankinen initially saved.

However, the rebound that Lankinen let out fell to his open side that Boone Jenner easily poked into the net as Brandon Hagel responded too late to get a stick on the puck or on Jenner.

8th Goal: Roslovic (4-4)

Roslovic picked up his second goal of the game being at the right place at the right time as Atkinson's shot from the left wall deflected off of Keith and onto his blade.

Even though Mitchell was in Roslovic's vicinity, he shouldn't have been looking to the left at Atkinson who Keith had covered. Instead, Mitchell's attention should have been on Roslovic.

9th Goal: DeBrincat (5-4)

Kane's backhanded pass to DeBrincat for a one timer while in motion from the bottom of the left circle were things of beauty to give the Hawks a 5-4 lead with 7 minutes left in the game.

Much credit needs to be given to Madison Bowey as he kept the play ahead of him twice: first at the blueline getting the puck deep in the zone then again at center ice feathering a pass to Kane.

10th Goal: Del Zotto (5-5)

Michael Del Zotto was the benefactor of another carom off a hit post by Atkinson's slapper from the point. The puck ricocheted hard out to the left faceoff dot for Del Zotto to pounce on.

Janmark was again a step behind in defending on the play. It didn't help matters that he got caught puck watching and failed to pick up Del Zotto in time to at least stick check him.

11th Goal: Stenlund (5-6)

The Jackets moved the puck up ice expeditiously from their own end with swift passing by Andrew Peeke, Del Zotto, and Oliver Bjorkstrand who sprung Stenlund on a path towards the net.

Stenlund beat three Chicago players -- DeBrincat, Keith, and Zadorov -- before squeezing the puck five hole. A rolling puck and Zadorov's stick played factors in fooling Lankinen.

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Other Plays

Inconsistent Play

The Hawks teeter-tottered all game between stretches of making fundamental defensive plays and crisp passes and stretches of committing defensive errors and off-target passes.

Relieving Pressure

Part of the inconsistent play was not giving options to teammates to relieve pressure in their own end whether reversing the puck away from the pressure or getting open for outlet passes.

Net-Front Coverage

The forwards are getting better at covering for their defensemen who leave the slot to pursue the puck elsewhere in their end. Rotating to protect the net has become everyone's responsibility.

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Player Notes

Alex DeBrincat

Madison Bowey

Not the flashiest of blueliners, Bowey has been relatively steady so far in two games. He's a solid skater as well as a big body who isn't an adventure or liability in the defensive end.

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Roster Updates


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See you on the boards!

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