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(Photo: NHL Youtube)

The new year has not been ideal for the Blackhawks, who have lost five of their last 10 games. The last two, however, sent them into the All-Star break with some upward momentum before a grueling six-games-in-10-days road trip.

Blackhawks vs. Penguins, Jan. 21

Most recently, the Blackhawks edged past the Penguins with a 3-2 shootout win.

Despite being outshot 35-26 and outhit by a brutal 50-27, Captain Jonathan Toews and shootout artist Patrick Kane—known for coming up clutch–pulled out a win.

David Rundblad struck first, firing in a feed from Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith 6:56 into the first period, after narrowly missing a previous attempt.

At 2:41 into the second, about halfway through a power play, Hossa doubled the lead with a top-shelf shot after passes between him, Brent Seabrook, and Brandon Saad.

Bryan Bickell provided a very important screen on Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury for Hossa’s goal.

But, Zach Sill sparked the Penguins’ comeback less than three minutes later, scoring his first NHL goal with a quick release off a feed from Andrew Ebbett.

Steve Downie tied the game 12:22 into the second, jamming a loose puck past Corey Crawford on a play set up by Marcel Goc and Mark Arcobello.

After a scoreless third period and overtime, the game went to a shootout with David Perron, Toews, Captain Sidney Crosby, and Kane.

“We played smart tonight,” Toews said. “We played an offensive team that knows how to create chances, and for the most part we were pretty good in our own end and the penalty kill was good too. It’s a good road win, especially with the games we’ve played in the last five to six days.

“I think it always comes down to one break. If it’s a shootout, we have great confidence we have a goaltender that can make stops. We have shooters that want to be in that situation. So, I just think we like our odds given the circumstance. We just feel like we’re going to be more desperate, we’re going to get that extra point.”

Blackhawks vs. Coyotes Jan. 20

Chicago took a commanding 6-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes following two tough losses. They led in shots 51-36 and spent only four minutes on the penalty kill versus the Coyotes’ 10 minutes.

It also served as a momentous occasion for Kane and Coach Joel Quenneville. While Quenneville coached his 500th game, Kane scored his 200th goal.

This was Kane’s 22nd goal of the season. It gave Chicago a 3-0 lead in the game, following goals by Toews–a power play goal 6:53 into the first shot down the center passed from Kane and Patrick Sharp–and Andrew Shaw, breaking a bit of a drought for the scrappy player about six minutes later thanks to his net-front presence when set up by Teuvo Teravainen and Bickell.

Kane’s 200th goal came 3:51 into the second when he shot in a rebound from Brad Richards set up by Sharp.

About six minutes later, Teravainen brought the Blackhawks up by four goals chasing his own rebound into the net with Bickell and Niklas Hjalmarsson‘s helpers.

With just over two minutes left in the second, Arizona’s Lucas Lessio tallied his first-ever NHL goal going forehand-backhand after a dish from Sam Gagner, assisted by Keith Yandle.

As the seconds wound down in the second period, Keith held the puck in and passed it to Shaw at the center of the zone, where Shaw was able to extend the Blackhawks’ lead.

To end the game, Richards passed back to Kane, who passed across the ice and back to Rundblad, who fired a shot from behind the circle into the net with about five minutes left.

Other January Highlights

Blackhawks vs. Stars Jan. 18

The Blackhawks fell 6-3 to the Dallas Stars Jan. 18. While they led in shots, Dallas dominated in scoring and defense.

Tyler Seguin, Cody Eakin (two goals), Vernon Fiddler, Erik Cole, and Shawn Horcoff (empty netter) scored for the Stars, while Kane and Saad (two goals) tallied for Chicago.

Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets Jan. 16

The Jets flew over the Blackhawks, their third-straight victory over the Hawks, with a 4-2 win Jan. 16.

Saad scored less than a minute after puck drop. But, halfway through the period, Zach Bogosian knotted the game 1-1.

Bryan Little and Chris Thorburn would score the next two goals.

All was not lost, however; Teravainen was able to score his first NHL goal with a little over seven minutes left in the game.


Andrew Ladd would score an empty-netter to solidify the Jets’ victory.

 Blackhawks vs. Wild Jan. 8 and Jan. 11

Chicago beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Jan. 8 and 4-1 on Jan. 11.

In the Jan. 8 matchup, Sharp, Kane, and Bickell (two goals) tallied for Chicago, while Jason Zucker and Jason Pominville scored for the Wild.

On Jan. 11, Hossa, Bickell, and Richards each had one goal and one assist. Johnny Oduya scored the other Blackhawks goal.

 Matt Cooke scored for the Wild.

Blackhawks vs. Oilers Jan. 9

The Blackhawks slipped 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 9.

Saad scored both of the Blackhawks’ goals in the loss.

Benoit Pouliot, Derek Roy, Jeff Petry, Nail Yakupov, and Taylor Hall (empty-netter) all tallied for the Oilers with this victory.

Blackhawks vs. Avalanche Jan. 6

Despite out-shooting the Colorado Avalanche 54-24, Chicago was shutout 2-0 Jan. 6.

Nathan Mackinnon and Maxime Talbot both scored in the first period of the game, while the latter two-thirds remained scoreless.

Blackhawks vs. Stars Jan. 4

The Blackhawks pulled off a narrow 5-4 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars Jan. 4.

In the nine-goal game, scoring went back and forth, with Jamie Benn, Saad, Jordie Benn, Kane, Erik Cole, Bickell, Cole, Richards, and, luckily for the Blackhawks, Sharp with the overtime game winner.

 

 Blackhawks vs. Capitals Winter Classic Jan. 1

Chicago fell 3-2 in the outdoor game, with former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer scoring the game-winner for the Capitals.

Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps a two-goal lead early, but Chicago caught up thanks to goals by Sharp and Saad.

Upcoming Games

Kris Versteeg has been placed on the long-term injured reserve following his injury during the Winter Classic and Daniel Carcillo is serving a suspension so the Blackhawks recalled forward Dennis Rasmussen from the Rockford IceHogs.

Sitting at third in the Central Division, the Blackhawks (30-15-2) play the L.A. Kings at 9:30 p.m. CT Jan. 28, then the Anaheim Ducks at 9:00 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 30 before heading to San Jose to battle the Sharks at 9:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Jan. 31.

The road trip comes to a close with matchups against the Minnesota Wild at 7:00 p.m. CT Tuesday, Feb. 3, then the Winnipeg Jets at 7:00 p.m. CT Friday, Feb. 6, and, finally, the St. Louis Blues at 11:00 a.m. CT Sunday, Feb. 8.

 

Carly grew up needing to know more about icing than its deliciousness on cupcakes. She's the lone daughter of four children, with a father who was among the last cut from the Midwest tryouts for the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic team. And she knows very little matches the thrill that happens from puck-drop to handshakes. A rink didn’t return to her hometown until she was gone, but she’s been able to see two younger brothers on the ice. She's their feistiest fan. Her other hockey loyalty lies with the Blackhawks--whether it's meant seeing games for $8 with student IDs when the Madhouse didn’t have much of a temper at all, or dancing to Chelsea Dagger at standing room only--there’s something magical about a roaring anthem, the Indianhead sweater, and the Original Six. A former journalist and current editor, she carries a penchant for excitement (and maybe even fighting) with a resume that includes working for Chicago-area newspapers, and television, including The Jerry Springer Show, as well as NBCUniversal in New York. After East Coast living and a return to the Chicago area, the new Mrs. is giving Graceland a go with her Southern Gent, who now shares her adoration of the game, and their rescue dog, Doc Holliday. Other interests include Cubs, Bears, Illini, Crimson Tide, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, baking a mean pineapple upside-down cake, Kate Spade accessories, and a properly coordinated cardigan for every ensemble.

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