Seeing Jeff Deslauriers on the other end of the ice last night had the Blackhawks licking their chops. They could smell the blood in the water, but weren’t ravenous enough. The ‘Hawks didn’t have to play their best game to beat the Oilers, and they didn’t. Still, they had their way in Edmonton and took this game 4-2. It was that apparent this game was theirs to lose when Jonathan Toews scored the first goal of the game just forty-four seconds into the game.
After Toews’ goal the Blackhawks rattled off three more in the second period to extend their lead to 4-0. All night the Blackhawks were deep in the offensive zone with little resistance from the Oilers’ defense. Patrick Kane’s second assist of the night – he set up Toews’ goal as well – happened because he was left untouched as he skated around the offensive zone at will to set up Troy Brouwer. Dustin Byfuglien was credited with a goal after redirect a Duncan Keith shot/pass. Keith had two assists on the night, and Marian Hossa caped off the scoring with his power play goal.
It seems as though Hossa has made playing high in the offensive zone part of his game. Whether it is with the man-advantage or at even-strength Hossa stations himself just shy of the defenseman in the opponent’s zone. His goal last night was a product of that. He watched Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd battle down low, and pounced on the opportunity to put the puck on twine. In that spot he can watch the play develop, keep the puck in the offensive zone and get a great jump on the back check if need be.
Anyway, with the big lead the Blackhawks started to ease the offensive pressure, and the Oilers were able to cut the lead in half. Late in the second period Fernando Pisani scored the Oilers’ first goal, and in the third period Ryan Potulny scored off a Niklas Hjalmarsson turnover in the defensive zone. Luckily the ‘Hawks were able to stave off any more offense from Edmonton due to good goaltending from Cristobal Huet. He kept this one from turning into the January 9th game in Minnesota part deux.
The victory over the Oilers gave the Blackhawks their fourth win on the eight game road trip. They are 4-2 on the trip and have two more games to go before returning home. Next are the San Jose Sharks, then on to Carolina.
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