Blackhawks Come Back In Last Two Minutes To Roast The Ducks in OT, 3-2

Thanksgiving dinner must have been good for the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday, because they played very sluggish for the first 98.9% of the game against the Anaheim Ducks.  Then, an empty net, a power play, with 1:41 left in the game, saw the Hawks score twice to tie the game.  In overtime, Artem Anisimov scored the game winner, as the Hawks came back to win, 3-2.

The turkey hangover was present early for the Hawks as Andrew Cogliano started a 2-on-0 break and finished with a nice backhand shot behind Corey Crawford just over a minute into the game.  The Blackhawks received 3 power plays in the period and could still only muster 9 shots for the entire period.

The second period saw the the Hawks peppered Anaheim goalie, John Gibson with 14 shots, yet none were able to break the goal crease.  Crawford, although he only faced 8 shots, gave up a goal to Chris Stewart.  Although, a turkey coma relapse forced the Hawks to have yet another horrible line change in which saw a 3-on-1 develop for Anaheim.  There was nothing Crawford could do.

The third period had to have had 6 icings, 4 offsides, and 5 pucks lofted out of play.  Slow...boring...turkey food coma worthy...S...L...O...W.  Then, with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game, the Hawks pulled Crawford for an extra attacker.  Throughout the game, the Hawks had good puck movement, but could not capitalize on them.  This time however, on the power play, thanks to a stupid penalty by Ryan Getzlaf, it was Marian Hossa, who one-timed a slap shot passed Gibson to get the Hawks on the board to cut the lead to 2-1.  One minute and fourteen seconds later, still with Crawford pulled, Duncan Keith blasted a shot that went through Gibson with 26 seconds left in the game to tie it at 2 to force overtime.

In the OT, Brent Seabrook streaked up the ice and created a 2-on-1 chance in which he flipped a pass to Anisimov, who buried it for the game-winner.

If there is one thing that is clear about these Blackhawks, they are never out of a game.  They may not play a full 60 minutes, but they will flip a magical switch and then all hell will break lose.  Does it make it even better that it came against the Ducks?  Umm....YEAH!!!  LOL!

Notable mentions: Yes, it was close, but it took Patrick Kane 59:33 seconds, before he extended his point streak to 18 games (10G 19A), although he hasn't scored in 5 games now.  Come on, ya slacker!  :)  Kane now joins, Ed Olczyk and Phil Kessel for the longest point streak by U.S. born player.  Lost in the scoring frenzy, late in the game, Brent Seabrook ended up with a 3-point night (3A).  Yet I think the "# Stars of the Game" panel were still stunned by the outcome to include him in any of the stars for today's game.  Artem Anisimov has now scored in 7 of his last 9 games (5G 4A).  In 23 games, he has 3 more goals than he did all of last year (7 in 52 games with Columbus).  Duncan Keith, in his 7th game back from surgery, 4 goals, 2 assists).

Three Stars of The Game
1st - CHI - Artem Anisimov (1G)
2nd - ANA - John Gibson (29 saves, .906 SV%)
3rd - ANA - Ryan Kesler (1A)

NOTEABLE OMISSIONS:
Brent Seabrook (3A)
Duncan Keith (1G 1A)
Corey Crawford (23 saves, .920 SV%)

Next game: Saturday, November 28th, Away, versus Los Angeles Kings, 9:30PM

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!