Stars Start Hot, Hold Off Blackhawks, 4-2

The showdown on Madison had the top two teams in the Western Conference battling for the 3rd time this year.  The Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks had played two very lopsided games so far this year.  Would this one be any different?

Um...no.  at least not to start.  A 4-goal 1st period by Dallas was enough to hold off the Blackhawks, 4-2.

Patrick Eaves must have eaten his Wheaties this morning as he scored three, yes 3, goals in the 1st period.  That along with a goal sandwiched in-between by John Klingberg, the Stars bombarded the Hawks and led 4-0 after the 1st period.

In the 2nd period, Scott Darling was brought in to relieve Corey Crawford.  It worked, because Darling gave up nothing.  Unfortunately, neither did Kari Lehtonen on the end of the ice for Dallas.  The score stayed, 4-0.

The 3rd period saw the Blackhawks come to play.  They outshot the Stars, 21-2 in the period.  Duncan Keith ricocheted a shot off of two Star players, :32 into the 3rd period to get the Hawks on the board.  Seven minutes later, Patrick Kane off of the face off, blasts a shot past Lehtonen, to make it a 4-2 hockey game.  It's amazing that the amount of rebounds that the Hawks had, they couldn't get more past Lehtonen.  The comeback came up short.

Notable Mentions: Artemi Panarin missed his 2nd straight game due to an illness.  He was sorely missed again tonight.  Patrick Sharp and johnny Oduya made their return to the United Center where they both received video tributes and standing ovations from the crowd.  The Blackhawks now hold a 1 point lead over Dallas.  Dallas has 2 games in hand.

Three Stars Of The Game
1ST - DAL - Patrick Eaves - (3G), 6 shots
2ND - DAL - John Klingberg - (1G 1A)
3RD - Jonathan Toews - (2A)

Next Game: Saturday, February 13, Home Vs. Anaheim Ducks, 7:30PM

Previous meetings against Anaheim 2015-16:
Anaheim Ducks - 0, at Chicago Blackhawks - 1
Chicago Blackhawks - 3, at Anaheim Ducks - 2, OT

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!