Special Teams, Panarin Help Blackhawks Coast To 6-2 Win Over Coyotes

If there was a doubt that Artemi Panarin was the favorite for the Calder Trophy for the Rookie of The Year in the NHL, I think if the last two games didn't convince you, tonight should be enough for anyone to know that the Breadman is good!  Panarin added another 3 assists, the Hawks had 3 PPGs and 1 SHG, to help the Chicago Blackhawks coast to a 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.

Richard Panik replaced the injured Marian Hossa on the top line and it took only 5:16 into the 1st period for him to take advantage of it as he found a loose puck in front of the net and snapped it past Coyotes goaltender, Louis Domingue.  The Hawks would then take 2 straight penalties, but while on the PK, Jonathan Toews scored a nice breakaway goal, to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.  The Hawks took that lead into the locker room, with the Coyotes had a 7-6 SOG advantage.

The Blackhawks started the 2nd by outshooting the Coyotes, 6-1.  In that time, on the power play, Patrick Kane roofed a shot over the shoulder of Domingue, with barely room to spare, to extend the Hawks lead to 3-0.  Antoine Vermette rammed Artem Anisimov into the boards, not on purpose, as Anisimov cut back towards Vermette.  Anisimov left the ice, as did Vermette after receiving a 5 minute major for Boarding, and a game misconduct.  On the ensuing power play, Andrew Ladd scored two goals to stretch the Hawks lead to 5-0 after two periods.

The 3rd period saw the Coyotes get on the board as Connor Murphy flipped a shot from the point that found its way past Scott Darling to make it, 5-1, Hawks.  it was short-lived, as the Hawks got that goal back :58 later, when Andrew Desjardins took a centering pass and deposited past Domingue for a 6-1 Blackhawks lead.  Brad Richardson would score to end the scoring and the game, 6-2.

Notable Mentions: Jonathan Toews' 1st period goal was his 250th career goal.  Scott Darling started his 10th consecutive game tonight.  Niklas Hjalmarsson picked up his 125th career point on Richard Panik's 1st period goal.  Artemi Panarin now has 11 points (3G 8A) in his last 3 games.  For the 3rd consecutive season, the Blackhawks surpassed 100 points on the season (101), with 2 regular season games left.

Three Stars Of The Game

1st - Jonathan Toews ~ (1G 2A), 70% FO%
2nd - Artemi Panarin ~ 3A

3rd - Patrick Kane ~ (1G 1A)

Next game: Thursday, April 7th, Home vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:30PM CT

Previous games between Chicago and St. Louis in 2015-16:

St. Louis Blues - 6 at Chicago Blackhawks - 5, 11/04/15
Chicago Blackhawks - 4 at St. Louis Blues - 2, 11/14/16

St. Louis Blues - 0 at Chicago Blackhawks - 2, 01/24/16
Chicago Blackhawks - 2 at St. Louis Blues - 3, SOL 03/09/16

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!