Hossa's Milestone Pushes The Hawks to 6th Straight Victory, 4-3 in OT Over Stars

The Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars faced off in the second half of a home and home series at the United Center tonight.  The Hawks won their 6th straight game as they shot down the Stars, 4-3 in overtime thanks to Marian Hossa's game-winning goal, his 1100th career point.  Scott Darling made 32 huge saves, and Jonathan Toews chipped in with 3 points (1G 2A) to lead the Hawks.

It didn't start well for the Hawks when Tyler Seguin cashed in on a Stars power play to give them a 1-0 lead after one period.  Then in the second, the power play failed the Hawks this time has Gemel Smith,on a breakaway, while short-handed, flipped a backhand shot past Darling to make it 2-0, Stars.

Just under two minutes later, the Hawks got on the board.  Toews, threw a nice saucer pass to Patrick Kane, and put him in alone, as he flipped a back-hander of his own past the sprawling Kari Lehtonen, to cut the lead to 2-1, at the end of two periods.

Then, the Hawks struck twice in the first five minutes of the 3rd.  Within :56, Toews received a brilliant fake shot/pass from Hossa to tie the game at 2.  Then, it was time for an Arty Party, as Artem Anisimov took a rebound shot from Toews, and slammed it in the back of the net to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead.

It wouldn't stay that way, as the Stars pulled Lehtonen for the extra attacker and struck with 1:20 remaining in regulation on a neat deflection from Smith again, his first two career NHL goals.  Both, very nice.

It would go to overtime, The Hawks had to kill off a Kane hooking penalty.  Only to see Darling sprawl out for a textbook example of a skate save, before Hossa slapped a shot from the point, with Anisimov blocking every inch of Lehtonen from seeing the shot for the game-winner.

Notable Mentions: Anisimov has now scored in 11 straight games (8G 9A) and leads the NHL in goals and points.  Tyler Motte did not return after getting run into the boards hard in the second period.  Toews was a beast tonight (1G 2A), 7 shots, 2 hits, and won 73% of faceoffs (19 of 26) and lead forwards with 23:07 TOI.  Darling approved his record to 4-0 with the victory tonight.

Three Stars of the Game
1st - CHI - Marian Hossa - (1G 1A), +2
2nd - DAL - Gemel Smith - (2G), +2, 6 shots
3rd - CHI - Jonathan Toews - (1G 2A), 7 shots, 2 hits, 73% FO%, 23:07 TOI 

Next game: Wednesday, November 9th, Away vs. St. Louis Blues, 7PM CT, TV - NBCSN, RADIO - WGN 720AM

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!