The Chicago Blackhawks have been looking for more production out of their first line, and they certainly got it on Thursday night as the line combined for nine points in a 4-0 victory.
Teuvo Teravainen scored two goals and tallied an assist in the game, while Jonathan Toews scored a goal and assisted on both Teravainen scores. Marian Hossa fleshed out the scoring for the line, notching three assists on the evening.
The early stages of the game featured some great chances for the Blackhawks, with Duncan Keith firing in a one-timer that Cam Talbot was able to stop, but the big story of the period came when Niklas Hjalmarsson was drilled by a shot from Justin Schultz. The defenseman took a puck off the inside of the knee, and although he had to go to the dressing room for a brief time, he was able to return to the game.
Late in the period, the Blackhawks continued their solid play on offense, and they were finally able to get on the scoreboard. Teuvo Teravainen feathered a pass up the ice to Marian Hossa on the rush, and when he found Toews on a 2-on-1 break the captain was able to put home the goal to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.
Early in the second, the Blackhawks got a power play, but they were unable to score despite having a minute and a half of possession time. That successful kill gave Edmonton some life, putting Corey Crawford under the microscope and forcing him to make some excellent saves during that stretch.
After withstanding the push, the Hawks extended their lead. Hossa did a masterful defensive job to wrestle the puck away from the Oilers, and after he pushed a pass to Toews, the center found a wide open Teravainen in the slot for a one-timer goal and a 2-0 advantage.
The Blackhawks had a late power play in the second period, and were even allowed a brief 5-on-3 chance as Edmonton scrambled to get a replacement stick for one of their point forwards, but Talbot stood resolute and denied several good chances to keep the Oilers within shouting distance with one period to play.
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Over the first 15 minutes of the third period, the Blackhawks were held to just three shots on goal, but even though the Oilers managed nine of their own, they still couldn’t figure out a way to beat Crawford. Some good defensive pressure by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook helped to limit Edmonton to one-and-done opportunities, and the Hawks continued to lead.
With about three minutes to go, the Blackhawks scored again to put the game out of reach. Toews and Hossa executed a nice give-and-go through the offensive zone, and although Toews’ shot was ultimately stopped by Talbot, Teravainen went into the blue paint and scooped home the rebound to put the Blackhawks ahead 3-0.
The Blackhawks helpfully added one more goal to their total late in the frame, as a Brent Seabrook stretch pass found a wide open Artemi Panarin, who promptly buried it on a wrist shot to make it a 4-0 affair.
The Blackhawks will next head to Buffalo for a Saturday matinee affair against the Sabres. Puck drop is slated for 12 p.m.
