Panarin saves the day, Blackhawks win in shootout
It wasn't pretty, but the Chicago Blackhawks pulled out a 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Islanders at the United Center on Friday thanks to some late-game heroics by Artemi Panarin.
Unable to solve New York goalie Thomas Greiss - or a slew of defenders who seemed to block every attempt - the Hawks finally tied the game at 1-1 when Panarin smoked a one-timer off a pass from Duncan Keith with 1:14 on the clock.
Jonathan Toews and Panarin converted in the shootout, Corey Crawford stopped both of New York's attempts and the Hawks (41-18-5) somehow claimed their 11th win in 12 games. Coach Joel Quenneville's squad is now 1 point behind Minnesota, although the Wild does have two games in hand.
"We weren't thrilled with how we played the first couple periods, but (in the third) we were moving pucks and getting up on the play and just skating better," Keith said. "It comes down to more desperation and pressing to get that goal to tie it up."
The Hawks were forced to go without the injured Artem Anisimov (upper body) and Nick Schmaltz (sick), and it showed as they managed just 13 shots on goal after two periods.
"Even if we're missing a few guys we can always have better pace, better speed, better energy than we did tonight," Jonathan Toews said. "Big goal by Bread Man to get us to overtime."
It looked like Brock Nelson's goal 13:27 into the second period would hold up for the Islanders, but Panarin's goal saved the day. Keith grabbed the puck after Toews won an offensive zone draw, fed it to Brent Seabrook, got it back and dished it to Panarin. The shot beat Greiss to the short side and gave Panarin 20 goals on the season. Only 3 have come in the last 21 games, but that hasn't bothered Quenneville.
"Still think there's production there between him and (Patrick Kane)," Quenneville said. "Whether he's scoring or not, they're still a threat and (opponents) still have to be aware of them on the ice. They present some cycle shifts that are tough to defend."
Said Toews: "It's always good for him to get back on the scoresheet. … We'll see him feed off that and hopefully more to come down the road here."
New York's Josh Bailey and the Hawks' Marian Hossa had chances to win the game in the last minute of a wildly entertaining overtime, but Crawford and Greiss came up with critical saves to keep their teams alive.
Greiss was stellar in net for New York, making 30 saves, including one that might still have Ryan Hartman swearing under his breath. Hartman looked like he was going to tie the game when he cranked a shot at the net with 13:10 remaining, but Greiss got over and kicked it away.
Greiss got plenty of help all night, too, as New York blocked 23 shots.
"Give these guys credit - they played a perfect road game where they had a lead," Quenneville said. "Played tight and didn't give up much. … But I liked that we stayed in it, and still tried to get (the game tied) without opening it up too much."
Quenneville said Anisimov and Schmaltz both "could play" Saturday when the Hawks play at Nashville.
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, 7 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: Nashville had a four-game winning streak snapped by Montreal on Thursday. ... Filip Forsberg has scored 10 of his 26 goals in the last six games. ... The Hawks are 3-1-0 vs. Nashville this season. In those games, Forsberg had 1 goal, 1 assist and was a minus-4. ... Of the five hat tricks recorded by the Hawks this season, two came against the Predators (Richard Panik on Oct. 15 and Ryan Hartman on Jan. 8).
Next: Anaheim Ducks at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
- John Dietz