DeBrincat scores both Blackhawks goals in OT victory over Predators
Pekka Rinne has often been a thorn in the Blackhawks' side.
And Friday night at the United Center was no different as Nashville's veteran goalie thwarted the first 28 shots he saw in nearly 49 minutes.
It took an Alex DeBrincat tip of a Patrick Kane blast to finally solve Rinne with 10:55 remaining. That tied things up at 1-1, and the Hawks nearly won it late in regulation, but Rinne stopped a Jonathan Toews shot with 21 seconds left, then steered Drake Caggiula's rebound attempt just wide of the post with 18.8 seconds remaining.
No matter.
DeBrincat ended up scoring his second goal of the game - and 16th of the season - on a breakaway to give the Hawk a 2-1 victory with 57.8 seconds remaining in overtime.
The victory lifted the Hawks to 27-26-8 on the season and moved them to within 6 points of a wild-card spot.
It was just the Hawks' second victory in the last nine games.
"We've faced adversity at different points in the season," DeBrincat said beforehand. "This is just another one of those times where we need to really get back together and play the style of game we know we can play ... and win with."
The Hawks outshot Nashville 8-0 in the first five minutes, getting 7 of those attempts on a failed power play. Brandon Saad was awarded a penalty shot at 9:14 of the first period after Filip Forsberg hooked him on a breakaway. Saad's attempted to beat Pekka Rinne through the five-hole, but was unsuccessful.
One highlight for the Hawks was when they killed off a 73-second two-man advantage late in the second period after Slater Koekkoek (interference) and Duncan Keith (holding) were sent to the box.
Major milestone:
Near the end of his eight-minute Q&A with reporters Thursday, Duncan Keith was asked to reflect on the fact that he joined a select group of seven Blackhawks defensemen who have racked up 500 career assists. No. 500 for Keith came on a Dominik Kubalik goal early in the second period of the Hawks' 6-3 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.
"I don't think that points have ever been my main focus, especially when I entered the league and coming along," said Keith, who has a pair of 55-assist campaigns. "Always wanted to be a good two-way defenseman and compete and help my team win.
"So that's kind of always been the way I feel and how I want to be ... as a player."
One player Keith always looked up to was Brian Leetch, who played mostly for the New York Rangers and piled up 247 goals and 781 assists from 1987-2006.
"It was a different league back then, but always watched the way they played and tried to take things from their game into mine," Keith said of players like Leetch.
Keith notched his 600th career point during the Hawks' game against Nashville on Friday when he assisted on Patrick Kane's third-period goal.
Trade winds blowing:
Erik Gustafsson was an unexpected healthy scratch during the Hawks' game against Nashville at the United Center on Friday. Gustafsson, whose contract expires after this season, is perhaps the most likely Hawk to be traded by Monday's 2 p.m. deadline.
Hawks goalie Robin Lehner also uncharacteristically turned down interview requests after Friday's morning skate.
Slap shot:
Injured forward Zack Smith (left hand) took part in morning skate and may be able to play at Dallas on Sunday.