The Blackhawks hang on to defeat the Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-2 beating Columbus for the eighth straight time dating back to 2011. Chicago has now won their first five games tying their best start in franchise history which occurred in 1971-1972.
Mark Letestu gave Columbus the early 1-0 lead when he poked a loose puck past a crowded defense and a prone Corey Crawford.
Later in the first period, Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson sent Dave Bolland flying into the boards which called for a minor penalty, but Bolland was also sent to the sin bin for slashing after the play ended.
As soon as the 4-on-4 expired, Bolland jumped on the ice then ultimately finished his shift with his third goal of the season when he capitalized on Patrick Kane’s missed semi-breakaway opportunity.
Bryan Bickell put Chicago on top 2-1 when he started and finished a play tipping in Niklas Hjalmarsson’s slap-shot from the point.
With around 7 minutes remaining in the second period, the Blue Jackets had appeared to have tied the game, but referee Dan O’Rourke immediately waved off the goal believed to call “incidental contact” on Nick Foligno.
In the third period, Jonathan Toews provided Chicago with some insurance off of a Kane forced offensive turnover.
Dave Bolland committed two penalties in one (holding of the stick and unsportsmanlike conduct) which gave Columbus a four-minute power play. But that wouldn’t stand for long as the Blue Jackets were guilty of two quick penalties that would wipe it out.
2:19 left in the third period with the extra attacker, Artem Anisimov sliced Chicago’s lead back to one goal when he backhanded his second goal of the season, but it wouldn’t be enough.
Niklas Hjalmarsson led all skaters with a +3 rating and also tallied four blocked shots.
Patrick Kane has now registered four multi-point games in the first five games of the regular-season.
Crawford improves his record to 4-0-0 on the season stopping 24 of 26 (.923 save %) on the night.
Power Play: 0-for-4
Penalty Kill: 5-for-5
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Blackhawks will head back to the United Center to take on their arch-rival Red Wings; puck drop at 6:00pm CT!
(For more Blackhawks coverage, please visit http://www.hawkeyonthefly.com/)
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