The Blackhawks celebrate their win over the Blues. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
By Jay Zawaski-
(CBS) The Blackhawks’ 2-1 overtime win is important for many reasons.
First, it’s a divisional win. One of those famous “4 point games.” Second, it sets a franchise record for the best start in history. No Blackhawks team has ever started a season 6-0. After 9 days, 6 games, 5 states, and 4 time zones (thanks to @just1idiot for the breakdown), the Blackhawks have 12 points. Third, it was a goalie win.
Corey Crawford was the absolute difference in this one. The road weary Hawks started the game flying, and Duncan Keith got them out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st period with a water-bottle-destroying slap shot on the powerplay. From there, the Red Wings started to surge while the Blackhawks faded. Detroit kept coming and coming, including four powerplays (including a 5-on-3) in the second period. The Hawks killed all of them, but wore themselves out even more in the process. Johan Franzen finally got the Wings on the board when he tied the game at 1 in the 3rd. From there, Crawford held on and got the Hawks to overtime. Nick Leddy scored on a wrist shot to give the Hawks the OT win, and the franchise record.
Click here for the rest of Zawaski’s column from the Red Light District.
