Blackhawks-Blue Jackets: Chicago Shoots It Out

This was a game the Chicago Blackhawks would have lost in years past.

Tired legs ruled the ice for the men in the Indianhead, yet they were able to hold off a barrage of shots by host Columbus to stake out a 4-3 victory in a shootout Saturday.

Cristobal Huet stopped 48-of-51 shots in the victory.

The game started with much instigation from the Jackets.

Ken Hitchcock's teams are usually a collection of meat-headed yobs, and this Jackets team is no exception.

The Blackhawks were outworked throughout the first 15 minutes of the first period, but got the first goal on a defensive lapse by Columbus with Patrick Sharp finding the soft spot of the zone and rattlling off two shots to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Troy Brouwer's boneheaded penalty set up an equalizer to 1-1.

Throughout the second period, the Hawks were being dominated, and Fredrik Norrena's flop from some subtle contact with Hawks forward Kris Versteeg set up a long stanza of Columbus power-play time.

However, it was the Blackhawks who struck next, killing the Columbus power play and converting on their own with a goal by Brent Seabrook. After a turnover that led to a shorthanded goal by Fedor Tyutin—one of Huet's only bad moments of the night—the Hawks came right back with another power-play goal, this time from the stealthy Martin Havlat.

The Hawks, and most notably Seabrook, had a brain cramp that led to Columbus' third goal. With tired legs, in a 4-on-4 situation, Columbus was given far too much room by Chicago and the game was tied again.

The final six minutes of regulation showed Columbus clicking on all cylinders. Yet, time and time again, Huet turned back golden Blue Jacket chances.

As the game progressed into overtime, the Hawks killed their eighth penalty of the evening after a horrendous penalty for having too many men on the ice.

Facing nine penalty kills, a rough game the previous night, and an early morning arrival, the Hawks played with some serious guts tonight.

They finally finished with a shootout win when Huet read every Columbus move.

He was simply brilliant.

WORST PLAYER ON THE ICE FOR HAWKS

I'm gonna have to go with Dustin Byfuglien, who looks like an old man when he skates around the ice. This guy looks completely disinterested in everything that's going on. He's flatfooted and completely clueless with the puck. I'm not sure how close the Hawks are to thinking about benching him. I'd think about it. Pretty hard.

A CLOSE SECOND

Seabrook was the only Hawk finishing the game at a minus-2. He had a wonderful power-play goal, but his consistent lack of surroundings was surprisingly noticeable. His inability to throw the puck down the ice during a line change in overtime is borderline unforgiveable. It nearly cost the Hawks a point in the standings.

UP NEXT

The Blackhawks get Colorado on Monday night at 7:30 pm. It should be a good one, with Quenneville going against his old mates.

Happy All Saints Day! My favorite Saint is Saint Patrick. Who's yours?