Blackhawks blast Senators behind big 2nd period

[January 10, 2018]  Nick Schmaltz and Jonathan Toews each scored two goals, while Patrick Kane doled out four assists in a five-goal second period Tuesday night as the Chicago Blackhawks routed the Ottawa Senators 8-2 at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, Ontario.

Jordan Oesterle and Duncan Keith added two helpers apiece for Chicago (21-15-6), while goalie Anton Forsberg (3-5-3) stopped 25 shots to pick up the win and also chipped in an assist. Patrick Sharp contributed a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks drove Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson to cover before the second period was half over.

Kane added a goal on a five-point night, and Schmaltz also had an assist.

Anderson (11-13-5) made 22 saves on 26 shots as the Senators (14-18-9) weren't able to sweep a three-game homestand that started with impressive victories over the San Jose Sharks and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Backup Mike Condon stopped 13 of 17 shots.

Chicago's Richard Panik initiated the scoring at 18:51 of the first period when he fired a wrister from the high slot that eluded Anderson. It was Panik's sixth goal of the season and his first since Oct. 21.

Sharp made it 2-0 at 5:14 of the second period with a long-range wrister from the left circle. Chicago upped the lead to 3-0 with the first of its four power-play markers, Schmaltz's off a rebound of Oesterle's point blast at 8:15.

Toews' rebound goal at 9:53 sent Anderson to the bench for the night's remainder.

 

Blackhawks goalie Anton Forsberg dons his helmet at the start of the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The goalie change also appeared to give Ottawa a brief spark. Mark Stone scored his 18th goal at 10:35 off his rebound, and Derick Brassard potted his 12th at 16:39 when Stone's wrister struck him in the chest and beat Forsberg.

However, Schmaltz roofed the rebound of Sharp's shot over Condon on the power play at 17:33 to make it 5-2, and Jan Rutta wired a one-timer from the left circle with the man advantage at 19:07 for a 6-2 cushion.

Toews bagged his 14th goal of the season at 3:24 of the third period, and Kane polished off the outburst, scoring his 18th on the power play at 10:01.

--Field Level Media

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