Blackhawks overcome Zajac hat trick, Devils in OT
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[December 02, 2016]
CHICAGO -- When Marian Hossa
considered his options, the Chicago Blackhawks veteran wasn't
initially convinced putting a shot on goal was his best choice.
But as has been the case this season, Hossa having the puck with the
game on the line is proving to one of the Blackhawks' most viable
options.
Hossa scored his fourth game-winning goal of the season 1:31 into
overtime as the Blackhawks beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on
Thursday night.
Hossa's goal came immediately after New Jersey's Michael Cammalleri
hit the post with a shot attempt. Hossa took the puck from Patrick
Kane at the blue line on Chicago's subsequent possession and sent
the puck toward Devils goaltender Cory Schneider.
"It wasn't a hard shot," Hossa said. "I just tried to shoot it at
the net."
The Blackhawks (16-6-3) finished off the victory after struggling to
find much rhythm early. Chicago twice erased one-goal deficits
before allowing a one-goal advantage to slip away in the third
period.
The Blackhawks took their first lead of the night 3-2 on Niklas
Hjalmarsson's unassisted goal with only 1:35 remaining in the second
period. Hjalmarsson's wrist shot found its way through traffic and
past Schneider, who finished with 29 saves.
But after falling behind, the Devils responded when Travis Zajac
scored his third goal of the night and tied the game 3-3 midway
through the third period.
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Despite Zajac's hat trick, though, the Devils (10-7-6) lost for the
sixth straight time on the road.
"It's tough not to pick up a second point, but we were down in the
third against a team that's really good at home and found a way to
get it to overtime and stick with it," Zajac said. "That's something
you can build off of."
The Blackhawks appeared to take a 4-2 lead 1:27 into the third when
Brian Campbell rebounded a Richard Panik shot and got the puck past
Schneider. But the goal was waved off when Panik was called for
goaltender interference after he took Schneider out of the play by
barreling into him on the hard-charging shot attempt.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville challenged the initial call that
the Blackhawks had not scored, before video review confirmed that
Panik interfered with Schneider.
Panik missed a chance to snap the 3-3 tie late in regulation when he
pushed a shot just wide of an empty net with Schneider out of
position.
But when given the chance in overtime, Hossa didn't miss as the
Blackhawks followed up a shootout victory against Florida earlier
this week with an overtime win.
"We've played a lot of games that have been tight," Quenneville
said. "Ten minutes to go and it's tied. The way the game is played
now, you want to make sure you get a point and when we get to
overtime, we like our chances in that setting."
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![](../images/120216pics/sports75.jpg)
Blackhawks left wing Richard Panik (14) collides with New Jersey
Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) during the first period at United
Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
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Zajac's power play goal gave the Devils a 2-1 lead midway through
the second period. But Chicago answered almost immediately when
Artem Anisimov cleaned up Brent Seabrook's miss that Schneider
couldn't control. When the puck squirted loose, Anisimov flipped a
shot past Schneider.
Marcus Kruger tied the game 1-1 only 1:02 into the second period.
Kruger took a touch pass from Dennis Rasmussen on an odd-man rush
and fired a wrist shot over Schneider's shoulder.
New Jersey took an early lead 3:13 in when Zajac poked a rebound
past Corey Crawford after the Chicago defense couldn't clear the
puck from out of the crease.
Slow start aside, the Blackhawks found a way to finish -- thanks
again to Hossa.
"I think there's lots of calmness in the dressing room even when we
don't play the best game," Hossa said. "We know we can steal one
point and in overtime, maybe we can get another one."
NOTES: Devils RW Taylor Hall returned Thursday night after missing
eight games. Hall underwent surgery after he tore his meniscus Nov.
12. ... Rookie F John Quenneville made his NHL debut Thursday night
after being called up from New Jersey's AHL Albany affiliate.
Quenneville is the second cousin of Blackhawks coach Joel
Quenneville. ... New Jersey C Sergey Kalinin (illness), LW Reid
Boucher (healthy scratch) and C Jacob Josefson (healthy scratch) did
not play. ... Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews missed his fourth straight
game with an upper-body injury. Joel Quenneville said Toews is
expected to resume skating either Friday or Saturday, but will be
doubtful for Saturday's road game against Philadelphia. ... Chicago
C Artem Anisimov returned to the lineup Thursday night after leaving
Tuesday's game against the Florida Panthers when he was hit in the
heel by the puck. ... Blackhawks RW Jordin Tootoo and D Gustav
Forsling were healthy scratches.
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