Corey Perry Endears Himself Some More In Blackhawks’ 4-2 Victory

It’s pretty fair to say Chicago is going to be more than okay with Corey Perry now. Sure it’s preseason, but goals from the new Blackhawks forward will only endear him more–and even faster–than many would like to admit when he was signed. Especially potting a pair, including the game winner against the arch-rival Detroit Red Wings.

Oh, and Connor Bedard got an empty net goal. But it was Perry’s pair that doomed Detroit.

Perry opened the scoring just over three minutes in on a crease crash goal that gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. The puck hopped out on a rebound to Perry who banged it home for his first tally of the preseason. The second came on a power play with assists from both Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall,  on a set of pretty passes from both.

From there it was back and forth.

Detroit didn’t waste time early in the second, converting a one-timer that Joe Veleno ripped past Petr Mrazek to even it up at one.

In a bizarre sequence, the Red Wings had a horrible change in their own end which led to a two-on-none chance, which ended with MacKenzie Entwistle blowing a tire and missing the puck, allowing Detroit time to corral the puck and rush up the other way.

Murphy ended up scoring from the right circle on a wrister to make it 2-1 Blackhawks with 4:30 left in the second. Veleno would answer again nearly five minutes into the third but Perry would finish them off with his second of the game. Bedard added the empty netter.

Wyatt Kaiser Strong Again for Blackhawks

Say what you want about having younger players on the blue line but Wyatt Kaiser absolutely looks like he belongs as a member of the top six when the season kicks off a week from tonight.

He kept a play alive on goal in the first period and then had a great shot coming off the bench in the second that nearly led to a golden opportunity for Chicago. But it’s also his positioning and ability to close off chances in hi own zone that highlights why maybe he, too, should be one of the three pairings on October 10th when the Blackhawks open up against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road.

Entwistle Snakebitten Not Once But Twice

Blowing a tire and missing out on a two-on-none chance is one thing. Coming back harder on the next shift is cleraly the focus. But to redirect the shot at an open net–later in the period–only to see it bang off the bar?

Now that’s just cruel from Lady Luck.

Entwistle is one of many Blackhawks forwards vying for a position on the roster and he can’t be blamed for either, but moreso, maybe the effort to grind it out is more important. Misses by a few inches is one thing, but just missing when there’s a bit at stake is a whole other thing.

But Entwistle played well, and even sent a rush the other way on a Blackhawks penalty kill late in the third. Keep the faith young man–the puck can bounce the other way, too.