Instant Analysis: Soderblom Superb in Blackhawks Win

Hockey can be quite the beautiful game. The last four minutes was a microcosm of the game. The Toronto Maple Leafs pressuring the Chicago Blackhawks, but getting absolutely nothing out of it.

When it came down to it, the puck and the breaks went the right way Tuesday night in the Blackhawks way in their 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Whether it was still getting the puck out after a broken twig or Nick Foligno somehow loses his blade on the ice and yet the Hawks are still able to not lose any positioning from it.

It was one of those nights for the Blackhawks, who got goals from MacKenzie Entwistle, Corey Perry,  Tyler Johnson and Taylor Raddysh were rewarded for their grit with a hard earned win that saw Chicago stifle the high octane Maple Leafs offense.

Soderblom Superb in Blackhawks Victory

Be it the toe save as Matthews and John Tavares were right on the doorstep, or the pucks he batted away after quality shots. Don’t look now, but in two games, Arvid Soderblom has 66 saves out of 69 shots against, for an unbelievable .956 save percentage.

The towering netminder never looked rattled, amidst one of the most fearsome offenses in the league who were relentless down low and especially in the final moments of the third where they were peppering from almost every angle.

Not bad keeping the red-hot Matthews in check, who had some glorious chances trying to add to his six goals in just two games.

The result went Soderblom’s way tonight and it’s another impressive performance from a Blackhawks goaltender this early in the season.

Stingy Defense Keeps the Maple Leafs in Check

Before the game, if someone said the Maple Leafs would have four power play chances, anyone would have taken three out of four kills as a success.

How about a perfect four? Who had that one? Head coach Luke Richardson not only got the most out of secondary scoring, but a stingy defense that didn’t give the Leafs a lot of room all night long. The third period pushed the Hawks, but while they bent, they didn’t break. A broken stick, or busted blade couldn’t keep them down.

It was the Blackhawks skating away with a 4-1 stunner over the Maple Leafs.