Teravainen’s Monster Game, Penalty Kill Propels Blackhawks to Win Over Islanders

The Chicago Blackhawks faced the New York Islanders for the second time in three days. Their last meeting started promisingly but ended disappointingly, with a 5-4 loss. The only bright spot was that the Blackhawks scored three goals in the third period to go from a 5-1 deficit to a one-goal deficit, but that doesn’t change the fact that the game didn’t end with two points.

Now, back home after a week-long East Coast road trip, including being on the second game of a back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils, the Blackhawks hoped to get right with the Isles, and they did. Here are 4 thoughts from the Blackhawks’ 5-3 win against the Islanders.

1. Blackhawks’ Third Period Woes Stalled

The Blackhawks have had many third-period collapses this season, but they have been alarmingly on display this past week. On Dec. 12, the Isles scored three goals in a three-minute span in the third period, making the game 5-1 until Chicago made it interesting. On Dec. 15, against the Devils, the Blackhawks were winning 1-0 going into the third period and gave up four goals (three of them coming in a two-minute span) to lose the game 4-1.

The Blackhawks were about to blow the third period open after allowing an Islanders goal one minute into the period that tied the game 3-3. They challenged the goal for goaltender interference, which failed, and they ended up with a delay of game penalty.

It’s a good thing that the Blackhawks penalty kill has been the best part of the team as of late (killing 25 straight penalties). Otherwise, that would have been a pretty unacceptable collapse. However, they were able to fend off the third-period collapses in this game, as they hung on to win 5-3, thanks to a Connor Bedard goal to make it 4-3 with 54 seconds left. Then, Connor Murphy had an empty net goal to finish the game.

2. Teuvo Teravainen’s Revenge Game

If one player needed a revenge game, it was Teuvo Teravainen. He had 13 points in 33 games and has been rather quiet. He even got demoted to the fourth line after mainly playing in the top six all season.

However, Nick Foligno being out out of today’s game with an illness, promoted Teravainen to the third line with Ilya Mikheyev and Jason Dickinson, and he had a monster game.

He hadn’t scored a goal since Nov. 27 against the Dallas Stars  (8 games). In the first period, he recorded two assists on Taylor Hall and Ilya Mikheyev’s goals.

Then, he recorded a goal on the Blackhawks 5-on-3 powerplay in the second period to give his team a 3-2 lead.

It was one of the best games I have seen from him this season. The last game he recorded three-plus points was against the Edmonton Oilers (four points) on Oct. 12.

3. Taylor Hall and Alex Vlasic Are Feeling It

Taylor Hall has now had four points in his last four games and had another strong outing against the Islanders, including getting his team the go-ahead goal at the end of the first period that brought his team a 2-1 lead, which was huge for the team. Hall is such a big part of the offense and the team that seeing him on a roll has been a treat.

I have to mention Alex Vlasic in this conversation, too, because he had two assists in the game, getting an assist on Ilya Mikheyev and Hall’s goal. He now has 4 assists in his last three games. His 16 points ties his last season point total. He has been phenomenal this season.

4. Blackhawks Special Teams Came Up Huge

The Blackhawks’ special teams played a big role today. With Teravaien scoring on the 5-on-3 power play and the penalty kill going 4-for-4 on the day, it changed the game. The Islanders had a power play with less than three minutes left, and the Blackhawks taking care of business there gave them a boost of confidence to close that game out.

Two big penalty kills in the third period made a statement when it could have gone the other way. Sometimes, you just need special teams to take over to win games, and they did their job against the Islanders.

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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