After scoring five goals in their first two games to start the season, the Chicago Blackhawks have been in a offensive slump. In their last two games, they have only scored one goal and have failed to create many offensive chances in those two losses.
The Hawks started out the first period slow in the first period as they were outshot by the Columbus Blue Jackets 9-to-6. Chicago was primarily slowed down by two penalties in the first half. Brent Seabrook went to the box for hooking halfway through the period and captain Jonathan Toews was sent off for crosschecking. But the Hawks penalty kill did well and killed off both.
The Hawks came into the second period with 1:32 left on their powerplay but couldn't muster any solid chances and it was killed off. Chicago started to pick it up in the second period as they registered 15 shots this period compared to the six they had earlier. But they still weren't able to scored thanks to some great saves by Curtis McElhinney. He stopped Artemi Panarin on a one-on-one and also made a good save on Patrick Kane. But the Blackhawks began to gain momentum in the period when Brandon Saad, the former Blackhawk, was sent to the penalty box. The Hawks did not score on the powerplay but they scored a few minutes after. Panarin flew down the wing and set up Artem Anisimov who smashed the puck into the roof of the net to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. It was a goal much needed for a team that struggled to find offense.
Things got worse for Columbus as Cody Goloubef was sent to the box for interference. Then the Hawks struck on the power play when Teuvo Teravainen's pass deflected off of a Blue Jacket skate and it beat McElhinney to give Chicago a 2-0 lead. Two goals in 65 seconds seemed to stun Columbus and the Hawks kept the pressure on.
The Hawks had a golden chance to kill the game off when Dalton Prout was sent to the box for cross checking and Brandon Dubinsky for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 5-on-3 proved to be a huge advantage for the Blackhawks as Marion Hossa beat multiple Blue Jackets and beat McElhinney to kill off the game.
Columbus got a goal back and ruined Corey Crawford's bid for a shutout when Jack Johnson scored to make it 3-1. Patrick Kane later added a empty netter to make it 4-1 as the Hawks won their third win of the season.
The season is still young and the Blackhawks are still adjusting to new players so the team chemistry might be an issue at the beginning of the season, but it was a solid win as the new guys were a big part of the win.