Chicago Blackhawks: Hat Trick by Kane Leads Team to Victory over Penguins

The Chicago Blackhawks get yet another victory behind a hat trick from Patrick Kane.
Final. 1. 92. 4. 94
The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to the United Center Wednesday night for a tough matchup that saw Patrick Kane shine yet again. Kane notched his second hat trick in less than a week.
From the opening faceoff the game was physical and saw both teams putting a lot of pucks on net. Scott Darling came up huge tonight with 36 saves. Darling had multiple stops on Malkin and Crosby that proved to be clutch.
The Blackhawks finally got on the board in the second period when Kane found the back of the net for his first of three goals. Nick Schmaltz would grab an assist on the goal with a nice back check that led to a turnover and a pass to Kane who finished off the play with a goal.
The game was hard-hitting and saw some big open ice hits and hits along the board that would send a Blackhawk over the visiting bench into the laps of a few Penguin players.
Darling was absolutely lights out tonight and needed to be facing an offense like Pittsburgh. Over and over Darling would come up with huge saves in key moments of the game. Pittsburgh just couldn’t get any momentum going on their side.
With tonight’s victory the Blackhawks have won 10 of their last 11 and Pittsburgh has went 4-6 in their last 10 games. Kane has scored seven goals in his last three games and showing why he is the defending NHL MVP.
My biggest take away from tonight’s game is how well the defense played in front of Darling. They needed the defense to step it up tonight and that’s what happened. Darling also had a lot to do with that, anytime your goalie gets 36 saves he’s doing something right. Nothing was getting by Darling tonight
3 Stars
- Patrick Kane– 3 goals. Kane took off right where he left off notching yet another hat trick.
- Scott Darling– 36 saves. Darling was spectacular in net tonight and if it wasn’t for Kane would be my number one star. Darling is 11-4 in his last 15 starts.
- Nick Schmaltz– 3 assists. Schmaltz is playing some of the best hockey of his career as of late and that didn’t stop tonight helping on two of Kanes goals.
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Next Game
The Blackhawks will play host to the New York Islanders on Friday night and Pittsburgh will return home to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.