For the first time in just over a month, the Chicago Blackhawks took a lead and hung onto it, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Monday night at the United Center.
Early in the first period, Erik Gustafsson activated REVENGE GAME mode with a seeing-eye point shot that found its way into the back of the net just 1:44 into the game:
About 4:30 later, Jonathan Toews exited the penalty box just in time to take in a pass from Sam Lafferty and the captain cashed in on the fortuitous timing with a breakaway goal to double Chicago’s advantage:
Two minutes after the Toews’ goal, Kevin Hayes exacted revenge on the team that drafted him by cashing in on a two-on-one to make it a 2-1 score:
The score remained that way for nearly two full periods of play until this Alex DeBrincat one-timer in the third period restored Chicago’s two-goal advantage:
A few attempts towards an empty Philadelphia net were unsuccessful but ultimately irrelevant as Chicago hung onto a lead for the first time since March 23, sealing a 3-1 victory.