The Chicago Blackhawks played a tremendous road game. Without their leading scorer and most dynamic player, they did everything they needed to do to win a hockey game. They simplified their attack, got in on the forecheck, and played excellent team defense. That game plan helped them build a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes left to play, thanks to goals by Wyatt Kaiser and Jason Dickinson.
Then it fell apart in the third period. An aimless Toronto Maple Leafs squad breathed some life into a dead Scotiabank Arena when Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot from the point got through heavy traffic.