WINNIPEG – The struggling Chicago Blackhawks got just what they needed in a 5-4 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets. The MTS Centre has been a very good place to play for the Blackhawks who are 9-1 in their last 10 games in Winnipeg.
Scott Darling picked up the win over the Jets – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
The Blackhawks were led by rookie sensation Artemi Panarin who tied the game up late in the third and also scored on the power play in the first period for his 26th and 27th goals of the season.
He also had a couple of helpers including a gorgeous feed in overtime setting up the winning goal by Brent Seabrook.
“I think it’s huge for our team,” Seabrook said. “It was good to see, and I think it’s a definite confidence-booster going forward to know that we can be down, get a big goal, get it to overtime [and win].”
Ondrej Pavelec was in the net for the Jets and he stopped 22 of 27 Chicago shots. Pavelec has yet to beat the Hawks in his career as he falls to 0-5-3 in eight starts against them.
The Jets got goals from Nic Petan his second, Blake Wheeler had a pair his 21st and 22nd, Dustin Byfuglien scored his 18th.
“There was lots of good in that game,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “There was lots you just shake your head at, but that’s true for both teams after that one.”
Wheeler continued on his seven-game point streak as he had a three-point night. Mark Scheifele had a couple of assists as well and sees his six-game point streak stay alive.
“You want to contribute to wins, you know what I’m saying?” Wheeler said. “It’s kind of an empty feeling. At some point after the season, I’ll look back at it and be proud of the work I put in.”
Patrick Kane sniped his 40th goal of the season and Brandon Mashinter scored his fourth to round out the scoring for Chicago.
“It was a crazy game, all game long,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ll take the positive of winning the game, knowing that there are areas we definitely have to be better in.”
Scott Darling stopped 28 shots and picked up his 10th win of the season for the Blackhawks.
“[The win is] definitely the more important part,” Darling said. “They’re not all works of art, but it shows a lot of character to come back a couple of times.”
It was announced before the game that Duncan Keith of the Blackhawks will be suspended for six games for his high sticking incident on Charlie Coyle of the Wild earlier this week.
Chicago got a scare when captain Jonathan Toews left the ice in the second after getting dinged in the ear by an errant clearing attempt, after getting stiched up Toews returned to the ice in the third and helped set up the OT winner.
The Jets will close the home portion of this season on Sunday night against rivals the Minnesota Wild.
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