In Chicago, Patrik Laine scored twice in the third period on Thursday to complete a hat for for the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a 7-4 win over the Blackhawks.
“It’s been a good streak so far,” Laine said. “Obviously great that we’re able to win games as a team. If I didn’t have this streak going on and I’d be struggling and the team’s winning, that’s all that really matters. At the same time, it’s nice to help out the guys and get some big points.”
Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves in the Columbus win.
The Blackhawks dropped to 18-25-7.
Boone Jenner and Yegor Chinakhov scored for Columbus to give them an early 2-0 lead.
“We just had too many passengers at the start,” Chicago head coach Derek King said. “Guys were not ready to play and kind of easing their way into it and you can’t do that when you have a young goalie in there. You have to be ready. We talked about it. You have to be ready when the puck drops, and we weren’t, and the poor kid was left hanging out to dry. I mean, that’s not very nice.”
The Blackhawks rallied back for a 2-2 tie on strikes from Ryan Carpenter and Philipp Kurashev.
The Blue Jackets improved to 24-23-1.
“I don’t know if it was a test,” Columbus head coach Brad Larsen said. “I was just worried about the energy. I was exhausted today, just being honest. There’s not many opportunities you get to take four of five on a road trip. I don’t care who you are. That’s a tough thing to do in the NHL. I was hoping it would give us some juice and be excited about that opportunity.”
Max Domi and Laine scored for a 4-2 lead to Columbus.
“I was just trying to get it on net, and I think it hit the side of the net,” Laine said. “I still don’t know how it ended up being a goal, but it seems like right now, shoot it on net and it finds its way in somehow.”
Chicago’s MacKenzie Entwistle cut the lead to 4-3.
Alex DeBrincat also scored for the Hawks.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored in the third period to give the Blue Jackets a 6-4 lead, and Laine hit for an empty-net goal to finish his hat trick and the 7-4 final.
Arvid Soderblom made 30 saves in the Chicago loss.
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