RECAP: Blackhawks' All-Star Leads Way in 4-1 Win Over Edmonton

Fresh off the All-Star break, Chicago's All-Star propelled the Blackhawks to a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in the first game back.
Alex DeBrincat scored the game's opening goal and added a pair of primary assists in the victory, setting up Brandon Hagel and Dylan Strome for a trio of goals before Kirby Dach put the game away with the fourth. Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar once again making 40 stops on 41 shots in his 13th start over the last 14 games.

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI at EDM
BLOG: Blackhawks Interview Mathieu Darche for GM Position
HIGHLIGHTS: Blackhawks at Oilers
GALLERY: Blackhawks at Oilers
INSIDER: T. Johnson on Return From Surgery
BLACKHAWK OF THE GAME: Fresh off his first All-Star appearance, DeBrincat sparked the Blackhawks offense in the opening minutes with a goal and a primary assist. He added a second primary helper in the third for his second three-point night of the year.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: Fleury logged his 15th win of the year, the 16th straight season he's hit at least 15 victories.
UP NEXT: Chicago continues their three-game trip on Saturday night in St. Louis with the third meeting of the season against the Blues.

GAME RECAP

CHI: 1, EDM: 0

1st - 1:44 - Alex DeBrincat (Patrick Kane, Dylan Strome) -- PP

Less than 30 seconds into the game's opening power play, All-Star Alex DeBrincat scored his 27th of the season to put the visitors up 1-0 in Edmonton. Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome exchanged passes on the far side of the ice before Kane threaded a perfect cross-ice feed to DeBrincat at the weak-side dot for a one-timer past Mike Smith in goal.

CHI: 2, EDM: 0

1st - 2:47 - Brandon Hagel (Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach)

Just 63 seconds later, Brandon Hagel doubled the Blackhawks lead in transition. Kirby Dach started the rush on the breakout from his own zone with a high saucer feed to the far blue line to Alex DeBrincat. The winger entered the Edmonton end and slowed as a 3-on-2 developed with Caleb Jones driving the slot to occupy the defense's attention. DeBrincat was then able to find the late-trailing Hagel at the far-side dot for a quick wrister and a 2-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest.

CHI: 2, EDM: 1

2nd - 6:03 - Leon Draisaitl (Evander Kane, Connor McDavid) -- PP

The Oilers built momentum back in their direction early in the second period and got on the board on a power play of their own. Off a scramble in front, an outstretched Marc-Andre Fleury batted a puck off the goal line with the paddle of his stick, but right into the range of Leon Draisaitl in the slot through a mass of bodies. Draisaitl quickly put a shot into the net, past traffic and Fleury, for a 2-1 score.

CHI: 3, EDM: 1

3rd - 1:08 - Dylan Strome (Alex DeBrincat, Seth Jones) -- PP

The Blackhawks power play answered early in the third period as Alex DeBrincat drew the Leon Draisaitl penalty and then found Dylan Strome in front for the redirect tally 20 seconds later. DeBrincat and Seth Jones played give-and-go at the point with the forward working his way down to the near-side dot and then sliding a hard pass towards the back post for Strome to direct home from the edge of the crease for a 3-1 lead.

CHI: 4, EDM: 1

3rd - 9:36 - Kirby Dach (Brandon Hagel, Dominik Kubalík)

Chicago made it a 4-1 game a short time later as Kirby Dach found space in front. A Dominik Kubalík shot from the point was deflected wide off a Dach screen in the slot, but Brandon Hagel quickly found the loose puck off the end boards and dished a short pass to the centerman in front for the quick shot and score from the edge of the paint for the hometown kid.