RECAP: Blackhawks Shutout Blues in Exhibition Play, 4-0
Corey Crawford, Malcolm Subban combine for split shutout, Dominik Kubalik registers three-point night in win
by Carter Baum @CarterBaum / Blackhawks.com
The final warmup test is in the books and the Blackhawks are flying following a 4-0 win over the defending-champion St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night in Edmtonton.
Corey Crawford and Malcolm Subban each split netminding duties in the shutout, while Domink Kubalik enjoyed a three-point night and Brandon Saad and Dylan Strome scored in the victory as well.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dominik Kubalik picked up right where he left off in his Calder Trophy finalist campaign, scoring twice while adding an assist and a team-high four shots in the exhibition win.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: The Blackhawks power play scored twice on the night, a feat accomplished just three times during the regular season, including a trio of man-advantage goals against the Blues on Feb. 25 and a pair in the final game of the season against San Jose on March 11.
UP NEXT: Chicago opens their best-of-five Qualifying Round series against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT.
GAME RECAP
Both teams played a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Chicago outscoring St. Louis 7-5 in a slow start to the first competitive action in 20 weeks.
Rookie goal scoring leader Kubalik had perhaps the period's best look on the power play, nearly converting a cross-ice one-timer from Jonathan Toews that Jordan Binnington was able to turn aside with the shoulder.
The top line got the scoring started at 7:40 of the second period. Following a period of sustained offensive zone time, Kubalik cycled the puck back behind the net for Toews, who walked out the far side and found Brandon Saad making a drive to the near post for a 1-0 lead.
Video: STL@CHI: Toews sets up Saad for goal in front
On the very next shift, the second line got in on the action as Strome and Patrick Kane dually worked to win a puck back in the offensive zone. Kane picked up the stripped puck and quickly found Strome making his way into the slot for the quick back-door tally and a 2-0 lead at 9:12 of the middle frame.
Video: STL@CHI: Strome buries Kane's pinpoint pass
On an abbreviated second opportunity of the night, the Blackahwks power play converted to make it 3-0 at 5:04 of the third period. Once again, it was quick puck movement to create the scoring chance as Kane on the far wall found Kirby Dach on the goal line for a one-touch pass into the slot, where Kubalik one-timed a shot past Jake Allen for the tally on the advantage.
Video: STL@CHI: Kubalik nets PPG from the slot
Kubalik scored again seven minutes later on another man advantage when the puck found him in the slot and the rookie fired a hard wrister the sliped under the arm of Allen for a 4-0 lead and the eventual final score.