Blackhawks use big comeback for win

CHICAGO-- The Chicago Blackhawks trailed by two goals late in the third period but defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in a shootout at United Center on Saturday.
Jonathan Toews and Artemi Panarin scored in the shootout for the Blackhawks, who tied the game with 1:28 left in the third period on goals by Artem Anisimov and Richard Panik one minute apart.

Toews scored in the first round of the shootout, Toronto rookie Auston Matthews tied it in the second round, and Panarin's goal to start the third decided it when rookie Mitchell Marner missed the net. "[We're] certainly fortunate to come back in a game like that," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "[There's] been a lot of comebacks in the League this year and we've given up some leads ourselves. That was a little different way of going about it."

Anisimov scored twice, Tyler Motte scored, Panarin had two assists, and Brian Campbell had three assists for Chicago. Scott Darling made 30 saves for the Blackhawks (3-3-0), who split back-to-back games and have won three of their past four. William Nylander scored twice, and Matthews had two assists for Toronto (1-1-3), which has lost three straight. Frederik Andersen made 29 saves for the Maple Leafs, who haven't won at United Center since Feb. 12, 2003.
"I think the big thing here is we've played one at home and four on the road (this season)," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "We've managed to get points on the road. We could've won every game we've played in. We've got to find a way to put away the other team, for sure, especially in a situation like tonight, but lots of positive things for us."

Toronto led 3-2 starting the third period, after van Riemsdyk broke a 2-2 tie with his goal at 18:16 of the second. The Maple Leafs led 4-2 after Nylander's second goal at 4:46 of the third. Chicago had two power plays in overtime, were 0-for-6 in the game and allowed a power-play goal, which was their 12th in 21 times shorthanded this season.

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Goal of the game

Panik continued his hot streak to start the season by scoring his NHL-leading sixth goal with 1:28 left to tie it 4-4. Panik, who was traded to the Blackhawks by the Maple Leafs on Jan. 3, beat defenseman Roman Polak to a rebound of Duncan Keith's shot.
"I was really happy we came back after [trailing] 4-2 and felt even better it was my last team," Panik said. "I just try to find a space in front of the net, and that's the spot goals are scored from. It's been working, so I'm just going to continue playing that way."

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Save of the game

The Blackhawks made Andersen work hard in overtime, when he made five saves. Panarin got the puck alone in the low slot and sent a quick wrist shot low to the left side of the net, but Andersen got his right pad on it with 41 seconds left to keep it tied.

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Unsung moment of the game

Matthews' second assist, which created Nylander's goal in the third period, was a strong individual effort. After getting the puck in the defensive zone, he passed to Nylander, who gave it right back. Matthews took it hard to the net, sent a pass back to Nylander for the tap-in goal, and crashed into the boards.

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Highlight of the game

Anisimov's first goal, at 3:36 of the first period, capped a breakout by the Blackhawks. Defenseman Brian Campbell hit Kane with a pass to the neutral zone, Kane fed Panarin for an entry into the offensive zone, and Panarin used a great move to get around Toronto center Nazem Kadri for a pass to Anisimov for a 1-0 lead.

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They said it

"We've got to be better at closing out games, that's for sure. We've got to understand the situation of the game better, time and score. That's something we've got to learn with experience, I guess. Other than that, it looks pretty good." -- Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen
"We needed it. It wasn't pretty for a while there. Everything was going against us again and we were giving up chances. We just hung in there." -- Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews

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Need to know

Hossa returned after he was scratched from the Blackhawks' 3-2 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday with a lower-body injury. ... Quenneville said defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk is expected to be out about a month with an upper-body injury. ... Maple Leafs defenseman Martin Marincin (lower body) participated in the morning skate and was a healthy scratch.

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What's next

Maple Leafs: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN1, TVA Sports, SUN, NHL.TV)
Blackhawks: Host the Calgary Flames on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVA Sports, CSN-CH, NHL.TV)