Blackhawks ride power play, weather Oilers' storm to earn first win of season
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Blackhawks' power play, a major struggle during their first two games of the season, made a major difference in their third game and first win Saturday.
Teuvo Teravainen scored twice to help the Hawks' convert all three of their man-advantage opportunities, and Petr Mrazek played brilliantly to help the Hawks weather a hearty third-period push and beat the Oilers 5-2.
"We were very determined and stuck to that game plan that we've been doing since after that first period the first game [in Utah]," coach Luke Richardson said.
"[It was] a little bit erratic at the end, because we were scrambling because they were putting pressure on. And [we] had a few icings, but we would rather take icings than turnovers. The guys hung in there tight against a really strong, powerful offensive team."
The Hawks improved to 1-1-1 heading into the final game of their four-game opening road trip Tuesday against the Flames. They also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Oilers, the defending Western Conference champions, after scoring two total goals in the three meetings last season.
Seth Jones recorded the Hawks' first power-play goal of the season halfway through the second period, trickling a point shot through Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard's five-hole, and Connor Bedard sniped his first goal of the season over Pickard's left shoulder three minutes later.
A push from Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still felt inevitable at that point. It indeed came in the third period, and the Oilers finished with massive statistical advantages in shot attempts (91-37, with those 91 being the most the Hawks have allowed in a game since 2019) and scoring chances (42-18). The Hawks iced the puck a whopping nine times just to relieve pressure.
Nonetheless, Mrazek's 36 saves, Teravainen's two markers and a successful challenge by Richardson all helped the Hawks maintain a multi-goal lead.
"We can really frustrate teams and just be annoying to play against," Bedard said. "I think that's going to be our identity: a lot of simplicity. But we have the skill to make plays when it opens up. And we did that tonight and frustrated them a little bit."