In the second period of their 4-3 victory over the Coyotes on Thursday night, the Blackhawks scored one goal — and sent three pucks into the stands.
After the Hawks went up 3-0 in the first period, the second period was an odd 20 minutes in which the Hawks committed five penalties, helping the Coyotes score three goals to get back in the game.
Three of those penalties were for delay of game.
"That’s almost like a record," Marian Hossa said.
Added coach Joel Quenneville: "We’ve got to keep it in the building on three occasions there. It’s tough to lose momentum on plays like that."
Normally too many men on the ice is the preventable penalty that nags the Hawks. Not so Thursday. The first delay-of-game culprit was Artem Anisimov 19 seconds into the period. Anisimov’s penalty came nine seconds after Jonathan Toews had been called for tripping.
That led to a five-on-three power play for the Coyotes, who converted on a goal from Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the 1:36 mark.
Niklas Hjalmarsson committed the second delay of game at the end of a shift that had lasted 2 minutes, 39 seconds. Brian Campbell capped off the parade to the box at 16:26.
The Hawks were able to kill off Hjalmarsson’s and Campbell’s penalties.
"It was a couple rolling pucks that we ended up putting into the stands," defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "Anytime you give a team like that a power play, that’s how they’ll get momentum going. It was a couple unlucky plays, and it happened three times."
The Hawks were fortunate to come out of the period with a lead, and they were able to protect it in the third to secure two points.
"There were some good things at the end," Quenneville said.
Liking Forsling: Rookie defenseman Gustav Forsling has played in two games since the Hawks recalled him from Rockford, and in Quenneville’s eyes, it has been so far, so good.
"He has been good. Really good (Thursday) and fine (Tuesday) too," Quenneville said. "He was moving quicker, joining the attack and I thought he was more supportive."
Forsling played 11 minutes, 24 seconds against the Coyotes and 10:39 against the Sharks.
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