As the Chicago Blackhawks continue westward toward California, defenseman Jack Johnson finally found some normalcy before the puck was dropped.
Johnson and the Blackhawks will play their third game this Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks in the first of three matchups between Western Conference clubs this season.
Johnson’s return to Colorado on Wednesday night was anything but normal, opening the season at the Stanley Cup-winning club he left in July and joining that team’s pregame celebrations. Except in some cases.
At an ice ceremony in Denver, Johnson posed for a photo with the Avalanche and prepared to lift the organization’s third annual championship banner. It stood out in a sea of smiles from former teammates who wore it.
“I’m incredibly proud,” Johnson said of the banner representing his first cup title. If you don’t believe it’s playing, it might take you one day, and it’s also a cool way to turn the page and focus on this season and your new team.”
It was just the beginning of a strange opening week for the Blackhawks.
After losing 5-2 to Colorado, Chicago returned to Vegas on Thursday — 27 saves from Golden Knights backstop Logan Thompson to drop the contest 1-0.
Saturday’s game will be one of the NHL’s scariest scenarios. 3 road games in 4 nights.
Captains Jonathan Towes and Max Domme scored against Colorado. Goaltender Petr Murazek started for Denver and stopped 30 of 35 shots. Alex Sturrock allowed his only goal in the Vegas loss with 37 shots.
Chicago announced Friday that it has hired forward Jason Dickinson and assigned forward Buddy Robinson to Rockford of the American Hockey League.
After dropping two games to Nashville in Prague, Czech Republic, San Jose hosted the Carolinas in Friday’s North American home opener. The Sharks seemed headed for overtime and the first point, but Hurricanes Sebastian Ajo redirected the game winner with a left skate to clinch a 2-1 win with 1:58 remaining.
In a rare NHL sibling battle, San Jose’s Evgeny Svechnikov defeated the Andrey brothers, who have become dynamic right wingers in their fifth season with the Hurricanes.
Evgeny Svechnikov, who played in his first campaign for the Pacific Division club, scored the only goal of the first period with a shot from distance to Carolina goalkeeper Antti Raanta. The puck was partially deflected on impact by defenseman Calvin de Haan, tricking the Finnish backstop.
“It was a very special moment for me, my brother, my mother and my father,” said Yevgeny Svechnikov. “We always cherish our time on the ice together.”
Jaycob Megna and Erik Karlsson provided assists on the tally, while James Reimer made 33 saves. However, the Sharks suffered their third loss in regulation in the first three games of the season.
San Jose won 2-0-1 against Chicago last season, with the only setback being a 5-4 penalty shootout loss at home on April 14.
– Field level media
Comments
Post a Comment