After a sluggish 3-1 loss to Vancouver two nights ago, the Blackhawks rebound with a 4-1 win of their own against the Edmonton Oilers clinching home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, their first President’s Trophy since 1990-1991.
Ray Emery exited the contest late in the first period with a lower-body injury, the same injury that held him out of the lineup the past two games.
Corey Crawford absorbed all 14 shots faced in relief, but Emery picked up the victory after Chicago scored, what ended up being, the game-winning goal while Emery was still in goal.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane remain neck-and-neck for the team lead in goals as they both registered their 22nd goals of the season. Kane also added two assists, his 15th multi-point game this year.
Nail Yakupov recorded the only goal of the game for Edmonton, his 12th of the season.
The Oilers were limited to a mere two shots in the second leading to a 14-shot third period for the Hawks in which Johnny Oduya and Patrick Sharp (empty-netter) found the back of the net to secure another win and second President’s Trophy in franchise history.
UPDATE: Joel Quenneville says Emery’s lower-body injury is “day-to-day.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Hawks head back to the United Center Friday night for their regular-season home finale against Calgary; puck drop at 7:30 p.m. CT!