Chicago Blackhawks Vs. Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct 16th, 2023

October 16th, 2023, game four for the Chicago Blackhawks as they come to Toronto for a one out of two-game series. The puck drop was at 7 PM EST, as this game was slightly important for Chicago’s Connor Bedard as his family came out to see their son play in the fourth game of his NHL career. Bedard’s parents were not the only parents in the building, as Ontario Native Mackenzie Entwistle also had his family in attendance. It is also an important game for Toronto’s superstar Auston Matthews, as he aims to become the first-ever player with three consecutive hat tricks. The starting goalies for tonight are, Joseph Woll for Toronto and Arvid Soderbolm for Chicago.

First Period

The puck drops for the first and we have a slightly even game. There are a few scoring opportunities from Blackhawks’ Raddysh & Korchinski around the game's first minute and a half. With nine minutes played in the first period, another scoring chance from Blackhawks’ Donato but Woll stops him. The Leafs’ Nylander has a scoring chance with 11:26 played in the game but the puck is stopped by Soderbolm. Now, with 12:24 played in the period, Bedard pulls a flashy deke passing three Maple Leafs' players but cannot capitalize on the scoring chance. Throughout the period, Maple Leafs’ forward Ryan Reaves and Blackhawks’ forward Corey Perry exchange words and shoves. With 30 seconds left in the period, a nasty hit by Leafs’ McGregor on Blackhawks’ Zaitsev and the whistle is blown with 26.15 seconds left. Zaitsev is down during this but eventually gets up and heads to the dressing room. Right after the incident, play resumes and just as the puck is dropped with 22 seconds left, Blackhawks’ Murphy and McGregor drop the gloves, the action being Murphy’s response to the Leafs' player hitting his teammate. It is officially the end of the first period, we stand at 0-0 with the shots on goal being 10-6 favouriting the Blackhawks.

This was a period in which the Blackhawks were heavily dominant, creating scoring chances and playing defensively. Meanwhile, the Leafs played poorly, with constant turnovers and playing too fancy. I will give it to Nylander for the scoring opportunity that he did not capitalize on. However, both teams have not scored yet and still have 40 minutes left of hockey left.

Second Period

It is the beginning of the second period, and two minutes in the Blackhawks generate an opportunity. A scoring chance by Athanasiou happens, but he is stopped. However, Entwistle buries the rebound with barely three minutes into the game making it 1-0 Blackhawks, Entwistle, #58 is assisted by #89, Athansiou and #14, Katchouk. Just a little over two minutes after the Entwistle goal, a beautiful play by Leafs’ Nylander does a drop pass and sets up captain John Tavares for a well-done goal. And just like that, we have a 1-1 hockey game. The goal by the #91, Maple Leafs’ Captain is scored with 5:14 into the second and assisted by #88, Nylander and #55 Giordano. As the game continues, we get another glimpse of 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks' power play; he has a scoring chance at 7:15 in the period but it is stopped by Woll and the whistle blows.

With 14 minutes played, Blackhawks’ Foligno enters the Leafs' zone and drops a pass to Perry who takes a shot but it is fended off by Woll, Perry gets the rebound and passes it to Dickinson who fans on the shot. The puck is sent over the Chicago-based team defence by a Leafs player and with a burst of speed, Nylander skates by the Blackhawks defence but loses the puck thanks to a slight defensive play by Blackhawks’ defenceman Vlasic. The Leafs cycle the puck for a bit in the Blackhawks' zone before turning it over to Blackhawks’ Vlasic. He notices the Leafs on a change and does a stretch pass to Perry on a small breakaway into the Leafs zone and he scores. 2-1 Blackhawks. His celly? Pointing to the Leafs fans as they hate Perry due to his hit on Tavares during the 2021 playoffs when The Blackhawks player was on the Montreal Canadiens team. A goal by #94, Corey Perry, cue the loud boos in the building assisted by #72 Vlasic and #4 Jones.

Missed Connor Bedard? On a Blackhawks power play, with nearly 16 minutes played in the second period, a pass from Hall behind the Leafs net sets Bedard up for a one-timer but he hits the post. The Chicago team's rookie later on goes to the bench frustrated. With 17 minutes played and the Blackhawks still on a power play, a rush started by Korchisnki, drops passes the puck to Johnson who rushes in the Leafs’ zone with Athanasiou. When both players are in the zone, Athanasiou passes to Johnson splitting the Leafs' defence and rushing towards the Leafs' goal, the puck finding the back of the net. 3-1 Blackhawks. A goal by #90, Tyler Johnson, assisted by #89, Athanasiou and #55, Korchinski - this is Blackhawks Defenceman Kevin Korchinski’s first-ever NHL point. Just like that, it is the end of the second period. The Leafs trail the Blackhawks 3-1 on the scoreboard and 22-17 for shots on goal.

Third Period

It is the beginning of the third period. There are tons of opportunities from the Leafs in the period. With barely four minutes into the period, Matthews has a chance when he deflects Brodie’s shot and the puck hits the crossbar. A few seconds later, Giordano has a chance but Soderbolm saves it. Throughout the period, it is slightly dull as there are chances, even so, they are mostly defensive plays by both teams. However, the last five minutes are complete chaos for both teams. With almost 17 minutes played and an empty net for the Leafs, In the Blackhawks' zone, Nylander passes to the slot for a tip from Marner which he passes to Tavares. As Tavares tries to put the puck in the net, he is stopped by Soderbolm. In the dying minute of play, Hall scores an empty net goal with 54 seconds left but it is deemed offside thanks to video review. The same thing happens with the Leafs. With six seconds left, Matthews scores on Soderbolm but then the goal is reviewed and deemed offside. Time goes back to 13 seconds and the Leafs get a power play, thanks to a Dickinson crosscheck and an empty net, making it a 6-on-4 scenario. However, the Blackhawks are quick to get the puck back and score on the Leafs’ empty net with six seconds left. An unassisted goal by #11, Taylor Raddysh. 4-1 Blackhawks.

End of Game

Just like that, the buzzer sounds. The Chicago Blackhawks won 4-1 and improved to 2-2-0, picking up 2 points on the road against a dominant Toronto team who goes to 3-3-0. However, the Leafs outshot the Blackhawks 36-31. For the three stars of the game, the third star is forward #91, John Tavares with the only Leafs’ goal, a zero +/- and a total of 18:45 ice time. The second star is forward #89, Andreas Athanasiou with two assists, +1 and a total of 11:45 ice time and the first star of the night, goaltender #40, Arvid Soderbolm stopping 34 out of 35 shots for a save percentage of 0.972%. This was a fantastic game to attend if you are a Blackhawks fan, but not so much if you are a Leafs fan. Regardless it was a great game to attend and experience the “Connor Bedard era” of Chicago as they have a hopeful future. While the Leafs are hungry yet struggling cup contenders.

Picture from the game below: