National Hockey League
Chicago 2, New Jersey 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, December 6, 2019
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Francis Charron, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Kory Nagy, Pierre Racicot
Attendance: 15273

Rookie Kirby Dach, appearing in an NHL shootout for the first time, scored the decisive goal in the fifth round Friday night as the Chicago Blackhawks edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in Newark, N.J.

Dach's goal capped an entertaining shootout in which both teams scored in the first two rounds. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane tallied for the Blackhawks while Nikita Gusev and Jesper Boqvist were successful for the Devils before Chicago goalie Corey Crawford and New Jersey goalie Mackenzie Blackwood turned back the next two shots apiece.

Dach, 18, deked Blackwood several times before beating him with a forehand off the top post. Crawford then stopped another 18-year-old, Jack Hughes, to give the Blackhawks their second win in as many nights following a three-game losing streak in which they were outscored 16-5.

Alex DeBrincat scored in the second period for the Blackhawks. Crawford made 29 saves in regulation and overtime.

Taylor Hall scored in the first period for the Devils, who lost their fourth straight and fell to 0-1-1 under interim head coach Alain Nasreddine. Blackwood recorded 28 saves.

The Devils took the lead late in the first by scoring on a power play generated when Blackhawks center Zack Smith was whistled for elbowing. Hall's shot from the faceoff circle sailed past the outstretched stick of Chicago center Slater Koekkoek and leaping New Jersey center Pavel Zacha, who was screening Crawford, and into the net at 13:31.

A hooking penalty on Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen generated the power play on which the Blackhawks tied the score shortly before the midway point of regulation. Blackwood slowed a shot by Kane, but the puck skittered across the crease and to DeBrincat, who backhanded the rebound under the stick of New Jersey defenseman P.K. Subban and into the corner of the net at the 9:35 mark.

Neither team scored during a cautious and fast-paced third period, though each came close in the final three minutes. Crawford gloved a snipe by Blake Coleman following a turnover by the Blackhawks deep in their own zone, and Blackwood turned back a point-blank shot by Dominik Kubalik.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   New Jersey
Alex DeBrincat 1 Points Taylor Hall 1
Alex DeBrincat 1 Goals Taylor Hall 1
Patrick Kane 1 Assists Nikita Gusev 1
Alex DeBrincat 1 Power Play Goals Taylor Hall 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Corey Crawford .967 Save Percentage Mackenzie Blackwood .966
Corey Crawford 29 Saves Mackenzie Blackwood 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Chicago 29 2 1-2 3-4 13 26
New Jersey 30 1 1-4 1-2 9 29
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Nashville. The Devils have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .333 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Arizona. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .389 after a loss.