Panik (two goals) helps Blackhawks crush Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta -- With the Chicago Blackhawks playing the their third game in four nights and 60 minutes away from their turn at the CBA-mandated five-day break, there was concern they wouldn't be ready.
But once the puck dropped, all of the concern belonged to Edmonton.
The Blackhawks dominated the Oilers in every aspect of the game, posting a convincing 5-1 victory at Rogers Place.
Richard Panik scored twice, and Patrick Kane, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Artem Anisimov added goals to give Chicago a 5-1-0 record on its six-game road trip.
Backup goaltender Scott Darling, getting the start after Corey Crawford beat Winnipeg on Friday night, stopped 29 shots.
The Oilers were supposed to be rusty at the start, but jumped out to an early lead when Connor McDavid stripped Chicago defenseman Nik Hjalmarsson of the puck and set up Patrick Maroon at 4:01. The goal snapped a 10-game scoring drought for the Oilers winger.
The Blackhawks answered back in a hurry, though, tying it 1:48 later on a quick release from Panik. Chicago went ahead 2-1 on a power play 4:05 after that when Kane banked one in off Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot's skate from behind the net.
Chicago took over in the second period, holding the Oilers to six shots while expanding their lead to 4-1. van Riemsdyk gave the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead when he jumped on a terrible giveaway by Oilers counterpart Oscar Klefbom and put a slapshot past Talbot at 8:37.
Panik's second goal of the game, with Edmonton defenseman Matt Benning in the penalty box for hooking Kane, put the game out of reach at 18:26.
NOTES: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews picked up his pace offensively of late, earning 13 points in the last nine games after recording two assists Saturday. ... Chicago LW Ryan Hartman has 13 even-strength goals this season, which ties him for third among NHL rookies. ... The Oilers recalled C Anton Lander and D Jordan Osterle from Bakersfield (AHL). ... Oilers D Matt Benning is back in the lineup after missing the last game with a possible concussion, but D Kris Russell is still out with a groin injury. ... Hawks RW Marian Hossa scored 20 or more goals in 15 of his 18 NHL seasons. Only 26 players in NHL history have 15 or more 20-goal seasons. ... After playing one game in seven days, the Oilers play six games in 12 days.