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Game 49: Hawks 4, Bolts 7
April 28, 2021, 3:44 AM ET [140 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
Even though rookie Mike Hardman made his NHL debut, last night's game was forgettable for the Blackhawks with how ugly it was not only on the scoreboard but also in the Lightning's hard-hitting ways.

While the Hawks were up to the task to deliver hits of their own and stand up for themselves, Tampa Bay's physical play led to head jolts to Dominik Kubalik and Hardman and Adam Boqvist's broken wrist.

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Starting Lineup

The starting lineup saw Kevin Lankinen getting the start, Dylan Strome slotting back in, and Hardman logging his first-ever pro game:

And the starters for the opening shift:

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Scoring Recap

1st Goal: Cernak (0-1)

After an ill-advised behind-the-back pass by Riley Stillman trying to connect with Kubalik at the point, Erik Cernak telegraphed it to rush the puck in the other direction and went five hole on Lankinen.

2nd Goal: Gourde (0-2)

Using speed and passing to force a turnover and maintain possession, the Bolts moved the puck around the perimeter then to Mikhail Sergachev in the middle who made a fake-shot pass to Yanni Gourde in the slot.

3rd Goal: Hagel (1-2)

Kirby Dach dumped and chased the puck along the left wall before tapping it to Brandon Hagel behind the net. Hagel attempted a centering feed that banked off of Blake Coleman then off of Barclay Goodrow.

4th Goal: Barre-Boulet (1-3)

Alex Barre-Boulet made the scoring sequence happen by sneaking onto the attack and shooting on net with Dach picking him up momentarily before letting him advance uncontested to the slot to deposit the rebound.

5th Goal: Kalynuk (2-3)

Joining the rush, Wyatt Kalynuk corralled a loose puck after a failed zone entry by Pius Suter, juked wide around Coleman, and powered a shot that nicked Andrei Vasilevskiy under the arm and trickled past him.

6th Goal: Point (2-4)

Brayden Point set up behind the net to keep the play alive twice. Duncan Keith and Stillman both keyed in on Barre-Boulet in the slot leaving Point alone to successfully convert on a wraparound.

7th Goal: Coleman (2-5)

The Bolts capitalized on Chicago's inability to clear the zone by working the puck low to Tyler Johnson at the goal line who then dished to Coleman after he beat both Nikita Zadorov and Philipp Kurashev.

8th Goal: Killorn (2-6) PP

Coming in on a line change, Sergachev received a pass from Point and shoveled a shot from the top of the circles that Alex Killorn tipped in. Point had zero pressure and could have made any play he wanted.

9th Goal: Keith (3-6)

The Hawks moved the puck around the entire perimeter of the offensive zone before Patrick Kane moved it up to Keith at the right point who floated a shot on net that had eyes to seemingly fool Vasilevskiy.

10th Goal: Kubalik (4-6) PP

Alex DeBrincat, Kane, and Kubalik collapsed lower and lower as the 5-on-3 power play progressed before Kane teed one up for Kubalik to blast away a one timer from the right faceoff dot.

11th Goal: Killorn (4-7) EN

(No video available)

Killorn scored an empty netter moments after Malcolm Subban vacated his crease yet was still on the ice.

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Game Notes

Elbow to the Head

Luke Schenn's late elbow to Kubalik's head is likely to receive scrutiny by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Fortunately, Kubalik was cleared to continue playing after missing a few shifts.

Pair of Fights

Zadorov threw down in a staged fight for Schenn to answer for his hit on Kubalik. Connor Murphy also tangled with Cernak after the Lightning blueliner worked over rookie Hardman by the benches.

Goalie Change

For the second time in just over a week, Subban entered the game in relief after Lankinen was shellacked by the Bolts after one period. Lankinen lasted two periods the other time he got pulled on April 19.

Putrid Power Play

Even though they did tally one with the man advantage in 7 tries, the Hawks continue to be horrendous with zone entries and predictably uncreative with puck movement when they are able to get set up.

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Player Notes

Adam Boqvist


With Boqvist out for the season now with a broken wrist, expect Ian Mitchell to take his spot on the blueline and another defenseman called up from Rockford to serve on the taxi squad. Perhaps Alec Regula.

Wyatt Kalynuk

Kalynuk's 4th goal of the season has him on pace for 23 when prorated to a full 82-game season. Even with some regression, he could be a perennial 15+ goal scorer and 0.50 PPG player from the blueline.

Kevin Lankinen

An area of weakness for Lankinen is his handling of pucks. There were a few instances where he made a save then put the puck into play in a bad area when he should have frozen it or made a safer decision instead.

Mike Hardman

Hardman had a solid debut displaying great agility and a good habit of keeping his feet moving on the forecheck. He closes in fast to lay the body on opponents. Plus, he instinctively gets into soft areas to shoot.


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See you on the boards!

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