The Winnipeg Jets are still on the hunt for their first win after suffering a 4-3 road loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
Patrick Kane led the way in Chicago's victory over the Jets with a goal and two assists for first star of the game honours. His first period goal was his first of the season, while he now has four assists in three games to open up the season.
It took the Jets until the third period of Sunday's home opener against the Montreal Canadiens to score their first goal, but it would not take nearly as long for their first goal of the game in Chicago.
Winnipeg jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 4:24 into the game when Jim Slater deflected a Johnny Oduya shot past Hawks netminder Ray Emery for his first goal of the season.
Slater added to his point total just over three minutes later when he scored a similar goal, creating traffic in front of Emery and deflecting a shot by Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey. The secondary assist went to Tanner Glass on the play.
Following Slater's second goal of the game, Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville called a timeout at the 7:30 mark.
That timeout seemed to work as the Blackhawks answered back and tied the score before the first period was through.
Chicago got their first goal of the game on the power play with Tobias Enstrom in the penalty box for tripping. Hawks forward Andrew Brunette made his way to the front of the Winnipeg net and backhanded the puck past Ondrej Pavelec for his second goal of the season. The assists were credited to Patrick Kane and Winnipeg native Jonathan Toews.
Kane was the one to tie up the game for the Hawks, blasting a one-timer by Pavelec for his first of the season. Kane was set up off a nice feed from Marian Hossa who picked up his second assist of the year on the play. The secondary assist went to Dan Carcillo in his first game with the Hawks.
The Blackhawks claimed their first lead of the game early on in the second period. It was Hossa who put Chicago ahead 3-2 just 33 seconds into the middle frame, putting home a one-timer off a pass from Nick Leddy. The additional assist went to Kane for his third point of the game.
Shortly after the Hossa goal, Jets forward Evander Kane was leveled at centre ice by Steve Montador.
Montador was charged with interference on the hit, and with time winding down on the penalty, Kane appeared to tie up the score as he poked the puck over the blue line. Referee Steve Kozari waived it off however, claiming the whistle had blown before the puck crossed the line. The play was reviewed and the ruling on the ice was upheld.
Chicago extended their lead to two thanks to the third goal in two games by Dave Bolland. Jets netminder Ondrej Pavelec made an initial save on Bryan Bickell but Bolland circled behind the net and put home the rebound.
After serving a tripping penalty, Kyle Wellwood was sprung on a breakaway but suffered some embarassment as he seemingly tripped over the blue line while in alone.
The former Leaf redeemed himself later in the period, battling down low and banking the puck off Emery and into the back of the net. Wellwood's goal was assisted on by Hainsey for his second point of the game and Brett MacLean for his first point as a member of the Jets.
There was no scoring in the third period as Emery stopped all eleven of Winnipeg's shots in the final frame to pick up his first win as a member of the Blackhawks. Despite the loss, Ondrej Pavelec looked better in net than he did in the home opener, allowing four goals on 32 shots for his second loss of the year.
The Jets will get their next chance at a win on Saturday when they travel to Phoenix for a much anticipated game against the Coyotes. The Coyotes of course played in Winnipeg as the Jets until relocating to Arizona after the 1995-96 season.
Jets vs. Blackhawks Stats Recap
Shots
WPG: 30
CHI: 32
Shot Leaders
WPG: Byfuglien, Ladd and E. Kane tied (5)
CHI: Bickell, P. Kane, Seabrook and Sharp tied (4)
Power Play
WPG: 0/2
CHI: 1/3
Blocked Shots
WPG: 13
CHI: 12
Blocked Shot Leaders
WPG: Mark Stuart (5)
CHI: Frolik, Hjalmarsson and Seabrook tied (2)
Hits
WPG: 34
CHI: 20
Hits Leaders
WPG: Jim Slater (7)
CHI: Dan Carcillo (4)
Face-off Leaders - Min. 10 opportunities
WPG: Bryan Little - 9/21 (43%)
CHI: Patrick Kane - 10/14 (71%)
Time on Ice
WPG: Ron Hainsey (22:50)
CHI: Duncan Keith (24:52)
Three Stars
1) Patrick Kane - CHI (1G, 2A)
2) Marian Hossa - CHI (1G, 1A)
3) Jim Slater - WPG (2G, 0A)
Game Highlights
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