*Photo from the Chicago Sun Times*
It was a battle of eliminated from contention NHL teams, but it still provided something to watch. Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, Alex DeBrincat scored, and the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-1 victory on Monday night in Chicago.
The win helps to snap a two game losing streak for the Blackhawks, who had also lost 4 out of their last 5 games. DeBrincat's goal was his 41st, tying his career high in goals set in 2018-2019. DeBrincat also has a career high in points this season.
Blackhawks interim head coach Derek King said that "Yeah, the guys battled. They worked. Lankinen played well, we did some good things. We got a little risky at times, but the fans like it. I don't like it all the time, but I think Kane should've had about another 10 assists tonight. He was feeling it, but it was just good to get a win, especially at home."
Chicago got on the board almost immediately, with Erik Gustafsson scoring his second goal of the season, coming just 1:44 into the game, assisted by Toews and Dominik Kubalik. Toews then scored 6:15 into the period, putting the Blackhawks ahead 2-0 on his 13th goal of the season, with Sam Lafferty getting the only assist.
Later in the first, the Flyers on the board. Kevin Hayes picked up his 10th goal of the season, coming 8:03 into the period, assisted by Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton. After a scoreless second period, DeBrincat all but put the game away, scoring his 41st goal of the season 7:45 into the 3rd period, assisted by Patrick Kane and Jake McCabe.
King said that the goal was to "Finish right at home, get the fans out of their seats, give them something that, when they walk out of here and get in their cars, they're talking about our team, about how they competed or how they won the game. That's all we can ask for."
Getting the start for Chicago was Kevin Lankinen, who excelled in his latest start. Lankinen saved all but one of the 34 shots on goal that the Flyers sent his way. That was good for a .971 save percentage, with Lankinen's record improving to 7-15-6 in 31 total appearances this season.
Across from Lankinen, it was Felix Sandstrom in net for the Flyers. Sandstrom got hit with the loss, stopping 30 out of the 33 shots that he faced from Chicago. He recorded a .909 save percentage with those numbers, his record dropping down to 0-3-1 on the season.
Hayes said of the loss that "It's tough when you go down two and have some good looks on the power play, and all of a sudden it ends up in the back of your net and down 2-0 in the first. I thought we got a lot of looks. I thought both goalies played really well tonight. It just shows that we always need to respond no matter what the score is. I thought we did that."
Up next, the Blackhawks welcome the fighting for their lives Vegas Golden Knights to town on Wednesday night, with Lankinen likely to get the start. The Flyers head north to face the Winnipeg Jets, also on Wednesday, with Martin Jones the probable starter.
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