After losing big lead, Blackhawks rally for shootout win

By Bud L. Ellis

After letting a 3-1 lead evaporate during a sluggish second period, the Chicago Blackhawks regrouped just in time.

Dave Bolland scored to tie the game four minutes into the third period, and Jonathan Toews scored in the shootout as the Blackhawks earned a 5-4 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night.

Chicago stands with 85 points, four behind San Jose in the race for the Western Conference title, entering Sunday’s game at Columbus. The Blackhawks hold a comfortable 16-point advantage over Nashville in the Central Division.

After Atlanta scored early in the first, Patrick Sharp, Kim Johnsson and Marian Hossa scored in a six-minute span to stake the Blackhawks to a 3-1 lead. Atlanta then took total control in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to put Chicago in a 4-3 hole entering the final 20 minutes.

Bolland knotted the score at 4:21 of the third to tie it. After a scoreless overtime, Toews netted the game-winner in the first round of the shootout.

After playing at Columbus on Sunday, Chicago enters the Olympic break and is off until a March 2 game at the New York Islanders.

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Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:39 am by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dave Bolland, Jonathan Toews, Kim Johnsson, Marian Hossa, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Patrick Sharp