5 Takeaways: Dominik Kubalik and Jonathan Toews help Blackhawks to OT win in Ottawa

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Dominik Kubalik scored two goals and Jonathan Toews had three points to lead the Blackhawks to a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators. Here are five takeaways:

Kubalik keeps it going

Rookie forward Dominik Kubalik stayed hot with two goals in Ottawa. He scored at 17:20 of the second period to bring the Hawks within 2-1 of the Senators and to extend his goal streak to five games.

His second goal came off a breakaway when he scored five-hole at 3:41 of the third period. He has seven goals in his last five games. 

Kubalik's 18 goals lead all NHL rookies. Buffalo Sabres forward Victor Olofsson has 16 and leads rookies in points (35). Kubalik is fourth in rookie points with 28.

Captain, captain, captain

Jonathan Toews factored into all three Blackhawks goals on Tuesday. He assisted on both of Kubalik's and scored the game-winning goal 42 seconds into overtime. He has the most overtime goals (12) since the NHL went to the 3-on-3 format (2015-16). 

Toews has 36 points in his past 36 games. 

Have to start periods strong

The Hawks have gotten into a bit of habit in not being ready to compete in the beginning of the first period. They gave up two goals on nine shots to begin the first on Tuesday and have allowed multiple first-period goals in four of their past eight games. 

Chicago also only had one shot on goal for the whole first half of the second period in Ottawa. They may have banked on flipping the switch against the 16-22-7 Senators, second to last in the Eastern Conference, but it'll take a full 60 minutes to beat most teams, especially ones like the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, who are next on the road trip.

"We really can't afford to lose many games right now," Toews said. "We weren't too happy with our start, I think all the guys came in here, it wasn't just a few guys, it was everyone that kind of acknowledged that we have a lot better than that. All five guys can go out there and support each other much better and make the job easier on the guy next to you, and lot of hockey left. I think we played pretty good hockey the last 40 (minutes)." 

Kane 1K watch 

Patrick Kane got the primary assist on Kubalik's first goal against the Senators, giving him 996 career points. Kane's shot from the slot bounced off Kubalik's shin pad and in. Kane later passed it to Toews in OT, giving him 997. 

The three-time Stanley Cup champ is currently riding a seven-game point streak with 12 points (four goals, eight assists). He has 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in 47 games this season. 

Welcome back, Zack

During the first TV timeout, the Senators welcomed back former Ottawa and current Chicago forward Zack Smith with a video tribute that earned a standing ovation. Smith served as an alternate captain in Ottawa for two seasons before being traded to Chicago for center Artem Anisimov on July 16. 

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