GLENDALE, Ariz. – Marian Hossa wasn’t happy that he had a goal taken away from him. But he and the Blackhawks were just fine with the end result.
Hossa had one goal disallowed but did score one later, and Jonathan Toews scored two, including his fifth overtime goal of the season, in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. The Blackhawks have won two in a row out of the All-Star break and remain atop the Central Division with 74 points. The Dallas Stars, who the Blackhawks face on Saturday, are second with 71 points.
Patrick Kane scored his 31st goal, setting a new career-high for a season. Hossa’s goal that did count was the 495th of his career. Michal Rozsival scored his first of the season and Artemi Panarin finished with two assists.
It was a game that featured everything: a goal that was originally a goal before it became a disallowed goal, a short-handed goal, two power-play goals and a bunch of penalties. And of course, there was another overtime winner for Toews.
As happy as the Blackhawks were at the end, however, they were fuming early. Hossa appeared to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period but the Coyotes challenged for goaltender interference, and won. In replays it looked like Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck pushed Hossa into Louis Domingue. But the NHL’s Situation Room, in a release, said Hossa interfered with Domingue, wiping way the goal. The release stated:
According to Rule 78.7, “The standard for overturning the call in the event of a ‘GOAL’ call on the ice is that the Referee, after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room, determines that the goal should have been disallowed due to ‘Interference on the Goalkeeper,’ as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3 and 69.4.”
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Hossa still wasn’t happy about the ruling after the game.
“First of all we are happy we won this crazy game. Obviously, it was pretty fun to watch, I guess, from upstairs,” Hossa said. “Disappointing from the first goal, I couldn’t believe it. Obviously, you know, I thought that was the first joke. I tried to battle in front of the net and I don’t have any intention to touch the goalie. I just try to battle through two guys and put the puck in the net. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the playoffs, if there’s going to be calls after calls after calls. But I don’t think it’s good for the league.”
Coach Joel Quenneville, who was visibly livid at the time of the call, was a lot calmer with the end result.
“We had a real good response in that second period. I didn’t mind the first as well. Heck of a hockey game, back and forth,” he said. “[The Coyotes] were desperate coming off a tough game. You knew they were going to be ready and they responded. Hard-working game for both teams; it was incredibly competitive and fun to be a part of. I think the fans enjoyed it.”
As frustrated as Hossa was early, that ire led to him having arguably his best game of the season. The disallowd goal didn’t mean Hossa shied away from the net, and that’s how he got the one that counted in the second period.
“That was the Hoss we know very well making those single-handed efforts and taking the puck to the net the way he did in the second period,” Toews said. “It was nice to see him get one back there. I think he was deserving to have that first one. Unfortunately it went against him but scored another big one for us in the second there.”
And then in overtime it was Toews, who’s making a habit of scoring winners in those extra few minutes.
“I don’t know, just getting opportunities and if you get a few early in the season you feel confident in that situation,” he said. “I think I had three, maybe four shifts in overtime; so I think when you get that kind of ice time, the play is going back and forth, somebody is going to score. It’s nice that I’ve been able to cash in those situations a little bit.”
The Blackhawks weren’t thrilled at how this one started. They were fine with the finish.
“I think in some cases you just have to realize some calls are going to go against you whether you agree with it or not,” Toews said. “I guess we used the frustration the right way.”