Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Saturday:
1. Blackhawks pick up point, but Stars get the second
Going into the weekend, the Blackhawks had only three divisional matchups in their first 22 games and two of them were against Nashville. Saturday opened a stretch of five straight against Central Division opponents and they kicked it off by going up against one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
After starting the season 1-7-1, the Stars have been on an absolute tear and that continued with a shootout win over the Blackhawks, who lost their third in a row (0-2-1) after winning four straight. The Stars have now picked up 27 out of a possible 30 points over their last 15 games for a record of 13-1-1.
A rematch between the Blackhawks and Stars awaits on Tuesday at the United Center.
2. Defense shores things up after leaky first period
The Blackhawks have made a conscious effort all season long to limit the high quality scoring chances against, but Saturday was a struggle for them in that department. At least in the first period.
NHL
The Blackhawks gave up 19 scoring scoring chances and 10 high-danger chances in the opening frame alone, all of which came during 5-on-5 play, per Natural Stat Trick. They bounced back in the second period by giving up only four scoring chances and zero high-danger chances, and finished with 31 scoring chances against and 15 high-danger chances against for the entire game at 5-on-5 action.
The most 5-on-5 high-danger chances the Blackhawks had given up in a game this season prior to Saturday was 15, which happened in the season opener in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia and on Nov. 2 in a 4-3 overtime loss to Los Angeles.
3. A terrific goaltending battle
The Blackhawks and Stars entered Saturday's matchup tied for fourth in the NHL with a team save percentage of .920. Both clubs have two No. 1-type goaltenders and we saw it in this game.
Robin Lehner stopped 40 of 41 shots for a save percentage of .976, but fell to 8-22 for his career in shootouts after going 0-for-2. The only goal Lehner allowed came on a John Klingberg shot from the point that went off Roope Hintz's shin pad and in. Lehner was sensational yet again, and now ranks first among all goaltenders with a .938 save percentage on the season.
Anton Khudobin was just as good on the other end. He turned aside 38 of 39 shots for a save percentage of .974, with his most important stop coming against Patrick Kane on a breakaway in overtime. Khudobin went 2-for-2 in the shootout.
4. Olli Maatta on the board
After going 22 straight games without a goal, Maatta is finally on the board with the Blackhawks. He finished off a nice 2-on-1 with Alex DeBrincat by sneaking a wrist shot past Stars netminder Anton Khudobin from 18-feet out to even up the score at 1-1 at the 17:24 mark of the first period.
Maatta became the seventh defenseman to score a goal for the Blackhawks this season, joining Adam Boqvist, Calvin de Haan, Erik Gustafsson, Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy and Brent Seabrook.
It's the 26th goal of Maatta's career, and just the second since the start of the 2018-19 season (two goals in 82 games). The Blackhawks now have eight goals from their defensemen in the past six games after only three in their first 17.
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