Music: {allcanada} Jets' Hutchinson shuts out Blackhawks in rare start

Sunday, November 2, 2014

{allcanada} Jets' Hutchinson shuts out Blackhawks in rare start

1989 - Taylor Swift / NCIS / The Crazy Ones

CHICAGO -- Add Michael Hutchinson's name to the list of goaltenders who have stonewalled the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

Hutchinson, 24, made 33 saves in the Winnipeg Jets' 1-0 victory Sunday at United Center to earn his first career shutout in his second start of the season.

It was the latest round of frustration for the Blackhawks (6-5-1), who have gone seven straight periods without a goal on home ice. Their most recent goal in Chicago happened Oct. 26 in the second period of a 2-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators.

The Blackhawks outshot the Jets 33-27, continuing a trend of Chicago losing when outshooting opponents. The difference Sunday was how sloppy they were through most of the first period and stretches in the final 40 minutes.

The Jets (6-5-1), who finished a challenging road trip 3-0-1 and won both ends of their weekend back-to-back set, outplayed the Blackhawks early. They took a 1-0 lead 20 seconds into the game on a goal by forward Michael Frolik, one of three former Blackhawks on the Jets roster, and made it stand up.

The Jets helped Hutchinson, who entered the game with an .826 save percentage in two appearances, by blocking 30 shots.

The Jets put two shots on Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford right off the opening faceoff before Frolik scooped a rebound of the second one in the low slot. After dragging the puck to the bottom of the left circle, Frolik lifted a wrist shot over diving defenseman Brent Seabrook and the sprawled Crawford into the net for his first goal of the season.

The Jets controlled the play for much of the remaining 19:40 of the first; Chicago committed numerous turnovers and struggled to get its puck-possession game going. The Blackhawks committed two penalties in the first that resulted in Winnipeg power plays, but the Jets were unable to extend their lead.

Hutchinson came up with several big stops in the first to keep Chicago scoreless. His most impressive was a sprawling pad save to thwart a breakaway by Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp with 3:41 left, about a minute after Sharp was released from the penalty box.

Chicago steadily improved through a scoreless second, but still couldn't get a puck past Hutchinson. The Blackhawks did create some pressure during a power play, getting two good shots on goal and another by captain Jonathan Toews that rang off the crossbar on a one-time slap shot from the slot.

In the third, Chicago again had several chances but failed to finish. Hutchinson was sharp, not allowing many rebounds, and the Winnipeg defense held up.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Doctor Sleep - Stephen King