OTTAWA, Ontario – Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa had a memorable night in the city where his NHL career began.
Hossa had a goal and an assist in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators, reaching two milestones where he got his start back in 1997.
Hossa’s goal with 6:10 left was his 1,000th career point and it came in his 1,100th NHL game. He started his career with the Senators, moved on to Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit before joining Chicago.
“What a special night for it to happen in Ottawa,” said Hossa, who stood and waved to the fans when they gave him a standing ovation after his accomplishment was announced. “It’s a great achievement and a great milestone and I’m very thankful to all the players who helped me achieve this throughout my career.
“I played (in Ottawa) seven years, and the people were nice to me during the time I was here. It was so nice of them for the thanks, so I just stood and thanked them back. I’m always going to remember this.”
Patrick Sharp scored the only goal of the shootout. Jonathan Toews scored twice for Chicago (6-3-1), and Kris Versteeg added a goal. Scott Darling turned aside 28 shots for the win.
Mark Stone, Clarke MacArthur, Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad had goals for Ottawa (5-2-2). Craig Anderson made 35 saves.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was appreciative of Hossa’s milestone.
“It’s a special accomplishment,” he said. “It shows you’ve been consistently productive in your career, and he does it, not just production-wise but he does it by playing on both sides of the puck which makes that 1,000 number pretty impressive.”
Hossa’s goal was one of four in a third-period outburst between the teams that entered the frame tied 2-2.
“When we played them close and played them tight it was a much better game for us,” Senators coach Paul MacLean said. “When we played them loose, and I guess gave them respect is the proper word, they made us pay for it.
“For our group to play the way we did and to get a point out of it, I think it’s a great way to continue momentum. We had a lot of great efforts, and we can feel pretty good about it.”
Ryan gave the Senators a 3-2 lead 30 seconds into the third when he grabbed a loose puck in front of the Blackhawks net and surprised Darling with a quick shot.
Toews scored his second of the game at 7:31, and Hossa gave Chicago the lead six minutes later on a shot Anderson admitted he misplayed.
The Senators pressured Chicago until Zibanejad scored his first goal — and recorded his first point — of the season when he beat Darling through the legs from the slot at 17:52.
“They were able to pick me up on that fourth one and tie it up to get us to overtime,” Anderson said. “That was huge with Mika getting on the scoreboard for us and picking up for my mistake but that’s what it’s all about, picking up your teammates when something goes wrong.
“Our guys did a great job.”
MacArthur scored the only goal of the second period, making it 2-2 at 2:51.
The Senators took a 1-0 lead just 2:48 into the game.
After taking a pass from second-year defenseman Cody Ceci, Stone passed off to rookie Curtis Lazar and headed to the front of the net where he was able to tip Lazar’s shot through Darling’s legs.
The Senators held that lead until the Blackhawks scored twice in a span of just over four minutes in the second half of the period.
Toews tied it when his wrist shot barely crossed the goal line behind Anderson with several bodies in front.
The Blackhawks took their first lead at 15:36 when Versteeg slipped around defenseman Erik Karlsson in the circle and went around a sprawling Anderson before tucking the puck inside the far post.
NOTES: Senators G Robin Lehner missed the game as he spent the evening with wife Donya and son Lennox, who was born earlier Thursday. The Senators also scratched Colin Greening, Erik Condra and Mark Borowiecki. … David Rundblad, Daniel Carcillo and Antti Raanta sat out for the Blackhawks.
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