The Blackhawks tried out a new goalie — Jeff Glass — and an old top line Friday during the Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers in Edmonton, which came courtesy of Patrick Kane’s goal.
Glass, who was called up from Rockford on Wednesday when starting goalie Corey Crawford was put on injured reserve, made 43 saves in his NHL debut, including one on a breakaway against Leon Draisaitl in the first.
But Draisaitl tied the score with 54.2 seconds left in regulation, less than two minutes after Ryan Hopkins-Nugent pulled the Oilers within one.
Both goals were scored after the Oilers pulled their goalie.
Jesse Puljujarvi beat Glass for a power-play goal 14 minutes, 56 seconds into the period to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.
But with 54.6 seconds left in the period, Ryan Hartman golfed in a rebound that originated on Kane’s stick to tie the score 1-1.
Connor Murphy swatted away a puck that trickled behind Glass during the second period to keep the score tied.
Alex DeBrincat untied it with a power-play goal with just under six minutes left in the second, after Richard Panik was taken down on a breakaway.
Jordan Oesterle’s first NHL goal also was of the power-play variety and gave the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
Glass was called up twice by the Hawks last season, but the 32-year-old hadn’t played in a game.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville also shook up his lines a bit with the news that center Artem Anisimov was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury a day after he left Thursday’s game in the first period of a 5-2 loss to the Canucks.
Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad and Richard Panik will get back together on the top line. Panik hasn’t scored a goal in 23 games and was a healthy scratch for a couple recently.
Vinnie Hinostroza also returned to the lineup after he was a healthy scratch Thursday, Quenneville told reporters in Edmonton.
Glass spent eight seasons in the KHL before getting his shot in the AHL, leaving him to ponder his hockey future on occasion.
“There’s times you wonder what you’re doing,” Glass said told reporters in Vancouver on Wednesday. “I believe in myself, believe in the process. My path’s been a little longer than most, but I’m happy to be here.
“You never know. You usually only get one chance. I’m going to try to make the most of my opportunity.”
That opportunity came at a critical time. The Hawks were in the midst of a three-game losing streak and fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They began Friday with 39 points, two out of a wild-card spot with two teams in front of them.
With the good news for Glass came more bad news for the Blackhawks, though.
Earlier Friday, the team placed center Artem Anisimov on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and activated defenseman Cody Franson, who had been on IR since Dec. 13.
Going into Friday, Anisimov was second on the team with 13 goals, including six game-winners, tying him for second in the league. Quenneville told reporters Friday in Edmonton he didn’t expect Anisimov, who left Thursday’s game in the first period, to be out for too long. He’s not eligible to return until the Hawks face the Golden Knights at home Friday.
With the Blackhawks playing the second game of a back-to-back, Quenneville felt it was the right time to give Glass a chance.
Glass, who is 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, was picked in the third round of the 2004 draft by the Senators. He was 10-4-2 with a .917 save percentage and 2.60 goals-against average 18 games with the IceHogs this season.
The Blackhawks moved to 18-14-5.
Paul Skrbina’s three stars
1. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks: Overtime goal ended the team’s losing streak at three. Also had an assist.
2. Nick Schmaltz, Blackhawks: Three assists were big.
3. Jeff Glass, Blackhawks: Made 43 saves, including some of the highlight-reel variety.
Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina
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