Nov. 19--Multiple times this season, Marian Hossa has had breakaway chances to score. Each time, Hossa came up short.
So when Hossa found himself alone on a breakaway against Oilers goaltender Anders Nilsson in overtime of the Hawks' 4-3 victory Wednesday night, he altered his strategy.
Instead of going all the way in on Nilsson, Hossa decided to let a slap shot rip. It worked, and Hossa's second goal in as many games gave the Hawks an extra point. It was the Hawks fourth victory in five overtime games this season.
"I figured that this season I had a few breakaways that weren't successful so things weren't working," Hossa said. "I just decided on the last one, there's an opening and I said I had to clap it."
Hossa even had a breakaway earlier in the night that Nilsson stopped.
On the winner, Hossa took a stretch pass from near the Hawks bench as center Artem Anisimov made a change. The Hawks barely executed the pass while avoiding a penalty for too many men on the ice.
"I wanted to make sure I touched the puck as Arty was coming off," Hossa said. "He jumped as soon as the puck came on my tape. It was just unbelievable timing. I was hoping they wouldn't challenge it and the goal stayed."
The Hawks wouldn't have been in that position, however, if not for a monumental save from Corey Crawford just moments earlier. Crawford sprawled out and made a glove save on a rocket of a shot from Taylor Hall.
"I had to challenge the shooter there and there was a quick pass over," Crawford said. "I figured I didn't have time to slide so I just put my glove out and tried to read where it was going."
At first, the Oilers thought Crawford's glove might have crossed over the goal line, but replays showed Crawford secured it in front of the goal line.
"I wasn't even close," Crawford said. "I'm not worried about that."
