Despite strong starts offensively from their top six outside of Jonathan Toews — paced by Richard Panik’s five goals in five games while shooting a ridiculous 71% — the Blackhawks are off to a 2-3-0 start after allowing 18 goals through five.
Remarkably, ten of those 18 goals against have come on the penalty kill. The Blackhawks have killed less than half of their penalties taken this season — 8 of 19 (42.1%) — which, as you would imagine, is easily a league-worst. That sets up favourably for a Leafs team that has seen its powerplay surge in the past two games after goals from Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Nazem Kadri on the man advantage.