CHICAGO, IL - The name for this weekly blogging-thing is a work in progress--no laughs, please. It'll probably get worse before it gets better.
Anyways, let's get into this week, eh? Color me (mildly) impressed.
Seriously, the Blackhawks looked pretty fantastic this week across the board. There are obviously points of improvement (that power play game has to change, for one--losing a two-goal lead is another), but overall, these first few games went better than I thought they would.
I'll start with a couple of quick housekeeping-type items, starting with Jonathan Toews earning NHL's 2nd star of the week. It should've been the first star, but I guess you can't deny Auston Matthews and his prowess. Either way, a terrific start for the captain (more on that in a moment).
It should also be noted that tomorrow, October 13th, Duncan Keith will be playing in his 1,000th game--all 1,000 of those games have been in a Hawks sweater. Pretty unbelievable stuff, and certainly a game I'm excited to watch. He's the third defenseman in Blackhawks history to play 1,000 games in a Hawks sweater (only third to Brent Seabrook and Bob Murray), which is a pretty impressive feat if you ask me. It'll be really cool to see him honored for this milestone, and definitely just as emotional as it was to watch Seabrook's 1000th game.
Finally, we'll talk about Corey Crawford--because who isn't, these days? It looks like he's still on pace to return in the game against the Arizona Coyotes on October 18th, but we'll see if that's the date he actually returns. I'd bank on maybe closer to the end of October, but wishful thinking has me hoping and praying he gets some ice time on the 18th.
Alright, let's get into it.
BLACKHAWKS AT ST. LOUIS BLUES - W/OT, 5 - 4
I'll be honest--I was nervous going into this game. For a variety of reasons, the first being that the Blues are just one team that I can't stand. It's the rivalry thing. I also just wasn't sure how they were going to play--was the game against Ottawa last week a bit of a fluke? Were they going to deliver the same way?
Yeah, I'd say they did.
First, it's important to note that this game was the first of four times that the Hawks and Blues will meet in the next month. Yes, you read that right--the Hawks and Blues play four times between now and November 14th. Hell, they play them again tomorrow. Is it ridiculous? Yes, absolutely.
Moving on.
Let me just start by saying something that I hoped I'd be able to say this season, but didn't know if would--Toews was on fire. He looked great in Ottawa, too, but this game was a whole different story. That top line Coach Quenneville has put together of Alex DeBrincat, Toews and Dominik Kahun is unreal--definitely a great find. That line is on fire, and I hope it stays that way for the season. While they're at it, more Toews hat tricks, yeah?
Let's talk about that hat trick for a second. His first two goals came from the first and third period, first on the rebound (very nice) and the second after a wonderful flurry of saves from Cam Ward. Both were great goals, but let's be real--the OT winner was the real deal here. Henri Jokiharju was able to tear Vladimir Tarasenko off the puck to give Toews the go-ahead for the goal, and man, was it pretty.
Anyways, let's go back to the start of the game. We're getting ahead of ourselves here, what with all the hat trick talk.
The Hawks were down by two early in the first period, and I can certainly tell you that I was watching the game between my fingers. It was what I was expecting what would happen, but I didn't want it to actually happen--do you see my dilemma here?
Either way, Toews scored that beautiful rebound just before the end of the first period to put the Hawks on the board.
It didn't take long for Patrick Kane to get in on the scoring fun early in the second period, notching a great goal from a wonderful pass from Nick Schmaltz. I'm really enjoying the two of those guys together.
Oh, what was that? Marcus Kruger tipped in a shot from Kane, too? Yeah, that happened. It was just as nice as you'd imagine it.
But, all good things seem to come to an end, and the Blues got two goals within a minute in the third. In traditional Jonathan Toews fashion, he had to go and ruin the Blues' fun with a goal that tied the game up at four a piece.
We get that beautiful goal about halfway into overtime and we have ourselves another win. Two overtime wins may not be the best start in some people's eyes, but in mine, I think they were fantastic.
BLACKHAWKS V. MAPLE LEAFS - L/OT, 6 - 7
This game was easily the best hockey game I have ever seen. Between the high-power and high-energy scoring, the Kane/Matthews celly banter, and the dynamic and explosiveness of both teams, I've honestly never seen a better game.
There are a few things that I want to touch on here before we get into the game--the first of which being that incredibly moving tribute to Stan Mikita that had me in tears. I had chills the entirety of the tribute, but one line especially stuck with me, a line that I believe Pat Foley said Stan Mikita had said in the past - "Remember where you came from." I love that quote, those five simple words--they really resonate with me in a way I can't explain.
It's also worth noting that Patrick Kane passed Steve Larmer on the All-Time Assists list, sitting at 518 after this game--which is impressive in of itself, but the game he played was even more impressive (if that's even possible).
Another cool history nugget: this game was the 650th meeting between these two teams, the first being November 17, 1926. Man, do I love the Original Six.
Anyways, the game!
Exactly nine minutes into the game, Kahun fired a shot at the net and Toews happened to get a piece of it and boom, first on the board. Or, were they? The goal was reviewed for a potential high-stick (Toews' stick may have been over the crossbar), but they deemed it a good goal, and we heard Chelsea Dagger one extra time.
The next goal, though, was the best of the night, in my opinion. It started with a Leafs turnover at the blueline, and from there, it went from Keith to Kahun to DeBrincat for a goal that I still cannot figure out how it went in.
And then the Leafs, well... Leaf'd. Kasperi Kapanen scored about two minutes after DeBrincat's goal, then Matthews another two minutes after that. Surprise, surprise--the game went into the first intermission tied at two a piece.
Another shocker--John Tavares scored early in the 2nd period, but John Hayden scored one right back just a mere 90 seconds later. Tavares, though, decided he wasn't done and got himself another one. I will say, the Leafs looked impressive out there--but, the Hawks looked just as impressive as they kept up with them all night long.
The third period is really where things went insane. Brandon Manning (of all people--no offense to him at all) scored early on, tying things up again. I'll say this again--the Hawks, a team that people thought would barely win a game this season, kept up with the Maple Leafs, an early Stanley Cup contender in a lot of critics' eyes. Keep that in mind, will you?
But, Tavares scored again, completing the hat trick and breaking my heart--okay, that's a bit dramatic. In all seriousness, though, it did put a pretty big damper on things.
Fear not--Superman Patrick Kane to the rescue with a goal off a pass from Jokiharju with around 90 seconds left in the game, tying the game up yet again. Hope dwindled quickly afterwards, though.
Matthews scored. Shocking, I know. It's almost like that doesn't happen fifteen times a night. The Leafs took the lead again, and as much fun as I was having, I was disheartened. At least we didn't have to go to overtime again--
Again, Superman Kane to the rescue--with just a mere 28 seconds left in the period, Kane ripped one past Andersen and boom, we have ourselves a hockey game. And boy, did Kane's celly rile everyone in the arena and at home up. Matthews did Kane's usual 'I can't hear you' celly that he did a few years ago, Kane obviously wasn't having any of that in his house, and did it right back. It's easily one of my favorite moments in recent hockey, and I love watching these two just battle and banter like that--I can't wait to see more of it.
Overtime is moot, Morgan Reilly scored just 19 seconds in (again, shocking), and that's the game. I figured if the game went to overtime, the Leafs would take it no matter who they put out there--that's just the way things are these days. As crazy of a game as it was, it was definitely entertaining, and that is exactly what I want in a hockey game--I'm sure you do, too!
BLACKHAWKS @ WILD - L/OT, 3-4
Not my favorite Hawks outing as of late.
The only thing I can think of that's super pertinent to this game is that this was Alexandre Fortin's first NHL game, and was excited to see him play at this level. He's been down in Rockford for the past few seasons to develop, and I think in a few years, he'll be good. He unfortunately didn't impress me too much in this game, but I think he'll get there with time.
I don't really have any other notes at the start here, so let's just jump right into the game!
You want my honest opinion? I thought the Hawks looked tired and kind of sloppy in this game. Kane kept turning the puck over (which he's been doing a lot lately--that needs to stop for sure), Saad couldn't connect passes, the defense was all over the place, Ward wasn't listening to his teammates yelling for him to leave the puck behind the net--it was a mess.
Still, the Hawks managed to squeak out two very nice goals in the first period--the first from none other than DeBrincat--because, of course it was. He seems to be the Hawks poster boy for goals nowadays, and I'm not too mad about it. His goals are clean, pretty, and make for a great highlight reel every night. Toews ran over about half the Wild's defense to get the puck up to the offensive zone, passed it to DeBrincat, and boom, in the back of the net. It looks just as unbelievable every night as it did the night before, and it's getting ridiculous.
(Not that anyone is complaining here.)
Shortly after, Toews and DeBrincat team up for another goal--this time, looping Kahun in and getting him his first ever NHL goal. His expression was awesome, and definitely says it all about the excitement of that first goal. Toews had a perfect shooting lane but passed to DeBrincat for Kahun to get the kid his first goal of the season and of his career, and that is one case in which I do not mind passing instead of shooting. Toews has always been selfless, and that's just one thing (among so, so many) that makes him such a great captain.
Going into the second period with a two-goal lead was something that I also wasn't sure I'd see this season from the Hawks, but damn am I glad to see it. The Wild cut it down pretty quickly, unfortunately--they scored twice in the second to tie things up. Not fun.
But, DeBrincat got the lead back early in the third, finally getting the Hawks a goal on the power play (which needs so much work).
The Hawks had so many great opportunities but just couldn't seem to connect--like I said, this game wasn't their best. That being said, I thought Ward had the best game of his stint with the Hawks yet--he saved 42 of 46 shots on goal, and I think some of his saves or series of saves were honestly highlight reel-worthy. If he keeps playing like this, he'll do just fine for Chicago.
As time dwindled down, the Wild took a stupid penalty with under two minutes left, and what do the Hawks do with their power play? Let the Wild score a short-handed goal to take the game to overtime. Because of course they do.
(It should also be noted that my heart cannot handle overtime every single game, guys.)
Overtime is a bust, the Hawks lose on a stupid odd-man rush (because why, WHY is Artem Anisimov out there?), and that's the game.
Not their best by far.
----
This week? Overall, not bad, but also not great. Looking forward, there are only two games for the Hawks next week--at home against the Blues and the Coyotes. I think both games could be interesting, but the Blues game has my bet for the more entertaining game and the Coyotes for the more likely win.
Let's keep this going, boys--there's still a lot to prove.
Comments
Post a Comment