CHICAGO, IL -- I'm undecided on this week, honestly.
Certainly not their worst week of outings, but not really their best, either. I just kind of... wished it'd gone better? Especially since the Hawks' schedule is getting kind of gnarly here.
I don't think they're in the dark, or completely out of it at this point--as I've reiterated a gazillion times to family, friends and the interwebs: they don't hand out the Cup in November.
I really do think that they'll be okay, even if this week wasn't great. It also wasn't the worst week they've had to date (8-game losing streak, anyone?), and I really think they're still trending up. Let's just hope they keep trending that way.
Anyways, let's get into some games, shall we?
BLACKHAWKS V. LOS ANGELES KINGS - L/SO, 1-2
I'll be the first to admit that this wasn't the prettiest of Hawks games.
But, at the same time... It wasn't the worst I've ever seen.
The first period was almost entirely uneventful. Corey Crawford made some incredible saves, but that was about the only thing notable here.
It was the second period that really started to heat this game up.
The Hawks had three power plays in the second period alone, thanks to Michael Amadio, Drew Doughty, and Dustin Brown. But, shocker, they could not capitalize on a single one.
Oh, yikes.
Somehow, though, the Kings managed to score just seconds after the Hawks first power play expired, and thanks to Tyler Toffoli, the Kings were up 1-0. Yes, that is correct.
The Hawks were losing to the absolute worst team in the league. Correction: they did lose to the worst team in the league.
Like I said, not the prettiest.
But, Brandon Saad came alive in the third period and scored just a couple minutes into the period to at least tie the game up. I got a little hopeful here, and after Crawford made a few series of fantastic saves, and Cal Peterson for the Kings did the same, there wasn't much else here.
I'm telling you guys, this game was really nothing to write home about--there wasn't anything that made me really jump out of my seat (except that Saad goal), unfortunately. One nice takeaway though, and something that should be noted, is that Crawford really looked great in this game. I think he's looked alright the past couple weeks or so, but dang, this past week, he looked fabulous. He saved 31 of 32 shots on goal, which is pretty damn good if you ask me.
Anyways, three periods weren't enough to break the tie, so to overtime they went.
Oh, joyous day.
Overtime, like the three periods before it, boasted no goals, so for the first time this season, the Hawks headed to the shootout.
Can I just interject here for a second and say how much I hate the shootout, by the way? I really don't think it proves which team played better, and though it's cool to watch guys like Patrick Kane or Connor McDavid or whoever just deke the hell out of a goalie, it's just a dumb way to decide a 65-minute hockey game.
I digress.
Both Ilya Kovalchuk and Anze Kopitar scored on Crawford (the only time of the game where I didn't think he looked good), but Kane and Jonathan Toews couldn't come up with answers.
With that, they fell to the Kings--again, the worst team in the league.
Oof. Moving on.
BLACKHAWKS V. MINNESOTA WILD - W, 3-1
Well, now we're talking!
I thought this win was the best they've had in a long time--maybe the best of the season so far. The pressure was great, the goaltending was great, the power play finally looked okay--it was a win if I've ever seen one.
Before we get into the game, I'd really like to point out that this was the Blackhawk's Hockey Fights Cancer game, and for someone who has known (and lost) many people who have had cancer, these games are always emotional to watch. The Hawks honored former Blackhawks center and current commentator, Eddie Olczyk, with a One Last Shift--if you don't know, Eddie battled colon cancer last year, so it was incredibly emotional and wonderful to watch him skate before this important game and participate in the ceremonial puck drop.
Once the actual puck dropped, the Hawks had some great chances right off the bat. Toews had a great opportunity early on, just barely missing a practically open net--you can imagine the words I screamed at my TV when that happened. Saad also got ridiculously close and I, again, lost my mind.
But, as luck would have it, the Wild took a penalty for too many men on the ice (which I think I've said before, but I have a curse with this one--this call has been called in almost every single game I've watched, and all but one of the ten or twelve games I've been to in person), and the Hawks had the first power play of the game.
And what do you know? The Captain tips a beautiful Kane shot in and we have ourselves a 1-0 hockey game, my friends. Look, 1-0 lead isn't really a lead to yell from the rooftops about, but for this team to actually score on a power play, and against a team that will likely be a playoff team, it's a big deal.
But, the Hawks weren't done yet--Saad read a great miscue by Matt Dumba and skated up the ice on a breakaway before deking the hell out of Alex Stalock, the Wild's back up goaltender. That, my friends, brings us to a two-goal lead. Yeah, you heard it here first--the Hawks had a two-goal lead and spoiler: they didn't blow it!
The second period didn't bring much--just Jan Rutta turtling over the puck (which I thought for sure would be a delay of game penalty, but nope, not the case), a small kerfuffle by the net, some great saves by Crawford--and, uh, oh yeah. Zach Parise scored on a Wild power play. Because of course he did.
I'm not saying it's the end of the world when the other team scores, but when it's 2-1, you have the Hawks defense and inability to hold a lead, it's easy to freak out.
There was a great sequence where Kane literally weaved through almost each of the Wild players on the ice like they were traffic cones, and his dangling and deking never ceases to impress the hell out of me. Nothing came of it, but the Hawks did get another penalty shortly after that little spurt--but, again, nothing came of that (shocking, I know).
Anyways, the third period started with the Hawks up 2-1 and this my friends, was where I started to get nervous. I thought they looked a little sloppy in the opening minutes of this period, but that quickly turned around.
In fact, in a particularly long stint in the Wild's end, Brent Seabrook fired a slapshot towards the net but hit Marcus Foligno right in the ankle and he was down for the count. He had to be escorted off the ice by the medical staff, and though he didn't return for the rest of the game, he did play against Ottawa on Wednesday.
The rest of the period was kind of a mess, to say the least--bodies were flying everywhere, the Hawks took a penalty (but killed it off), and in the waning minutes, Dominik Kahun was able to notch an empty net goal.
Boom. The Hawks win 3-1 against a good team, even if the Wild didn't exactly look it Sunday evening.
Let's keep this red machine rolling, eh?
BLACKHAWKS @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS - L, 2-4
So, I'll preface by saying that I didn't think the Hawks would come away from DC with a win--they haven't won in Washington, DC since 2006.
It was a long-shot from the get-go, but I tried to stay positive. The Hawks did put on a show against the Wild, but the Capitals also seem to play best at home--a win there is not an easy-fought battle.
The Hawks came out fighting, putting the pressure on in the few opening minutes of the--oh. Oh, no.
Somehow, Alex Ovechkin was left open in the Hawks end, he passed to Niklas Backstrom, and you guessed it--the Capitals were up very early on. I'm talking like a minute or two into the period.
Ah, yikes.
After that goal, the Hawks and Capitals traded penalties, and though the Hawks got two power plays and the Capitals only got one, guess who scored on theirs?
If you guessed the Capitals, well, you'd be right. Andre Burakovsky managed to sneak one by Crawford with just a second or two remaining on the power play, so that's great.
Seabrook looked like he almost had a goal, but nope, the puck didn't go in the net. Next.
Then, it was Saad to the box and luckily, though it carried into the 3rd period, the Capitals couldn't, well... capitalize on the man-advantage (shut up, I know it was a bad pun).
There was an early 4-on-4 situation in the opening frames of the second period, but nothing came of it on either side. But, as things do happen this way--Michal Kempny scored against his former team to extend the lead to 3-0.
Yeah, it's that bad.
But, just two minutes later, Saad fired one home and wow, was it a pretty goal. Definitely a great way to start a comeback.
I thought the pressure the rest of the period looked pretty good from the Hawks' perspective, so going into the third, I had sort of high hopes.
Those hopes were only thrust higher when Erik Gustafsson scored (while tripping, mind you) and put the Hawks within one goal. One goal sure doesn't seem like a lot when you're desperate for some points in the standings.
All good things come to an end, though, and just a couple minutes later, Devante Smith-Pelly scored off a bad turnover by Anisimov. Well, shoot.
(Side note: Can we talk about how much I love Smith-Pelly for a second? I was going to be a mad hockey fan if the Capitals didn't re-sign him this year.)
The rest of this game, let me tell you, was an utter mess. I know I said that about the Wild game, too, but this one was a dirty mess--mostly because of the Capitals (look, I like them--this game was just dirty on their end).
First, Ovechkin laid a hit on Toews that was just a hair shy of being a dirty hit--he definitely went for the head shot on that one, and I was worried Toews wouldn't get up. He did, but he definitely wasn't happy about it.
Seabrook fired another puck that looked like it went in, but didn't actually go in--sound familiar? It should, because it happened literally two periods prior to Seabrook. Dude just couldn't catch a break.
Toews went face-to-face with Braden Holtby after a shoving contest, then almost went face-to-face with Tom Wilson, too. He was clearly fired up, and I honestly don't blame him. In fact, I kind of wish they'd get pissed off more often, honestly.
But, their comeback couldn't be completed. They did make an effort, and I think they played overall, pretty well, but it just wasn't enough.
So, this week wasn't what I wanted it to be. But, there's still a glimmer of hope. I think our offense looks great--that top line of Saad-Toews-Kane is crazy, and I personally love it. I like Colliton's idea to put the young guys together, and I think the defense is starting to get there. Our goaltending has been great thus far, too.
Playoffs or not, these boys are playing, fighting for something, and I'll be right there with them the whole way this season.
Are you with us?
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