Blackhawks Come Back, Beat Blue Jackets In OT
It wasn’t pretty but the Blackhawks earned their second victory of the 2019-20 season. And they did it with Dave Bolland in the house.
Bolland was honored before the puck dropped and he was needed in the first period. The Hawks were terribly outplayed in the opening 20 minutes. However, a late period goal from Drake Cagguila gave Chicago a 1-0 lead after one period.
The assists on the Cagguila goal went to Alex DeBrincat and Calvin de Haan.
Columbus out-shot the Hawks 15-11 in the first period and carried the majority of the play.
Making matters worse, the Hawks had a two-man advantage for the final 66 seconds of the first period and did nothing with it. The Hawks had 54 seconds carry over into the beginning of the second period and that was wasted as well.
The Jackets had two power plays in the second but the Hawks killed them both. Columbus held an 11-8 shot advantage in the second period and Pierre-Luc Dubois tied the game.
After 40 minutes the Blackhawks were getting outplayed by a team that at .500 on the season with a rookie goaltender between the pipes who allowed seven goals in his NHL debut.
Markus Nutivaara gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 2:55 into the third period. But the Hawks came back with a better effort. Seth Jones went to the box for tripping Andrew Shaw and the Blackhawks took advantage. DeBrincat sniped home a tying goal while on the power play.
Regulation ended with the game tied at two and the Hawks were getting out-shot badly. But Robin Lehner was good enough to earn a single point and take the game to overtime.
Early in overtime Patrick Kane put a shot on Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins that didn’t go in but Jonathan Toews crashed the net and knocked it in to win the game.
Chicago picked up the second point with the captain’s first goal of the new year.
Kane had assists on the DeBrincat and Toews goals for a two-point night. He also led the game with nine shots on net.
Toews won 11 of 19 faceoffs with the game-winning goal. David Kampf won only one of eight at the dot.
Andrew Shaw was credited with six hits and was a wrecking ball the entire night. He finished tied for the team lead in hits with Calvin de Haan.
de Haan had one assist and two blocked shots as well.
Alex Nylander found himself stapled to the bench again. He was credited with one hit and zero shots on net in 7:29.
The Blackhawks are beginning one of their busiest stretches in the early season. After playing five games in 14 days the Hawks will play six times in the next 10 days.
No mention of Lehner’s performance? He was amazing. It was a goalie win, more so than the previous game, but Crawford’s performance was in the headline.
Glad they won. Not sure they deserved it Disappointing effort.
Not pretty but found a way to win. Lehner was very solid and I thought the team defensive structure was much improved. PK also looked much better. Although he only played 7 minutes I noticed Nylander when he was on the ice. He definitely has some skills.
Ugly win, but it counts. I’ll take it.
Defensive structure improved? Really? The D zone coverage more often than not was terrible tonight. Lehner is taller and wider than Crawford, but flails around like a smaller goalie. I didn’t mind him. He made a lot of big saves, but I’m not sure that style is sustainable against that many shots against. We ll see.
Overall, we ll take it, the Hawks won and that’s a good thing. The next couple games will be much harder versus better teams. We ll have a better understanding of the Hawks’ strengths and weaknesses.
We need more.
Good teams win when they get outplayed from time to time or half the time.
First 2 games, without 2nd pair 5 and 44, bad both games.
Second 3 games, with 5 and 44, good and really good and decent got outplayed, 2-0-1
Connor Murphy is a Pilon. He got made of fool of on that first goal, and almost scored one on his own net. He’s got some physicality but man oh man is he shitty. Don’t trust him with the puck at all.
Pretty poor effort by the boys, the Toews line can’t seem to sustain any pressure and the defensive zone clearing needs some urgency. Long stretches of sloppy play in our own end.
Nylander has got speed and hands, I think he’s being wasted playing with Smith and Carpenter.
So far I trust Lehner more in net than Crawford. Will be interested to see how they play off one another as the season progresses.
We’re not going to best top teams with that effort tonight.
OH NOES! They didn’t win purdy enough.
Only 77 more games until we can start focusing on winning the draft lottery. Am I doing this right?
2pts , a hot goalie, strong pk and a pp goal. Won the special teams battle, the difference in this one.
Weak first line once again. When will JC realize Saad needs to play with Toews!
Connor Murphy, we all know he is a 6th or 7th dman at beats. He is slow and handles the puck like a hot potato, aweful!
Need to give Perlini a chance. Once again, we got dominanted on home ice and goalies bail us out.
20 19 88
12 17 11
65 77 92
15 22 8
Hull. Let me say this as clear as I can. I know facts aren’t your strong suit so let’s try a collective opinion. PERLINI SUCKS.
Ok, he doesn’t. But there’s no urgency to his game at all. He’s ho hum. He has all the tools one would need to put everything together and be a top 6 player, but he just doesn’t have that fire deep inside. Don’t believe me? Go read a Powers piece about him and being scratched. It’s oh well, what are you gonna do just stay positive. Then on Snapchat he’s all smiles and goofy. Dude, you’re wearing a different jersey for a reason. Quit smiling at the damn camera and busy your ass. Its awesome to have that kind of attitude and I wish I was more like him in that regard. But you also need more drive and focus if you want to be successful. The Hawks keep scratching him and giving him the odd game to see if he gets it, if it clicks. And it hasn’t happened yet.
I caught half the game between the Hawks and Icehogs. I saw 3 or 4 shifts of Nylander and Everytime he was on the ice he busted his ass. The only time Perlini did that was if he was in the wrong spot and the puck squirted out past the blue line where he could have a breakaway chance. He doesn’t use his size. He has no vision. He has no defense. That’s mostly upstairs. He could be a difference maker. But he has to accept what his role has to be to be an NHL regular.
Still take Perlini over Cagg or Kubalik! Sorry, we differ in opinon. and that’s cool. But 92 has no drive but he’s playing! And Kubalik, no IQ but decent shot.
I am not saying Perlini is the best winger on the Hawks, but for 12 games last year you saw his full potential…Then he has one off game and he is not dressed. He has a great shot, great speed and I think he can bring something to the table if this coach gives him a chance. Just an opinon…..facts? Well, how many goals you think Kubalik will have at the end of his NHL career or this season? Same witb Cagg? I’ve said it, I admire Cagg’s effort but on a 1st line? JOKE! Answer this easy question, would Cagg be on a 1st line in Boston, Toronto, San Jose, Edmonton, Carolina, Saint Louis, Preds, Islanders, Rangers, Golden Knights, Buffalo, Jets, Flyers, …or…..actually every other NHL team except the HAwks? Answer is a big fat NOOOOO. Actually you can include 2nd and 3rd lines in the league. So, that’s a simple fact and how come this coach plays him with Toews? And Kampf who is depleating 3rd line production playing with Saad? Tonight, the Jackets team had no Panarin or Duchenes and Hawks barely survived.
How many 5 on 5 goals do the Hawks have so far this season? How many 5 on 5 goals do SAAD, KANE & TOEWS have?
Nice game by defence and goalie. Problem remains offence up front. Smallish forward lose every battle which gives team no puck possession in offensive or defensive zone.
20 19 88
12 17 11
65 77 92
15 22 8
It wasn’t one off game. Perlini floats around the ice until there’s a loose puck. That’s his game.
I’ve long said Caggiula is a bottom 6 player. But he gives effort…which shows up defensively as well as opens some space up for others on the forecheck because of that effort. Perlini lacks all of that. If it weren’t for that, he really could be a force.
This was Jeremy Colliton hockey. 2-2 after regulation. A greasy goal in overtime. The team is second in the league in hits.
Lehner was amazing.
Carpenter is a good pickup. Solid plays all over the ice in terms of getting the puck out of our zone and deep into theirs.
Gustafson has lost all his confidence. He is afraid to shoot in prime spots, instead he constantly defers to Kane.
Nylander plays fast and comes back hard. He set up Smith with a beautiful saucer pass that Smith did not finish.
Still too early to draw many conclusions, given this very odd schedule. Playing well to beat an undefeated Edmonton team with McDavid then squeaking past a depleted Columbus team suggests the Hawks play to the level of their competition, at least in the last 2 games. Hard for me to say, I didn’t see last night’s game. For a team with a bunch of new players, playing a new system, with a bunch of young players, winning ugly is just part of the coming-together of a team. This team needs a lot more ice time together.
Regarding Perlini and any of the young players, they need to prove they’re hungry for it and earn it. That’s what JC is looking for. Though I”m hoping he becomes something for the Hawks in the worst way, I wouldn’t hand Perlini anything. It would be a huge disservice to a guy who needs to crack the code for himself first. I hope he gets there.
Need to give the Blue Jackets some credit for how hard they played, especially in the first-Torts realizes they need to outwork the opponent. It also exposed what the Hawks need to work on and get better at. At times they become a turn over machine, especially forwards coming out of their own end.
Other than on the power play D-Cat looks lost at times-he needs Kane or Strome on his line. But I think Culliton is giving a clear message-defense and finishing checks first. (the same Culliton that was the worst coach ever a week ago. Like last year give him a chance.)
This year they have more than one guy interested in being an example-Shaw, Carpenter, Caggs etc.
He makes the odd mistake, and isn’t fast but Maatta looks good and has helped
Smith look faster for the first time, he didnt before this. Hes getting back to 100%, still not there yet. Think hes going to be better and the FW and D we added draft summer are going to make us deep with key positions we didnt have last 2 yrs. We have it now. Need to clean up stuff and get better.
Missed the first period but anytime I saw Nylander out there I thought he was doing his job, working hard, making good passes – if he’s learning that aspect of the game that’s good – it’ll serve him well when he eventually moves up the line up whether it’s this year or not
Too many days off and it showed. But 2 points on a night like this is a good thing….not a bad thing . Will get a much better effort tomorrow.
Perlini sucks so bad that Stan re-signed him over the summer. After 4 games, you’d think he’d be in the lineup at least once. I think its hard to rate his game thus far if he hasn’t suited up yet.
And Nylander, good game, but for such a high #1 pick, that should be table stakes.
Dach had some nice skill on display during the Wolves game. You could tell he was being targeted by the opposition – they were teeing off on him. Wonder if that is a concern in the NHL. He’s a big but lanky target.
The Hawks got mauled in the first period, especially in the first half of the period. When teams crowd DeBrincat, he cannot make anything positive happen. Give him room and he’s very good. Posters used to call him a “turnover machine” last year and that is accurate. There is no doubt he has skills but he needs to get rid of the puck before he is challenged. Lehner looks fantastic. I actually thought Crow would play last night because he was so good on Monday. This goalie situation looks healthy. Toews is famous for slow starts and this season is no different. He looks unimpressive. Goals in OT and with empty nets should have asterisks by them. Maybe we are micro-analyzing this game and should just be happy with a win. However, how many games are you actually going to win when you get outplayed like this?
Yea hatricks with empty nets should have * next to them to. prob should not count hatrick if scored empty net goal.
I counted the games from 2009-2016 when we got outplayed or got screwed by refs or bad calls kind of thing. We won 50% or more every yr then. To win half is really god and on some of those yrs we won more then half. Though most of those yrs were talking about the dynasty team of this 20 yrs section of hockey and the first and only so far of the salary cap era. Which really is a new century of hockey section.
Wonder what the 3rd century of hockey section will have in it like the first two. yrs 1-50 has MON get first 10 picks every draft, then other teams select players. Yrs 51-100 has what it has. Yrs 100-current salary cap era. Whats next Bettman, a five decade section of no Bettman.
We deserved it though, after the bad bounce in the WIN game with their 2nd goal being an icing dump in. Sometimes, sometimes bounces even out. Not as much as people think, it just gets tighter to mean.
Robs criticism of Cat is deserved – for as good as he is in the o-zone, he’s as bad in the d-zone. It’s baffling. He consistently makes bad decisions and either passes into traffic or the passes are inaccurate. He’s not the only one but after 2+ years the jury is in and the verdict is he needs to improve greatly in that area.
That said, it was nice seeing the Cat’s one-timer last night. More of that please.
Its like the goalies glove and arm move after the puck tickles the twine from the aftershock of the net boomerang.
Thats a Bob Lee Swagger shot right there.
Hawks had no business winning this game, their D zone is average, exiting their D zone was below average, their neutral zone was, well…..horrible. A game with this effort against Wash will result in a loss. It will be interesting to see what the lines will be, the 3rd line is still the most consistent, the Toews is not a 1st line. Need to move Cat off, but who plays wing then. Seems that Kane needs to move back with Toews and Cags, Cat back with Strome and Shaw….now what to do with Dach if and when he plays ? You can’t put Kubalik on the 4th line, he is not a 4th line player, same with Saad, so do you put Dach there with Nylander and Smith/Carpenter ?? Not fun to be Colliton when this needs to be decided.
65 19 88
12 17 91
20 64 8
15 77 22
Haven’t blogged for a while. Agree with Shackleford on Perlini. If he doesn’t show effort by mid-year, waive him. Cagg a better all-around player.
92 has speed and good hands but appears afraid of contact. Must get more involved or send him down.
Lehner #2 star of the game? Make it #1. If he continues to play like this by Jan., lock him up with multi-year offer.
Kane should have been #2 star. Great pass to DCat and OT shot that made it easy for Toews.
D is going to be our achilles heel again.
de Haan looked good to me last night. He’s physical and made some nice plays to get the puck out of the zone. And, in that game the Blackhawks were having a lot of trouble getting the puck out of the zone. Listening on the drive home to the postgame, de Haan was talking about how being physical doesn’t mean driving guys through the boards, it’s being tough on the puck and the player and staying in the play. That sounds like a plan that other players ought to adopt.
Original good points on Collitons choices. Coming off 2 wins, normally not alot of changes. If Dach plays at center, Colliton may not want to put him aa matchup guy so and Kane line was best last night so could go.
20 19 8
65 17 8
12 77 92/91
64 22 91/92/15 92 to rfd
If not wanting to put Dach at center then maybe
12 19 77/91
65 17 88
20 64 8
15 22 91 /77
Could even go with similar 3rd and 4th lines if he wanted and leave 1st 2 lines alone.
20 64 8
92 22 77
Yea 6 44 know what to do and are 2 top 4 players we didnt have last 2 yrs. Even if 6 is 3rd pair just huge to have 6 NHL defensemen. Still need to clean up things and we have a good base now. #1 Defensemen in summer?
For those of you that are lementing the Hawks defense, take a look at the other teams in the Central. The once vaunted Predators defense is giving up 4 goals per game so far. The Hawks are second only to the Avalanche in GA per game. Defenseman around the league look worse every year because forwards are improving faster than they are. If your goaltending isn’t good on any given night you’re going to be in trouble because the D can’t keep up – no matter which team you look at.
Consider where we came from GA wise the last 2 yrs. Sure we didnt have NHL goalies on one of those yrs. Didnt have 6 NHL defensemen those 2 yrs to. Now we have both, big difference.
GA
PK
Need to clean thing up and get better at system and chemistry as a team.
Crawford and Lehner are playing great and bailing out our D. We are getting out-shot and having trouble getting out of our zone. Some of this is from O not helping out enough (DCat, Strome, Kane).