Blackhawks Come Back (Twice), Fall In Shootout
In a game worthy of the history of the series, the Blackhawks and Red Wings dueled through 65 minutes. Unfortunately for Chicago, the visitors were the better team in the shootout and escaped with the second point.
After dominating most of the game’s first 40 minutes, the Blackhawks had to erase two one-goal leads in the final 24 minutes to earn at least one points against Detroit. The Hawks outshot the wings 17-6 in the first period, with almost half of the shots coming on a strong power play. But Jimmy Howard was up to the task, keeping the Hawks off the board.
Chicago failed to score on a number of great chances early in the second period, and Tomas Tatar gave Detroit the lead at 16:10. The lead would only last 39 seconds, however, as Brandon Saad unloaded a missile to finally beat Howard and tie the game. (We’ll let you judge if Marian Hossa was on-side when the puck entered the zone.)
The story was the same in the third period, as the Hawks failed to score on the power play and let the Wings hand around. After Pavel Datsyuk held the puck in the zone, Corey Crawford attempted to play a bouncing puck well outside the blue paint. Darren Helm was able to tap the puck over both Crawford and Brent Seabrook and into the open net to give Detroit a 2-1 lead.
But like the first time the Red Wings scored, the Blackhawks answered quickly. This time, Detroit’s lead lasted 43 seconds before Kris Versteeg tipped a Duncan Keith shot past Howard to even the score. Crawford had been pulled before the shot for the extra attacker, and the Hawks were able to convert.
Regulation ended with the Hawks out-shooting the Wings 32-25, but Detroit held an 11-7 shot advantage in the third period. The Wings out-shot the Hawks 3-2 in the overtime period, but neither team converted.
Crawford was able to stop Datsyuk to open the shootout, but goals by Gustav Nyquist and Tatar were enough to win the skills competition.
In the game, Crawford stopped 26 of 28 while Howard stopped 32 of 34.
Rookie Ryan Hartman dressed but once again came up with the lowest ice time among Chicago forwards; Hartman received only 7:36 in the game. He looked good in the time he was on the ice, and earned a few shifts late in the third period, a sign coach Joel Quenneville’s confidence may be growing. Hartman was credited with one shot on goal, one missed shot, one blocked shot and three hits in 12 shifts in the game.
Hossa led Chicago forwards with 24:09 on the ice in the game, picking up an assist on Saad’s goal and two takeaways. Patrick Kane skated 23:36 and finished tied for the team lead with five shots on net; Kane also blocked two shots. Patrick Sharp led the team with four hits in 16:50, while Seabrook finished tied with Kane for the team shot lead.
Kyle Cumiskey skated only 6:24 in the loss.
Keith was credited with a team-high five blocked shots and two takeaways in a game-high 27:17 on the ice.
The Hawks are back on the ice Friday night when the Colorado Avalanche visit the United Center.
Good game by both teams. Good pace to the game. Good goaltending. Hawks even had some good PP’s but couldn’t put one in. The Datsyuk – Hossa duels were cool.
Two wins and three OTLs and 7 points out of a possible 10 = 70% – not great but not bad either, although elite teams should be a little better than 70% on home ice.
I hope LA hangs on to its 3-1 lead (going into the 3rd period) so Colorado doesn’t feel all good about themselves coming into the UC on Friday night.
Well, 1 point is better than 0 points. Hopefully the Hawks play with as much energy and focus on Friday as they did tonight.
How can the boys suck so bad on the PP. That’s the game right there! Lucky to get a point after out-chancing the wings, WTF.
The PP, Were working on it.
Frog Soup.
I thought the PP looked OK for the most part. Shots were off by 6 inches all night. What we saw last night was the genius of Babcock. His younger players are like sponges, feeling their way through the game as Babcock constantly instructs them what to and not to do. The Red Wings are not really a physical team and the hits were about even. Many here say the Hawks have trouble with big physicality….but the freakin Red Wings have compiled an unbelievable 8-0-2 record against the central division.
That said, man for man, the Hawks have a stronger team than the Wings. Q would be smart to study film of the Wings vs. the Central.
Any Hawk PP w/ 81 on it and 2 and 91 not on the point… is an improvement.
Hartman- is looking good/and doing the right things… as long as he stays away from the “stupid” penalties… he is quickly earning a spot on the roster. Has been very close to chipping in some rebound goals… just needs a good bounce.
Why does Rosey get so much love in OT… On one hand- I know he has great patience/puck control in 4 on 4… on the other hand– he is too slow and a liability in open ice!!!
23 was abused/held/tackled on a regular basis!!!
Toews- has to bury that wrap around
Before the game- Dregger- saying SB will stand pat… or perhaps aquire cheap 5/6th D man… imo- Hawks need both Power Forward and a D ( I realize can’t afford)… but if TvR can come back…’I would actually prefer a Forward… Hawks are having trouble scoring- they could use that PP finisher… OR some quickness/scoring on that 3rd line!
Cuz- Sharp is playin by hisself…
Quite simply that was an outstanding game. One of the best games I have seen at the UC in a quite awhile. Give Detroit a ton of credit…Mike Babcock is an outstanding coach and their rebuilding on the fly has really taken root. Redwings are a damned good team, and I could definitely see them representing the Eastern Conference in the Finals. God how I hate Gary Bettman for moving Detroit out of our division…and conference. One of the great rivalries in hockey…and original 6 rivalry…messed with.
Hawks played very well. But it’s becoming routine now that Richards and Sharp do diddly squat on the ice. Richards started the season horrible, then found a rhythm with Kane and Versteeg, and now is back to being a steaming pile of nothingness. Which we weren’t saddled with his $2 million salary because it would be great to make a run at Vermette.
Overall, Rosival was rock solid and proved once again why Quenneville has faith in the veteran…he’s a big game player and a playoff type player. Again the problem with Rosy is that the Hawks are so thin on defense that he has to dress every night. It really is too bad he can’t dress 2 out of 3 games, but that ain’t going to happen. I thought Cumiesky did OK, but he is what he is, or in other words not at all the blueliner the Hawks really crave.
Wall… Don’t the Hawks already have 2 power forwards… I guess that depends on your description of a “power forward”?
Saad exceeding expectations… Bickell umm… no.
Maybe that is why you are saying they need one?
I think their focus needs to be on defense because Oduya and Rozy are just not good enough AND having only 3 solid d-men going into the post season is a BIG risk.
Cumiskey played very limited minutes as Tab noted – so he doesn’t appear to be the answer either.
Starting to think Bowman’s move, if any, at the deadline will be moving a guy like Runblad or Erixon for a pending UFA D-man. Runblad is on the outs again and Erixon hasn’t been given much of an opportunity. Who knows.
We’ll see in about a week and a half.
Every game I see Sharp on the 4th line I get more and more passed off at Stan for hanging onto this guy. He had his best season in his 30s and you didn’t move him it’s just plain stupid. Sharp was invisible last playoffs except for game 7 against the Kings. Sharps been useless recently bringing nothing to the team. It’s sad Stan didn’t move him when he had the chance.
SouthSide… an interesting tidbit about Sharp is that just a few years ago he was the Hawks number 1 left wing and they used him as their number 2 center in the post season in 2010.
Why not move Sharp up to be their number 2 center, move Richards (unimpressive) to 3 and put Shaw (underachieving) back on wing?
This would reunite Kane and Sharp along with Versteeg… a formidable number 2 line.
Sharp played a good game last night. 4 shots and 4 hits plus a great back check on a Wings breakaway. Playing with clueless 29 and Shaw would not do much for anybody’s production. I like your idea Hockey Junkie about putting 10 with 88/23. I still think Runblad has the tools and offensive skill level to be a good 5/6 d-man.
Only mistake was Coach Q horrible mistake to have ROZY on the 4 on 4 flat out wrong, too slow and with no recovery time built into his tired body! Lucky Hawks didn’t lose in 4 on 4. Power play early was good, but they have trouble with basic entry, the entry with their skill level should be easy, once established in the zone they do okay, but the entry is horrible and no excuses, the “strategy” for entry should be different for line 2, a few bodies up near the blue line easy pass, draw defense out a little and advance it and control. Richards dump in is always poorly timed and no Hawks but Shaw will win that 50 0 50 or sacrifice his body. I always wonder what the Hawks would look like being coached by Babcock? Keith was a MONSTER on the 4 on 4, did he turn it up, really to me he is the captain. This game shows ya no matter all the AHL banter and rozy this ans that and trades and Sharp ( who should never be on the 4ht line put him with Bick+Shaw) the NHL is tight, no team is going to dominate and the Hawks will be in a lot of one goal games no matter how well they play. Crow again did very well . . .
Sharp is a natural center which is why Philly dealt him. They haddalotta depth up the middle.
Now, as it states in his contract, he has no obligation to play center and can fly the zone and play in the Ovi position with out any negative consequences.
Dunno what you people expect from Richards. He is better than Shaw and more effective then Kruger in an offensive capacity. Kane was going to stop scoring eventually. Like no one knew who this guy was when he signed with the team… He is on pace point total wise without getting the power play points he was last year and averaging 4 mins less ice time per game sooooooooo I think he is doing OK.
Guess somebody has to be the whipping boy with you folks.
A very entertaining game at the UC. Lots of Wings fans found tickets, and the guest team fan base was the largest of the year IMO. Yes, Detroit still sucks.
This game could have been put away by the Hawks in the 1st. Blitz by the Hawks could not find back of the net. Shots just missing. Fat rebounds into skates and not to Hawk sticks. Classic Wings game. My God, these guys interfere almost every shift. Moving screens. Refs can’t call em all, but they called enough last night where if the Hawks PP was able to dent the net and make em pay it would have never gone to shootout. Some karma on the Hawks game tying goal late in the 3rd. Kronwall flattens Toews near the crease(interference, no call) and put himself in just the right place to let the Versteeg shot carom off him into the net. Most aggravating play for me was watching Toews unable to clear the zone late in the 3rd by coughing up puck to Datsyuk which led to pinball deflections for Wings go ahead. Tazer has to get that one out of the zone.
Hartman got some nice ice time in the 3rd period! Shocking to see Q trust the kid, but Hartman played well IMO and looks like he belongs.
Best play of the game was watching Datsyuk strip Hossa of the puck in Hawks offensive zone and head the other way. Hossa says screw that, skates back like a demon takes puck back from Datsyuk in Hawks zone, and brings it back to create a good scoring chance. I marvel at Hossa in these moments. What a player.
Something is wrong with Sharpy. Personal life problem or nagging injury or all of the above. He just does not look normal since the end of 2014. We need him to be better if we are to move deep into playoffs.
Win or lose I still hate shootouts. I left after the OT last night, where CC stood tall. Didn’t want to hear possibility of hooting Wings fans if they won SO.
Avs looked really flat against Kings last night. Varlamov still nursing a groin problem, or are pending legal issues messing with his head? All of the above? Booohoohoo.
Lets Go Hawks!
Datysuk is awesome to watch. There was a play, I think in the 3rd, where he and Saad were going after a 50/50 puck. You could just tell Saad thought he (SAAD) was going to win it and Datysuk damned near knocked him over because of body positioning and awareness.
Tough to eat that lost to the wings. but it was a good showing i think.
I dont watch any college hockey… but i saw a conversation/Rumor on another site about FLA being interest in Schmaltz.
Part of me says take him if the take back is Gudbranson and McKenzie. I know the kid is suppose to have skills but he’s atleast 2 more years away (if not more). I figure atleast one more year in NCAA and then one in AHL…
If we can trade for better cup run right now, dont we need to explore that? Rosy and Shaw would make the $$$ work. Something like Rosy/Shaw/Schmaltz/3rd round pick for Mckenzie/Gudbranson/Low Prospect/4th round pick. Mckenzie is a very good faceoff guy, and I just dont think we can afford a Defensive rotation where someone skates under 7 minutes…
#A.J
Its not about Sharp being a whipping boy its about this Blackhawks team completely regress back to the pack and about other teams catching and passing the Hawks from a talent perspective. If you don’t think a 5 million dollar plus player playing on the 4th line isnt a concern I don’t know what to say. Add in the fact this player had his best season last year and this team can’t add what they need because they are in a cap crunch I’m not sure how this isn’t a concern.
If you want to remember fondly of 2010 when Sharp was a major cog in the Hawks success and moving the team to where they are today you are entitled to do that and I understand why. However, I’m concerned that I’m watching a team about 2 players short of a contender and in serious cap issues that won’t be able to address any of their short comings because of cap issues.
Sharp really should have been moved in the offseason him playing on the fourth line only further re-enforces that move.
So. Sharp is the one who should have been traded? Why because he scores 30 goals a year, is a core member of the Hawks, all star game mvp, silver Olympic medalist, assistant captain to one of the elite teams in the NHL and has 2 rings?
Come back to earth folks.. Contenders don’t get rid of those kinds of players unless they HAVE to.
No I meant Richards was the whipping boy and Sharp is in fact a natural center contrary to popular belief. He has turned into a one dimensional player and is a borderline “core piece” at this point if you ask me.
I’d have kept Buff or Ladd instead of Sharp in my delusional world as well. Or Sharp would be playing the 2 pivot and killing penalties but wuddyagonnado.
This team hasn’t regressed that much talent wise. Not nearly as much as every single team knows what the Hawks are going to do every single game because they rarely make adjustments in terms of exiting the zone or how they pressure in the neutral zone. A big portion of the reason the D sucks is they are getting hemmed in because the release up the boards is being anticipated and the home run stretch pass cut off.
Either way, they probably should have put that game away in the first period. Last few games have been better efforts and the AVs are the perfect team for them to have a nice blow up game against.
19 on a PP entry… w/o any one between him and goalie (defender on his right hip)… drop passes near the Blue line – leading to Wing Steal!!! What were u thinking 19???
That is a Beach/Pirri type play!!!
Peter… Gotta agree… Datsyuk- is a Beast!!! Combo of 88/81… I know this is a Hawk’s website… But that guy might be best Player in Hockey… I can’t believe how strong that guy is… he kicked the shit out of 2 different Hawks to take puck away… and he Ain’t Big!!! Pound for Pound- might be strongest guy too! I think he knocked Rosey on his ass too! he’s not that fast anymore… but smarter than almost all… and strong w/ great hands/vision/stick!!!
The other guy I’d look to trade is Shaw. If they like Hartman, Shaw becomes expendable to fill another need. At this point it looks like the league has caught up to Shaw.
Reality is… Shaw’s cap hit is small in comparison to Sharp’s…
The Hawks will need to do something before the start of next season unless the cap ceiling is increased more than what is being anticipated.
Best time to make a trade is when there is good trade value… That is just another reality SB will have to deal with…
Don’t get me wrong, I like Sharpie and Shaw, but something has got to give…
Most of us want a big, reliable, physical, good d-man (that Q trusts) AND a big, reliable, physical, good “power forward”… (AND both are “affordable”)
Reality is… do those players exist? AND are other teams willing to make those deals, AND can SB make it happen? We shall see…
Thought this was a very well played game by two top teams. With any kind of puck luck the Hawks are up by two goals after 40 minutes. Can’t see mgmt making any significant move at the deadline other than for a veteran 6D – we are going to ride the key horses very hard and see how far it gets us. The big moves will take place in the off-season when next years cap is clearer.
On a different note check out the interview with Nordstrom on the IceHogs site after Sunday’s game. At the end he is asked about Steve Montador who was in Rockford when Nordstrom first came to the US. He gets really emotional about what a great guy Montador was to help a new kid despite all his NHL experience.
I am not as concerned as all you guys. Are there holes? Are they always on their game? Could they be better? Sure, but if you doubt this group of guys ability to compete with the best you are just pessimistic and nothing is going to change that. Crow steps up in playoffs (11th highest save % alltime) and so do a lot of other guys. This is all just practice for the real thing and I am just glad that nowadays we are assured a seat at the table. Bring on the Blues in round 1 and then we can start talking about who has what it takes.
Kyle i agree but i just want to correct you on one tiny little thing… Its a Gold olympic medal not silver. lol.
Every article that is stated… Cant leave Sharp alone for one of them. JEEZ!
I wonder if Winnipeg continues to lose and are caught by the Kings and Wild (not pun intended)for the wildcard, if they would be willing to offer up Frolik as he is on a one year deal.
Great comments regarding last nights game all, but I did notice a couple of mistaken comments.
Phil, mentioned a Toews turnover to Datsyuk at the blueline which lead to the 2nd Detroit goal, but that was actually his linemate, Brandon Saad.
Also to Kyle – Sharpie is an Olympic Gold Medalist, not Silver Medalist. Canada won the Gold medal at the Sochii 2014.
From my vantage point at the UC I felt the Saad clear was not a bad one, and that JT should have been more proactive with Datsyuk who actually made a great play to keep what looked to be a cleared puck in the Hawks zone. It happened very quickly and I didn’t have the benefit of a replay. Wings got a lucky bounce to take the lead and the Hawks got a lucky bounce to tie it. Sorry….
Lets Go Hawks!
Tim, nhlnumbers site has the cap space at 1.250, waive/trade Erixon add .600 that’s 1.850m or 3.680m at %50 retained. Not sure on those players caphits but 3.7m might get a Dman and FW.
Scotty, until our guys show otherwise (which we havnt since weve had our team ’09) we play against the top teams and in playoffs. Not sure about WLT against top10 teams this yr, something like 14-4 or so. What are the other top10 teams at. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who has the best record against bottom10 teams. Sure the 1seed would be nice, we didn’t have that in 2010 and the 8seed these yrs are not like their were in 2010.
Our guys know its all about the playoffs.
Thank you Morrison. Absolutely right about that.
Boys, regarding Sharpie……….I would be shocked if Stan moved him during this season. Remember, the Hawk locker room is a sacred place that is littered with Stanley Cup pedigree and hockey “playoff game” stability and leadership. According to most people, that leadership starts with Sharpie.
I agree the euphoria of winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 for hawks management seemed to come after Phoenix came into Chicago and dumped our beloved team. After that it seemed like the focus returned and the dust had settled from the cap sell off.
Management is going to let this “group” as they like to say in hockey take another run at it this Spring.
All of us Hawks enthusiasts know there are going to be big changes in June, win or lose. So this is this particular groups last run.
Sharp, oduya, roszival are almost certain to be gone, maybe Bickell and shaw. It will be a very interesting time leading up to the draft. But in the meantime I am with Hof, I see Stan adding a 12 minute per night defenseman and really nothing more.
Sorry crappy I pad keyboard. Meant to say above the euphoria of 2010, ended when Phoenix beat the hawks.
yikes . . . Hawks will need to trade away “talent” in order to get “talent back” the real tipping point into “slightly above average” was when Ladd and Buff where let go, not hind site, it was a mistake then and today. Buff presence was responsible for a few easier wins and a consistent net presence. Yes the cap but other players should have been let go, they lost a lot of physical play and consistency with Ladd. As many have noted, Hawks are experienced in playoffs and Cup winners so how they play now is important but Sharp and Toews and Hoss and even Bick turn it up a little in playoffs. So we’ll see they are not getting any younger Hoss + Sharp but 2 great players! And we need a BIG D man who is pure defense and can rub players out, and protect the crease and Crow!
Still concerned that Hawks are not scoring… even w/ better D play… (and if 27/32 and D guys stop turning over the puck for Grade A’s…) the Hawks aren’t as dominant in Puck Possession game, and Not nearly as good/efficient on Odd-man rushes as in past years…
wts- IF- Hawks take care of Puck (no TO’s/minimize TO’s) this team will end up playing like they have the last several games… Low scoring/Tons of OT Hockey… I don’t like their chances with virtually no production from bottom 2 lines!!!
I do think that Hartman has made both bottom lines better- in chances and 10/16/28 (is really 3rd line)- and pushing the “under-achievers” 65/29 to the 4th…
but Still no scoring!!!
then again, 38 might be one bad play from being benched…
MtM, how can you go back to the cap problem and still complain about Ladd and Buf being gone? It’s ancient history. They could not afford to pay them period! All those guys were gone because of cap issues. Sure I would have really loved to keep Ladd, but obviously they felt they could not find room under the cap to do so. Ladd was terrific and yes he is sorely missed. I would have liked to keep Campbell as well. Hey, I liked Brouwer too and he’s gone. Hawks/Tallon paid for a Stanley Cup, thank you very much. Would they do it again, absolutely. Actually, we are there again in the off season as this roster will not carry into next year. The Hawks Cup winning window started in 2009 and carries through next year few years. The long range plans for this team have been pretty well conceived with the high paid core guys. Life is all about dealing with shoulda, woulda, coulda. If we continue to worry about the past instead of concentrating about right now and the future, it would be energy down the drain. The past is gone, but sure, having Buf and Ladder back would be just that, a dream. We still have a very competitive team. With a little luck and a healthy core group into playoffs we have another shot a Cup that should have been won last year. There it is again another “shoulda”.
Sonofa…..
Lets Go Hawks!
I agree…..let this “group” run….alot of changes this summer etc etc. M the M, I disagree with “slightly above average” since summer of 2010. After 58 games
4th in the conference
7th in the league
8th in goals scored
2cd in goals against
1st in goal differential
1st on the PK
The Hawks have put together a solid season so far. Could it be better, yes. Do they have areas of concern, hell yes. But I still maintain…..what team’s 22 man roster would you trade for the Hawks 22 man roster………Even if you came up with 3 or 4 that still puts the Hawks more than slightly above average. If the Hawks go out early in the playoffs…I will not be shocked. BUT I think the Hawks have a legit chance at a deep Cup run.
Wall — the stretch pass has been cut off by a lot of teams and it seems like many are onto the Hawks break out plays. An adjustment is probably necessary there.
Mike — the Hawks have sucked at shot suppression this year and Crawford’s play has hidden a lot of those flaws. In terms of GS\60 at evens; they’re 8th in that as well, last year they were 2nd, the year before they were 1st, 11-12 was the last time they were out of the top 5 (6th) and that had was an anti-climatic finish to the year.
AJ….understood. The Hawks are not as strong as they were in 2010…no doubt. Also more teams have become stronger than have become weaker. My point is it is hard to call the Hawks an average or slightly above average team. They are in fact in the top 25% of all teams in almost all categories. That makes the Hawks a very good team capable of beating anyone in a 7 game series. A team that no one will “want” as a playoff opponent. That simply does not speak to the average.
We have the adjustments to these things. We used some of them in the big games against WIN and STL recently. Were not going to show our playbook/adjustments during the 82games. Then all the other teams will really know what were doing before we do it.
Its like why its better/strategic to have the 29/19/88 line midway through a series as appose to from game1. Its something the other team has no answer for. Another level of that kind. You do that from game1 and the other team can used to it/absorb.
Q, ‘He hooked up our stereo, eh.’ (Doug Mckenzie)
The other teams already know what they are doing… And they’ve been doing it the past 5 years with a level of success that mostly correlates with their depth and I would argue have won out because of raw talent.
I’m very interested to see how these playoffs progress with a drier well so to speak.