Blackhawks Roll Oilers To Start ‘Second Half’
On Wednesday evening the Blackhawks got their first look at the Edmonton Oilers with Evander Kane in their lineup. After allowing four first-period goals in the previous meeting with the Oilers, Chicago looked to start their “second half” of the season with a much better effort.
The Hawks would go with a lineup including Jakub Galvas on the blue line in place of Erik Gustafsson and Josiah in for Brett Connolly; Jonathan Toews is still in concussion protocol and did not make the trip with the team.
Chicago wanted to get off to a faster start and they did precisely that. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins went to the box at 1:15 into the game and that opened the door. Patrick Kane made a beautiful pass to Alex DeBrincat who scored his 27th of the season just 104 seconds into the game.
DeBrincat was then playing the setup man barely a minute later. He found Brandon Hagel and Chicago had a two-goal lead less than three minutes into the game.
Seth Jones went to the box four minutes in but the Blackhawks were able to survive the penalty kill. Marc-André Fleury was on his game early and the Blackhawks were able to generate some offense to keep the Oilers’ offense off the gas peddle.
Late in the first period, Duncan Keith got tangled up on a would-be Blackhawks rush and crashed into the boards hard. It appeared he was out on the ice initially and needed to be helped off the ice by teammates.
Scary sight: Duncan Keith takes a hard fall along the boards and is helped off the ice. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/2RbGrrlgmZ
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 10, 2022
At the end of the first period, the Hawks took a 2-0 lead to the room. The Oilers out-shot the Hawks 13-12 but couldn’t beat Fleury.
Without Keith available to return, the Oilers decided it was time to play offense. And they dominated the puck for the first half of the second period. Connor Murphy went to the box at 4:15 into the period for apparently catching Evander Kane with a high stick and Edmonton was able to convert. Leon Draisaitl was credited with a power play goal to cut the lead in half.
The OIlers kept the pressure on. The first 12 shots of the period were all credited to the Oilers; Chicago could barely get the puck long enough to clear the defensive zone. Evander Kane did his best to try to kill the Oilers’ momentum with a bad, worthless boarding of Hagel but even a two-minute advantage didn’t help Chicago’s offense get going.
Fleury earned every penny of his salary in the second period. When the horn sounded, Edmonton had out-shot the Hawks 20-6 in the period and had a 33-18 advantage in the game. But the Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead to the third period.
Draisaitl went to the box 48 seconds into the third period for a questionable hit on DeBrincat (I would use the word dirty). Giving the Blackhawks a power play early in a period didn’t work out for Edmonton in the first period, and it failed them again in the third. DeBrincat found Dylan Strome and — after surviving a barrage for 20 minutes in the second period — the Blackhawks once again had a two-goal lead.
Nine minutes later, Kirby Dach — who appears to have lost a tooth in the second period — slammed in the Blackhawks’ fourth goal of the night.
And, somehow, the Hawks had a three-goal lead with 10 minutes to play in regulation. Hagel and Jake McCabe picked up assists on the Dach goal, giving the Blackhawks four players — DeBrincat (3), Hagel, Strome and Dach (2 each) — with a multi-point night.
With 17 seconds left in regulation, Evander Kane went to the box again — this time for slashing Caleb Jones. Because why not confirm all of the worst things people in Chicago think about you?
The game ended with the Blackhawks picking up a 4-1 win.
You know all of those things we’ve said in the past about “if you want to be a playoff team, you can’t lose to that bad team”? Yeah, this was one of those losses for the Oilers.
Hot goalie and a hot pp were the difference. Good to see a little 5 on 5 offense from Dach 1g and assist. Played 2 goods periods with not so competitive one sandwiched in between. Thought both Galvas and Slavin looked fine in their opportunity, everybody strruggled in the 2nd except Fleury. Oilers sure don’t look like a playoff team right now.
Only saw the third and while the Hawks looked poised for a change the Oliers never really looked dangerous
It’s hard to believe they are contenders so maybe they won’t take a run at MAF
See the Hawks interviewed TBL director of Hockey Ops Matthieu Darche – don’t know him but on paper he looks like a good candidate so that’s a positive ad well
Thank God they finally sat Gus – probably have him back in soon though in hopes of trading him by TDL
Strome continues to play well – interesting call for the new GM
Dach , Strome ,Hagel and MAF had very strong game
Really happy to see Dach playing 16 minutes and getting 2 pts .
Hagel and Kane are the only forwards playing more then 17min
Strome is also playing good hockey .
Thought they would come out rusty as usual, but they were ready to play tonight. Mess with the Cat and you get burned. He’s going to cost a lot of money to resign.
FO% aside, this was a reallly strong effort by the team MAF was magnificent. When you consier that EDM had 41 SOG and the Blackhawks BLK’d 22…that’s 63 attempts. YIKES!!! I like how our D really stepped up and really committed to BLKing shots. This isn’t the first time they’ve done it and, under King, they’ve really made it a part of their overall game. The Strome line and the Dach line also really stood out. Overall, a really solid effort. Would I like to have seen a better FO%? Yes. But, it’s the first game back after the All-Star break. A good night’s work.
Lastly, I do like Slavin and Galvas in there. They’re a better team with them. A bit faster and definitely a bit more awareness. I think that we may see a bit more of players like Galvas, Mitchell, Kalynuk, and maybe Beaudin. Regula and Phillips are also having really solid seasons at Rockford. Having a very deep defensive minor league is the only asset, outside of Reichel(offensively) that the team has going for them. I’m curious to see how the second half of the season plays out.
Wrap thing that Darche brings also is he comes from an organization that is committed and been very successful at sticking with developing all their draft picks or acquired prospects, not let them go early, as their roster shows.
Newbie here…52 year Hawks fan, compliments to the community on this site. Extremely knowledgeable and I have learned a lot about the organ-I-zation, players and the game! IMHO, the 1st period had great pace, 2nd period the Oilers had the ice tilted and Fleury stood on his head to keep the game in tact. Truth is I didn’t see the 3rd in full so no comment. A final note to say I am sorry but I could not listen to the Blackhawks TV broadcasting team last night – switched over to the Edmonton feed and it was very enjoyable!
Hagel is my favorite player on current Hawks team
If Hawks Brass/GM think they can make this a PO team inside of 3/4 years… with drafting and Some Cap/UFAs- fine – keep Hagel
If NOT– I really think you shop this kid to a PO team that holds a very High draft pick in 2023 (supposed to be deep top end draft.
Kid is like a Bolland/Frolik/Shaw type of player…. Not gonna be an all star- good at everything- great at nothing ( except Hockey)- some GM out there should be smart enough to realize this guy- brings alot of intangibles to make a very good team- a great team.
Neither team looks like a playoff team-Oilers need more than MAF
Didn’t watch the game. In FLA chasing a little white ball. Seen the highlights. Looked like a good audition of MAF for Edmonton. If Duncs is out for a long time (til playoffs) how about a package of MAF and CDH. If we can get a #1 with two of Puljujarvi Holloway or Lavoie.
Out to battle the links day 2 of 4.
Later.
Ian
So far I would definitely go with Mathieu D’arche for GM but I am always thinking that Patrick Roy could also be a good choice . But D’arche is my number one so far since they start interviewing.
Bluto
Hagel is also my number one player and no way the Hawks will let him go for a first round pick .this guy since the year Hawks sign him just continue to outwork his opponent,and like I said before ,he will be a 20-25 goals scorer plus and iff not hurt will be The best 2 way player for many years to come .( he wanted to play badly for the Hawks to sign at 1.5 millions/3 year contract. ) and they had this star player for nothing .Buffalo didn’t believe in him anymore.after Hawks sign him he started to produce big time with the rebels.finishing with 41goals 102 pts plus 42.and this guy can play on any line ..including the top line .so glad someone on the organization saw him when he was available.
GM! Just watching that game last night, I thought how much better the team looked without Johnathan Toews. First, Strome finally looked like a top 6 center. Good for him! But, if Toews is in the lineup, he gets demoted to bottom 6. Dach finally played better! He did get pushed around a bit, but he was better! What do we do when Toews and Tyler Johnson come back? I was just as impressed with Borgstrom, Slavin, Kurashev, and Entwhistle. Also, it appears that Kane let his injury heal a bit and he was so much better than he has been the last couple of weeks. DeBrincat is awesome! The defense led by Seth and McCabe was much better. Galvas over Gustafson – Yes! Caleb Jones over Gustafson – No way!
It will be an interesting next 6 weeks! I just want to see some consistency!
BTW – what about looking into the Canadians coach who just got canned? He took that team to the Finals last year, but have been decimated with injuries and regime change. He must be better than the Clown King!
MTL fans I know are happy to see DuCharme canned – I think there are better options for Hawks
Well Tippett is available. That’s what happens when you lose to the Blackhawks.
Noooooo – Not Tippett! :-) Actually, as I’m watching that game last night, I thought, that poor bastard is going to get fired because the GM did not get him a goalie! I’ll take Tippett over Clown King right now!!
Thought the same thing about Tippett during the game. Watching Mike Smith sit on the goal line inside his net cracks me up. Credit to him for being able to stop what he does, but a simple lesson in geometry and angles tells ya he is gonna have some really bad games.
Tippett never had a chance. Selfish players all over that team. The hit from Draisaitl on Cat told ya all ya need to know about him. Great leadership.
Incredible talent on a team that plays as a bunch of indivuals. Capitals were that way for years. Toronto that way now.
Hard to know at this point if Strome has increased his trade value significantly or made him more of an option to give another short contract to if return value still not that high. Have to think number one priority for new Gm is draft/ acquire some young forward prospects to develop and restock the pipeline in that area, that would make sticking with some of the current prospects a little longer, like Strome, Kurashev, Dach although staying with him probably a given unless a major trade comes along, more of an likely option.
Think there is more to come out on Tippett firing, may be alot of issues in that dressing room right now.
Good win for the boys. 3 and 0 with Galvas in the lineup.
I like Galvas a lot. Plays a very responsible game. He’s ready. Keep him on the ice, please!
Oilers are a real head scratcher. So much talent. Two of the very best scorers in the game. Pens won cups with Crosby and Malkin. Hawks with Kane and Toews. Yet Oilers can’t seem to find their way regardless of how many top 5 draft picks. WTF ??
Great game by the Hawks. They skated hard and played positionally sound hockey most of the night. It was nice to see Caleb Jones laughing at and taunting Evander Kane in the final 30 seconds. For the cheap shot he took at Fleury,everyone on the ice should have went after him. The Oilers have obviously quit on TIPPETT and he was put out of his misery today as the Oilers fired him. That team is a bunch of mismatched parts that is going nowhere.
Colby Cohen has the most annoying voice I’ve ever heard. The guy just never shuts up. The play by play guy did a good job considering he was working with motor mouth.
I thought the play by play guy last night was ok too. The Oil one of the most baffling teams in the NHL. All that talent and likely will not make the playoffs.
Ti keep or not keep Strome May depend on Toews’ health – wouldn’t be surprised if he retires at year end then you could have Reichel Strome Dach down the middle
Golden+rug: Dave Tippett is not a winning coach. Oilers fired him after the Blackhawks loss. To replace Tippett, the Oilers are bringing in Jay Woodcroft, head coach of the Bakersfield Condors. Hmmm, that will go well if he is like Colliton.
wrap
what do you think the odds would favor in vegas?
all three of your aforementioned centers with the hawks and playing center a year from now or none of them playing center for the hawks a year from now. not unlikely a year from now to see strome gone and dach and reichel on the wing. or reichel in rockford if he doesn’t add ten pounds of muscle between now and october.
Golden +rug… Re: Oilers underperforming… goes to show you importance of Winners like Kruger/Shaw/Bolland/ HAGEL- guys who are good at everything and Great at nothing (except Hockey)
Put their bodies on line every minute… think the game at elite levels… over achievers-
That is how a great team fills out a roster- versus having several top 10 picks floating around
Note the guys I mentioned all had kinda short careers- cuz they all put the Team first and bodies 2nd
I mentioned before about when Hagel started playing with Strome and battling for those 50/50 fos, Stromes numbers increased. Last game Hagel was playing with Dach and Cat, Dach was a more respectable 3 and 5 on the dot, plus producing 5 on 5 offense and Strome’s numbers were lowest in sometime at 5 and 7. Be interesting to see if that line is left together for a few games how it plays out against Blues and beyond, coincidence or a trend. If Dachs fo numbers became respectable and he can contribute consistently, change alot of opinions on him pretty quick.
Hawks 29 – I get your point but who plays centre with Strome gone and Dach and Reichel on the wing?
I think Dach and Reichel both play centre unless Strome and Toews are still here – then somebody plays wing – probably Reichel
trade DACH plan and simple.
the kid does not have the “it” factor. After Makar juked DACH out of his jockstrap in OT you can see his play gone south, knowing he isn’t good. Confidence down the drain.
HE HAD HIS CHANCES TO SHOW WHAT HE IS ABOUT WHEN JT WAS DOWN LAST YEAR AND NOW!
SAYING HE IS 21 YRS OLD IS JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE. KANE AND TOWES WERE 18-19 YRS OLD
he is injury prone just like MR. Glass Havlet.
he doesn’t have the mind like JT, Bolland, Madden, or JR
he plays like Mark Bell or Tyler Arnason
IF ANYTHING, THE NEW GM SHOULD TRADE DOWN IN THE DRAFT TO COMPILE MORE PICKS.
HAWKS29, Wrap, lots of water under the bridge before next season but I expect down the middle Dach shows a big improvement in his overall game the 2nd half of this season, him, Hagel and Cat form a strong line. Strome likely gets moved, if not at tdl then in off season. Toews will be back and Reichel who has been playing C in Rfd. will continue to get time there, starting on a 3rd type of line as middle 6. As time goes on Reichel moves to a line with Kane and Toews moves a matchup line where he has less on his plate. Obviously what 19 and 88 see in their future a big part of that as well.
Ian – That’s likely the plan from Hawks POV but what if Toews is thinking retirement then the math changes and Strome may not be traded
REALLY
marchand appeals for the 2 cheap shots against Goalie…hope he will get 10 games instead of 6 . What an asshole.
Hope Bruins will loose all the games he doesn’t play. One lost 5 more would be nice ..a good player with a shitty attitude .. 10 games please
Could be Wrap, thing about Strome is, to me he is somewhere between a specialist and a top 6 forward. Doesn’t have enough all around skills to be a regular top 6 force as a player but has enough limited skilks to still be considered an interesting prospect.
Personally I think Strome is a top six forward with lots of skills. If his intensity matches his skills, which it has lately, he can play top six with the Hawks or elsewhere. His skating has been an issue (and 200 ft. game), but with the effort we’ve seen it’s good enough, the other hockey skills are pretty good, to above average and the reason he was a top 3 pick.
I’m optimistic.
Kane publicly supporting Strome is an interest twist especially since the players in Hawks seem lately to be given more input