Blackhawks Third Period Implosion Leads To OT Loss In Vegas
Saturday afternoon the Blackhawks wandered into Las Vegas looking to complete a perfect road trip against a Golden Knights team that simply couldn’t afford to lose a game to a bad team.
Kevin Lankinen was back between the pipes for the ever-popular noon local start in Sin City. He looked pretty good to start the afternoon, and his teammates were able to get on the board first. Dominik Kubalik scored his first goal in seemingly forever to get the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead.
Kubalik had scored once in his previous 21 games and was a healthy scratch against the Kings. It would have been nice if he could have gone on a heater before the trade deadline so someone maybe could have been suckered into giving the Blackhawks literally anything for him… but that didn’t happen. So he — and Erik Gustafsson — are still here.
Both teams put nine shots on net in the first period, but only one went in.
It took almost 15 minutes into the second period for someone to score. Jonathan Toews took away a clearing attempt and swung it around the zone to Alex DeBrincat. Nobody wanted to cover Toews apparently, because he had an easy route to the front of the net where DeBrincat found him for an easy tip-in goal.
Three minutes later, Dylan Strome found a juicy rebound and made it 3-0 Hawks.
The Blackhawks out-shot the Golden Knights 14-8 in the second period and took a three-goal lead to the third period. Toews had two points on Chicago’s three goals and Lankinen was on point.
But… we aren’t allowed to have nice things as Blackhawks fans. And desperate teams have found a way to beat these Blackhawks far too often this season. When interviewed between periods on the ABC broadcast, Toews noted that there have been too many times this season that the Hawks have looked good only to take their foot off the gas.
Well, they slammed on the breaks after two periods and Vegas saw the door wide open.
In a matter of three minutes and 16 seconds, the Blackhawks’ three-goal lead was completely gone. Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson and Jack Eichel scored in quick order and Chicago’s lead evaporated. Lankinen was stunned and the skaters in front of him were enjoying the view instead of playing the puck.
The Hawks didn’t fold after the collapse, though. DeBrincat gave the Hawks a 4-3 lead at 8:53 into the third.
This lead lasted only 47 seconds until Alex Pietrangelo tied the game at four.
After the Blackhawks out-shot Vegas 14-8 in the second period, the Golden Knights returned the same totals in the third and the two teams headed to overtime tied at four goals. Toews won nine of 19 faceoffs and Strome won eight of 15 at the dot in regulation. Lankinen was under fire the entire third period and tried his best to keep the Hawks in the game but allowing a three-goal lead to disappear that quickly is, frankly, pathetic. Even against a better team that’s desperate.
Two minutes into overtime, Strome made a nice play to steal a pass that was above his knee and set up Kubalik for a great look but… he whiffed. Because that’s what Kubalik does. And 70 seconds later, the guy who was traded and then untraded by the Golden Knights earlier this week — Evgenii Dadonov — scored the game-winning goal.
Is this a disheartening loss? Only if you care. The Blackhawks looked great for 40 minutes. And then they reminded us why they were sellers at the deadline and will be watching the playoffs from home like the rest of us for 23 minutes.
One final note this weekend. Fans who have attended a Hawks game at the United Center have heard the song below and plenty of other Foo Fighters songs in the rotation at the UC over the years. Their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, sadly passed away at some point Friday night/Saturday morning. He was a wonderful musician. RIP.
Going into 3rd everyone should be playing a Trap or A Left wing lock ! The forwards have to start playing D ! These are pros that should know ! Disgusting ! It’s no wonder why they’re not going to be in the second season ! Toews should leave now and go to Hometown Winnipeg ! This game was broadcast all through the 5 time zones in Canada for all the Hawks fans and I know what they are saying ! POPS 4
If they’re not going to play Vlasic, then send him down to Rockford and let him play. Total nonsense. For Gus?? Really?? 29 minutes for S. Jones?? By the time the “rebuild” is complete, he’ll be shot.
Lankinen wasn’t given much help in the third but the OT goal was on him – he overplayed the Vegas player going behind the net then lost his stick trying to get back to stop a possible wraparound and was stickless trying to stop the OT winner – I think it went 5 hole where his stick would have been
Also he should have had the Stephenson goal that started the comeback
Having said that though the Hawks simply cannot close out games – they do not have a clue how to do that – too bad because their first two periods were some of the best hockey they played all year
We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out but Lank did not do himself any favours today
liking raddysh more every game. competes defensively. maybe strome, de brincat, and kane should watch some of his video.
Yep. What else is there to say about this loss. But, I will try to address a few things that stood out. Tab took my FO thunder except for one player. Kirby Dach. Yep. Good ol’ Kirby has been back at center. Tonight, he was 0-4. A sparkling ZERO% at faceoffs. His stat line was equally unimpressive. 2 SOG, 1 HIT, 3 BLKS and -2. His linemates you ask? Borgstrom 1 HIT, 2 BLKS, -2 and a 20% FO. So, in a limited role, he was better than good ol’ Kirby. Lafferty, who HC King is trying to turn into a poor mans’ Hagel, had 5 HITS, 1 GVA, 1 TKA, and yes…-2. That 3rd line sucked!!! I think, I am getting closer and closer to thinking that Kirby Dach is a freakin’ bust. No passion, no grit, no….nothing. If his confidence is gone, then get someone in to work with him. This offseason will be make or break and he either dedicates himself to being a difference maker or just a bag of pucks worth of trade bait.
What is HC King’s deal with Entwistle? Yes, the kid took a minor penalty. Apparently, if Entwistle doesn’t play perfect hockey he gets the least amount of TOI with an anemic 6:54. What in the ever loving…well…you know.
Apparently, Kubalik and Kurashev are cut from the same cloth. They’re either good or they’re not. Sit them for a game and they come back strong. Then…back to the same old same old.
Why not move Katchouk up to the 3rd line, with Entwistle? That would give the 3rd line some size. I think Katchouk has earned it. Drop Lafferty back to the 4th line, with R. Johnson and bring up M. Hardman from Rockford. The kid has been doing very well with the minor league club.
Defensively, why is Gustafsson getting any TOI? Why? The team has Vlasic sitting there just doing nothing. That’s pathetic. Let the kid get out there and get some TOI. Ya know why? HC King. King is a nice guy. But, he is not a NHL HC.
One positive. Raddysh. I like the kids game more and more. The discipline play that he and Katchouk play shows that it’s not all on the players. Davidson will have his work cut out for himself. The right coach will make all the difference.
@hawks29
Gimme a break. Raddysh did nothing today and the Strome line was unbelievable. Don’t put this on them
We are seeing why TB gave up Katchouk…he had 4th line written all over him.
McCabe just plain sucks and we have to watch him for three more years
Do you think maybe a damn timeout was needed before giving up the 3 goal lead. King is not the answer at Coach, he’s just another Colliton!! This game really pissed me off, should’ve had a win.
Emily’s Dad: I think he did call a timeout after the 2nd goal. Hard to tell with all the commercials.
5 out of 6 points on west coast trip, when we all expecting them to crash and burn, pretty impressive. Yeah VGK are still one of the top teams in th west, fighting a rough season for a playoff spot. Blackhawks playing for pride letup and it cost them a point, so what.
Kane’s line 2g 3a +2 12 sh 3hits. Toews line 2g 3a +5, 12 sh 8 hits pretty impressive. Toews 9g 10a in last 30 games after his horrible start impressed by that too. Raddysh and Katchouk are under contract for 2 years, we’ll get a real chance to see what they can do. Gonba have to take the bad with the good for quite awhile.
Toees line 1a not 3
Agree on a lot of the above.
Kane and deBrincat on a 2-on-1 in overtime. You would think it’s game over. Instead pass bounces over Cats stick when Kane had a clear path to the net.
No idea why Borgstrom is in the NHL.
Even if Vlasic only got 2 or 3 shifts per period, it would be advantageous for him to see the pace of desperation playoff type hockey which the 3rd period was.
A bit disappointed in Kuotchuk today. Puck kept hopping over his stick. He did not look ready for his limited shifts.
Raddysh has great hands. He will be a player.
King is an AHL Coach at best. The beat writers love him because he has decided to be their buddy. Weak on so many levels.
Hawks get 5 pts on the road and compete every game .for me it’s almost perfect against 3 teams that are stronger then the Hawks
Raddish his getting time on the ice since the trade and he will be a part off the Hawks future I think .
DCat is sooo dangerous and fast like a cat . Will he get 50 goals this year ? ?
chuckie83
not putting raddysh in the hof quite yet. i will say we might see more of what you apparently are looking for from raddysh if he was skating with de brincat and strome or kane and strome rather than 3c toews and the disappearing act that is kubalik.
my point, as i stated, is that raddysh competes defensively. if you are defending the defensive play of any member of the strome line, well, ….. you are entitled to your opinion.
the unbelievable play of the strome line you referred to today netted five points between them, but only plus 2. and one of those points and plusses went to de brincat for his assist on toews’ goal so four points and plus one playing together. and guess who was on the ice for the hawks on the vegas game winning goal.
why are they playing gus time to see which kids can play decision time dump kub dack should be sent to rockford and learn how to use his size if davidson gives him 2 million for 3 years hes nuts time to get tough with kirby make him sit out the year and get on his case if not trade his sorry butt
Glad to see Strome getting OT time finally and he almost set up the winner to Kub
He’s gotta be resigned I think
This team just can’t hold a lead, even a three goal lead. “Dishearting”?… That’s about right.
Is anyone surprised at 32’s performance today vs Vegas?
He has one good game the other day (the first one in over a month) and everyone thinks he is Ken Dryden.
Then he returns to the guy Bowman saw, and scrambled to get MAF to save his job, which, gratefully, failed.
So now the new GM is back to where Bowman was…..needing a goalie……32 ain’t it.
He lived up to his nickname: 4-goal Lankinen.
perimeter
they are deficient in every phase of the game. this rebuild will be a marathon, not a sprint.
Perimeter, Lankinen isn’t the only egg in the basket, he just happens to be the one ready to hatch right now. If he turns out to be rotten, have try one of the others when they are ready to hatch. Maybe need to buy some hatched ones that are ok until that time comes.
@Hawks 2010- 50 for Debrincat? Nah. Only 16 games left and he sits at 37 right now. I’d imagine he’ll finish with around 43-47. I’ll say this though, any time the Hawks have a 1 or 2 goal lead and the other team pulls their goalie, the other guys are gonna be feeding him to get him as many as possible.
Agree with everyone asking why the hell Gus is even playing now. There’s just no reason for it. Did they bring in Vlassic just to watch from the press box and play once a week?
This was a tough one. Even the we say we don’t care, we do, because otherwise this wouldn’t feel so bad. We need to see what Lankinen has the rest of the way. It is beginning to seem as though it isn’t good enough.
As one who felt that Strome deserved every minute of the press box time he got under Colliton and King, he is now making it impossible not to re-sign him. That is not without risk, but what is? He may relapse back to his poor habits of the past. His line mates play in to his success, but he is much more aggressive on loose pucks and you do see him back checking. There may be a team out there that is willing to overpay based on what we are seeing now, so losing him to free agency is a risk. Do the Hawks dare extend him now? You’ve probably got to wait a few more weeks. If you extend him, he can always be traded, although how much he gets paid plays in to that.
Playing Seth Jones 27 minutes is stupid. Not as stupid as playing him 29 the other night.
DeBrincat is in great position over and over again and has great chances. The percentage of grade A chances that he is converting has to be down the past couple weeks below his normal, whatever his normal is. At least according to the eye test.
When people gripe about what happens in OT, it’s not valid. OT isn’t legitimate for measuring anything, although it is much better than the SO and is superbly entertaining.
The play by play on ABC was good. They should have McDonough do the ESPN games too so we aren’t subjected to Thursday’s brutality again. I’ve had to hear the Thursday announcer 3 times and was wondering the first time if I was just being unfair. If I was unfair the first time I still am because it was painful on Thursday. Don’t the bosses at ESPN hear the same thing the rest of us hear?
Sorry but this wasn’t a tough loss. This was a deserved loss. This team is a disorganized mess with no structure or layers to their play at all. When the pressure ratchets up they play l8ke strangers in a rat hockey game. Interim King is the horrifying ring leader of this mess and may be the worst head coach in the league. Dach,Borgstrom,and Gus should not see ice for a few games. Pathetic
If the Hawks want a decent shot at Bedard in 2023 then a good strategy is to trade Kane over the summer (if you can get his agreement) and resign Lank and Delia
Just to be sure they could also resign Gus on a year contract and play him 20 minutes a night
That should do it
I’ve been on board as far as trading Kane goes for the past couple of years. I realize how long of a rebuild we have ahead of us and trading him would seriously help Jumpstart that, particularly to the right team with the right return. Lately though, I’m beginning to think differently. This dude is 33 and currently on a 97 point pace. That’s honestly ridiculous. Im sure they’ll be some regression over thr next 2-3 years, but if he stays with the Hawks 4 more seasons and remains healthy, he’s going to become the Blackhawks all time leader in points. He’ll also score his 500th goal wearing the Indian Head. That could very well be worth more than a couple of low first round picks. Hopefully Davidson feels Kane out this summer and they can work out an extension. He’s got one more year left at $10.5 million. Maybe something in the neighborhood of an additional 3 years at $8-9 million per would be enticing enough to get Kane stay. I wouldn’t attempt to bring Toews back at all unless it was for $2-3 million per for a couple years. With his health issues and big time regression in play, he’s pretty much relegated to 3rd or 4th line checking minutes these days, which is a shame. Several years I would’ve preferred Toews longterm, but not anymore. I think it’s imperative Kane finish out hid career in Chicago. He’s still one of the most productive and dynamic wingers in the game, and has shown no signs of slowing down. He might not score 30+ goals anymore, and he’s not a great two-way player, but his play making abilities are still world class. Hossa was my favorite player in the NHL even before he became a Hawk. When we signed him, I about wet myself. Back around 2015 or so, my oldest son said to me one day, “you’re gonna cry when Hossa retires, aren’t you.” I replied, “you’re damn right I am.” Anyome think it’s a coincidence the downfall of this organization started with his abrupt departure? Sure, irs hardly the ONLY reason, but they lost a key element and cornerstone to the organization. I could live with guys like Sharp, Crawford, Seabrook, Keith and even eventually Toews leaving. Not so certain I could get used to this team workout Kane while he’s still performing at such a high level. The return would have to blow me away.
Since New GM’s acquisitions — I find the Hawks much more enjoyable to watch.
Raddysh + Katch + Lafferty– giving Hawks better team speed/size
Raddysh – instantly provides team w another player besides 12/88 that can actually “SNIPE”- has high quality release/accuracy- to get puck to/thru/around D….
Hawks- desperately missing the above mentioned quality from Blue line as is.
Regarding Goalies– Hawks have plenty of Young assets coming– same on Blue line– kid At Minn NCAA might be the slickest… + Del Mastro / Crevier/ Rockford– Help is coming from there too
After very small sample size of recent GM moves… I am starting to think w/ little help in scouting Next 3 drafts…. Hawks can actually be ready to compete for PO’s as soon as 2024/25.
Biggest Recent blunder– Bowman’s giving up Sillinger pick for $ Jones… Kid is C w/ good shot and solid… $ Jones will NOT be big part of Hawks “rebuild/ PO run in 3-4 years”… sorry
Okie- great post
I 2nd your thoughts on both Toews… Unless he gives Sweetheart deal… let him go
and Hossa– was a Beast– PERIOD… if he skated today- guy still puts up 50 points and plays smarter harder than half the team… NO DOUBT
Agree with ROBS. We say we don’t care but must because it hurts to see a win slip away.
Have no idea why we play Gus. Wrap has the good idea of signing him for next year to secure Bedard. Use next year as boot camp for Lanks, Soder, Comesso, Masse or any other future goal keep we have in mind.
Don’t think because Raddysh wasn’t on the score sheet he did nothing. His compete level is always good. If we had a coach that knew how to use people Katch would be impressive also.
I would like to see what coach everyone is thinking about for next year. Tocchet comes to mind but not sure how he is with youth. Tippett? Wait and see who gets let go after the season. Trotz could fall in that category.
Excited to see how the Wild and Oil pan out. Hope Dunks and Flower reach their conditions to upgrade our picks and we have two years of nice picks. We can even wrap up a couple of them or Kurashev with a pick and move up a notch if need be.
Looking forward to reading your guys and Stef’s coaching choices.
Vlasic is getting the Beaudin treatment. Dresses for a game and gets 1 or 2 shifts. Likely sent down in a few days. What’s the point of that? Like it’s Ray Borque or Nicklaus Lidstrom on the roster and in their way. Like McCabe Or Gus should prohibit their development? You have a chance to play your young D and they stick with the turnstiles who have no long term existence.
1st 40 minutes were pretty impressive. The implosion began with the first goal where Lankinen was way off his line. He’s had a tough year but after that goal he was a mess.
The Borgstrom experiment is over. He does nothing well. On the other hand Reese Johnson has been noticeable (in a good way) since his return. Vlasic will get some home games where King can manage matchups better. Based on the small amount he has played he will need to be in Rockford next year. It will be interesting to see if Kaiser signs now that UMD is done. He will be an NHL player at some point. I believe Strome will be signed to a two year deal. I was long an advocate for trading him for anything but he has really improved his game. I also saw that the analytics guy J. Fresh recently commented that he didn’t understand all the negativity on Strome as his underlying numbers are pretty solid.
JR my choice head coach is same as i said before, Bolts asst. Zettler, hopefully waiting for season to finish to announce him.
Watched CLG vs EDM last night – the Oil are going nowhere – they didn’t address the D or the goalie situation and it showed big time last night – Koskinen and Smith took turns at being dreadful although the Oilers gave up one chance after another
The Keith Bouchard pairing got abused all night long – the whole EDM team unless on the PP is painful to watch
Very impressed with Lafferty, he’s three times the player than Nylander. The guy hustle’s and works every time he’s out there. Hawks definitely won that trade.
Okie and Trip great posts! I have the same conflict with Kane. The draft picks would be great but watching him become the franchise leader would be more interesting. I also agree with trio. We are burning a year of Vlasic elc, wtf is he not playing? Sit Gus for Christ’s sake. He is not part of the future.
Expect Jalen Luypen to be signed to an elc this spring/summer. Drafted last year as an overager he turns 20 in June and can play in Rfd. Listed as C or wing at 5’10” and 157 lbs., needs to bulk up but Blackhawks told him to watch Hagel play and they want him to be that kind of player. Had a breakout year this season in Edmonton of Whl, 28g and 35a in 59 games. Could be somebody to watch a late pick 7th round not unlike Hagel.
Ian– Regarding Jalen Luypen- besides having tons talent/IQ– He is excellent at Faceoffs
Some of these games are hard to watch ,remembering the team a decade ago ! On HNIC sometimes you hear a comment from a player what it was like going into the U.C. during those times ! The club, the horn, the roar ,the song ! Even the comments from other clubs good players ,where they knew they were going to get shellacked !
We’ll fans , this is the reality now as this is what happens in sports ! The Hawks are just awful now and I won’t be making the 500 mile Drive to see my beloved Hawks ! The balcony will have a few scattered fans and there will be boo birds around and in the Third it will empty out on to Madison with a lot of negative comments ! This will all be for a Twenty ! Again and Again ! POPS 4
Bluto, Luypen plays mostly lw so his fo numbers could be misleading if not going against the other teams best. Quality of fo takers in juniors can get watered down pretty fast, but hopefully that is a strength of his.
Ian
Jalen looks like a Interesting young player .the kid is often in the penalty box and still manage to have good numbers and so far this year he is at plus40 with 70minutes in the box.
The kid will turn 20 in 3 months he doesn’t look fragile but asking myself iff Rockford the good place for him . Wondering iff he is really at 157 pounds like he was 1 year ago or iff he add some weight since .
I am going to try to find more info about this kid.
2010 this his 4th year in Whl, his junior eligibility is up, a couple of overagers are allowed but not usually a players an Nhl team can sign and play in minors. Add 10 lbs and he is basically same size as Hagel, i guess a year in Europe could be another option as he doesn’t need to sign his elc until next June to retain his rights.
Ian– 528 wins out of 981… Read- he specifically is called on for FO wins in tough situations
16 draws per game… seems pretty high for a LW player… don’t ya think?
Bluto Whl does that alot, R. Johnson was top fo guy in that league for 2 years but Hagel was actually the C and R. Johnson his right winger. When the top fo guys in Whl are talked about they mention Kastelic 854 wins, often tops 30 draws a game, 61.5%, Wouters 818 wins and Gricus 813 wins. Luypens nos are good but still well off top Chl pace, i didn’t mention them because it is hard to judge, Kurashev had very good fo nos in Q league too, but didn’t translate to Nhl yet. Like I said i hope he is the real deal there.