Blackhawks Waste Fleury Brilliance, Lose in OT
Some nights you sit back and watch Marc-André Fleury do his job and forget how terrible this Blackhawks team has been around him.
Tuesday was one of those nights.
In the first period, the Bruins out-shot the Hawks 14-4. Chicago had eight shot attempts. And the Hawks were credited with one blocked shot in the opening 20 minutes — by Patrick Kane (of course).
Both teams had a power play in the first; neither scored. Thanks to Fleury, the game was tied at zero heading to the second.
The second period saw the Bruins out-shoot the Blackhawks 20-7. Chicago was credited with 11 shots on net in 40 minutes, a total that didn’t match either period for Boston. The Hawks blocked six shots in the second — two each from Calvin de Haan and Jake McCabe and one each from Kane and Philipp Kurashev.
But, through two periods, Fleury had stopped all 34 shots he faced. He earned every bit of multiple standing ovations. And while the offense was nowhere to be found in front of him, he continued to give his team — the Blackhawks — a chance to win the game.
It took 40 shots and 44 minutes, 43 seconds for the Bruins to finally get on the board. Patrice Bergeron showed off the hands that will make him a Hall of Famer sometime in the future with a tricky tip-in goal in traffic to end Fleury’s ridiculous shutout bid.
Meanwhile, the Hawks continued to be frustrating offensively. It appeared Alex DeBrincat had a great look while the game was still tied at zero but tried to pass the puck instead of putting it on net; the team’s leading scorer has to shoot there, but he didn’t.
With 10:24 left in regulation, Caleb Jones unloaded a shot from the point and Brandon Hagel, who was in the right spot — in front of the net — got a piece of it. And the game was tied.
The goal extends Hagel’s personal point streak to five games.
With 4:45 left in regulation it appeared the Bruins scored through more traffic in front of Fleury but the officials immediately wiped the goal off the board. It appeared the official saw goaltender interference on the play… but replay showed it might have been Riley Stillman who made contact with Fleury. Boston challenged the ruling on the ice, a risky move if they were wrong because it would give the Hawks a power play in a tie game with less than five minutes left.
While it appeared the contact didn’t come from a Boston skater… the review upheld the call on the ice. And Chicago got an advantage, their third of the night; the Blackhawks had only one shot on their two previous power plays, however.
The Hawks flipped Kane and DeBrincat to opposite sides of the ice for the start of the advantage and got some good puck movement but no scores before making a change after about 75 seconds of the power play. The second unit failed to get anything going and the power play expired with the score still tied at one.
At the end of regulation, Fleury had faced 46 shots and allowed just one goal. He was brilliant. The offense was not; Chicago was credited with nine in the third for a 60-minute total of 20 shots on net. But with the one goal from Hagel, the Hawks picked up at least one point in the standings and we headed to overtime.
Sadly, the turnovers that plagued the offense all night cost the Hawks in overtime. Matt Grzelcyk received a pretty pass from Taylor Hall and put home the game-winner at 1:40 into OT.
If you didn’t notice Dominik Kubalik much, it’s because he rarely skated. He was on the ice for 11 shifts and 8:46 in regulation and was credited with one shot on net and one hit. Sources have told me that Kubalik may have played his final game for the Blackhawks on Tuesday night… a deal may be coming soon.
Nick Foligno played his 1,000th career regular season game for Boston.
I watched in Canada as it was on coast to coast across 5 time zones ! Fleury is fantastic ,HOF bound ! Too bad he didn’t win ! Now comes the rebuild so we will see what stupid moves are made ! There are players that want to go for sure ! Now we will have another decade of 10 buck tickets ,boo birds and fans that come that don’t know the rules and just want to see a few dances ! Best, Pops 4
1point for MAF, domination by the Bruins about all you can say. Smiths skate made contact with Fleurys right pad/skate and caused him to lose an edge, then he was unable to get set on the no goal. Think a change be good for Kubalik, hope its a decent return for him. King said earlier today he never had a chance to get a good look at Borgstrom. That he needed to trust him and play him, Borgstrom had to trust King as well. Borgstrom 7 shifts 5:34 ice time, how does a player trust that.
Great game Flower
The Hawks tried to pass the puck tonight as though they were the only team out there – so many times there was just no awareness of where a Bruin was or where they were going and the result was endless turnovers
Borgstrom and Kurashev need to earn ice time not have it granted to them – every time they were out there they got snowed under by the Bruins – no complaints with their TOI
Hall was Cat’s man in OT – he went for the steal on Pasta no dice game over – gotta be smarter than that
Best Hawk all night not named MAF – Seth Jones by a lot although his brother was pretty good too
Another team that the Hawks have no business being on the ice against. They were manhandled and thoroughly outworked by a physically superior team that is yes bigger and in better condition. The top line was eliminated and pushed to the outside. Hawks had 2 days off at home and proceed to get outshot 26 to 6 half way through the game. Amazing.
Hagel again help us get 1 pt.
MAF was great again .and that’s is job to block the puck.
Not having Murphy tonight was a reason why MAF was so busy.
Who will be trade ?
MAF .?
DeHaan ?
Gustafson ?
?
Kubalik,Kurashev,Borgstrom,DeHaan,and Strome should not be on this team in September. I have never seen a team with more optional skates than this team has. More active,physical,fast twitch players are needed in this organization very badly. Soft,Softer,Softest describes this team.
Fleury was excellent. No clue why he would want to stay here. Hawks will sit on their thumbs right up to the deadline, make a minor trade or even 2 and everybody pats KD on the back for the great job. I’m beating the Hawks onto the golf course tomorrow, getting the early start.
Vegas on cruise control for missing playoffs. Had their manglement not been total dumbasses and treated Fleury with some respect over the summer – he could swoop into Vegas and be the man he wanted to be there. Instead – he goes nowhere. Colorado can’t make room and the only team east for his liking is Pitt.
Get a 5th, maybe a 4th for Kubalik.
We get a 2nd for deHaan if we sweeten somehow – a pick or a player.
We get a 5th for Carpenter.
We get a 3rd for Strome unless we sweeten.
Brutal.
If by some freak chance Fleury goes somewhere – I just don’t see a 1st coming back without a serious sweetener. Teams don’t like to trade firsts for goalies at TDL.
Wrap wasn’t just a couple of players who got snowed under tonight, it was the whole team. The top 9 forwards is what needs blown up on this team, they just don’t matchup with good teams. Help is coming for defense.
Hawks who looked like they belonged on NHL ice, winning battles, making smart plays, and skating hard: Jones, Jones, Hagel, Entwistle, and can’t believe I’m saying this, but McCabe
Eddie and Pat were laying the $ Jones praise on so thick that I didn’t want to buy it, but … sold
The Blackhawks were just manhandled tonight. Borgstrom had one bad play, in the 1st Period, and HC King didn’t let him forget it. That’s unreasonable. Honestly. How can you play when you’re afraid to do anything? I don’t know if Borgstrom can play at the NHL level. I’ve said before, at one point he was the 1C and gave Strome a real run for his money. Strome stepped up his game and, as a result, Borgstrom was nowhere to be found after that, with any real consistency. Either he goes or HC King goes. Probably both.
Dach, was noticeable. He was not bad. He wasn’t dominant, but he wasn’t bad. Toews was quiet for the first 40 minutes. His faceoff numbers were better in the 3rd Period. Boston is a fantastic faceoff team. So, the numbers, being what they were, 52 to 48%, for Boston, wasn’t too bad for the Blackhawks.
Defensively, it wasn’t as horrible as the offense, or lack thereof, was. One thing that stood out was Gustafsson’s TOI. He was low man by far. This is trade week. So, we’re going to see him out there. Especially with Murphy recovering from injury. It just puts more pressure on the other 5 guys when Gus isn’t given similar minutes as the rest of the defense.
This was a measuring stick game, for this team. They were woeful. I have been on the Acquire McBain bandwagon and there are some young players out there that could make this team more interesting, if not more youthful. We’ll see.
I didn’t bring up MAF because I really don’t have to. He was MAGNIFICENT. Yes, he deserved better. He deserves better. Does he really want to stay here? Is he at a point, in his career, where moving, yet again, is not in his interest? Maybe thinking about his family? I have a hard time believing that, given the chance to backstop a team to another Stanley Cup, he wouldn’t want that. But, anything is possible. I want what’s best for him, as he has earned that, but, as a fan, who sees this team without a ’22 1st Rd Draft Pick, I gotta be honest, I am looking at the future for this team. I guess we’ll see soon enough.
Interesting that Derek King is quoted after the game as saying he would be surprised if Fleury was still here after the deadline. He would likely have more insight/knowledge than many of the “speculators” on TV and hockey trade websites.
Hammer– agree WHY in the hell would MAF want to play for this team right now???
Only makes sense IF- he enjoys being the Center of the team/attention and or he really wants NO pressure of winning. Honestly- I can see a veteran at end of career – accepting those things at some point… but he has to realize their is still some gas left in his tank.
So I conclude- this is all fake news0 and he gets traded…
I hope SOMEONE(s) get traded!!! Insanity- playing with same players and Coaches and expecting different results.
Hard to believe we have 2 new GM’s in town, both say we’re rebuilding and its the Bears who are making things happen. The Hawks once again seem irrelevant. 70 degrees today. Time for some fresh air.
There were times when I thought DeHann was playing for the Bruins. He made great passes on the tape to Bruins players and if not for MAF the game would’ve been over then.
With Fluery’s display last night some teams will be calling with offers.
Hello KD, this is Joe Sakic. Two things I’m calling about. One is we will make a deal for MAF. Second is if you follow my blue print people will love you in Chicago.
Let me make one phone call and I’ll get back to you in about five minutes. Thanks.
Hello Marc Andre Joe Sakic. Tremendous job last night. You do not need to work that hard over here night in and night out to get a W instead of a loss. The Hall of Fame is a great place to be and you will be in it. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in it with three or four more Stanley Cups!? I say come over and I will sign you to a 3 year 5 to 6 mil contract after we win The Cup. Then we win 3 more in a row to match the Islanders.
Denver is a beautiful place to live! Ball travels on the golf course. You can go relax with a good smoke. wink wink. Heck we can go watch Russell Wilson play in the off season. He even decided Denver is a great place to play. Thanks for the time, see you soon.
Hello KD Joe again. I’m going to get Chicago on your side right away cuz that’s the kind of guy I am.
I’m gonna give you Kuemper and Byram with a #1 in ’23. I will take in return MAF Mitchell Beaudin and Tampa’s #2 in ’23. This way it looks like I’m getting something more than just MAF for Byram. Plus this will help you shut up some of those people on that Committed Indian blog that are still crying about Stan taking Dach instead of Byram. Geez. Thanks and you are also welcomed for the move. By now. OH WAIT! Almost forgot. You are also hanging on to 3.5mil of Fluery’s 7mil. Thanks
JR – entertaining post but I don’t think COL is gonna give up all that for MAF
WSH actually makes most sense to me but it as been reported that he won’t go to WSH – not sure why except that they could easily end up playing PIT in playoffs – if that’s the reason seems pretty weak to me
Ian – agreed that the whole team was getting snowed under but Kurashev particularly hasn’t shown well in recent games (not just last night) – he needs to go back down to RKF for a while – Slavin would give you more
Borgstrom hasn’t really stepped up at any time during the season -and he keeps making lazy passes that turn into good opportunities for the opposition although I would give him more of a chance at 3C over Kurashev
Kub will be better on another team because he’ll have better linemates
Assuming 8 and 22 are traded and that 23 and 13 are on the bubble for next year that is at least 4 open forward spots – Reichel and likely TJ take 2 of them
At least 2 new young fast forwards with some upside on this team next year to fill those spots would be a step in the right direction for KD and the Hawks
I’m sorry but I don’t see the not wanting to play the Penguins in the playoffs as weak at all. For him going to the Capitals would be really hard, maybe impossible, even if he didn’t face the Penguins.
(ok try this for a minute-you wake up and learn in the new world you can’t cheer for the Hawks, it will be the St. Louis Blues, no other options. I’d try another sport)
Wtap i’m not advocating that either Borgstrom or Kurashev are part of the future. I always believed trying to develop young players, the idea is to live with their mistakes and try to make them learn from them, not punish them, or embarass them for making one, what do you expect if your destroying their confidence. Kings doing same thing Colliton did to Strome with different players the way it looks to me.
@MAF – Just wow! If we had Lankinen in goal last night we would have lost 4-1, and that is if Lank’s stood on his head.
@DeHaan – Please be gone – you suck!
@King – Still the Clown Jester
@Borgstrom – You need a coach and an organization that believes in you, and this ain’t it chief!
One a positive note, Reichel scored his 17th and 18th goals, including the game winner in overtime for the Hogs last night.
https://mobile.twitter.com/TheAHL/status/1503910027463114752
Craig saw that remark by King on MAF, had the same thought.
TimW, good chance those guys could be gone. Borgstrom and Kutashev can be brought back cheap but not much point if it’s just more of this season again. Strome may be kept around to play between 12 and 88 to make them happy through this process. Although it’s obvious against the better teams this line doesn’t cut it. A big 2 way center is needed there. Winning teams rosters are built to beat other teams, a line with Debrincat as your only forward playing defense doesn’t do it. If your top line is playing to score more goals than are scored on them, then your trying to beat yourself and dead in the water. Maybe if Dach can be a solid shutdown C, a Tavares type signing or trade could be a final piece there if unable to draft one.
In the same token not wanting to go to Washington because you might play Pittsburgh. Wouldn’t want to go to Colorado to have the opportunity to play against Vegas ?
Noonan – Fleury seems a bit overly sentimental about organizations and that didn’t work out in so well in Vegas
So I understand not wanting to go to Vegas but not wanting to play PIT in playoffs – why? He’d rather play out the string in CHI than go to a potential Cup winner in WSH where he’d be the guy just because he has friends on the Penguins or that he won 2 Cups in PIT? Players have friends on all teams nowadays and win Cups on different teams – sorry but I don’t get it
WSH with MAF would be legit contenders – what happened to Fleury’s intense competitiveness?
Craig, I would hope that King is not being kept in the know about the Hawks future at all except for letting him know that he will have nothing at all to do with it. Really irresponsible of him to make a comment like that about Fleury or any other player at deadline time or any other time. Milbury was right on the money about him.
Ian – I hear ya but Strome had a least proven he be a point producer before JC started messing with him
Kurashev and Borgstrom have proven nothing yet – I think the responsibility lies with them to show something
Perhaps after TDL they’ll get a longer leash
Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean he doesn’t. And sorry I don’t see Washington being legit, with or without Fleury.
It’s a moot point as I think they would be on the no-trade list.
TimW – I had the exact same thought when I heard DK’s comment about MAF. Totally irresponsible to be a head coach and to say that about one of your players. I don’t care how much speculation is out there, it’s just plain stupid to say that at the TDL.
And during one of his post game pressers recently while praising Kane he said something to the effect that he hopes he’s here to see more of PK’s milestones. I hope he’s not. Get us a real NHL coach for the rebuild, please. This is beyond ridiculous.
Wrap sorry Strome is a proven point producer when playing with 12 and 88 out of a playoff race and not having to play defense. That we saw his first year with Blackhawks. Now happening again this year during a stretch of the schedule when not playing top teams on a regular basis. No coincidence the Blackhawks toughest stretch on their schedule was December- January and their scoring is found in February- March.
Fair point about Strome Ian but 23 and 13 haven’t even shown well vs the middling to bad teams never mind the good ones
Panthers send Vatrano to NYR for a 4th rnder, clearing cap space. Looks like their getting ready to acquire for Giroux from the Flyers.
Wrap agree but hard to show much sitting on the bench 95% of the game.
Ian – maybe one thing we can agree on is that the new coach may get more out of all these players if he’s a good NHL coach – a big if though!
Ian,
Regarding Strome, it has always been my position that he is a 2C. Toews, at this stage, is a 3C. That leaves the 1C. It’s not Borgstrom, nor is it Kurashev. They may not even be here. Borgstrom is a guy that needs a coach that will help to develop him. Dach doesn’t seem to have the drive to be a 1C, much lessa C at all. He may be better off at RW. Perhaps his brother is the Center of the family. I’m still on the acquire the rights to Jack McBain from Minnesota bandwagon. A 2nd Rd Pick would be the asking price. A big, two way center, who is 22 y/o, and can step in. Is he a 1C? I don’t know. But, the organ-I-zation has no means, outside of MAF for obtaining a 1C. Even there, the team has to fill SO MANY holes. I don’t envy Davidson at all. Jack McBain. Let’s start there.
Wrap lets hope thats the case. I was just going by Kings own words to reporters that he wasn’ t playing Borgstrom who he was asked about enough to know what he could really do. He said that was on himself and he had to play him more, gain some mutual trust. Wasn’t a great start to changing that last night.
Edman, if MacBain would sign, think that would be great trade, good insurance for Toews, plus part of the future. I think either they get lucky and land a big 2way offensive C in the draft or they will have to trade or sign one. If your going to look at future with smaller wingers, add Reichel and Hagel to 12-88, i’m with TimW on this one, you need big 2way Cs who can play a heavy game in the middle for them. Reichel may play in the middle but his size says wing to me. I would let Strome pad his numbers with 19 and 88 until ready to get a real no. 1 C and then try to sell high on him before he crash lands again.
GMs not waiting til Monday
The idea that Kane can play with anyone is grossly understating the quality of players he has had success with and ignores the lack of quality (or at least chemistry) in those unable to find that success with him.
Strome worked his way back to his position on the Kane line, because quite honestly, no one else on this roster was up to the task. Dach got chance after chance to no avail. Johnson, Borgstrom, Kurashev, hell Carpenter and Khaira got time with Kane this season. How did that work out? But in addition to working well with the Cat and Kaner, he also improved on deficiencies that have nothing to do with being on that line. He improved his face offs, he improved his fore check, he is a better player now than he ever has been in the NHL. Is that all just because he is on the same line with Kane? I don’t think it is.
Do the Hawks need a better answer at center than Strome provides currently? Absolutely, there is no reason the Hawks shouldn’t find a player better than Strome is. But a better question is, do the Hawks have that player either on the roster or in the system right now? No, they don’t . They might, eventually, but not anytime soon it appears.
Should the Hawks trade Strome to improve themselves? Absolutely. Would the Hawks improve themselves by trading Strome for a second round pick in the ’22 draft? Absolutely not. Doing so now would be tantamount to tanking and doing so this year is pure foley considering that improving their pick in this years draft does a lot less for the Hawks than doing so next year.
I don’t think that Strome is a long term answer for this team, but until the Hawks find someone who can do it as good or better than he is right now, what do they gain by moving him for anything less than an upgrade?
Miroslav.. spot on, nice someone here with common sense. Great write up…
Tic-tok… GM is on the Clock
let’s move some old guys
MAF
Carp
deHaan
McCrap
Toews ( if he wants to go- before he retires)
Kubalik
Murphy
Miro – well said
Miro glad to see we pretty much agree, like your wording.
Well this says alot about the $9.5 mil Dman along with all the other D men the Hawks have
From Dietz today:
“It’s about time we got a defenseman who can make a pass around here.”
– Derek King on what he told the Blackhawks after watching Alex Vlasic in practice.
Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
King on Vlasic: “His first pass is hard. He snaps that puck around pretty good. … You could see the players were like, ‘I like this kid already.’ And then I had to chime in and say, ‘It’s about time we got a defenseman who can make a pass around here.'”