Collin Delia Carries Blackhawks To Shootout Win In LA
You know what’s awesome? A 9 PM CT start against a good LA Kings team that’s only available on ESPN+ or hulu with awful announcing and a fascinating guessing game when it comes to pronouncing players’ names.
And that’s what Blackhawks fans were treated to on Thursday night. The Kings came out in their home… whites with the chrome buckets so the Hawks were in their home red sweaters. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the NHL went back to home teams wearing white back in the day every once in a while…
Anyways, the Hawks played a hockey game on Thursday night. It didn’t feel like they knew they had a game for about 17 minutes into the first period as the offense barely generated a stiff breeze. The Kings were dominating the puck and the scoring chances but Collin Delia was playing very well in his return to the NHL (even if ESPN’s crew couldn’t figure out how to say his last name).
But lively boards and a healthy bounce led to Patrick Kane giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
When the dust settled after one period, the Kings had a 12-5 shot advantage. Kane’s goal at 16:44 was Chicago’s third shot on net in the game. Los Angeles trailing by one after that period was criminal, but that’s hockey sometimes.
Chicago got a power play early in the second period and the hockey gods paid the Kings back for their strong first period. Trevor Moore scored a short-handed goal just 11 seconds into the Blackhawks “advantage” to tie the game.
The Blackhawks were able to generate more offense in the middle stages of the second period and were able to get the lead back ten minutes after the Moore goal. This time, it was Dylan Strome setting up Alex DeBrincat for his 36th of the season.
But, again, we aren’t allowed to have nice things this year. A too many men penalty a couple minutes after the DeBrincat goal led to another tying goal from LA. This one came from Phillip Danault, his 20th of the season and another reminder that Stan Bowman sucked at his job more times than not.
The Kings are supposedly a good team this year and appear to be headed to the postseason but they couldn’t get out of their own way in this game. The score was tied for only 79 seconds before Taylor Raddysh set up Sam Lafferty who actually finished a scoring chance for once and Chicago had a 3-2 lead.
The Kings out-shot the Blackhawks 19-11 in the second period and both teams scored twice. So the Hawks took the same one-goal lead to the room for the second intermission. Delia was good and the Hawks’ offense had a pulse in the second. 31 shots against in 40 minutes isn’t good, but both teams were credited with eight high danger chances. So at least the Hawks were making their chances good ones? Baby steps, people…
It took nine minutes for either side to score in the third period, but it was Danault tying the game once again. His career-high 21st goal of the season was scored from right in front of Delia because nobody apparently wanted to check the guy standing five feet in front of the net.
The Danault goal held up through the end of regulation and we headed to over time. Neither team sored in the extra five minutes, so we got a skills competition in which DeBrincat was the only one of the six skaters to score. And the Chicago Blackhawks stole a win from the LA Kings.
Delia was marvelous, stopping 43 of 46 to earn the win.
Raddysh was credited with five hits and three shots on net with one assist in 16:16.
Really nice goal by Lafferty and Delia was outstanding tonight .
Radish continue to impress by getting involved and playing hard every shift ( 4 games played 4 points ) since with the Hawks . And really glad we kept DCat with the Hawks . He might score 50 goals in NHL iff not hurt maybe not this year but it’s coming .
Another 2 pts ,good for the kids who are playing hard lately .
What’s going on with Covid lately ? We rarely hear players on Covid protocol in past 1-2 months ? Is it because they test less or ?
got to love raddysh so far. terrific board work before a beautiful pass on his assist tonight.
the play by play was just dreadful.
Brandon Hagel scored his first goal with lightning, not sure he will be happy playing just 10-11 minutes/ game in first 3 games with Tampa. He was use to play 20-21 minutes/ with the Hawks . Hope he will be happy there .
Does anybody else miss the NBC Sports channel? This ESPN and ESPN Plus/Hulu just aint getting it done for me. First time that my NHL Package is getting screwed with. Amazing on how they take away the exact game that I want to watch. I won’t bore you guys with a detailed breakdown of the Bolts-Bruins and Vegas-Preds tilts that I watched instead. Did see the Hagel goal as it happened tonight. Oh well,off to a Vegas matinee. Great scheduling NHL. What is that 3 games in 3 and a half days for our Hawks?
@Hagel – I’m glad that he got that monkey off his back, and now can be their Andrew Shaw!
@Raddysh – This guy just keeps impressing me.
@Katschouk – Why is he not 30 points ahead, sorry Hillary! Why is he not on a scoring line???
@Kane@DeBrincat@Strome – They have to keep these guys together for next year.
@Lafferty – Are there hand exercises that he could do to get better hands. He does everything else so well. If he could finish, he could be our new Jonathan Toews. He does all the dirty work.
@Delia – Some nights Dryden, some nights Pang.
Great win for Delia in his hometown. Much better 2nd half of the game than 1st half for team in front of him. Guys are having fun, making it easy to watch them. Agree the announcing made it hard to listen too.
Tommy agree with Raddysh–to tie together your thoughts -Lafferty should play lots of Ping Pang.
Yesterday I was prickly about all the Toews bashing- but then he had go be personally responsible for the too many men and resulting goal, rookie decision making
Real nice hands by Lafferty on his goal, where have those moves been?
Agree that Katchouk deserves a look up the line up – put him with Dach and Lafferty even though the 4th line looked good with him they need to find out if he’s got more than he can produce on the 4th line – it’s possible he does
Interesting to see if Kub comes back vs Vegas if his attitude is any different – Borgstrom struggled taking his spot on Toews line
Strome line is either hemmed in it’s own zone because none of them are physical enough to as Ray Ferraro says ‘break the cycle’ of the opponents in the D zone or they’re hemming the opponents in their zone with their creative offense – it’s feast or famine but on balance it’s working to Hawks advantage
Don’t like to see Dach getting clocked two games in a row – keep your head up Kirby – I hope he doesn’t have Lindos-itis – a big guy who never learned to play with his head up because he’s always been the biggest guy out there until they play in the NHL
Watching Gus on that LA shorty had me asking whyyyyy?? – I suppose they want to ease Vlasic in so Gus plays but I’m so over Gus at this point – sure sometimes he plays well but as Q used to say there is no predictability to his game – he’s playing shinny and everyone else is playing NHL hockey
Raddysh is looking good – I thought he’d be a nice addition but so far anyway he’s better than I expected
Both him and Katchouk seem to know where to be on the ice – how much of that is just their hockey IQ and how much is coaching? That’s a good question for KD because a lot of the Hawks don’t know where to be on the ice – I think a large part of that is coaching – find a good coach please!!
Raddysh and Katchouk’s play is making the Hagel trade easier to swallow. Was this lucky or did KD see something specifically in these guys (including Lafferty)? I think Katchouk instantly became the Hawks fastest skater. Overall I’m liking the energy of this team the last few games (with the exception of the first period of this one).
Am I crazy for being slightly optimistic of the future? If you upgrade some of the D with big young skilled guys–specifically McCabe, Gus, and maybe DeHaan, and then get Reichel in here and a few more 1st round picks there could be something here. COULD be.
Good games to watch these past two. Competitive and back and forth. The acquisitions working out for what we gave up. Glad to see Hagel score. We know deHaan and Gus will/should be gone. Draft day trade of McCabe would be welcomed. Then we have room for the youth.
Our goalies playing above what was expected. Don’t think it will keep up but we know they got it in them. Lank and Soder should be our tandem with Delia in the background for now.
This Vegas game will see if this is the new work ethic.
@Noonan
Nice!
I have no problem with 19 expressing his thoughts to the press and the team. But Toews knows that this is a business. That business gave him an 80 million dollar contract and three Stanley cups. I suspect he remembers what it was like to be a bright-eyed young player in the NHL. To my thinking he should embrace the rebuild and do whatever he can to get the future Hawks ready for playoff hockey in a couple of years.
Tim, yes I do. That ESPN TV broadcast was horrible. Ferraro was not bad at times but Hextall was intolerable. The sound on the TV was turned off halfway through the first and the radio was turned on. I was surprised that it was not Wiedeman. You can see the on radio when John does play by play.
Fun game to watch. Not sure what was done to Stome but its working and I’m happy for the kid. The Hawks need to repeat the procedure on Dach and Kubilak.
Going to have alot of decisions around forward group this summer. Obviously Kane, Toews and to a lesser extent T. Johnson, need decisions made, Debrincat likely coming back are big contracts. Trades not withstanding, Reichel, Raddysh, Kaychouk and Entwistle signed for 2 more years, will be looked at as roster pieces, be surprised if Dach and Lafferty aren’t brought back. Top 3 lines will mostly come from them until some new blood is brought in and see who of them survives. Then there is bubble players, Borgstrom, Khaira, Hardman and Slavin all signed for next year and available if they want. Rfas Strome, Kubalik, Kurashev and R. Johnson could all be gone by start of next season. Wonder if KD wants a new look roster or just a few cosmetic moves. Obviously 88 and 19 either go this summer, or tdl next year or finish their contracts and sign an extension or walk as ufas. Decisions in goal and defense who will play where coming too.
Ian – it’s going to be very interesting 12 months from now to TDL 2023 – obviously there will be change
Either T or K leaving would be huge but if they stay what are their new contracts like – not the same I can tell you that
ESPN+/Hulu broadcast is an abomination- worse than any NCAA/AHL/IHL broadcast I’ve ever seen… not just the play-by-play, but they can’t even manage cut to/from commercials, but at least when it decided to buffer last night it was during intermissions/commercial breaks … usually during critical game moments in past games
Raddysh- 2 goals and two sweet RAD-dishes… all in 4 games… not too shabby New GM
Wrap, Kane still producing at a level of his current contract, obviously Toews isn’t, hard to imagine they bring both back.
Ian – the early money would be on Kane staying and Toews not but we’ll see
Wrap, the biggest risk is Kane, he would bring the best return right now and look like the worst contract if his production starts to drop. Toews could be signed considerably cheaper and may come back to where he gives you 2 or 3 good years working with youngsters, be a pretty good looking contract, rather than letting him walk for nothing. Thats where Gm gotta make the right call not the popular one.
Kane won’t be traded unless he wants to go – he may want to stay
Yeah both control that, both might want to stay, reactions were similar, but i’m just making the point if choosing what could actually be best from a rebuild perspective.
Yeah Ian I agree with that – trading Kane next TDL would jet propel the rebuild
First thing, I don’t have Hulu or ESPN +…so watched only the highlights, and I know it’s not just me but to hear this 12 yr old girl screeching when a goal is scored is beyond horrible…..2nd, Dach is nothing like Lindros,. Lindros scored goals, Dach can’t. 3rd….Toews still sucks and it does not matter if he had a good game.
They are going no where. Gotta find out what to offer them for their next contract. With Kane I think $8mil x 3 would be good.
Now JT will be tricky. We gotta give him just enough that he doesn’t feel embarrassed to sign and that no other team offers more. I think $5mil is enough but don’t think he wants to sign for less than half he’s making now. Probably $6mil is his number.
Best case scenario is Winnipeg is good next year and he plays good enough that they think he puts them over the hump. We eat half, get a pick and a prospect. After the season we offer him $5mil x 2.
My hunch is that Toews is done here and will be moved in the off season with his own blessings. Kane will stay and be a part of the rebuild. A scant 6 or so years ago who would have thought that Toews would be invited to leave. Just my opinion but I have been wrong before.
JR- Offering Toews $5M – would be a Horrible signing… Unless the Hawks needed it to be near the Cap floor- which I doubt it would. Big overpay for what he currently brings.
Talk about INFLATION- Hawks Box revenues are probably in the toilet… and will get worse before they get better.
I agree w/ Tim+… all of 19’s recent rants point to him wanting a change.
I think Kane plays out his career in Chicago. He will hold many team records and be a celebrity in a grateful town for many years to come.
Don’t write off Toews just yet. Give him time to reflect on what he has accomplished here. I hope he will come around to embrace what is now a definable direction. That said, a lot will depend on his next contract offer, if one is made. Another issue is his play, of course. If he knows he just is not right, he could retire. I say the odds are 50/50 that he finishes here.
Toews comments sounded like someone who didn’t want to leave to me. Kane saying they will talk about it may be more ready for the fact his time has come, hard to get a read on for sure but who knows how it plays out.
Forgot to mention Slaggerts OT winner for ND. Future looking brighter. Light at the end of the tunnel is probably 3yrs away but it looks super bright.
JR, Slaggert looks promising, he could make a potentially Hagel type impact on the roster in 2 or 3 years time.
Good to see and hear that we are not the only ones not happy with our team,s games being hijacked by ESPN Plus. The Redwing announcers went on a rant about losing many of their games to the Plus. Mickey was incredulous and very agitated wondering outloud why Detroit and Chicago are losing so many games and why their fans would ever have difficulty watching their hometown team. I remember a month ago Pat Foley had very similar thoughts. Please KILL the Plus!
Sounds like Toews……wants to be in the playoffs…..maybe he shouldn’t be captian…..
Toews is upset a good player and maybe even friend who he didnt know until a couple years ago was traded…..maybe he shouldn’t be captain….
Maybe if more people online or in bars told Toews how to think and what to say the team would be in better shape right? Right? I mean if only Toews was your puppet maybe then…. I mean it’s Toews cap hit, which he won two cups on, that’s the problem…no doubt toews production slid but last time I checked at this teams depth and player development in the minors is very serious problem that even if now being addressed may not be seen results of for years…and those results may or may not make ya happy. Think Toews is overpaid? Guess what basically they all are, every last player in the league.
I’ll agree maybe after more than a decade of Captaincy maybe, maybe it is time to let Toews not bear the burden of the…..responsibility and just let him play hockey.
One question for fans who like to bash Toews. Where does Toews rank among the current depth of centers on the Blackhawks after taking a year off for medical? 2nd behind Strome maybe? The same Strome whose production sometimes vanishes without kane or debrincat? I tell ya some of you, what have you done for me lately people…..By the way maybe I’m wrong but hasn’t Toews improved throughout the year?
How many players have dropped the gloves this year on this team ?
Also the word rebuild is thrown around and what does it even mean…rebuilding thr scouting staff? Rebuilding the player development?
Interesting the GM uses the word REBUILD loud and clear and it’s immediately about how much Toews sucks yet so little mention of the complete lack of prospect development that’s taken place over the better number of drafted players the last decade or even currently. I’d like to see an analysis with the Blackhawks and other teams. I have to belive they have been among the worst in the league but I’m probably wrong, maybe more thr middle
Yeah, why isn’t Toews a better philosopher….when he’s been pretty consistent about wanting to make the playoffs and as he’s said many times….peaking at the right time.
I’m hoping that Toews and the Hawks can agree to something like Yzerman’s last contract that reflected his diminishing physical contributions but respected his role in the past and developing the team’s future – but both parties have to accept the situation
Who would’ve thought 10 years ago that we would be talking about keeping Kane (taxi story )and move Toews ( capt Serious) in 22 . Lot of things happened since and everybody change in different ways and now we can see how those 2 men change in different directions like all off us. Hopefully Toews will get what he really wants and get moved in summer so everybody will be happy .he was a great player for the Hawks and I thank him for all those nice memories and wish him luck for the future .Without Toews we would never had those 3 cups. And iff he decide to stay then maybe he can become a A and give the C to somebody else . The Beach story plus the Corona 19 didnt help the Hawks players in the past years . Life goes on .
Best case scenario:
Toews plays well and requests to 2023 TDL trade.
Kane also requests to 2023 TDL trade.
Hawks get many draft picks/prospects/young, cheap promising players, retaining some salary and if necessary an expiring contract.
At the end of 2023 season, Toews retires or being healthy and rejuvenated resigns with Hawks for $3M for 2 or 3 years.
At the end of 2023 season, Kane resigns with Hawks for $5M for 4 years. Contracts are backloaded instead of frontloaded allowing buyouts if needed.
Toews and Kane help the Hawks improve bigtime.
Tommy I… as your head of scouting.. Slaggert – not near Hagel… Sorry but No
I have watched Slaggert several times… plays hard… but I have never been impressed
my 2 cents
I can’t remember the exact quote, but (paraphrasing) I believe Bill Lumberg would have approached the Kane/Toews issue by asking “what’s best for the company”. If the objective is to rebuild as efficiently as possible then the answer to this would be either:
a) they are moved next year for maximum assets (picks, prospects)
b) one or both come back on short-term sweetheart deals
Secondary considerations such as their marketing value or sentimentality (i.e. playing out their careers here) should not matter. They should both be treated with the respect they have earned (although that appears to be lost on some people) but hard decisions will be required and the hardest choice is usually the correct one.