Darling Douses Flames, Hawks Win In Calgary
The Blackhawks welcomed Marcus Kruger back to the lineup on Saturday night in Calgary, and
Both teams put nine shots on net in the first period, but both goaltenders were perfect in the opening 20 minutes. There were no penalties, and the limited scoring chances were handled well by the gentlemen between the pipes.
The second period was a different story.
Sam Bennett went to the box 3:10 into the second, but the struggling Blackhawks power play failed to convert for the 21st consecutive advantage. Only 41 seconds after the power play ended, Andrew Ladd received a gorgeous pass – from Calgary’s TJ Brodie – and unloaded for his 21st of the year (fourth since being traded back to Chicago).
Dougie Hamilton had been physical all night, but a fluke play led to his biggest impact of the night. His older brother Freddie whiffed on a shot attempt, but the redirection found Dougie wide open for the shot. The younger Hamilton tied the game at one, and moments later the penalty boxes got busy.
At 13:41, Andrew Shaw picked up a minor penalty for roughing Bennett. Garnet Hathaway came to Bennett’s defense and received an off-setting penalty.
Dougie mixed things up again 40 seconds into the 4-on-4, running Brent Seabrook in front of the Hawks net. Hamilton didn’t make an effort to get off Seabrook (and pushed Seabrook’s head into the ice), and Jonathan Toews took exception on the play. Hamilton received two minutes for roughing Toews, and Chicago’s captain picked up a double-minor (the second of which was served by Artemi Panarin).
The Blackhawks successfully killed the 4-on-3 Calgary advantage. Shaw came out of the box flying and quickly created a scoring chance, but then slashed Hathaway and was sent back to the box only 20 seconds after leaving his first infraction.
Chicago killed 20 seconds of 5-on-3, thanks in large part to a great effort from Kruger, and then took care of the remaining 5-on-4 advantage.
Shaw left the box a second time, and once again was involved around the Calgary net soon after returning. This time, Michal Rozsival unloaded a shot that Shaw tipped past a stickless Joni Ortio for the go-ahead goal.
So in a span of 5:30, Shaw took two penalties, served all four minutes in the box, created one scoring chance and scored a goal on another shift.
In the third period, Darling continued to be the story. He stopped 20 of 21 through the opening 40 minutes, many of which were redirected in front or screened.
Hathaway went back to the box seven minutes into the third period for tripping Seabrook, but the Hawks failed on another power play opportunity.
Ladd scored his second goal of the night with 72 seconds left in regulation into an empty net to extend Chicago’s lead to 3-1. Ladd picked up an assist on Shaw’s goal, giving him a three-point night in a big road victory for the Blackhawks.
Teuvo Teravainen scored into an empty net with 11 seconds left to make the final score 4-1 in favor of the visitors. Patrick Kane picked up an assist on the final tally, giving the league’s point leader 93 on the season.
Darling was spectacular from start to finish, stopping 31 of 32 to earn a big win for the Hawks.
Viktor Svedberg also returned to the Blackhawks lineup and started the night paired with Seabrook. He skated 11:14 and blocked one shot. Trevor van Riemsdyk was slotted on the third pair with Rozsival and skated 20:16. He and was credited with two blocked shots and two takeaways; they were on the ice for Calgary’s one goal, however.
Kruger skated 13:38 and won two of only four faceoffs in the game; Shaw won four of 11 at the dot on the fourth line. Kruger spent only 52 seconds killing penalties, but the Hawks’ overall PK unit looked much better. It undoubtedly helped that Calgary’s power play is a dumpster fire.
The Hawks are back on the ice on Sunday night in Vancouver.
Good pace to the game. Little flashes of the old magic here and there, especially on the defensive play. Thinking we were kind of lucky actually ( Ladds first goal, some magic stops by Darling) and really needed that win. Kane not looking himself. Got to beat Vancouver tomorrow as well. Kane 9pts ahead of Benn now as his lead margin is eroding away…hope to heck he gets some good points against Vancouver, Minny and the Jets. Benn hard charging in the stretch and Kane will feel the pressure. I realize some here don’t think the Art Ross is all that important but I do, it’s a good thing for the whole Blackhawk nation. Still no Ehrhoff.
A win is a win, but parts of that was painful-the Hawks are not in a groove at all-
There was a replay that showed how awkward Svedberg can be and still play in the NHL-he’s more effective than Ehrhoff?
Get rid of this 4 on 4 shit. There should have to be two penaltys at diff times for that.
Fucking SI and their press trying to throw Kaner off. Its only going to make him explode later on.
Did Shaw really score that goal? Looks to me as if it bounced straight off of the stick laying on the ice and Shaw, by moving his stick up, gave the illusion he scored. That must have been the goalies stick as he didn’t have one when “Rozy” scored. So both goals were good fortune only followed by empty netters. Possible I’m wrong, about time some bounces went in our favour but I don’t think we can expect to win too many games in that fashion. Whatever happened Shaw was still a pistol out there tonight and Keith was really good.
Anyone know if Erhoff is injured? Or is he in Q’s stupid doghouse as have been many others before him – like Frolic his 1st season on the Hawks, Morin etc.
And where is Kaner ? He looks awful . Out of sync.
CD…good point and same thing I was thinking. Look at Daley now flourishing in Pitt. Does Q not like Ehrhoff and Weise? Call up Svedberg? Why not play Ehrhoff? Q is a stubborn SOB! Ok…here come the How could you question him and he has 3 cups posts!!!
Super-Sasquatch! Darling had one of his best games vs another offensively challenged team. Can’t blame the flames they had a bucket load of good shots on Darling but no finishers. Teams continue to run two guys at Kane as Anisimov is a total non-factor and Panarin the Artist lack of speed /strength on the outside to open up the ice and is a problem, and his lack of physical play is hurting that line. His bad habit of that congested cross ice pass to Kane below the dots is soooo predictable. He does well with his back to the boards but so do I, easy, the rewal key is how you play in traffic between the dots ( like Johhny B Gaudrea ) and Panarin is simply not very good. He is awwwweful and I would like him to win rookie of the year and yep . . .wait for it . . .trade him. His productivity is 80% a result of Kane and early year success with that line facing a 2nd OR 3RD line from our competitors and powerplay. 5 on 5 is where you can access real talent. Now all teams see our first line is average so they now just take out the Maestro line! Simple! SO now they just get pushed around.
Marcus played okay, it was nice to be reminded of how “Efficient” he is on the ice and compact, when he reaches with his stick he also grabs and get’s body on the players too and that’s not easy at his size and he stays low! . He also knows when by IQ and instinct when to pinch, help out or curl back, he is actually a MASTER watch him, unlike others on the bottom two lines they all just hit the corners and chase at the same speed! Marcus does but smart, he knows where the puck is going. Our 3rd and 4th lines looked horrible and unorganized no one in front of the net, and often three guys all in the corner in scrum? I really have more expectations of both lines. Lots of talent!. Never break up Flash and Weise but they did! Shaw continues to excel as I predicted as he is NOT lost on the top line trying to paly robin to Batman, and support two mega stars who are floundering, now Shaw is just skating something he does well, FREELANCER!
Just skating like he does wide open is a gift and he deserve his current run of success!
Lame teams like the Flames continue to dump the puck at the skates of our defensemen and pound them gently. Not good . . . Kings will enjoy that, thank you very much!
Johnny Be Gaudrea shows ya what TEVO could be like if he had speed. Kid can flat out play and takes a hit and a STAB FROM KIETH and keep ticking!
Only thing I learned that with my 50 years of watching and literally studying the game the Black Hawks don’t agree with my observations but oddly once players I know can play move on and play in more tolerant systems they thrive. Hummmm? And it ain’t the system, something else is happening. Dano, Garbuttttt even Dano? Etc,. So Christian Ehrhoff is not good enough to crack that defense unit? . . .and Svedberg is? And TVR is a quality defensemen? I’m could not be more confused, and I know two things NHL hockey and Fly fishing . . . period.
I can declare NO CUP this year with a defense without Christian Ehrhoff, looks to me to be an early exit.
But this over sight of NOT getting Christian Ehrhoff ice time and chemistry is a problem and it will haunt the Hawks in a first round exit with the KINGS! Ya heard it hear first. If they play the Kings good night. And certainly fans will have a pocket full of excuses too many games too tired Hossa to old etc. But it will be mostly Management issue to me! Even Dale Weise is a player that should be playing.
I am not jumping ship, I think Hawks on paper are as talented as anyone in the west, but it’s the on ice that has me worried. A lot . .
Go Hawks
It’s hockey anything can happen
Yep . . . with Big Success ( 3 cups ) often comes “odd and diluted” reasoning for that success! Lots of reasons for success and failure.
I say Hawks top 5 teams in managing the Cap ( money) but not all that good in player on ice management. The LA KINGSo me is a team that builds a new and improved team every year and they don’t “Tinker” around the edges? or Dabble in it? That identify the 2 or 3 players and go get them. Yes similar to the CUBS too, they’ll wait 2 years for a pitcher!
Some mis-informed fans ( humans) will say HEY THEY DID NOT FIT THE HAWKS SYSTEM? What system, their system is not different or unique period! Hawks don’t play physical often and the REASON THEY WON 3 CUPS is simple, they are the least penalized team in the NHL for like the last 7 years! So they don’t play short handed often or at all . . . that is the key. But that is discipline, I am sure 2 years ago SHAW got a LECTURE, clean up your act or your gone! He did and he stayed.
anyway
Hawks power play is dead on arrival . . . again . . . we need a heart transplant and oh yeah . . . NET FRONT PRESENCE! They went liek 40 seconds at one point with no one with in 10 feet of the net? And Shaw for a Net Front is my size, to say small frame, nto much of a screen, but he is all we got?
We won but I did not see much improvement in overall play. Top 2 lines not generating. Not the performance I was expecting after getting their asses handed to them by Dallas. If no for Darls we could be looking at a loss.
MtM- brilliant thoughts as usual regarding…
Panarin- is playing really bad… and has been “figured” out… I wouldn’t go as far as trade him (SB- would be shot for that… BUT- actually would be a brilliant move)…
Hawks D Looks really tired!!! and OLD,,, and short a Quality 3rd/4th guy….
TT- if he could skate better/would be much better player… but- really is his weakness… IQ/anticipation excellent…. skating just OK… on the positive side… TT is usually in the right spot… But due to lack of strength and skating — doesn’t win often… skating will be easier to improve versus strength–IMO
Schmaltz… kinda looks like same player (with less attention to D)… but super slick/better creativity… and bigger frame (to build on)… Having tough time seeing both of them on same team… Schmaltz would be really good with kane -IMO
Which brings us to Anisimov… Guy has really faded … and looking at his career stats… perhaps- he doesn’t have the engine/stamina to grind for 82 game season???
Kruger- has great quickness/IQ/compete… One play that stood out- D man had puck at line … Kruger just pinned him and puck to boards with his ass… and kicked it out of the zone… great effort/power for the skinny swede… technique and heart!!!
Shaw is playing like he is in the last year of a contract!!!
Hawks- really need to “find that gas pedal” – or it will be a very short Post Season
WALL – Yes , Marcus upon close observation uses his body really well, unfortunately he is under sized and gets “beat up” literally all season long and takes shots to his HEAD since he is so low, which I fear will make his life on the ice and off not very pleasant.
But it’s how he manages the ice in front of him and space as we watch in comparison of other “checking lines” sort of head down, skate hard, hit body, look for puck, reach grab and hold stuff. Marcus timing and angle is really worth watching, it’s a clinic for fans of the game.
Marcus actually sort of kind of “Herds” the player and puck uses smart angles so well, a real skill. He isn’t fast so it’s all skill. He is “Ahead of the Puck” which means even if he doesn’t get the puck he is blocking, reaching and deflecting forward motion of the defender? Most guys hit, the drift, slip off or then over skate slightly , Marcus is Gorillas GLUE!
i love Ladd! Ladd is so fluid out there . . . love to watch him skate too, manages his space, the puck and the direction of the game, ice the tilt. Ladd is really seldom out of position, notice he does not need to CHASE even as proof point his empty netter, Just knows the boards, the play, the tilt and the players and looks effortless. I look forward to him leading the Hawks in scoring in the playoffs and re-sign him! Hossa should retire ( love him but nice to go out on top) and will if the Hawks win the cup, if?
go hawks
mook
go hawks
Mook- you need some fresh air. Man oh man you guys are sure impatient…trade Panarin? Ok now you really need to go outside and get some fresh air, perhaps sleep with a CPAP machine for a bit, get those oxygen levels up.
Anisimov, Panarin, Kane the highest scoring and most lethal line in the NHL. They hit a rough patch and slow down at the end of the season and you want to sell it off.
The team is tired, conserving, rope a doping. We have played way more games than anyone else. Kane got his bell rung pretty good vs Dallas. A successful general hordes his reserves at a time like this, will sacrifice some battles but will win the war. It’s all a stategy.
Entirely possible that it’s not our year but once the playoffs start this is still the best equipped skill wise with 4 fully functional diverse and confounding lines and most experienced team going forward.
We still look lost. And in last night’s game, I, too, think we were lucky. Darling played great, but he had a lot of traffic in front of him and took a lot of shots. We don’t have the people willing to clear guys out of our crease and that just won’t fly once the playoffs begin. There’s no rope a dope going on here. These guys are just tired and ready to play golf. I don’t see the edge, the desire, the finish. And why sit Ehrhoff when he has looked as good as he has (not great, yet, but better than the kids have, IMO). Either Ehrhoff has an upper body injury or Q does.
Not sure why you guys want to see Erhoff. ..IMO he looked scary bad.
I don’t want to see them trade Panarin. Geez the kid has probably never played this many games in this time frame against this quality in his life. Let’s see if he’s holding something in the tank for the playoffs.
Yes Hossa is slowing down but put him on the 3rd line so he can play against 3rd line talent and 3rd pair dmen once in a while. Let him use his intelligence and skill without facing the speed and skill of the other teams top forwards and dmen. He is still a valuable player and can be for years if not expected to play 1st line minutes.
Hey, hang in there Hawk fans, we have a HOF coach and he will figure this out for the playoffs.
Wall- There is nothing wrong with TT’s skating ability. Notice how quickly he gets up to top speed. Plus he is a fast skater. His problem is that he is not strong on his skates when he gets hit. I remember when Kane first came up he was easily knocked off the puck. Continued strength training, better positioning and anticipation on the boards and maturity will help TT. No way will Stan trade Panarin. He is extremely skilled and is just learning the NHL game. 72 and 86 are the future of this team. Another goalie win. How many times have we said that this year. The big weakness on this team is their inability or unwillingness to attack the opponents blue line with SPEED. They must pick up the pace when in attack mode.
Happy Easter everybody!
Who else saw Kruger wincing in pain the first and thought uh oh!?
9pm central starts suck monkey dick
Panarin has a little Versteeg in him. Figured out? No. Whole team got lazy at the all star break. The lack of production on the top line has allowed teams to key on the second line more. Production from the second line has finally slowed after carrying the team for 75% of the year.
While my previous comment sits in moderation. I’ll add this. Hawks have always struggled in years past on the PP. Why? Try to get to cute. I think that’s what’s happened here ever since that winning streak. Trying to do too much. Trying to stick handle more than you should. Trying to make that slick pass. It’s great when it works. But when you don’t get that time and space, it’s time to get back to meat and potatoes. Get it out. Get it up. Get it on net.
Prob already know what we have in 55 and he might be banged up a little. In mean time younger or rookie Defenseman to play/someone to take position. We were going to play everybody anyways to keep people playing. Same with FW.
Some guy said the other, we shouldn’t go by anything in these 10 games because were just playing for wins/points not style points. I totally agree. We have been playing in 2nd gear the entire 82 games except for some of the 13-4/12-0/4-1-1/3-1-1 (NYR/WAS/DET) stretchs we played in 3rd gear. We do need to pick up the pace and be playing in 3rd gear now so we can play in 4 and 5 in playoffs. Want to shift threw gears and not try to jump/take any short cuts.