Fleury, Blackhawks Shutout Ducks For Fourth Straight Win
After winning three straight games, the Blackhawks welcomed the Anaheim Ducks to the United Center on Saturday evening. In net for the Ducks was Lukas Dostal, who would make just his second career NHL start; he came into the Ducks’ blowout loss against the Wild on Friday night in relief.
The Blackhawks had shown flashes of better offense lately, and the defense had played pretty well despite not having Seth Jones of Jake McCabe available. However, coming off a big loss the previous night you knew the Ducks would want some level of redemption.
Dostal and Marc-André Fleury needed to be on their games in the first period because the shots were coming frequently at either end of the ice. The Blackhawks had some great chances, but Dostal was terrific for Anaheim. Neither team was able to get on the board in the first period even though the Hawks put 15 shots on net and the Ducks were credited with 11 at Fleury.
Early in the second period, Sam Steel collided with Fleury and made little attempt to get off Chicago’s netminder. When Fleury was able to control the puck moments later, Erik Gustafsson jumped on Steel and let him know the Hawks didn’t appreciate his effort to get in Fleury’s way. The only penalty called was two minutes for roughing on Gustafsson, but that penalty opened the door for one of the wildest sequences of the season for the Blackhawks.
Chicago killed off the penalty, but it wasn’t easy or pretty. Jakub Galvas saved a goal; he took a puck off the goal line and was able to get it out of the danger area. As the penalty was coming to a close, Riley Stillman cleared the puck perfectly up the boards to where a flying Gustafsson was able to retrieve it and start an attack. Gus patiently waited for Brandon Hagel to join him and set his teammate up for a beautiful snipe.
Stillman and Gustafsson picked up the assists but Galvas saving a goal was huge.
The Ducks out-shot the Hawks 14-12 in the second period and, once again, both goaltenders were exceptional. Dostal was really impressive for a 21-year-old who had four NHL periods on his resume before the night.
An old friend, Kevin Shattenkirk, gave the Blackhawks a power play almost four minutes into the third period and Chicago was able to take advantage. A mess in the Hawks’ defensive zone turned into a rush that ultimately concluded with pretty passing sequence, climaxed by Alex DeBrincat setting up Patrick Kane.
Kane’s goal extended the Blackhawks’ lead to two. The shot totals kept climbing, but Chicago’s defense was doing a good job of limiting the Ducks’ chances. Jonathan Toews, who had some really good looks either get blocked or saved by Dostal, picked up the second assist on Kane’s power play marker.
Anaheim pulled Dostal with four minutes left in regulation because of the two-goal deficit. He was their best player in the game, but he can’t score goals for them so they asked for an extra attacker.
DeBrincat made a nice play to capture a cleared puck and was able to feed Dominik Kubalik who scored to extend the lead to three with 3:21 left in regulation. DeBrincat came into the game with seven assists on the season but added two in the game. Calvin de Haan picked up the second assist.
Fleury was magnificent. He stopped all 37 shots he faced to earn another shutout — the 70th in his Hall of Fame career.
Galvas was impressive once again. He skated 17 minutes with two shots on net and one block in the game.
Stillman had another really good game. In addition to his one assist, he as credited with one shot on net, two hits and one takeaway. His play continues to get better. He was named the number three star of the game.
In his second NHL game, Lukas Reichel skated 14:51, won five of 11 faceoffs and put two shots on net.
Sam Lafferty won half of his eight faceoffs, put four shots on net and was credited with picked up three hits. He had a nice night.
Toews led Chicago with six shots on net. He also won nine of 15 draws.
Nice 60 minute effort, a deserved couple of points. Again great goaltending, don’t let special teams hurt you and good things happen when you get the effort.
Really enjoyed seeing Galvas and Reichel, both showing very good. Galvas a game saver on the goal line. Liked seeing 3rd and especially the 4th line with alot of sustained pressure in Ozone. Too bad they weren’t rewarded with a goal. Toews 6 shots on goal, good to see, another assist also, points in 5 of last 6 games. Also while forced back on pp1 again last 2 games they got a pp goal in both games. Chance in Seattle to make it 5 in a row, then a tough run of division games.
I was not expecting to see the Hawks win tonight, to see Hawks missing 3-4 regular players and still play really good hockey with new kids is a good news .
I now hope to see Lank in goal next game to help him stay in the game and to rest MAF a bit . We don’t need to push him to the limit and risk to get him hurt before trading him next month.
Very happy to all those kids giving a nice show to the Hawks fans who don’t really know them . Not sure but I think it’s the first time this year the Hawks win 4 in a row with 2 top Dmen missing .
A good team would have punished the Hawks for some of the really sloppy play that slid by tonight
Nice to see the Hawks kids absorbing some big hits without going soft, although C Jones did cough up a couple really dangerous pucks off hits
Do you believe they’re ready for a playoff run!?!? no. neither do I
Rockford lost 5-4 tonight but the good news is Regula had 4 assists and has 7 pts now in last 4 games and 11 pts in 15 games this year .last year he had 4 pts total in 16 games . He is a long shoot but who knows .He is developing slowly like when he was with the London Knights. ( the third and last year with the knights he finish with 27 goals and 60 pts + 39 in 56 games . The kid is 6’4 207 pts . I have the feeling he can be a good bottom 4 Dman in 2-3 years from now .
Just my 2 pesos
Really enjoyed the effort from the Hawks
I mentioned the VGK game as a bar they should be trying to meet every game and they have been close but tonight they matched it – amazing what hard work can accomplish and of course great goaltending
Toews had a strong game as did Murphy and DeHaan and Stillman and Galvas
Keep those pairs together then add Jones and McCabe when they’re ready
Caleb was a train wreck tonight- on a different night he could have cost the Hawks the game all by himself with his giveaways and inability to win board battles
Reichel makes the Hawks better – I hope they take him to SEA – without his speed and no Dach or Strome they will be hard pressed to make it 5 in a row
I’m liking Lafferty – in fact 3rd and 4 th lines really did their job tonight flipping the ice and making life miserable for ANA defenders
Very good win
This was a solid 60 minute effort. There’s a lot of good to take from this game. Toews shot the puck!!! He led the team with 6 SOG!!! Kane had 4 SOG. Kubalik and Hagel had 3 SOG and Reichel had 2 SOG. Uncharacteristically, DeBrincat had 0 SOG credited to him. I could have sworn he did shoot the puck. He got 2 assists. So, he did contribute.
Crazy stat. Carpenter and Lafferty both had 4 SOG. That’s 4th line contributions.
Loved the FO% and the breakdown. Reichel was close to having a 54 FO%. Just one more faceoff win and he’s on the good side of 50%. Lafferty was at 50% and Toews was Toews at 60%
Defensively, The boys were hitting people…except Galvas. But, that’s not to say he had a bad game. He did not. de Haan led the the whole team with 5 Hits. While that is a very strong game by him and he is getting better and better, I am concerned about his stability. He has an injury history and if he’s being the physical presence, I worry about how long he will be able to keep that pace. C. Jones and Lafferty had 3 Hits. I want to pick on Gustafsson, but he had a great assist on the Hagel goal. Still…I would rather see Mitchell. Hawks2010 brought up Regula. If the team isn’t going to play Mitchell then send him back to Rockford and bring up Regula. The team gets bigger and more physical.
Goaltending? MAF got a shutout. He was absolutely brilliant. The Galvas assist on the shutout has to be mentioned and Tab did just that.
If I could change anything for the next game, slot in Slavin and Mitchell and sit Khaira and Gustafsson.
The negatives are small. Entwistle had 1 SOG and 2 Hits. That’s better than Kurashev, Borgstrom, and DeBrincat. Again, DeBrincat had 2 Assists. BUT…Kurashev and Borgstrom were invisible. Now, Kurashev was strong in the previous 2 games but, if he wants to stay in the NHL, he has to bring it EVERY GAME!!! Borgstrom better realize that his career is on the precipice. He needs to start showing some offensive pinache or he will be an AHL coulda been.
Overall, this was a good game for this team. It makes me wonder how much the defense leans on S. Jones, when he’s healthy. This team is playing well. Let’s enjoy this win and get ready for Seattle. That’s a team that will, like the inaugural Las Vegas Knights, bring it every shift on every line. Go Hawks!!!
Agree with the comment above. Lank needs some games. Surely they haven’t pulled the plug on him.
There seems to be a consensus on the boards that Fleury is gone at the TDL. That is possible, but certainly not a given. It will be a very interesting decision for all parties. Fleury has a say because of his NMC. Surely King does not want him gone as King probably has visions of getting this job permanently. MAF certainly helps with their record.
It was a fun game to watch with a post, some stick shaft saves, near misses, lots of back and forth and some pretty goals. Gus was good tonight. There are people that will cringe and get annoyed when reading that. Remember, the operative word is that he was good “tonight.” Toews was very good. One step at a time with our Captain, but he is making those steps.
The only problem with the game was that my side hurts from laughing. The broadcasters are soooooooo funny. Especially when they are rambling on about equipment etc. during play. If you don’t believe me that they are funny, ask them. They laugh uproariously at each other’s stuff.
Some impressive results of late. Nice to see! Obviously my scathing reviews after the restart were noticed, I kid of course,
The dog days are upon us, so i ask you….am i the only one that misses Vinnie H?? I really liked the kid.
Entertaining game, nice to see Reichel winning some faceoffs. He did go flying thru the air from a check thou and kind of resembles Sikura, might as well take him to Seattle before sending him back up I-90. Galvas played well also. Rocky still looking hard at somebody to lead the organization, did anybody see him at the game last night??
Under King Hawks 14-9-3 = 31 points Normalized for a full 82 games that would be 97 points. More importantly the Hawks are beating teams above them in the standings, something mediocre teams do not do. I haven’t seen Johnny Toews smile like he did last night as players came off the ice for quite awhile. I know its dreaming but I’d love for them to keep Fleury and build I what I saw last night. (yeah all right I know the Ducks are in a funk)
Another win. I didn’t watch the third period.
Two things-one was the pass from Reichel in the first to set Kane up on the semi breakaway-it was actually ‘Kane’ like. It was a thing of beauty.
The second is that the Oilers are getting so bad that they might get to the point where even getting Fleury might be too risky-in about two week both teams might have a similar record. Now I don’t feel that Chicago will be a playoff team, but contenders, pretenders etc. is a fluid concept( I don’t think the Oilers can wait too long)
Robs – MAF doesn’t have a NMC – he has a M-NTC which means he submits a list of 10 teams he can’t be traded to
I suppose if he really didn’t want to be traded he could put all the likely playoff teams that might want a goaltender on that list so yes he does have a partial say but I don’t think it’s a big impediment to him being traded
What it may mean is he’ll have more of a say about where he goes rather than if he goes
Noonan – yes that pass from Reichel to Kane was sick and 27 also set up 88 for another great chance a shift or two before that – in fact every time Reichel had the puck he was making good things happen
I hope they keep him up until at least Dach and Strome are back – after that we’ll see
Solid effort for most of the game. Toews was much more aggressive offensively and Kane had more jump to his game. Stillman is on the best run of his career. Fleury outstanding as his value soars. The downside was Borgstrom,he has to be put on notice that his time is growing short. Caleb was weak and shaky all night. Give Mitchell and or Kalynuk a shot at staying up with the team.
Whenever we lose fingers immediately get pointed at King: “he’s over his head, he’s a clown, his lines suck, etc. etc.”
But like him or not the fact is that for the most part the boys are playing hard under him. Maybe he isn’t the guy to lead us from the wilderness, but realistically he’s getting about as much out of this group as there is to give. A little respect maybe (he’s new too so don’t expect him to be perfect).
Jordyhawk…excellent comment…one poster in particular uses the words clown and moron regularly, which is more a reflection of the poster than King.
I am not yet sold on King as the future coach but he has them playing well and competing every night
For the second game in a row the Hawks faced an opponent that had played the night before. Montreal is Montreal so a win was always meant to be. As far as the Ducks game they were without their 2 top scorers yet they still had a boatload of chances whether or not the non comedic duo let us onto it.
Yes they are playing better and above all else the Hockey Gods are doing them favors, but will it last once they face division foes and teams higher in the standings?
My crystal ball see’s KD being a buyer leading up to the TDL, not a good thing at all.
Dollar – I think your crystal ball is broken but if you’re right someone needs to stage an intervention on KD because that’s inflicting self harm
I generally enjoy the Pat & Eddie schtick and am glad to have them back – but it was amazing how quickly they started yucking it up in just their second game back together
Big an
I would prefer to see MAF leaving and getting a late first round pick and sign MAF next year for 1-2 years deal at around 5 millions/year.
I have the feeling that DeHann is getting more attention lately and that might bring another pick for the Hawks .
Plus maybe we can get a few other trades in a few weeks that would bring prospect or draft pick .loading kids would be good and unloading salary would be great.
Kane in NewYork with Panarin for prospect and a late first round pick could be good for the Future. That’s the main goal now FUTURE.
hawks 2010
amen ….. FUTURE!!!! stay focused. hopefully when the tdl passes we no longer see gus, de haan, connolly and those of their ilk if they unfortunately are still blackhawks. any trade for a draft pick is a good trade. no matter what round. it would be another iron in the fire.
Hopefully March 12th sees a few players with new teams. MAF will need to agree to a trade before they move him likely. With Oilers looking less likely, not alot of other teams be interested, maybe CAPs or AVs looking for an upgrade but not alot of other teams be takers for him. Strome still a question mark hanging over the team on his future.
Ian – I think by TDL Oilers will be back in the picture for MAF
@Wrap….Trading Strome would relief a lot of pressure, MAF for sure, but all of their
actions seem to be on the same path set forward by Stan, make the PO’s and anything
can happen.
IOW’s I’m not sure they see this team for what it is.
From what I gather also it was good thing to have the game on mute. Edzo-Foley and
the Cohenhead, a trio soft serves.
Wrap i hope your right, because that is probably the biggest deal.pending during the season.
I think when off ice people in place the new Gm and Vp should sit down with 19 and 88 at that point and tell them what their plans are for the team. Do they see a short term turn around here or are they looking at a longer process, which could involve Cat and others moving too in that case. Let them know whether or not they plan on extending them next year. Then see what 19 and 88 wishes are. If not extending them do they want or even would they agree to the right trade. If wanting to sign them are they interested in staying, yes that’s a real possibility too.
Dollar – to not trade lending UFAs like 44 56 22 and 29 would be foolish in the extreme
Strome is also likely to be traded although the way he’s playing now maybe there’s a case for keeping him but only if you move Dach to the wing which is also a possibility
Strome I think is more effective at centre but Dach May in fact be an excellent winger
Then you’ve got 27 19 and 17 down the middle and a new winger in 77 maybe add his brother plus improvement from 23 and 38 and 58 continued good play from 12 and 88 – get 76 and 51 or whoever into the regular D – roll with Lank and Soder and things are not too bad
Plus players like Slavin and Hardman and Regula pushing for jobs – Add in a first for MAF and some other draft assets and the future is already looking a lot better
Wrap agree they will get some assets to benefit the future. What i’m wondering is how the next couple of years will be looked at. You have S. Jones in his prime filling a big void. Do you waste his prime rebuilding or try to build a contender around him fairly quickly. No. 1 Dmen are not something that come along often and late 1sts or 2nds don’t often find them but can happen as Keith showed. My guess they want to try to build a winner around Jones. Cat, Dach and Kane, (Toews unknown how long he plays) fairly quick but time will tell.