Hawks Fall In Home Finale
Without playing on Saturday, the Blackhawks clinched first place in the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With an 11:30 AM CST start on Sunday, the Hawks started like a team that was playing to stay healthy.
The Hawks out-shot the Bruins 16-11 in the first period but were down 2-0 after 20 minutes. Ryan Spooner started the scoring and then Patrice Bergeron extended the lead with a power play marker with 63 seconds left in the first.
Chicago was out-shot 12-11 in the second, but got on the board in a unique series of events.
Richard Panik did get an assist on Artemi Panarin’s 29th of the season; Brent Seabrook, who was featured by NBC throughout the broadcast, had the other helper. Panarin is getting dangerously close to hitting his bonuses again this season after a recent hot streak has him back among the league’s leaders.
Kevan Miller gave Boston another two-goal lead at 9:15 into the third after a Niklas Hjalmarsson clearing pass didn’t anywhere near its intended target. But this two-goal lead lasted only 25 seconds.
John Hayden and Seabrook were credited with assists on the Jordin Tootoo goal.
Neithe team was able to put another goal on the board and coach Joel Quenneville pulled Corey Crawford late for the extra attacker. The Hawks got a flury of chances with a few rebounds laying around the crease, but weren’t able to beat Anton Khudobin. When Boston finally cleared the zone, Chicago burned their timeout with 19.5 seconds left before the offensive zone faceoff thanks to the Bruins’ icing.
The Hawks weren’t able to get anything past Khudobin in the closing moments, and the Bruins escaped with their fifth consecutive win.
Khudobin was magnificent for Boston, stopping 41 of 43. Chicago out-shot Boston 16-6 in the third period but were only able to add one goal. Crawford stopped 26 of 29 in the loss.
Jonathan Toews won 18 of 30 at the dot against the always-tough Bruins; Bergeron won 21 of 31 for Boston. Toews also finished tied with Kane, Seabrook and Marian Hossa for the team lead with five shots on net. Hayden and Ryan Hartman led Chicago with four hits, while Niklas Hjalmarsson had a team-high four blocked shots.
Kane skated 22 minutes with two takeaways with his five shots on net after requiring some facial repairs before the game. He was hit in the face with a pick during warm-ups and needed some stitches above his lip.
Chicago finishes the season with road games in Colorado, Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Frozen Four is at the United Center on Thursday and Saturday this week.
How did the Blackhawks finish first in the West! LOL. I thought they were going to be lucky to make the playoffs, they were not going to score much this year, they would be sellers at the deadline, Toews was a stiff, Hossa was over the hill, Crawford needed to be traded, Fabbri was better than Schamaltz, etc, etc, etc. What these posters failed to remember is that in the Blackhawks dressing room beats the HEART OF A CHAMPION! The Blackhawks consistently make their detractors look foolish!
That’s fine a 2-2 in these games is enough to stay in shape and not let up. Only thing is Bread Man getting point he needs to cool it for a bit so its good for player bonuses. What matters is the way we played against TAM/PIT/CLB we played a full 60 hard and at full speed.
Didn’t care if they won or lost the game – only cared about them playing the game the right way – having focus and energy from opening puck drop. They didn’t have it in the first and a good portion of the second. Their passing was sloppy and as I always say you can tell if the Hawks are focused properly by how well or poorly they pass.
I thought they played much better in the 3rd period where their passing was back to where it needed to be – crisp hard passes received well. So I’ll take that away from the game today – that they finished out the game playing the right way.
Breadman – Top 10 scoring for forwards
Correct ER the passing was very sloppy and wayyy too much passing on the PP’s. Keith had an off game and even though Panarin scored the first goal he cost the Bergeron goal. The first Boston goal CC had no chance but the Bergeron goal and the Miller goal should have been stopped. Oduya missing that yawning cage hurt. 70 could have drove the net on his breakaway. Even though it was sloppy Hawks still could have easily beat Boston. Boston got away with a lot of chopping and holding and iced the puck many times, they didn’t look great either ( except Khudobin)
Focusing on playoffs and no injuries main thing now. Classy of Q to say he’s going to try to make sure Panarin gets his bonuses thats why players want to play for this organization the players respect them.
The poor quality of the ice once again reduced quality scoring chances, although Boston did bounce one in…. Pucks bouncing and rolling all over the place. It is pathetic that the NHL cannot mandate better ice quality. Crow even said it earlier in the year that better ice quality would result in many more goals scored. This is a league wide problem.
The poor passing through midway in the game probably reflected the 11:30 start which the players all dislike. All told, the Hawks got beat by a fine goaltending performance from Khudobin. Certainly Boston appeared to get the better end of the draws when they counted, especially when the Hawks were on the PP and in the Boston zone. Bergeron though is simply terrific at the dot and a classy, excellent, player. Thankfully the points aren’t needed at this juncture.
Hopefully Q sits some of the players that log large minutes for the road game against the Avs that will be played at high altitude. Hawks D corp is deep enough where Seabs, Hammer and Keith could sit. Same with Hoss, and whomever Q thinks needs some rest this week.
I watched the Wild-Preds game over the weekend. Wild fans must be squirming as their guys seem to be squeezing the sticks lately and look very much out of sync. The shift in the Central division standings has been jaw dropping crazy since Feb.
Lets Go Hawks!
First Boston goal T.V.R gets out muscled and out worked in the corner ,two passes later and T.V.R doing his best to screen Crow,in goes the puck. 57 needs to get some consistency out there or it could be short and sweet come playoff time . Goal number 2 ,piss poor defensive zone coverage ,.,..,any how ,How did the Crash ,Bang Boom line look ? Boys got a goal ,Hayden had a nice feed to Tootoo .
Best thing about yesterday was the Press wetting the bed against the Blues and the Yokes eliminating the Kings. Did NOT want those guy to slide in as an 8th seed! Rejoice Hawks fans it’s all good!
I’m going to the final game on Saturday at Staples. It’s going to be odd seeing a game between us and them at this time of year that has no meaning. And I have no sympathy for the Kings or their fans. I’m gad they’re out. We may still be in the Presidents Trophy race on Saturday but I doubt it and don’t care, really. I just want everyone to stay healthy and thinking that many of the boys will be taking that day off anyway. The game that worries me is the game prior against the Schmucks. Don’t trust those dirty fuckers.
Bottom line: Winning the West is a huge accomplishment for this team. Home ice – Priceless!
Let’s finish off the season with a win or two and then roll off 16 more!
..Blackhawks weaknesses going down the stretch are Anisimov’s injury and goaltending has taken a few nights off of late……Besides average power play and penalty killing we should be ok in playoffs…….Hard to tell with Jekyl and Hyde results in first round …..Along with 3 cups we have 2 early playoff exits in a short time span….But with cycle of winning every 2 years now established and an improved Hawk team when Anisimov returns I’ll go with Vegas predictors…Blackhawks Dynasty Win 4th cup in seven seasons!….