Jonathan Toews Hat Trick Drops Blues In St. Louis
Another ugly start by the Blackhawks defensively was overcome by offense that wouldn’t quit.
And the demise of Jonathan Toews appears to have been greatly exaggerated.
The opening 20 minutes were ugly for both teams. A parade to both penalty boxes made the play choppy and both sides struggled to put together much sustained offense. Colton Parayko and Vladimir Tarasenko gave the Blues a 2-0 lead in the first as shaky defense early in the game was an issue again for the Hawks.
But 68 seconds after the Tarasenko goal, Toews got Chicago on the board.
The best line on the ice for Chicago in the first was Toews’ line, which was also a trend in the opener in Ottawa. Toews and Alex DeBrincat showed great chemistry and the captain was able to cut the lead in half before the opening period ended.
In the second, the Hawks battled back. Patrick Kane took over the game and tied the game at two 93 seconds into the middle period.
The Kane goal closed a dominant shift by his line that included a nice screen from Brandon Saad in front of the net.
Chicago had won 43 consecutive games when Kane and Toews score in the same game. Would that streak hold up?
Eight minutes later, Kane attacked the net and found a streaking Marcus Kruger for his first goal of the season.
Kruger’s goal gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead and sucked the life out of the arena in St. Louis. Chicago appeared to have some momentum and Cam Ward was settling down in net.
After a review of what appeared initially to be a tremendous save by Ward, Tarasenko was credited with a power play goal at 3:58 into the third to tie the game. Chris Butler gave the Blues a 4-3 lead 22 seconds later and the arena was awake.
But Toews wasn’t done.
Rookie Henri Jokiharju fired a shot at the net and Toews cleaned up the trash in front for his second of the game and third of the season.
The assist gave Jokiharju the first point of his NHL career.
Kruger went to the box at 12:47 and the Hawks spent the entire two minutes in their defensive zone. A stalwart effort kept the score tied and the two sides skated out the final five minutes.
In overtime, Toews exploded up the ice and received a perfect pass from Saad and completed the fifth hat trick of his career.
The third goal of the night gives Toews four on the young season, making this the fastest Chicago’s captain has reached four goals in a regular season in his career. The previous fastest for Toews was eight games – in his rookie year.
Ward stopped 26 of 30 in the victory.
Quenneville smiled after the game when asked about the performance of Jokiharju, who continues to impress. The young defensemen picked up a second assist on Toews’ third goal. Quenneville compared the start of the season for Jokiharju to Barrett Jackman when Q was coaching in St. Louis. When the media joked that Hawks fans might not like the comparison, Quenneville noted that Jackman was the Rookie of the Year.
Jokiharju skated 19:30 with two hits, one takeaway and two shots on net with his first two career assists.
Toews won 13 of 26 faceoffs and added one hit in 21:12 on the ice. He was dominant for a second night in as many opportunities and appears to be set for a huge bounce-back season.
Nick Schmaltz won three of 12 faceoffs but was credited with two assists. DeBrincat also picked up two assists in the game, and Kane was the fourth Hawks skater with a multi-point effort adding an assist to his second period goal.
This is the first time the Blackhawks have opened a season with two overtime victories.
Tales of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
He obviously can’t keep this up. Much like Hartman last year who had what 7 points after 2 games? But it’s certainly nice to see.
Lost lead. And 2 quick goals against. See that too often.
It hasn’t been pretty so far, but 4 points out of 4 points.
Don’t you want to feel like that again.
I was very suspect about Joki being ready for the NHL but he played a very solid game tonight against a big veteran team. I continue to be impressed by Kampf – he is blue collar but always making the right play and working hard in the corners. He is the kind of player that made Vegas so good last year. We still have plenty of challenges but it’s always fun to beat the Blues.
It’s fantastic to see Toews having fun again. If he can get back to 70+ points for a few more years it will be great. If Saad can get his act together we could have two solid scoring lines.
I predicted 36-36-10 for 82pts. That is still my best guess but I would love to be pleasantly surprised.
After 3 dud years i hope JT is just getting going. I would love to eat my words. Nice start to the season.
Fun to watch Toews looking like he is enjoying playing again, Kane line came alive tonight, Jokiharju is for real so far. Great start like last year, lets hope the next 80 games are alot different
Johnny Wayne and Kaner have moar then 5 really good yrs ahead.
Heck Dunks still has 5 more yrs. Hes not going to miss out on when were deep again.
Q is no dummy. Manning was no great shakes game 1, and tonight he was even worse; 11 mins and change ice time. The Hawks need Seabrook to be somewhat of a force, and he is dragged down by playing w Manning. Further Q smarts, Martinsen 7 minutes ice each game; this drags down Johnson & Kruger as well. The 4th line has to play 10-11 minutes a night at minimum; it’s not sustainable double shifting Kane two games into the season.
Lastly, PK is terrible so far, part of the reason is Manning is on the PK. This stuff isn’t brain surgery. The Hawks effort and grit, however, can’t be questioned, kudos to Ward for being competent.
Get these couple guys out of the lineup and things will get even better. Keep the line moving tmrw.
I’m with MS, I stand corrected about Jokiharju. He has not been intimidated by the pace at all. It’s very early but so far so good.
Toews and Kane, absolutely amazing.
Nick Schmaltz =Stud. His puck possession at the NHL level is truly amazing. Sadly his first, second and third inclination is to pass no matter what, even when he’s got a clear short lane to the net to bury it.
WOW – vintage Toews has returned. Hope he hangs around for a good long while. Obviously he not going to continue to score over 2 points per game but the energy and execution he is playing with dramatically changes the possibilities for the season. Course, it’s only 2 games so we’ll see.
Joki played very well – also very good to see.
It’s a beautiful thing to watch Kane and Schmaltz cycle, take shot, retrieve puck, repeat.
So far so good. Keep it going boys.
An OT win is still a win! Leafs will be hungry tonight- a win at home would get the fans back on to the wagon- PP and PK both need some work. Seabs doesn’t seem to be playing with that grit and finess of years ago? Some of the young guys need to step up soon or be replaced- where IS Hayden??
I agree with GH61…where is John Hayden? Get the kid on the ice now, tonight.
Kudos to Cam Ward for his gritty play. Can we get any takers for Seabrooke and Saad? We might have to throw in D Cat to do it but it could be better in the long run for this team. It is obvious that this team is going to be built on the defensive end with quick twitch athletics like Duncan Keith.
Correction. Should be athletes.
Seems like everybody agrees Hayden should be in the lineup, Martinsen and Manning best served in as emergency replacements in press box not taking ice time from anybody in minors either. Davidson should get a chance, I don’t expect him to solve anything, he probably gets waived first unless he really impresses. Forsling or someone in Rockford hopefully steps up there, soon.
Throw in Murphy’s eventual return when it happens, along with Jokiharju’s continued development which seems to make Keith look more like himself out there as his partner, defense can improve as year goes on.
Re: Joker… I will throw in the 3rd (I was wrong — so far)… still don’t think he is as fast/quick as Boqvist/Beaudin/Mtichell…. ( which is great for Hawks)… but the kid really can stick w/ people and check up tight (He will get burned sooner or later)…
but a lot to like… + he gets his shot on or near net- which Most Hawk’s D men seem to struggle with…
Toews- looks much more eager/willing to TRY this year… and he is Not fumbling the puck like last two year’s… So FAR… so was he injured?? Did he just “take it easy” last 2 summers (explaining his Fumble-itis) ??? OR were those last years the “outliers” Statistically speaking?
I vote combination of Injury… and “relaxing” – which could be partly due to injury.
I agree w/ some here … Manning Sucks… Seabs- is still SLOW- TURNSTYLE!
Kurashev- 1g, 1a for his Jr. Team… Really Loved Kurashev in Camp… skates like Stud… will land somewhere Between Bolly/Danault…
Kampf– always like him
Gus- what a FRUSTRATING PLAYER to watch… Looks like Eric Karlsson one minute… then Chris Campoli the next… similar to Kempny- in that he makes the same mistakes- over and over.. Kempny mistakes were more mental/coverage related… Gus- just tries passes/exits that just don’t always work
Looks to me like Toevs has finally come out from under the impact concussions have had on him these past few years. It takes a LONG time to get over the impact a concussion can have …..wonderful to see him not hesitating and in right relationship with his body. There’s a fogbank that a concussion can create in your mind and body and you just have to take it day by day and rehab is slow at times
Agree Deb – I think there was fallout from concussions in Toews’ case the last couple of years but I think he also changed his training this summer to be quicker
Agree also with Manning out Davidson in and Martinen out Hayden in – I think the 4th line with Hayden could play more minutes
Nice to see Saad and Schmaltz contribute after a not so great game 1
I think Forsberg will get the net tonight vs Leafs with Sparks in net – battle of the back ups – will be interesting
Also liking Kampf in his role – fast, big, forechecks, smart – hoping he scores soon
Deb I agree, he was in a fog last year.
On an amusing note, anyone else notice the resemblance between Toews & the Yankees Arron Judge….???
Wall, don’t you think it had something to do with linemates? I mean seriously, the dude had to play with Richard Panik.
To the idiot who thinks trading a guy that can’t even legally drink but has the potential to put up 30-35 goals a year is a good idea just to get rid of Saad and or Seabrook. Sure Saad and Seabrook are overpaid. Saad can still turn things around. As far as Seabrook finding a replacement level for what he brings on the ice and in the locker room is no easy task.
With the Leafs coming to town and Nylander still without a contract you wonder if the idea of a Nylander trade is talked about. The leafs are at 6 million a year. With Matthews and Marner coming up, they really cant go over that number. And even at 6 things would be tight. Hawks have a 6 million dollar winger, wonder if there’s any interest at all.
Q’s modus operandi is usually to not change the lineup after a win (goalie in back to back excluded). I’d like to see Hayden too, but we’ll see.
@Wall: I missed last night, but in Sens game Gus gave up 2 on 1’s on consecutive shifts. You are right – he never learns. When things don’t work on the exits he just tries it again. Bad pinch? … it’ll work next time. He seem utterly oblivious and remains the same calamity who cost us game 7 against Blows 3 years ago. He and Manning are both wasted contracts.
Always fun to win although winning sloppy isn’t sustainable. Good stuff from HJ so far (and good for Q for having him out there in the OT). It’s still early for him, and he will have ups and downs, but it’s a good start.
Ernie, interesting idea although I think Toronto would need more in the deal than only Saad because Nylander is clearly a better player than Saad. On the other hand, Toronto’s best players are at center and RW, with only Marleau being a true top-6 LW. The other LWs are Zack Hyman, Josh Leivo, and Andre Johnsson – none of which are as good as Saad.
That was an exciting game. The Captain has been terrific, and Ward has made some big time saves. Fun so far.
Tazer changed his workout/training program 2 yrs ago, to get faster which sacrificed some size/cycle things.
This summer he adjusted that, even moar.
You add in the concussion affects finally redeeming themselves, and you have
seeing the results from sticking with it.
Johnny Wayne is no two pump chump.
Just a side note. From the clips I have seen, I have no idea how Jokiharju was credited with an assist on the OT winner. Looks to me like Saad blocked the shot and Toews did the rest. Perhaps it nicked Jokiharju’s stick.
Loving the determination right now. I kind of wish Andersen was in net tonight as hes had an awful start. Sparks may very well be the better goalie. Either way, if we were to come out of this weekend with wins against the blues and leafs, that’s gonna definitely keep the motivation and drive going for the core.
Starting to get excited for what this team could be with the few replacements were all thinking about (manning, martinson, etc.)
Good win again. Sloppy but effective. Toews has obviously been great. Jokiharju nothing but solid in two games. Gus and Rutta aren’t a terrible pairing. Would like to see davidson and Hayden! in the lineup tonight for manning and Martinsen.
Looking to see how Forsberg looks in net. Hopefully he shows solid and might build up a late round pick trade market or even just keep all 3 goalies on roster even though it isn’t ideal.
Looking forward to watching Toronto tonight.
I hate to say it, but young Pettersson on Canucks is an eye-popping talent. He will put a lot of bums in seats even when the rest of the team sucks. His mom is pretty hot too.
Joki will continue to make rookie errors but love his upside-was a first round pick for a reason.
Ernie why people constantly put D-Cat on the disposable list is baffling-he can play and his vision is near Kane like. A guys who competes, is a great passer and can score 30 in his sleep. Yeah let’s give him away–
Noonan, agree with Jokijarju. Everyone makes mistakes. Especially teenage rookie defenseman. But he’s looked good. Certainly hasn’t made the egregious giveaway like Martinsen made in the d-zone last night. Martinsen actually looked good last year. But I can’t imagine any scenario where Hayden doesn’t play tonight.
Glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand the bufoonery surrounding the willingness to dispose of Debrincat.
28 playing really good, so far.
I donot believe a word of that florida bullsh-t.
Every player in the league is inconsistent at some point/point in the first yr they play, so this word-so far. Not.
What matters is he can play and hes good.
Yea hes playing really good and that’s awesome, which show he could be really good. Those other guys are better in ways,
EVEN BETTER.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kArg0SxEGJE
My favorite.
http://www.tzr.io/yarn-clip/4c12de3b-c59a-4fe9-9c0f-20c7bc1310dd
I posted that at 10am, with videos clips and swear words, so its in the awaiting comments box.
Just because we traded 86 and 48 to trade the caphit contracts of 29 and 81 doesn’t mean we have to trade a good young player everytime to do that.
Its what you have to do when your at the cap and want to add players to be deep.
By the time we need to add players for extra quality deepness those caphit contracts might be up for a contract yr anyways.
I would think that 8 and 12 are part of the roster when were deep again.
Mo, Jokiharju has the skill and seems to be some chemistry between him and Keith, which is a big thing. Let’s hope he stays healthy and confident when he gets some adversity. Watched some of his junior games and read what scouts said last fall and felt he could be real deal since then but 2 games don’t make a career either, but it is promising.
This is just the beginning.
The Four Horsemen.
Seabrook be here a couple more years at least, still think there may be an opportunity then with expansion draft, plus caphit vs actual salary a but more attractive at that point. Wear and tear from injuries maybe could come into play by then too.
Like the idea of Nylander but if Leafs move him more likely be for needed help on defense, unless Babcock or Shanahan really want him.
So Leafs would probably want a d-man back if they trade Nylander … would Seabrook work? Just kidding … Babcock didn’t just fall off the back of a turnip truck.
DeBrincat-Toews-Nylander would be nice though.
OK – this is going to sound crazy … cuz it kinda is … but what if we trade Keith for Nylander. Keith has a $5.5M cap hit for this season and 4 more so maybe Toronto can work that in their Cap – it would be lower than what Nylander would cost them. For the Hawks it would probably be a $1.5M-$2M cap addition depending what Nylander would sign for. So Cap-wize it should work for both teams.
Now, it would be an admission by Hawks management that this is a rebuild/retool year because subtracting the best d-man of a weak d-corps really can’t be interpreted any other way, but realistically that’s what this is regardless of the 2-0 start and Toews stellar play. Subtracting Keith will mean a weaker d-corps without question but it will force the Hawks to figure out what they will want to keep for the future – Joki is a lock, but where does Forsling, Murphy, Gustafsson fit? Are they keepers or just fill-ins until the four horsemen arrive? Plus, realistically Keith will not be a top pairing d-man when the Hawks are back in contention for the Cup, probably the earliest being 2020/21. The return on Keith is as high now as it ever will be again as time moves on.
DeBrincat-Toews-Nylander
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Pretty solid top-6 for many years to come.
Ernie… part of Toews last 2 years… could be blamed on linemates,, sure
But 19 fumbled/muffed more pucks last 2 years… then previous several years, i cant blame that on line mates…
Perhaps Deb was right… recovery from several concussions. .. i think like most human beings. .. after tons of success, u kinda take the foof off the gas… and or age and injuries don’t allow the intense training. .. and u slow down a bit…
I like Kahun a lot… like i said before. .. smarter Versteeg type player… at the end of day… Kahun is solid 3rd line guy on Cup type team… w ability to fill in on top 2 lines at times…
Hawks have plenty of more skilled faster guys for bottom 6… in Europe and CHL… they cant get here fast enough
Kurashev, Soderlund, Kayumov, Nordgren .
Also, Lucas Carlsson is better than half D guys on Hawks right now… i think when he gets trained down in Rockford. .. he will get a cup of joe w Hawks this year
So …not Mathias From? I kid. But concussions could have played a part in it. By all accounts his last concussion was December 2014. In 2016 he had an upper body injury that was “not a concussion”
13/14- 68 points in 76 games
14/15- 66 points in 81 games
15/16- 58 points in 80 games
16/17- 58 points in 72 games
17/18- 52 points in 74 games
If you want to blame it on concussions, the effects don’t appear to be immediate. I tend to lean more towards his usage, his linemates, and him personally. After 2 games he looks noticeably different. Can he keep it up is anyone’s guess. Saad started hot last year remember.
Another D I’ve liked but injuries hampered him last year… Luc Snuggerud. Just wonder if they try to move some of these guys.
So what Sidney Crosby said is absolutely true after he dealt with concussion problems for almost 2 years…….”one day I woke up and I was able to play the game without difficulty, again”.
Glad to see old #19 back and healthy. We look a little sloppy, but that will all cure itself as we go along.
It’s official-power play is the laughing stock of the league-coaching staff needs to be accountable.
Even though we do not deserve it.
You want to win or tie every games you deserve to, like this one we outplayed TOR by a lot in the 1st. The refs just call penalty after we tie 3-3 and of course they get something on it and then call a penalty agasint them and of course we do not. Every time it seems and the refs know it.
I donot give a shit about the refs.
We played good, outplayed them.
Want to get better and play good, like we are.
Its crazy to think, would be better to not have too good of a record.
This really is whats best for the team.
Its just a lot of fun to watch the guys outplay the other team and win/or tie.
When we donot, remember we want another high end prospect, if we donot make playoffs.
“And the demise of Jonathan Toews appears to have been greatly exaggerated.”
It’s now 3 games – too early to declare any rebirth – he must keep it up for the entire year.
GREAT START.