Kings Stifle Pedestrian Blackhawks Offense
The Blackhawks needed overtime to take a second point against the last place Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night. So how would they look the following night in Los Angeles against a potential playoff team in the Kings?
The first period was a dumpster fire. Phillip Danault scored a power play goal at 11:58 into the first to give the Kings a 1-0 lead, and the Hawks were fortunate to only trail by one after 20 minutes. LA out-shot the Hawks 17-6 in the first period and spent most of the first in their offensive zone.
The second period started the same way. It took the Blackhawks ten minutes to register a shot on net and Anze Kopitar doubled the Kings’ lead at 9:16. At that point, the two-goal lead felt like about 20 based on the limited amount of offense the Blackhawks were generating.
But a power play gave the Hawks an opportunity to get back into the game.
With 4:47 left in the second period, it appeared Patrick Kane scored a power play goal. But a takeaway by Seth Jones popped the puck into the air and Kane needed to get back across the blue line before Alex DeBrincat entered the zone… and it wasn’t clear that the two Chicago superstars’ paths crossed fully before DeBrincat’s skate entered the zone. The Kings challenged the play and the war room upheld the goal, giving the Hawks a goal — and a power play resulting from the lost challenge.
NHL explanation: “There was no conclusive evidence to show that Alex DeBrincat entered the Los Angeles zone before Patrick Kane tagged up at the blue line. Therefore, the call on the ice stands.” #Blackhawks https://t.co/iroTOwDS6H
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 22, 2022
The goal is Kane’s 91st point of the season. DeBrincat’s 36th assist on the play established a new career high for him in that regard and tied his previous career-high of 76 points in a season.
Los Angeles was back on the attack in the final two minutes of the second period but Collin Delia was able to come up with a couple huge saves. Jonathan Toews was on the ice for a 3:19 shift to close the period; he finally got off the ice with 1.4 seconds left when a puck deflected out of play. Dominik Kubalik was stuck out there almost as long, and Toews was visibly pissed when he arrived on the bench.
Officially, the Kings out-shot the Hawks 11-5 in the second period and carried a 2-1 lead into the third period.
After two periods, it appeared someone on the coaching staff finally got the memo that the organization is looking to the future. Calvin de Haan had skated 8:24 and Riley Stillman had skated 8:56 through 40 minutes; Alec Regula was on the ice for 13:39 and Alex Vlasic skated 14:11. The two youngsters continue to look ready for the NHL, so it’s good to see them getting rewarded with ice time.
So how do you come back from a one-goal deficit? Generating some offense is a good idea, and the Blackhawks had as many shots on net through 40 minutes as the Kings had in just the second period.
Taylor Raddysh went to the box 48 seconds into the third period. The Hawks were able to get through the two minutes but obviously going short-handed almost immediately is not an ideal way to start a comeback bid.
Boris Katchouk was able to bait Adrian Kempe into a penalty at 4:18 into the third to give the Hawks an advantage. Chicago did nothing with their own power play.
It took almost eight minutes for the Blackhawks to put a second shot on net in the third period; the offense wasn’t there yet again but the Kings weren’t running away, which kept the door open for drama.
With just a little more than eight minutes left in regulation, Andreas Athanasiou was able to poke the puck away from Jake McCabe (who was having a strong game) and took off the other way and scored a breakaway goal on a nice move.
It appeared Delia might have been shaken up on the move by Athanasiou. He wasn’t able to recover on a cross-ice pass that resulted in a Trevor Moore goal just 15 seconds after the Athanasiou goal and not only did the Kings suddenly have a 4-1 lead but Delia was being helped off the ice with an injury. Kevin Lankinen was called on for the final eight minutes.
Absolutely nobody wanted to stop the puck in the final four minutes of the game. Chicago finished with 16 shots on net in the game — one less than the Kings had in the first period. Delia is now injured and the offense is still missing in action.
Regula finished the night skating 20:34 and Vlasic was on the ice for 18:27. They were credited with two blocked shots each.
Strome won six of nine faceoffs. Toews won seven of 15 and Sam Lafferty won seven of 12 at the dot.
DeBrincat (three), Kane and Kubalik (two each) were the only Blackhawks skaters to be credited with more than one shot on net. Of course, when those three guys combined for seven of the team’s 16 total shots on net, it’s hard for many other players to light up that category.
Besides Kane and Debrincat there is just no offensive creativity to the rest of this team save maybe Seth Jones on the rush occasionally. This team needs a few fast twitch dynamic/creative forwards and a couple of mobile swift skating defensemen. And of course an entire new coaching staff. GM Davidson has many decisions to make and lots of work to do.
I did not even know that there was a game. I watched HDTV instead. Apparently, there was more physical play on Love It or List it than at the Hawks game. You know it’s bad when you don’t mind missing a Hawks game to watch a construction site.
I listened to the 1st Period but fell asleep. Apparently, so did the offense. Looking at the game stats summed up the effort. I hope Delia is alright. Toews, as much as I love the guy, is a 3rd line center, at this point of his career. There’s no shame in that. Dach, at this point in his career, is not a 2nd line center. So, for Davidson, there’s the biggest need. A 1 or 2 Center and a 1 or 2 LW. I think Raddysh is a top 6 forward. Until Reichel puts on some beef, he should be a 2 or 3 C or LW.
I was reading that Colton Dach is having a banner year, with the Kelowna Rockets. He should make the jump to, at the very least, Rockford. He may be the 2nd line LW or C that the team needs.
Ryder Rolston? Langdon Slaggert? Josiah Slavin? Mike Hardman All candidates for that 3rd or 4th line.
Katchouk is a bit of a mystery. HC-King won’t put the guy on the 3rd line. Possibly because that 4th line, with Entwistle and R. Johnson is a very solid and productive line.
I sure wish Ian Mitchell would get the call. I never want to see Gustafsson in the Indian Head sweater. He can QB the 2PP. Let’s get a real look at the Blueline youth. What else have we got to lose?
I really like what I see so far from Regula and Vlasic who played almost 20 minutes.
On the Kings third goal we can see the speed Regula has when he comes very close to break the play .and I like his reaction after the goal .
Wish we could find another Danault for the future Hawks.
Delia was also good but should learn how to poke when players are soo. Lose to him.
Lottery in less then 3 weeks.
Guy Lafleur ( flower) died at 70 .. .in Junior he scored 130 goals in a season …haha..we need a guy like him to complete a trio .REP Guy.
Caught 1st 2 periods, pretty unspired looking team last night. Delia just suffered from cramps i guess, no injury, a solid game for him what i saw.
Del Mastro signed 3 year elc, candidate to go back to junior and slide a year as Allen posdibly will next year too. Neither eligible for Ahl due Chl agreement next year. Good to have him signed, the big thing. Definitely the plan to keep surrounding S. Jones with these youngsters as they are ready, enough placekeepers to have proper patience with them and can be moved when time is right. Regula, Vlassic nice showing so far and Mitchell looks ready to join them on Nhl roster as rest of the development happens next few years.
I see Raddysh, Katchouk, R. Johnson and Lafferty, Kds own personal moves on roster next year. 19 and 88 have to agree to be moved so no way he can make any moves there without their ok. Reichel and Dach most likely brought back unless something falls in his lap like Hagel deal. If Kayumov signing on May 1st when Khl fa begins, then he most likely gets a chance to be a middle 6 winger next year or 2 and earn a spot longer. Debrincat like Reichel and Dach likely back next year unless a big offer for him happens. The rest are wait and see what happens. Could see if both 19 and 88 stay that he goes buyout route with T. Johnson, caphit win’t be an issue for few years, so lots of options. Borgstrom maybe gets loaned back to Swedish league next year, Khaira if no role on Nhl roster, take over Gabriel role in Rfd. looking after youngsters. Goaltender will take a few years to resolve who is where when the dust settles.
Terrible play ! I stayed up late to watch this ! For a couple decades I watched what they called the circus trip with the Hawks ! The boys would travel on that western road swing when the Circus came to the U.C. ! It was always a few great games that the Hawks played ! Well, that’s gone ! Just another nail in the coffin ! Perhaps next decade ! I know a few of us watched until the wee hours of the morning ! POPS 4
I was in the camp of moving T&K. The reality, they aren’t going anywhere unless they want to, at least for next year and truth be told, only Kane has value. The asset we do have that the market would want, The Cat and Murphy.
How about The Cat and Murphy to the Kings for Byfiield, 2022 #1 and another fill in the blank player? Gives us some size at center, a pick and another potential. Gives the Kings some instant scoring which they badly need and some physicality on defense.
You start getting a young core of Byfield, Vlassic, Regula, Dach and Rychel and a bunch of picks and make some decisions on T&K next year.
Dach is and will never live up to his draft status, if you can trade him in the off-season, do it, Jury is still out on Reichel as he showed ZERO in his time with the Hawks. As for these kids in Juniors having banner years…..that’s all it is, playing against children, not men. Wait til they get to the AHL or NHL and see what they can do, and heck even the AHL is not a good standard to look at, just look at Reichel or someone like Dylan Sikura, they light up the AHL, Then do nothing in the NHL. Just face it, the Hawks farm system has nothing in regards to forwards and that goes to your scouting and drafting.
I watched the whole game, paying for it now. Toews was hotter than a firecracker before the end of the 2nd period, probably the maddest I’ve ever seen him. I’m not a great lip reader but even I caught every word from that blowup, no coach even came near him after that. Besides that, Lafferty is a lock on the penalty kill and the 2 rookie D-men did well again. If it wasn’t for Delia before he got hurt, score probably would have been 7-1, he was standing on his head. Almost done here, KD has a huge job this offseason.
Was one of those that stayed up late to watch the boys. These are good games to watch the kids play no matter what the score or out come.
Our Twin Towers (Reg&Vlas) look like they fit in.
Still think we need to keep Kaner as our crafty veteran for years to come.
Toews will need a third team to move somewhere. I would not use an asset to move him. One year left. He retires after next season. We eat half at TDL and send TJ eating half of his and take a bad contract back (Patch) . If he’s not retiring we offer a non insulting contract out of respect. I know no one like this but minimum 1yr $4mil. I would go 1yr $5mil out of respect.
Tim W I’m 7 for 7
Stape, how did Copp do last night?
Haha…Del Mastro look like 14 years old frame on the photo.
JR, You’re in trouble the rest of the way. Philly and Buffalo are playing some quality young interested players now and will dominate are disinterested bunch the last week of the season. The Hawks need a very magical Ping pong ball to make this better.
Always nice to see Danault do his thing. We didn’t need him…
Thanks for your posts Ian, spot on. Still , I see Katchouk and R.Johnson as dead weight. And as far as Murphy? His true game really showed without Keith, and concussions are cumulative…Cut him now while we can get something…The youngsters on D have some good promise. Katchouk and R.Johnson do not…And never will.
Hardman, appeared to be a more adaptable player on both sides of the puck and rough around the corners.