Patrick Sharp, Stars Dominate Blackhawks
Johnny Oduya and Antti Niemi were facing many of their former teammates on Tuesday night. Niemi has been gone since 2010; Oduya has been gone since the parade ended in June.
Seeing them in a Dallas sweater didn’t generate anywhere close to the amount of emotion that seeing Patrick Sharp in green did for Blackhawks fans.
Through the first 40 minutes of the game, the teams were playing fairly close. Dallas led 1-0 on a Jason Spezza power play goal, but the credited shots were 17-15 in favor of Chicago. Both teams had a couple power plays, and the Stars were able to convert on one of theirs. Sharp was credited with an assist on Spezza’s goal.
But the entire complexion of the game changed on the first rush of the final period.
When Sharp scored 12th goal of the season just 11 seconds into the third period, he gave the Stars momentum and breathing room.
The last time Sharp scored against the Blackhawks was on Feb. 24, 2004 when he was with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Colton Sceviour redirected a Jordie Benn shot through Crawford at 2:57 into the third and the wheels were off. Chicago chased the rest of the way, but a three goal deficit against on the road against the division leading Stars was simply too much.
When Mattias Janmark scored to extend the lead to 4-0, the Hawks were five short minutes away from Christmas and played like they were already on the plane back to Chicago.
For good measure, Oduya picked up an assist on the Janmark goal.
And Niemi was credited with the shutout.
Dallas completely dominated the Blackhawks in the third period. Chicago was credited with three shots on goal in the third while Dallas put 16 on net. The first goal Crawford allowed was terribly soft, but the skill up and down the Stars lineup showed up as they beat him from every angle in the third to blow the game open.
Crawford stopped 27 of 31 in the loss. Andrew Shaw was the only Chicago player credited with more than one hit, and Andrew Desjardins led the way with four blocked shots.
Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger were both absent from the lineup again, which meant more Artem Anisimov and Teuvo Teravainen on penalty kill duty. Phillip Danault actually played a decent game and saw some PK work in the third period.
Unfortunately for Chicago, the night was not without injury. Rob Scuderi took a redirected shot to the face around 12 minutes into the third period. He dropped hard and there was blood on the ice. Scuderi was able to skate off but he needed repairs and went to the room immediately.
Chicago heads to the break ten points behind Dallas in the division. The Blackhawks are back at the United Center to host Carolina on Sunday.
Good 2 periods then ppphhtttt….Tab said it all. For all the Mashinter haters: he was the only guy that came really close to scoring with that wraparound in the first..damn puck should have gone in. Well it’s a no brainer that Niemi, Oduya and Sharpie are in 7th heaven. Oh well, have a great Christmas and don’t worry about it,,,plenty more games against these clowns.
We did not pass the test. We are a good team, but did not look like a Stanley cup contender tonight. We did not touch the puck in the 3rd and the stars puck possession game reminds me of the great Stanley cupHawks teams. It sucks but the better team won.
50 not his best C for the night and 2 for the night?
The Hawks were overwhelmed by the Dallas team speed. It was very clear tonight that we have too many players with below average skating ability. 29,70,53,32&47. Changes need to be made if we are going to have a reasonable chance to win another Cup. 29 & 70 should be replaced by Kero and Dano. They are raw but they have far more speed , skill and upside than 29 &70. 53 will be gone when Hoss comes back.
Gusty should be put in rotation with 32 and 47 to give them some time off. Runblad should also play occassionally to give Rosy and Scuderi rest. 24 has excellent speed and toughness and will be an excellent addition.
Well no wonder they won…look at that picture from Tab…Sharpies got a can of pepper spray under his jersey and tucked at the top of his pants.
Thanks for the laugh Mining Man.
2 -3, 19 -2. I think Toews needs to break up with his lady friend so he can concentrate on Hockey!
Measuring stick was how well we did in 8 games in 13 nights. The only measuring stick this was was they matched up against us, when we were short handed (Hossa). We outplayed them by alot in the 2nd, just got screwed by the penaltys they got away with and the ones called on us, that was the diff./game. 3rd period doesn’t matter/meaningless (we didn’t play that period).
With Krugs injury were going to be able to add an extra player for playoffs that we wouldn’t have been able to just like we did with Kaners injury. This in addition to 1 or 2 players at deadline. Which means we essentially are playing without 3 good FW that we will have in games 60-80 and playoffs.
Remember were going to have a good JAN/FEB compared to usual, since we have 6 of 18 new/young guys. Takes time to settle in. The younger players are going to get better/upside and carry us to a good record in our normal slump mths. The core/role guys know when it matters to be player your best hockey and that is not the 1st 40 games.
I don’t know how much of a factor “8 games in 13 nights” was (and I didn’t bother to compare the Stars’ schedule during that stretch), but Dallas was MUCH quicker the entire game.
Also, to suggest “Through the first 40 minutes of the game, the teams were playing fairly close” (Tab) isn’t really accurate – the Hawks were outplayed in the first period – especially on their two wasted (- no shots) powerplays, despite being outshot only 7-3.
Hopefully they will be “energized” after the break.
Another measure of our strength is to look at Anaheim and Tampa Bay. Both lose yet again tonight. Ducks are alone in the basement and well out of it and Tampa is 4 points out of a wild card and sinking. So what you say? Both played us deep into the playoffs and are paying the price today while we just roll along and this after multiple years of it. That is truly remarkable. LA is just getting their mojo back this year after missing entirely after facing us deep. I like Morrisons theory, I think we get better during our traditional downer time, plus we have some good stuff hidden away in Rockford with youth and speed gaining experience and critical skills, plus a bit of cap room now and later with Stans final hammer for the dash…fear not fellow CI’s , it’s going to be all in and go for it. These big offensive teams like Dallas and Washington never fail to fizzle somewhere during the playoffs.
The Blackhawks had to deal with crushing cap limits, their superstar accused of rape, verrrry short summer after their 3rd Cup… but they failed the December 22nd Test. Hahahhahahah. Good stuff.
I got news. This just in. This wasn’t just another game for the Hawks… it was even less than that.
By my count Seabrook fainted on the puck about 10 times. It was bad pass after turnover after bad pas all night long. Keith also was planning Christmas break.
Coach Q sent Danault against Benn’s line and they were very, very good. The Start went away from that. Their coach thought “We don’t want that… we want Benn against Toews”. And they started dominating.
You could see watching the 3 leaders of the team that they were going trough the motions more than anything.
I’d say that the only interesting fact of the night was Coach Q going with Denault against Seguin and the fact they were winning the matchup. That’s very positive news in the long run.
What really matters is how the teams are playing in the playoffs, not now. The Hawks will be better then as they work their way through which players belong and which don’t and the younger players play more and together. Dallas thinks they won the cup already because they won last night and they have the best record. They should call Anaheim and ask about how much the best record means come playoff time. I am interested in Morrison’s post above about the Hawks ability to add player at the deadline and due to the Kruger injury. Does everyone agree with that and if so who could be added because I think adding someone like Vermette will make the difference.
Stars fan (and Blackhawks fan too) here in DFW. Happy to see the Stars win last night, especially after playing the night before in MN and getting back at 3 am.
Yes, this was only 1 game, with many more to come this year, but it was a building block to the desire of the Stars to become what we know Chicago is….Champions.
Thanks to these former vets from Chicago, the Stars young talent are learning what it will take to win….and rest assured, none of them think they won the Cup last night, they know it is a long season, with many games left to be played….they enjoy the moment, then reset and prepare for the next game….just like teams seeking to become champions like Chicago, do.
John, Stars fans have been acting like they won the Cup since the Sharp trade and the Oduya signing. They are peaking too early. My prediction is they lose in the second round and maybe the first round.
Also check with St. Louis on the importance of the regular season vs winning in the playoffs.
Instead of trading for someone like Vermette I’d rather use those resources to entail somebody to eat Bickell’s contract. That to me is more important than adding some average guy for the playoffs.
The battle for the 3rd C spot between Rasmussen, Kero and Danault is already hot and it will get even hotter. I’d look there for that 3rd Center position instead of a trade and there’s a case to be made about the ‘losers’ of this competition playing winger.
The one possible scenario I could envision would be a trade that involves Dano. If the Blackhawks come to the conclusion he doesn’t fit, a straight up trade between young players with somebody might be possible. Trade involving young players that don’t fit their current systems.
I can’t believe I agree with DumDum on anything, but I do about Seabrook last night. I think he lost the puck at the point twice on early power plays that cost momentum. He also made multiple bad passes in our D zone when uncontested that ended up on Dallas sticks and kept in the zone.
Merry Christmas Tab, and everyone else that frequents the blog!
I’m not too worried about this loss. It’s the first game against the Stars this year, so Q will make notes and will adjust and prepare for this team in the future. As mentioned above Danault played well as Seguin got no points last night and believe Benn only had an assist so good show. Now a well deserved rest for these guys and bring on the WJHC Go Canada!!!!!
The Hawks were soundly thumped by a well coached superior team. Dallas is a deeply impressive team. Two major stars in Benn and Sequin, the veteran influence of Spezza and Sharp, a great complementary mix of forwards who each know their role, a rebuilt defense that looks great (enabled in great part by dumping Daley and inserting Oduya) and major upgrade at goaltender with Neimi. That club can flat out skate too, and they have some excellent pieces waiting in their minors. Yeah, I think Dallas is for real and has arrived. People of Texas don’t really know what hockey is, but they will realize very soon they have the makings of a Cup team.
The Hawks? I’ll say it again.l regardless the cluelessness of Tab. This is the weakest overall roster in the 8 seasons of Quenneville behind the bench. We simply are a roster with holes and shortcomings that we haven’t had to deal with in the past. Teams with some quality depth and speed are difficult matchups for us. Look no further than the change out of the Toews like year over year. The loss of Saad is really starting to show itself and Hossa is a great player in systematic decline. We have been forced to replace roster spots with too many “just a guy” types and grindy lunch bucket players.
I’ll say one more thing. Panarin is on the cusp of being in Quenneville’s doghouse and is in need of a slap. The last two weeks he has become full of himself on the ice and gotten super sloppy. I don’t know what the hell is happening but this sh!t has got to stop and it has to stop right now.
It was a good game until the 3rd. Could have swung either way depending on who finished chances when.
Anyone else find it incredible how negative RTF is/has been on the Hawks in the midst of a dynasty. 3 Cups in 6 years and this guys keeps coming with the Hawks are garbage routine. I guess the Hawks didn’t win the Cup last year and TT is garbage and will be traded and Panarin isn’t the leading candidate for rookie of the year, Kane will never play for the Hawks again and etc. etc etc…… I keep waiting for the broken clock to be at least right twice in one day and it hasn’t happened with this guy. Incredible!
One of the truths of the last many years is to take the games the week of the Holidays with a grain of salt. Yes Dallas is one of the better teams in the league, with many of the parts needed to win a Cup.
The Hawks has been dealing with shortcomings since 2010-we’ll see what happens, but to count them out-as some are apt to do, is very shortsighted.
The only thing I found amusing about watching last night was the post game CSN with Konroyd commenting on the first 2 Stars goals. He went back and forth a few times about saying one was soft and the other not. Look Steve how hard is it to get something like that straight? For what is worth I thought the Spezza goal was a bad one period. That puck can’t get in. Sucked the life out the Hawks imo. Of course the Sharpshooter gets credit for burying one to start the 3rd, and as mentioned Dallas had even more wind in their sails to quickly put it out of reach.
Dallas can sure play and I was particularly impressed by their relentless pressure on the puck when Hawks had possession. Niemi basically had an easy time of it. Hawks squandered 2 PP chances in the 1st that didn’t help one bit. I like seeing some venom from Hammer. Did anyone else see the little feint by Seguin at Hammer at the end of the 2nd? Arrogant and cocky gamesmanship. I am sure that play is filed in Hjalmarrson’s head for future reference.
I sure like what I am seeing with Danault. The kid seems calm and in control. Makes good decisions and sees the ice well. I think he will flourish with time. That line did a nice job on Benn and Seguin.
I don’t like seeing the Hawks schooled like that, but into the holiday break and lots of games played in not so many days takes it’s toll. Dallas though looked remarkably fresh following a game in Minny night before. Q no doubt took notes. We play these guys 4 more times? I think Joel would ultimately get the best of Ruff in the bigger picture. Let’s get Hoss back healthy asap.
Let’s Go Hawks!
Rufus. What’s wrong with you?! Are you negative all the time in every other part of your life? Are you always a know it all in everything besides hockey?
Hawks looked tired. 3 games in 4 nights and 6 games in 10 days took its toll on the Hawks. Whoever is responsible for this type of scheduling must be on drugs or alcohol. An extra day of rest after back to back games is the logical thing to do. Shame on NHL schedulers.
As predicted HAWKS had only 8 Hits . . . a very weak physical effort. .. which is not going to slow down the stars nor win many games! This week many teams just push the outside and get by our “somewhat slow” defensemen! Like all night long and all week long! Got to slow them down in the neutral zone and at our own blue line.
Hawks team defense is great but a lot of it is BACK CHECKING and they are in BACK because they’re slower? Repeat . . . Hawks team defense is great but a lot of it is BACK CHECKING and they are in BACK because they’re slower? So they back check Awesome, but Garbutt and Shaw might be the only guys who rub ya out before ya get there?
Yikes What a Third!
Toews won only 2 face offs all night!
Good For Sharpie, as said over and over no matter what ya say, he can put the puck in the net, HARD TO REPLACE, ya can replace effort, and speed and hustle but SCORING ummm not so much!
Hand it to Stars they sort of “locked down” on defense and threw away the key! Dropped back in the zone and waited! I watched the Stars play the WILD the night before and they did the same thing got the lead and locked it down, dropped back and sat! Literally sat!. WILD took a lot out of them the night before so Hawks where prime for a WIN or at least NOT SHUT OUT!
It’s one Game and Stars are not that good, Hawks speed to puck was evident in the 2nd period. Crow let one go! We had a shit power play x2 to open the game and thats that!
Move on
Hawks still in great position
Rumor has it AS EXPECTED Viktor Tikhonov is now centering Arizona’s top line!
Go Viktor!
It is hilarious reading all the doom and gloom from folks on this blog…
Anaheim was “clearly” the better team last year… in 2013 we were “doomed” by Detroit and in 2010 it was the big bad flyers…
Everyone who thinks this team is sunk, needs to step back from the ledge… put down the crack pipe and take a chill pill!
Although it was ugly, this was a single loss in an 82 game REGULAR SEASON, and the playoffs are a long way off.
We all know what happened in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and until the Hawks lose 4 games in the play offs, they are still the team to beat!
The NHL season is a “Marathon” not a “Sprint”.
Teams get geeked up to play the defending Champs.
The Hawks cannot possibly bring that same intensity every game, well except for the cyborg #2…
Letting Tikhonov walk was a real boneheaded move and we will come to regret it in more than one way. Few will agree with me but once this guy gets comfy with North American ice and the NHL he will be a valuable addition to any team. Bickell was on waivers and no one wants him, his contract, or his problems for free, …Victor on waivers is gone in a second. Seldom am I critical of Blackhawk management but this was a bad decision considering who is left on the team. Time will tell and I’m sure all the “ex-spurts” on this site will howl at this opinion.
Let’s not jump off the ledge, here, boys. This was not a “measuring stick” for the Hawks, this was just another game on the 82 game schedule.
The Stars clogged up the neutral zone and made us work for every inch of ice.
Adjustments when the playoffs start.
I really don’t think the Hawks coaches or players think they’re doomed. They know what to do and what it takes. Barring injury they are still in the running – they win the games they need to win and they don’t need to break their legs or backs to do it.
Repeat . . .Tikhonov starting on Arizonaaaa first line . . . observation of the obvious! The kid can play big time. Great Skill and IQ and flexible on all 4 lines! Old news . .. but Shaw not soo much, he is a great 3 or 4th line grinder not on top LINE! ouch!
Not sure we’re watching same game . . . Stars are good not great! Goaltending is average even with Shutout with Hawks getting no rebounds and no traffic. Stars are average on core defense, maybe even below average! Stars are not that fast but have a few speed burners, HAWKS slow with our defense core except Dunk, and we allow wingers to look like faster than they are, as they get a lame poke check, and reach and no HIT, SLAM, BODY!
Also pay attention to the Hit Factory, we all know Hawks not Physical but 8 hits, jezzzzuz ya get about 10 just on LINE CHANGES! hello?
Stars play smart, under control, and PACK IT IN ON DEFENSE with a lead sort of kind of like Tampa Bay tried last year, worked all way up to HAWKS series! Ya gotta have a lead to do it and ya gotta be able score. Holding a lead is hard but Scoring is even harder one goal from one guy ummmmm Stamkos and Bolts get the cup! It’s that close!
Sharp got That goal last night!
I’m a betting man, I’d take Hawks in a 7 game set every time.
Good first period. Workmanlike defensive effort, which is what I was hoping for. Not the greatest effort on the PP, and only 3 shots total, but getting out of the first 20 with no score against this team was great. Job well done. Scuderi and Rozsival are good together – not fast – but smart and responsible most of the time, which is exactly what I hoped/expected from them. Danualt looks good. I like his poise so far.
OK second period, minus the soft goal let in by Crow. Too bad he had a lapse there because it did seem to really shift the momentum. But we righted the ship and played well enough to keep it at 1-0.
3rd period – Sharp came back to haunt with that snipe 11 seconds in. It really hurt and the game was pretty much over at that point. A couple more softies for them and that was that.
This will be a character builder for us. We see them 4 more times and I expect a reversal of fortune. I thought Dallas would crush us, and the score makes it seem like they did, but that’s not the reality. Yes, we could use a few changes to help fill some holes, but this is the team we have right now and we’re not far off pace from our past few years as Tab pointed out in a previous post.
Yes, I would love to be rid of Mashinter and Bickell and have more capable troops step in, but that will all happen. Oh, and, Rufus, put a fucking cork in it. Boring!
Mookie- It’s just you and me on the Tikhonov thing…likely the vast majority of posters think we have it wrong. He was very flexible and useful throughout the lineup. Just wait until Panarin goes visits his buddy out at his beautiful sprawling ranch with the mountains in the background and the cool pick up truck and assorted other toys and will want the same. Heck even Putin might come out for a visit.
re: Mike the Mook’s repeated intel on Tikhonov being on Arizona’s first line…
Heading to the holiday break, Arizona has scored 90 goals as a team. Only LA and Anaheim have scored fewer in the Western Conference. They’ve allowed 104.
Like other departed players – Frolik, Skille, Hayes (x2) – he’s found a niche on a team that doesn’t have nearly as much depth as the Blackhawks. Good for him. If the kid could play “big time” he should have showed us something in the time he was here.
Second reminder: Shaw is on the top line because hossa is out. If he’s “a great 3 or 4th line grinder” then he’ll be back in that role once Hossa returns. Let’s not spin 2 games w/out a top line forward like a season long narrative… Teravainen looks like he’s grabbing that top line LW spot for now.
re: last night – the Hawks got a nice little wake up call from Dallas that they’re for real this year. They aren’t perfect by any means, but they’re legit. Best offensive team in the league and it showed.
But the Hawks were without two key players – Hossa & Kruger – and hung with them for 40 minutes at the end of a long stretch of games.
This Blackhawks team isn’t perfect either, but they’re getting an opportunity now to see what guys like Rasmussen & Danault can do. That can – and likely will – pay dividends in March, April and beyond.
And, if you’ve paid attention, Stan Bowman has done a pretty good job of addressing the glaring weaknesses on the team before the deadline the last 7 years. I’ll continue to employ patience, and encourage others shitting the bed a couple days before Christmas to do the same.
On 23 December 2014 Hawks lost at home to the Jets 1–5.
How Tab described it:
“Winnipeg put three goals on the board in the game’s first 15:30 and Corey Crawford was shown the door. Crawford faces 13 shots and watched the skaters in front of him give the puck away with uncommon frequency…one of the most boring, mediocre performances of the season from the Hawks.
Marian Hossa was the only Hawk to get pissed about the performance. He scored the team’s only goal… unfortunately, nobody other than Hossa came to play.
This is copy/paste…without the Hossa part who got an early fully deserved vacation.
Rufus, how’s your site coming along?
Wait…people read rufus quotes? I figured we all just scrolled past them.
MINING MAN, I guess your right, but TIKI can play. NHL level player are easy to spot, the tweeners are hard.
Yes I trust Bowman to make the moves and he and the Hawks have done an outstanding job to be where they are! Still right where they want to be and if this STARS team is the best, that’s great for us Hawk Fans.
Rasmussen & Danault are proof too . . . Danault is great at the dot, has a great IQ on the ice, speed and passing, if he can keep “repeating” what he has done so far Marcus might be in for a surprise. (trade for d-man) And Raz-Moose i really enjoy watching this kid is a player, smart and adjust, never never over skates the puck or defender,meaning always under control.
go hawks
the rest will do them well
the real season starts next week
I don’t know about all you guys, but I’m very excited about the winter classic at Foxborough. I hope it snows, but it doesn’t look likely from what I gather. If it does it’s going to be a treat.
Pete, we can add a player like that but 80 caphit was around 4/fa, now his is 5or5.5, would need to do a 50% retained. Kaners injury got us a little less then 6.3 (80/4m & 44/2m) and Krugs will get us a little less then 1.5m in addition to the 1.1m we got by trading Daleys 3.3m. What do we need more FW or 4/5D
I really like Danault. I just cant wait until he gets moar comfortable and starts to play with swagger. Nasty two way player.
Ernie,
MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU PUCK HEADS!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
Statement game for Dallas. Still not sold on the Stars as a true contender. 4 mores games against these guys. MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone on the site!
Reg Dunlop- Good one! People at work call me a puck head all the time…I think?..wait a minute!
I’ve lived in Dallas for twenty years now, but still follow the Hawks as closely as possible, including reading this site on a regular basis.
Was there last night. Knew Dallas would be fired up, and they were. It was a good game for two periods. If anything, a little conservative both ways. Sharp’s goal to open the 3rd gave the Stars all the boost they needed.
Of the newer and lower end guys, I thought Danault and Desjardins both looked good.
As the game ended, Sharp was the first one to Niemi. And when they gathered at center ice, Oduya went right to Sharp for a little celebration.
Bottom line, the Stars will be a factor this year, but the Hawks are not done by any means. Long way to go.
Keep up the good work on here. It’s a great site to keep my fix going. Go Hawks!
By the way…. Can anyone here shed some light on that Yule Log Christmas video…to me it’s kinda, well…dumb…if it’s supposed to be funny I suppose then my humour meter is broken. What the heck was that? Tell me what I’m missing here?
Merry Christmas to all of you! ;)
All I want for Christmas is four trolls to get a life…please everyone just ignore them for they are less than nothing.
Whoever imitated RTF at 10:05PM: Outstanding parody! Only retarded, absolutist, sky-is-falling, hair trigger, idiot RUFUS could’ve written that post better.
Kudos to you, anonymous one.
Learn how to take a drink, man.
Well done RTF!
But your still a little too “positive” to be the real RTF…
Now, who will step up & be Hof…???
Merry Christmas to all hockey fans!!
Its been a while since i posted, but now is as good as a time to come back. Merry Christmas to all btw….
Is this team a Cup Contender as is? probably not…
But let me say this… is the the team we will go into the playoffs with? probably not.
The hawks are where they need to be. In the thick of everything. 3rd in the Central (and the central is taking 5 to the playoffs this year). Lets see what happens in late Feb/March 2nd, then decide if the sky will fall. At full strength, our top 2 lines are great. Get Kruger back for playoffs, Danualt keeps developing…
As much as it hurt to see the wheels come off here, one game in december isnt this teams fate.
Didn’t realize the trade deadline was over and someone won the Cup in December.
……Sharp and x-Blackhawks come back to bite the Hawks in the butt…..lets hope this is not the beginning of this trend…..but Hawks where predictable as they are lousy on the road this season…..probably in Christmas holiday mode a tad too early….lol…both teams are starting to show signs of being true playoff contenders….but Hawks need to wake up from their post celebration slumber otherwise many teams will take advantage and are simply more hungry to win……btw…we miss you Sharpie…