Sharp Returns, Stars Blast Blackhawks
Thursday night was supposed to be an emotional return to the United Center for Patrick Sharp. And, to a lesser extent, Johnny Oduya.
A lot of special memories with this guy.
Thank you, Sharpy. pic.twitter.com/zDC85c2jVG
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 12, 2016
But fans were left wondering what happened to the division-leading Blackhawks after a 20-minute barrage left Chicago looking up at a four-goal deficit.
Patrick Eaves came into Thursday night’s game with four goals on the season. He scored three times – twice on the power play – in the first period as Dallas ran up an insurmountable lead. Thankfully, Brandon Mashinter was there to drop the gloves with Travis Moen. He energized his teammates… into giving up the next three goals.
Corey Crawford allowed four goals against 18 shots and got the hook before the second began. Scott Darling came in and stopped all 12 shots he faced in the second period. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Kari Lehtonen stopped all 25 he faced in the first two periods and the Hawks were still chasing four.
Duncan Keith broke up Lehtonen’s shutout bid 32 seconds into the third period, scoring his eighth of the season.
Patrick Kane scored his 33rd of the season seven minutes later to make the lead 4-2 in favor of the Stars. Kane was trying to keep pace with Alexander Ovechkin, who had a hat trick on Thursday night to give Washington’s star 34 on the season. Jonathan Toews picked up assists on each of the Hawks’ two goals.
To his credit, Lehtonen made some enormous saves in the third period as the Hawks finally woke up and carried the attack. He had huge stops against Andrew Shaw and, in the final two minutes, Trevor van Riemsdyk to preserve the two points for Dallas. Lehtonen stopped 19 of 21 in the third period and 44 of 46 overall in the victory.
Darling stopped all 14 shots he faced in the final 40 minutes.
Artemi Panarin missed his second consecutive game because of an illness that coach Joel Quenneville indicated earlier in the day could be similar to what Toews dealt with before the break.
Sharp played in his 800th regular season game on Thursday night, 679 of which game as a member of the Blackhawks.
It’s a milestone night for @10PSharp. Congrats on 800 NHL games played! pic.twitter.com/9ZXQlggbUN — NHL (@NHL) February 12, 2016
I was working and did not see the game,.,.,i saw the ticker late in the first ,down 4-0
That,s hard to dig out of. What happened?
We owned that 3rd period and played fantastic…we should have won 6-4 with Kane getting his own hat trick but it was not to be as the puck had its own mind tonight. Dallas was flying in the first, no doubt inspired by their “dads night” and they got the lucky breaks. The 2nd was even-steven. Sekac played a good game. Thought we were going to pull off another one of our famous rallies but it’s too bad it didn’t work out. Let’s clobber the Ducks and the Leafs.
They showed up in the third but Dallas was playing not to lose-I think the Stars will be tough in the playoffs if their top 3 or 4 players stay healthy-
It’s now obvious that Panarin plays a key role in their ability to attack offensively and creating two lines that can do damage–and that 47s days are numbered (I hope)
It seems they will need another top 6 forward to create enough depth, if Dano isn’t going to be given another shot.
Sekac played well, he can skate.
idk miner, that game was a long way from a 6-4 win on my tv but i never will admonish optimism
the push back was a period too late in coming
hossa 1
eakins 0
Have to battle and do whatever we need to to get a win or tie in one of these next two games. Then we have a chance to play to get momentum going again. That good goal waived off took our momentum we had.
Were 4 over .500 on road, want to be 6 or higher at 82 games.
Give Dallas credit, they were all over the Hawks. The Hawks have a balanced schedule from here on out but some tough matchups. Should make for an interesting finish.
We have talked about this before, there are games when the Hawks just don’t play well at all. This was one of those games. We don’t dwell on it, we don’t pout about it, we don’t over think it and we certainly don’t worry about it……..we get through it and move on.
What Reg Said…
Downside is this is the team Hawks will likely face the Stars to get into the cup and this is a team to chase now. I hope they do NOT chase, it is not important, being rested and healthy going into the playoffs is everything. Hawks in fact where chasing the Stars all night, odd man rush, and reaching. Not heavy to the puck all night!
Eaves made it look Eave-asy and it was! As mentioned before many times Hawks defense do not move bodies in the crease, and that is how you beat the Hawks or beat anyone, it’s hockey 101, draws in defenders, creates even more traffic, simple simple, Hawks do it once in awhile, but Stars where roasting marshmallow in-front of Crow, So we wont ever get an interference call because WE DO NOT interfere.
I do like the Hawks have made a shift across the board to get to the net, net front presence at least at times. I’m liking the aggressiveness of the 3 – 4 lines too. Moose and Mash are doing okay!
I like that Panik moved up to the 2nd line and still know he’ll be on the top line, just too strong on his skates and stick to not help spread the ice and create bigger gaps for Hossa and Toews. Until we get LADD or a skilled shooter. Like Sharp, ha!
Our secrecy weapon Toews & Kane Hot Sauce made the difference late and that’s why Shaw simply should not be on that top line, Imagine a Ladd type of player there with Hoss & Toews . Stars outmatched that line with Shaw, easy peasy, not a good matchup but with Kane we get up there we got the tilt and sort a late shot at the game. Shaw is playing very well and his impact would be double on the 3rd or even 4th line. In the playoffs we need his experience down the bench not first guy up.
Seabrook looked hurt!
TVR and GUSTY both looked slow, slower on their skates, slow to react and made numerous bad plays positionally. Long season will get longer for both of them.
TNT light on the skates is only a problem when the other team takes advantage of that and STARS they did made him look very average and his impact has been weak for awhile. They play his body very well, Stars are very very very well coached, this is a game in which they showed us how to beat the hawks. Being physical is important but they play the MAN better than most without being out of control.
Way to many power plays , sadly, this is NHL in a nutshell get power play and score. Basic Blah! But SPEED really is what draws those grabs, slashed and trips and interference call, we need more speed up ice. Again Hawks are pretty fast but our style is wait, look, look again, skate up, stop, pass, and oppppps. Is it easy to stop a player who is not coming at you with speed, real easy. In fact you actually get 3 tries at it. With speed you have to have the angle, the body, and the stick or your toast.
Darling Sasquatch played well in relief, not to be over looked. He might be a good “stopper” relief pitcher, not a starter? Think about it. Big Difference, coming after a team has had a rush of goals. Not easy to do and a skill Coach Q notices i am sure, meaning he can and will yank Crow in playoffs early, Crow can handle it and gives Q an option to pull when in doubt? The Crow Show is amazing, but looking at Darling as a relief goalie is the right way to look at him, not as a part time starter! Totally different way to manage him and his ice time. I could see them actually splitting games? that would be fun!
go Hawks
If I can politely add one thought to this entire blog . . .if you read on post on mien read this!
When the Hawks do not play well or lose or get blown out, THAT is the only time to look close and examine the game and why! If your a fan, it is often the “other team” that is doing something to exploit an weakness! When the Hawks do not play well a player or players are matched up and over matched on the ice. Hockey is NOT a game you don’t show up. Can’t do it! So I suggests we as fans look closer at these games a lot. To say just one of those nights, or Crow had an off night is too easy! Very much how many look at politics. Last night I wanted to turn the Telly Off or throw my Saki ( not socks but saki ) threw the big screen but I and we need to sit it out, watch and see the adjustments. Pay attention nHL is a hard game to watch with no time for elaborate NFL style replays!
So please don’t just Chalk it Up! The Team doesn’t, players don’t, and Coach Q is watching film right now seeing where the weakness and errors are and why!
all my best to ALL
GO HAWKS
well, reading rumors that Hawks/SB are not seeing “the right deal”- so may be no big deals coming… just small add on…
imo- this would be a BIG mistake- Hawks Core/window only has a few more years in Prime… And Hoss- is all ready on the decline… lastly- picks/prospects, can be replaced by Undrafted UFA’s (like TvR/Panarin)…
Hope this is a little wake up call- that Hawks still need another LW/Scorer
We need to look at the positive…we did not have any goals overturned by coach’s challenges.
Panik and Sekac looked good. They both have skill and can skate. I would move Panik up to the first line and Sekac up to the third line for a number of games and see what happens. The bluster has worn off Desi. He has no finishing skills and is hurting the third line. He got a perfect pass from TT right in front of the net and fumbled it. TT is struggling because he needs finishers with him. I love the passion and intensity Shaw brings to the game but he is not a first line guy. He is not skilled and is a terrible passer. How many times in a game does he pass the puck either to a guy that is closely covered or puts it in the skates of a guy that is open. Reunite Desi and Shaw on the fourth line where they belong.
Looked at the stats and this might be the first game that they’ve outhit their opponents all year–(perhaps not a good sign for a possession team?)
McDavid 5 points last night-if Panarin stays out of the line up too long look out!
Panarin being out makes a huge difference obviously. I thought panik looked good and some others have posted here that sekac looked good. So those are positives. Need mashinter and scaduri out of the lineup. Once that is accomplished and Kruger is back in place of Rasmussen anything Stan does at the deadline is gravy. My two cents is dont trade any key piece off the NHL roster. TT is untouchable in my opinion.
PP comments- Just look at that “set play” from Stars- Seguin blind pass to front of net… that play- looked “set” – Seguin knew where Hawks would pressure… and threw the puck were he knew Hawks wouldn’t/couldn’t be…. perhaps Stars- saw tape of Keith following PK plays behind the net- really bad route by Keith
Bruins vs. Hawks in 2013 SC… did same thing… when Hawks pressured puck on boards — threw Puck in between Circles…
Hawks PP- NEEDS to incorporate this strategy … complete no brainer to me… sure some of those passes will miss… BUT- when they connect- should Be Grade A++ chance… just my 2 cents
Hawks PP just keeps- pucks on boards- when pressured… can’t really score when puck is on boards
McDavid is a flipping monster! Just a matter of time before that legit contender train comes down the line! Its coming!!!
Wall where did you hear about these wrong deals? Id feel better if the Hawks could add a top 6 winger or top 4 dman.
The Hawks likely need anywhere from 5 to 10 wins to secure a playoff birth. 40+ Wins should do it. Health is the only concern. This team has a proven track record of flipping the switch so until they dont they deserve the beneift of doubt.
When the Hawks beat Dallas handily I cringed when the announcers said this was a “statement game”…. There are no such things….
The closest you come to a “statement game” is the final win of the season when you hoist the cup….
Shaw seems to be drawing a lot of criticism but has played well. Is he a top line forward? probably not. I think Hossa is struggling more He turned the puck over or lost possession in the offensive zone countless times last night. Yes he is fantastic defensive player still but offensively is struggling and effecting Toews play. There is a reason Kane was put up with Toews and the Hawks owned the 3rd.
@ GOLDENBLADZ
Hossa has played nearly 1400 NHL games and next year at this time will be 38, he is not the dynamic 2 way force he was when he 1st arrived. Which is exactly why the Hawks need someone that can produce up front. Shaw has done a good job but its not realistic to expect Shaw to be a pt producer when he has never been that. Toews is the best 2 way player in the game time to get him some fling help!
Yes thats the point Hossa’s offensive abilities are regressing so that could be argued as much as targetting Shaw. There is a reason Kane came up to play with Toews. I’m not advocating Kane taken away from 72-15 but other options at 1RW is a possibility
Really good comments in this thread. Everyones head is in the right place.
Good time to see whos good with who. 14/34 and 24/86. When Bread Man and Krugs come back and add a FW at deadline that’s 3 good players (an entire line). 11 might be there until 16 comes back and we have a fresh 11/16/65 4th line, again.
untouchables . . . We need a productive top line = GOALS. Hawks can create, weld, blend an effective 3 and 4th line. Gotta have a top line scorer on that top line, it will change everything. Lots of AHL lifers we can rotate on the 4th line.
TNT is very touchable and would be of interest to other clubs
Shaw is very touchable and would have interest
Draft picks are touchable
TVR is very very touchable because he has a perceived UP SIDE still.
Dezi is touchable . . .
GOTTA DO SOMETHING before april fools day . ..
or we be the fools
go hawks
I agree with Pete, TT is untouchable. The kid is only 21 years old and his skill set is hard to find. He will flourish in the future when he is put with guys that can finish. I could see in the future a line of Dano/Schmaltz/TT.
Phil, post each paragraph separately.
No reason to trade 86/65 etc because we can get what we need with picks/prospects.
Phil- waiting for your “eyes at the game ” take on the game. Tab usually gets the comments in moderation and gets them out of jail…maybe he has not checked yet…in the meantime you could try to repost, as Morrison says, in small increments. Minus 55C this morning in Northern Saskatchewan…unbelievable cold..we had a lot of thick ice fog, where you can literally walk into ice. Insane.
…..hey guess what?…..there is enough cap space to sign up Patrick Sharp…..lol….miss the guy like everyone else…but would be content if we get Andrew Ladd back in the fold……
Mookie- You sound a bit like Rufus there. One lousy game against the Stars that we could have won in the 3rd and a crummy call in the Sharks game that made zero sense and turned the game on a dime, is no time to hit eject mode on anyone, especially TT and Shaw. We are still 1st in the West, have the leading point player, have the best rookie, lead in shutouts, have a stellar defense and definitely have a big shot at the big Kahuna. No way “we be fools” by April Fools Day. Garbutt and Daley are gone, Bickell is essentially over and done with, so to date much has been done. Also of note last night was Darling, who was calm as a cucumber and stopped them cold, giving us a chance. Nice to see that form back in him.
The Great White North. Beauty, eh.
Sharpy could come back after contract for a low caphit.
Mining Man – great point about Darling. I was thinking the same thing as I watched last night. We really need him sharp for the playoffs.
I like how guys just make up nicknames that only they use.
Svedberg back up
Ice fog….Celsius…the hell are those? Lol. Promise not to bitch next time we get that “polar vortex”. I swear someone just made that up 2 years ago.
This is a re-post from early this morning.
Apart from Desi flubbing a few chances in the 1st it was all Stars. Sure the Stars caught some deflections and bounces, but the Hawks never had an answer in the 1st. Even more bizarre was the lack of any push back in the snoozer 2nd period. That was just baffling to me.
Finally the Hawks woke up in the 3rd, and the crowd sensed a turn in momentum that never reached its potential after they got a good bounce goal from Keith off Stars player. Lehtonen made some big stops in the 3rd when the Hawks finally decided to bring it, but it was too little too late. If Shaw could have buried a point blank shot that would have made it 4-3 it would have got crazy at the end.
Lines were out of sorts again without Panarin, but missing one guy shouldn’t derail the train. Kane had some jump I thought and so did Sekac. Anyone else see Sekac as a similar player to what Stahlberg used to be?
Hawks paid a very fine video tribute to Sharpy and also to a lesser degree Oduya. Crowd gave Sharpy a well deserved, loud, boisterous, and long ovation. Sharp was a great player for the Hawks for so many years, and Johny Oduya put in exemplary service to boot. We miss those guys. Sharpy was clearly choked up by the tribute.
Hawks knew Stars would be flying out of the gate last night, but seemed to bring little passion through 2 periods. Down 4 zip after one? Not acceptable. We better believe that the Ducks will come into the UC Saturday looking to gain some more ground in the standings. That team finally got off the mat and is starting to play to potential. If Hawks lack some jump again Saturday it won’t be pretty.
Despite a couple of lackluster efforts in a row the Hawks are in as good a position as I could possibly hope for given massive roster overhaul to begin the season. My Hawks glass remains half full. Some entertaining quality hockey is in front of us.
Speaking of full glasses I recommend the Goose Island tap room on Fulton if you are going over early to the UC. Great range of quality brews and a tasty cask conditioned offering as well in there. Cheers mates.
Lets Go Hawks!
Reg Dunlap said “We have talked about this before, there are games when the Hawks just don’t play well at all. This was one of those games. We don’t dwell on it, we don’t pout about it, we don’t over think it and we certainly don’t worry about it……..we get through it and move on.”
Yep.
Its bad enough Mashinter is dressing when Panarin is healthy in the normal course. But the last two games has exposed the Hawks’ need for a legitimate forward that has an offensive skill set. There is zero margin for error when your basically using only three lines and players like Desjardins & Panik are out of place.
Bowman is not stupid, he has two weeks to reel in a legit forward and figure out how to fit in the $ under the cap. Lastly, Teavo is not going anywhere.
Mining man? not saying pull the plug, saying pay atttention to wins and even mroe so looses. Saying we will need a LADD type player come playoff time. Period! All I’m saying nothing new, is , if YA have to give up a player or players Shaw and TNT bring and have value in the open market to others teams, Hockey 101 give up something ya get something.
Mining Man . . .the Hawks are very good but need “production” from our top line.
We need a little more production on the 3rd and 4th line too. Meaning goals, defensively Hawks are top team defenders in the history of hockey. We need either TVR or GUSTY to play like LIGHTS OUT In the playoffs. Hawks need to REST CROW. Our core 3 Defensemen need to be rested and healthy.
I hope we are watching the same game and team and teams, the central is tuff if anyone one thinks the Hawks are in Prime Position and sitting pretty? your on the wrong blog and sport. NHL is close, called Parity, Bolts could have won easily last year, Hawks could have beaten Kings too. Close close games, won by simply . . . having a player who can put the puck in the net, top shelf, take a bad pass, settle it and score that big goal. Now our 3 4 lines seems to have talent even speed but lack that Sharp /Richards ability to get up and over, top shelf GOAL.
I’m a NHL fan and Hawks fan! Hawks don’t pay my Mortgage so i just see what I see! We do not need any more AHL lifers playing pretend in the playoffs.
All good, I love Shaw and Love TNT . . . Hawks are about as good as 6 teams as of today, as I watch, and our top line needs a skill player to provide space /gaps for Towes with Shaw as you can see? They collapse on Toews, teams do not watch or chase Hoss, why he is getting chances but not scoring. YOU can not allow a team to take your best player out of the game . .. Toews! It is actually an insult to Toews to play that way!
I don’t see Bowman giving up Shaw who usually steps it up a notch in the playoffs or Teuvo, a young player with a bright future. If he acquires someone, my guess is it’s an experienced player like Handzuis who comes fairly cheap.
Mook- It is almost with certainty that Stan Bowman will make a move to shore up for a run. Next 2 weeks will be quite interesting around the league and for us. It’s too bad Iginla is in our division as he would be an ideal addition, hey ya never know.
Still waiting on who is actually going to be a seller. Winnipeg will try once more to sign Ladd. If they can’t then he’s gone.
Teams shouldn’t worry about trading players to in division teams. Selling teams won’t make the playoffs so they shouldn’t care. It’s the buying team that doesn’t want to help an in division team.
If it helpse win a cup, I don’t care who its with. As far as Iginla. He’s got another year at 5+million, and the Avs have the maximum 50 spc’s so they can’t take more than 1 contracted player back. The guy I’d love to see is Doan. He’s probably the cheapest of the rental forwards on the market. Hawks don’t have a 2nd round pick, and since they traded their first last year I think they’re reluctant to trade it again. Doan can win his cup and go back to the desert like Vermette.
I think Doan would be a great fit but the price must be right and is he willing to leave even if for a short time. I think a first rounder is almost out of the question.