We've been waiting 20 games for this, but lets not all drop our happy pants and fire up a circle jerk. This is the lowly Edmonton Oilers, and this is how we are SUPPOSED to beat them. You really have to ask yourself how in the hell the Hawks allowed themselves to be beaten twice by this team, AT HOME! Lets not even start the happy circle jerk after Friday's game, either, because the Flames aren't all that much better. Anyway, this is what it is, an easy win against a young struggling team. We'll take it.
The Good
The Hawks dominated the first period with 20 shots on net, and the second period wasn't any better. In the third, I got the feeling that it was one of those games where you really feel bad even shooting on net, towards the end. That's just embarrassing for the Oilers at home. Anyone who has played sports has been on the shit end of a landslide, and no one wants to watch that 7th or 8th goal put in. The Hawks CLEARLY called off the dogs in the third, because it could have been a 7-0 or 8-0 game.
Jonny Toews needed this game. It might just be his breakout game of 2010/11, and only time will tell. He was the lucky recipient of a juicy rebound after Patty Kane set up the play, with a nice feed to Seabrook. Toews beat it through Khabby's pads for a 1-0 lead. Jon's powerplay goal was just laughable. What more can you say than he got a very lucky bank shot? We'll take it, after the litany of horseshit we have endured this season. The third goal was a gift after a Duncan Keith-ian type turnover which Hossa fed to Toews, who ripped it past Khabby and it was 3-0. Natural Hat Trick for Captain Serious. It's nice to see the money men opening up the trip with some fire.
Poor Sharpie could have gotten a hat trick himself, but just couldn't find the net until his shorthanded goal, late in the second. He clearly has some sort of funk going on, because the Shooter of 12 games ago would have had 4 goals last night. It's the NHL and streaks happen.
Marty Turco, THIS is what you were brought here for. That previous 20 game mess, was all a test, we hope. Eighteen shots, few of them difficult, and Marty can turn in his time sheet. This was on the original bill of sale.
The Bad
Sloppy play early in the first shift or two lead to an Oiler powerplay when Bolland was guilty of finally doing something, for the first time this season. They recovered well and just rolled over the Oilers. I felt like I was watching the Chicago Globetrotters playing the Edmonton Generals for the rest of the game.
It's hard to find bad in a game that the opponent doesn't even show up for, but Bryan Bickell just looked completely out of place when handling the puck. Yes, I know he scored that meaningless goal, so he can obviously shoot, but passing and carrying the puck is painfully embarrassing. It really never mattered, but the team could use a LITTLE puck control out of him. I know, I'm really nit-picking, but it's really the only noticeably bad.
The Ugly
There was one ray of light for the Oilers, and ugly play for the Hawks, midway through the second. Ales Hemsky lead a shorthanded chance into the Hawks zone and schooled Dave Bolland, then Brian Campbell, and for good measure Duncan Keith had to be included in the festivities. Hemsky then sent a perfect feed over to a wide open Dustin Penner, who shot it at the one spot that he shouldn't have. I know I'm not the only one that thought he scored, and first glance. Even TURCO had the expression of a dog that just pissed in the house, and judging by Dunc's reaction; he thought it went in, too. I STILL want to know what Dunc is doing in this play. He floats back, parks in front of Marty, gets hypnotized by Hemsky's puck control, then doesn't pick up the trailing forward, and allows him to take the pass and fire it on his goalie. This all begs to ask what Brouwer, Bolland, and Kopecky are doing out there together with Campbell, and Keith on a powerplay. For the ten billionth time, that is NOT a powerplay line. Not now, not ever. That line is such a bad combination that I might beg Bryan Bickell to carry the puck for them. Yes, THAT BAD. Anyway, Watch it for yourself:
I guess you can sleepwalk through a play when you're up 3-0, on a powerplay, and dominating every other second of the game. I have nothing else.