So, that trade deadline certainly was exciting wasn't it? I didn't think so, either. The Leafs came into the UC Wednesday night to face the Blackhawks in a rare matchup between these two clubs. Back in the day, Toronto was in the same division and there were many storied rivalry games, but since they were moved to the other conference the Hawks haven't seen much of them. This Leafs team was a pesky one that is as streaky as any team in the NHL. Some days they are world beaters and others, dick beaters. With a coach on the hot seat, and players that seem to be on the window ledge of "Don't Give a Fuck Tower", you never know what will light a flame under their ass. If I were a member of that team, and Brian Burke was the GM, I'd be afraid. He comes off like the Mike Ditka of NHL GM's. That being said, I'd love to have him at the helm of the Hawks. Anyhow, before even taking the ice, the Hawks were still majorly shorthanded, without El Capitan, Hammer, and Montador. Hossa and Keith didn't skate in the morning run through, so it was anyone's guess what was going on there, but it was announced that they would be on the ice for the game. In happier notes, Rookie Brandon Bollig was making his Hawks debut, as "The Enforcer". Anything is better than Big Slow, so I'm exited to see what he does in his predictable 8 minutes of ice time. By all accounts, EVERYONE loves this guy. I'm hoping for a smarter Ben Eager. That's not too much to ask for, is it? Especially since Eager has the IQ of a bucket of dirt. On to the game!
There wasn't a lick of defense played in the first period of the game last night. To be fair, There wasn't much goaltending, either, with the Leafs getting 3 goals on 10 shots, and the Hawks getting 2 goals on 11 shots. Brutally sloppy hockey for both teams. The second period looked much better for the Hawks. They scored 2 goals, to take the lead, on 11 shots, while holding the Leafs to no goals on 7 shots. Not pretty, but certainly better hockey. The third period was pretty tight, even though the Hawks scored an empty netter, and the Leafs scored one with only a couple of ticks left on the clock. The Hawks walked away with a 5-4 win to hat their latest losing streak, but it's not like they beat the Wings, here. Take it for what it's worth, a game the should have won.
- Andrew Shaw tied the game up for the Hawks on a pretty simple play, and an honestly weak goal. He dug the puck out of the corner, spun off his guy, and curled through the left circle. As he squared up to the net, he just ripped a shot past Gustavsson's stick side. At least the Hawks aren't the only team to be giving up weak goals. 1-1 Tie.
- Dream Warrior brought the Hawks back within one goal, with under 30 seconds to go in the first period. Nick Leddy picked up the remains of yet another Duncan Keith blocked shot and figured that he'd try and power one through the traffic himself. This one got to Kruger, who redirected it back to Gustavsson's left, and into the net. 3-2 Leafs.
- Kaner scored his second goal in two games, off a bad Leafs rebound and turnover. Lepisto took a long wide open point shot that Gustavsson saved. The rebound popped out to his left and Joey Crabb nonchalantly went after it. Kane snuck up behind Crabb and lifted his stick, and sending the puck towards the net. Brunette got a stick on the puck and held onto it long enough for Kane to get there and chip it up and over Gustavsson. Tie game 3-3.
- Hossa put the Hawks up for the first time of the night, about midway through the second period. He took a feed from a curling Kane and drove hard to the slot, and beat Gustavsson to the stick side, after powering through the Grabovski backpack he was wearing. At this point Gustavsson's glove side is a GLARING weakness. 4-3 Hawks.
- Hoss had what has to be one of the most determined empty net goals you'll ever see, from a very tight angle, to ice a 5-3 Blackhawks win. He ended up with 2 goal, and a plus 3 on the night. LIKE A BOSS! 5-3 Hawks.
- Sami Lepisto saved held the lead for the Hawks, late in the third period. How's that decision to sit him for 10s of games at a time, Joel? Was that REALLY necessary? He may not be Duncan Keith, but the guy is playing his ass off. Nice to see him get the nod over O'Donnell for a change.
- Razor was a beast, after coming in cold. He held the Hawks together long enough to come back. He deserves the #1 spot. No more dicking around.
- Fifty nine seconds into the game, the Blackhawks were already fishing the puck out of their own net. Bolland got caught trying to beat the puck through a pair of shit guards, and turned it over. Bozak pulled it from behind the net and backhanded it on Crawford, of course, it ended up in the net. Oduya had to be looking at Seabrook wondering what possessed him to leave Bozak wide open and vacate what was the only place the Leafs could go. Fucking Brain Fart! Couple days rest did you boys some good, eh?
- The starting defensive pairs made no sense. Keith/Leddy, Seabrook/Oduya. Lepisto/Olsen. I can't understand, why Quenneville puts these stupid pairings out there knowing full well they will need to be adjusted. If he doesn't know this, he's not as talented a hockey mind as everyone makes him out to be.
- Just twenty eight seconds after the Hawks first goal, the Leafs scored on the powerplay. Lupul tipped a shot past Crawford, who was hung out to dry with two Leafs forwards in his grill, and no defenders. Oduya was on the ice for both early goals, for what that's worth. Apparently, he subscribes to the "not tying up opponent's sticks" school of thought, too. Lovely.
- Clarke MacArthur put the Leafs up 3-1 when he picked up a puck that was blocked by Seabrook and hit a virtually wide open net. Crawford was down way too early, and couldn't recover when the puck ended up going to his right. When I say down early, I mean down WAY early. The end of the period marked the end of Crawford's night.
- The Leafs Mike Brown ended Emery's scoreless streak, with 3 seconds to go in the game, as he tipped a pass from the corner up and over Razor's shoulder. Whatever, Emery was a beast nonetheless.
- Brandon Bollig got into his first Hawks fight, taking on Luke Schenn. The two of them pretty much hugged it out, but you had to know he would have fought ANYONE to make himself visible to the coaches. I was off on his TOI, though. I predicted 8 minutes of time for Bollig, and he got 5:34. In my defense, if he didn't get in that fight, he might have had another 45 seconds. He only saw the ice once after the fight. Mr. Bollig, welcome to Chateau Bow Wow, I'm your Maître d', Dr. Lineblender. While I like his spirit and hunger to contribute, that was an awful time to fight. He's going to have to pick his spots better. That was the very thing that plagued John Scott. The Hawks had just taken a 4-3 lead, and had the momentum.
- Seventeen shots against in the third period of a one goal game is bad news! You're not going to win many games getting peppered like that in your own end.
- I finally figured out why Dylan Olsen looks so FUCKING slow. He can't skate backwards from a stopped position, or when he has to transition from forward to backwards. If he's standing still and a forward breaks in on him fast, he is dead to rights. Just a huge pylon.
- The Blackhawks led one of the worst 4-on-2 rushes I've ever seen; in any league. It was just painful to watch them aimlessly throw the puck around the neutral zone like a live grenade.
- Stalberg took a nasty hit from behind from Franson late in the second period, that got no call, but Stalberg ended up in the locker room with what looked like a shoulder problem. That was a bad missed call, and thankfully Stalberg was back for the third period.
- Crawford was pulled in favor of Razor, after the first intermission, as he should have been. Honestly, the look on his face, as the period started, was one of sheer confusion. He is a beaten man and can't understand what is wrong. I've been there, and it's so fucking frustrating. Just another example of why the idea of trading Emery was asinine, unless they had given up on the season.
