After what could have been a disastrous game in Columbus the previous night, the Blackhawks stopped home to meet the vehemently detested 2-2-0 Detoilet Red Wings. While their defense resembles something the Chicago Wolves could torch, they still roster names like Datsyuk, and Zetterberg. Datsyuk lead the team in scoring with 6 points, as one would expect, but they are giving up almost 3.50 goals per game. This is not the same team fans are used to seeing, but something about a Chicago/Detoilet matchup that brings the best and worst out of these two clubs. Live from the United Center, it's the Blackhawks and Red Wings.
The Hawks jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, but the game settled down to a screeching halt after that, as far as goals go. Each club managed 11 shots on net, in the opening period. The Hawks thwarted two Detoilet powerplays following their powerplay goal, as they managed to continue their excellent penalty killing.
The second period was basically all Detoilet, as far as shots and pressure went. A bunch of Wings powerplays (six in a row) led to the puck spending a majority of the period in the Hawks end. When all was said and done the Hawks were out shot 9-6, which is respectable considering the circumstances. If this were the Wings of even a year ago, the Hawks would have been down at least 2-1 going into the third.
The Hawks came out in the third period and spent roughly the first 7 minutes running around in their own zone like a Shanghai Fire Dance. It was the ugliest hockey they've played all season, and they looked extremely tired. Once the Hawks woke up, they almost evened the shot totals with the Wings finishing the period leading in that category 9-8. The only goal was an early Wings goal. This one was going into extra time, to decide the extra point.
The Wings had the edge in shots, in the overtime period, but the Hawks only needed one shot to win the game. Consider this one a stolen game. The Hawks are now 6-0 on the season, and the next target in the crosshairs is the Wild, on Wednesday.
- Deuce gave the Hawks a lead on the powerplay with just over 2 1/2 minutes gone in the first period. Nothing special about this one. Keith was just outside the left dots. The Wings let him skate to the dot and rip a clapper over Opie Howard's blocker. Queue the Dagger.
- The PK was able to come up huge once again, halfway through the second period, when Detoilet ended up with a 5-on-3 for almost 40 seconds. This resulted in almost 3 minutes of PP time when the Wings were already in control of the period. Just about a minutes and a half later, the PK was called on once again, when the Hawks sloppily took a "too-much-man" penalty.
- Nick Leddy sent the Wings away in overtime, trailing a rush by El Capitan and Swede-berg. Pick-to-click Vik floated across the zone long enough for Led-Hed to catch the play. Stalberg hit Leddy on the tape and Leddy beat Opie Howard under the glove.
- Crawford earned the first star and made 29 saves. He was the Hawks best player by a long shot, in a game they probably didn't deserve to win.
- The Hawks weren't terrible at the dot. All of the centers were at, or close to, 50%. Shaw was the worst at 2 for 5 (40%).
- The Hawks were lucky to take care of their one in overtime because they did NOT want to face Datsyuk, Bertuzzi and Bruner in a shootout.
- Justin Abdelkader took a run at Oduya deep in the Hawks zone in the first period, and it looked like he could have taken Oduya's head clean off. Luckily, Oduya jumped right back up with no ill effects.
- The Hawks were far too tired to take advantage of two third period powerplays, which could have iced the game.
- Call for the Meatballs! Six wins and six games that the Hawks have been out hit, this time 19-14. Where are the Meatballs calling for more hitting, now?
- As much as I try to advocate MegaMayers over Bollig, he's making me look like a total asshole. In one of his few shifts, he took a silly "covering the puck" penalty which resulted in the 6th straight powerplay of the game with under 40 full minutes played. At this point in time, I don't have much use for Bollig OR Mayers.
- Stupid ass Pay Boyle and his verbal fucking diarrhea. He didn't mention the shutout, specifically, between the second and third periods, but he certainly hinted at it. Sure enough the Hawks came out in the third and laid an egg. Not even 5 minutes into the period, Franzen picked up a redirected puck to the left of Crawford and beat Crow through the wickets. How many times do people need to be reminded not to even hint at shutouts? Is it really that hard? Morons!