Just when I think it's all going to come crashing down, the Hawks find a way to pull it out. On Eddie Olczyk heritage night, The next target for the Hawks on their streak was the recently very familiar San Jose Sharks. Each time the Hawks have seen the Sharks, they have fallen further and further down the power rankings. This is a team that is going to hit the panic button real soon. They opened up red hot and then instantly went as cold as ice. Even though their last game was a win against the Blues, they have issues scoring. This is something the Hawks feast on, so hopefully they could jump out to a lead early. Live from Chicago, it's the Blackhawks and the Sharks...
The Hawks came out a little flat but dominated the meat of the first period, with 11 shot to the Sharks 8 shots. Even though the Hawks had a majority of the chances, the Sharks had the only goal, with under a minute to go in play.
The second period started off just like a majority of the first period went, with the Hawks controlling most of the play. Even though they had to kill a couple of penalties, they still out shot the Sharks 10-6, and scored the only goal of the period.
The Hawks opened up a quick third period lead on a shorthanded goal, and shut down the Sharks for the rest of the period. There were 13 shots either way, but the Hawks played their "bend and not break" defense to perfection. When the final horn sounded, the Hawks had set a new record for best start in NHL history. Amazing.
- Pick To Click Vik tied the game up for the Hawks with just over three minutes left to play in the second. He streaked up the left side on a 3-on-3 rush, and just as he got over the goal line extended, he fired it towards the net. Niemi tried to make the save and it went off the inside of his left pad and into the net. Soft goal for Niemi, but Swedeberg will take it, and so will us fans.
- General Saad took a lead for the Hawks just as a Sharks powerplay ended. He lugged the puck up the ice himself, and just as he cleared Brett Burns, he caught Niemi leading the wrong way, snapped a shot off the far post and in. Huge, huge goal to open the third period.
- Once the Hawks took the lead, they suffocated the Sharks pretty impressively with penalty kills and swarming defense. This team has far exceeded any expectations I could have had for them. I'm just amazed.
- For the first time this year, the Hawks out hit an opponent. I didn't see it that way, but the "official numbers" were 29-27 in favor of the Hawks.
- Emery began the night getting draw grossly out of position two or three times. This might have been nerves, or had something to do with the fact that it was his first game wearing his new Brian's G-Netik pads. He's been wearing them in practice to break them in, but this is the first game he has worn them in.
- Marleau followed up a very late first period Sharks flurry by beating Emery to open the scoring. Pavelski tipped a long shot on Razor, and the rebound ricocheted into the slot. Marleau took a shot that was stopped by Emery, but it squired out from under his pad and into the net. Sloppy last minute goal for the Hawks.
- Carcillo made his return, and Quenneville made a smart decision by putting him on the 4th line where he belongs. Of course when the Hawks went down 1-0, Carcillo started the second period with Toews and Hossa. Christ on a cracker, Quenneville!!!
- Bolland disappeared for a majority of the third period, and there was no word on just why. He had under 10 minutes of ice time and didn't see the ice after the last 1/4 of the second period. After the game, the only thing Quenneville had to say was that he was "day-to-day", which tells us nothing. NHL injury report are a fucking joke.
- Kruger and Shaw were both dicked at the dot, both going dragging a -40% at the faceoff circles.
- Foley was having issues with Niemi and Emery all night. He called each one the other's names quite a few times. Not the Pat Foley all of us old timers are use to from the 80's and 90s.
- Ryan Clowe ended up getting a misconduct at the end of the game for jumping off the bench and retaliating against a Shaw on Pavelski borderline hit. While Shaw's hit was questionable, Clowe showed just what a dumb shit he is.
