This is the game we've all been waiting for, since the middle of February. The Blackhawks were in Anaheim CA to face the red hot Ducks. Just when you think this team will fold it up and fade, they roll right along. Fresh off the re-signings of their two stars, Getzlaf and Perry, this year's St. Louis Blues were kicking ass and taking names. Luckily for the Hawks, the Quackers would be without the services of Corey Perry, thanks to a dirty hit against the Wild. This doesn't mean they weren't dressing some firepower, but one less is one less. Live from the Pond in Anaheim, it's the Blackhawks and the Ducks!
The Blackhawks were lucky to make it out of the first period tied. They were out shot 11-5 and out played, but managed to keep the game even. It goes without saying that they aren't going to have much luck getting dominated the way they way did to open the game.
The middle frame was much better as the Hawks found their footing. They out shot the Ducks 11-7 and scored the only goal of the period. For most of the period, the Hawks had some heavy pressure, which left them with a one goal lead going into the final 20 minutes.
The Hawks weren't very strong in the third period, giving up the lead, and eventually losing 4-2. I take that back; They sucked. The shots were even at 8, but turnovers and brainfarts were the death of them. This one was a serious choke job. Now the Hawks have four days to let this one stew.
- El Capitan used a timely shorthanded chance to get a breakaway and beat Jonas Hiller, tying up the game up at 1-1. Once again, Jonny whips his dong out and mushroom stamps an NHL opponent right on the forehead. With Hossa out, he needed to kick his teammates in the ass.
- Toews once again whipped out his dong, halfway through the second, rushing hard to the net despite wearing Sheldon Souray as a cape. The Hawks were awarded a powerplay for his efforts. On the ensuing powerplay, Ledd-Head celebrated his birthday with a goal of his own, using Swedeberg as a screen. Great timing all set up by the Captain's enormous coconuts.
- The Hawks actually won more faceoffs than the Quackers with only Bolland sitting under 50%.
- Getzlaf one upped his countercaptian in white by leading the third period comeback. Makes that brand new cap hit a little easier to swallow, doesn't it, Bob Murray?
- Brookbank wasn't completely useless, with 3 blocked shots and 3 hits. That's about the most complimentary you'll hear me regarding Sheldon Brookbank, and furthermore, when the "good" defaults to him, I'm really grasping at straws.
- Just to put a bad taste in our mouths right out of the gate, Dr. Lineblender started Gorilla Salad with El Capitan, and the Saadfather. After that, Kane was double shifted in his place. Call someone up, for christ sakes! How in the FUCK does a guy start the game on the top line and proceed to two more shifts the entire game? If he is that fucking useless, then call someone up to replace him. Enough of this patchwork horseshit, where Kane is playing nearly 24 minutes. What good is he if he's exhausted when they need his puck control most?
- Peter Holland was the lucky recipient of Dan Winnik's hard work. Winnik stole the puck from Seabrook, and circled all the way around the net. He fed Sbisa who shot wide on the short side, but the puck came out on the far side of the net to Holland, who stuffed it in. Complete clusterfuck from the word go. Lucky Sleven in the hook for that one.
- Of all people, Dullig scored about 5 minutes into the third period but was negated because he kicked it into the net. Of course he did, because using his stick is not something he can manage. He might as well skate out there with a club. Queue momentum shift.
- With 5 minutes to go in regulation Bobby Ryan tied the game off a Getzlaf rebound. Getzlaf shot from a tight angle and the rebound squirted out across the crease and to Ryan, who had an open net.
- A minute after the Ryan goal, Getzlaf set up Teemu Selanne after the Hawks got caught running around in their own zone.
- Sheldon Souray iced the game with an empty netter.
- Getting held to only 24 shots is a telltale stat. The Hawks need to be in the sweet spot of 28 to 32 shots, becasue under 25 usually means bad things for them.
- Dullig took a terrible interference penalty just a couple of minutes into the game. He got rocked in the neutral zone and chased Staubitz all the way back into the Duck zone, finally pushing him into Hiller like a complete dumb ass. Sure let the top powerplay in the NHL out there a few minutes in. Luckily it didn't bite them in the ass, but why tempt fate? You couldn't still Bolling and put Carcillo there? I don't like either of them, but Carcillo is a better option than the bearded yeti.
- The tale of the tape. Oduya and Bolland were minus 3 each, and Kane was minus 4. Looks like that double shifting crap worked out well. Oduya also had 3 giveaways.
