The Blackhawks traveled to Denver, Friday night, to face the pesky Avalanche for the second time this week. After the last game there was sure to be a few hard feelings. The Avs knocked Patrick Sharp out, for what looks like 3 week, and also knocked Andres Shaw out with an elbow to the melon. The Hawks were going to need a better effort and better health in this game to open the second half of the season with a win, and continue the streak. Live from Denver Colorado it's the Blackhawks and Avalanche...
The Hawks actually looked really good to open up the game, even taking a lead pretty early. Unfortunately, an offensive zone penalty led to a late Avs powerplay goal. The Avs out shot the Hawks to the tune of 10-6, and the Avs also had the only two powerplays.
The Hawks completely filled their drawers in the second period. A shitshow if I ever saw one. The Avs netted 4 goals, and with all that action in the Hawks end, who had time for goals of their own? The Avs only out shot the Hawks 13-9, but it seemed live every single shot ended up in the net.
The third period was really a formality, because the Hawks had been done for a while. Each team put a pointless goal on the board, and the Hawks even out shot the Avs 14-12, but the Hawks second period was the death of them. The streak finally came to an end, which means they can finally cut the shenanigans and get to the task at hand, the playoffs and the cup.
- Saader, Hoss and El Capitan put together a beautiful passing play to give the Hawks a lead with just over 5 minutes gone in the first period. This line just gets better and better. The play started out with a Toews steal to Saad, then a backhand pass to Hossa, who worked a give-n-go with El Capitan. Beautiful play, just too bad it went to waste, because it was pretty much downhill from there
- Even though the game was out of reach, it was nice to see the Hawks continue to put in somewhat of an effort. Bryan Bickell ended up with a puck on his tape right at the faceoff circle and blazed shot over Valamov's glove.
- Erik Johnson was a plus FOUR in his return. Do you think this team missed him much?
- This streak became more of a "when will they lose", as opposed to "how many will they win". Personally, I'm glad it's over.
- Paul Stastny tied the game up for the Avs, on a powerplay with just over 3 minutes left in the first period. Douch-ene set the goal up with a half slap pass to the tape of Stastny, who redirected towards Crawford. This was the beginning of the end for the Hawks.
- With Stalberg stuck on the ice, injured, in the offensive zone, the Hawks were left essentially shorthanded and the Avs took their first lead, with under 5 minutes gone in the second period. Matt Douch-ene slid between Hjalmarsson and Oduya and took a pass from Erik Johnson, to beat Crawford on terrible short side goal. Crawford looked really undecided on how to deal with Douch-ene, and the little pain in the ass made him look silly.
- Thirty three seconds after the Douch-ene goal, John Mitchell and Ryan O'Reilly worked a nifty little pass play through Deuce, Sleven and Bolland. Mitchell then snapped a shot over Crawford's blocker, to put the Hawks in a 3-1 hole.
- Half way through the second period, Crawford took an "iffy" tripping penalty, and the Avs Ryan O'Reilly scored 4 seconds into the powerplay. The Avs won the faceoff cleanly against Kruger, Douch-ene picked up the puck and sent a pass right into O'Reilly's wheelhouse. No professional should miss a chance like that. 4-1 Avs and it was only halfway through this fucking abomination.
- If the game wasn't already put away after the powerplay goal, Jamie McGinn did it with a goal on a feed from Douch-ene, with 6 minutes remaining in the second. Douch-ene beat both Deuce and Sleven to a puck that should have been icing, then Bolland and Bickell completely ignored McGinn trailing the play. Douch-ene hit him right on the tape, and celebrating began. I would have pulled Crawford 2 goals ago, but what do I know?
- Former Blackhawk for a second, P.A. Parenteau took a pass from Paul Stastny, beat Leddy and Razor, to put the icing on the cake, during a late stretch of 4-on-4 play. Whatever, the Hawks had been done for over a period already, why should I care at this point.
- Emery opened the third period in net, which was about 2 goals too late. He let the 6th goal in.
- This wasn't the reason the Hawks lost, but the officiating was absolutely fucking brutal. I can't remember seeing a game in which both teams got away with such blatantly clear infractions. If they can't tighten up for the playoffs, this year is going to be a free for all.
- Good thing Dullig made the trip so he could be rocked by Huntwick, and do nothing about it. Down 3-1, want to grab momentum? How about getting rocked and letting the guy get away with it? Dullig is good for one thing, pejoratively speaking, and now he won't even do that.
- Landeskog has to be the biggest bullshit scam of a captain in the NHL. He's a chippy little shitstain that in no way deserves to be a captain. He's a talented player but, as shown by his actions, a captain he is not. Fuck him and anyone that thinks otherwise. Stastny deserves it more. Props to Bickell for looking out for his teammate after a classless shot to the back of Keith's head.
- Dave Bolland. Minus THREE on the night. OOOFA!
- From the second period on, the Hawks looked two steps lower than the Avs. It was just not their night.
- The Hawks faceoff stats were as follows: Toews (45%), Bolland (44%), Shaw (10%), and Kruger (17%). All of those guys sucked. Period. Those are terrible numbers.
- Win or not, Mark Kiszla is a classless piece of shit. Journalists do not call out opponents for simply being good. You have etiquette of south of us dirtbag bloggers.
