The Hawks finally got a chance to play the Ducks at the UC Friday night, but apparently some things don't change. The Ducks walked away with a late 2-1 win after a game that was virtually even throughout. Once again, a late Ducks flurry stuck the knife in the Hawks back. Frustrating to say the least.
In other news, the Hawks put Hossa on the IR retroactive to the night he was hurt, to open up a sport for Jeremy Morin.
- Crazy 8s had a helluva powerplay goal two and a half minutes into the third period. Finally the Hawks had some life. Kruger and Saad kept the puck deep in the Ducks zone, and finally worked it out to Deuce at the point. Kane curled around and Deuce dumped the puck off to him. For some odd reason, the Ducks felt it was less dangerous to let Kane walk 1-on-1 with their goalie than to cover the pass. The result shows that was a poor choice. This all happened about a minute after Razor made a huge save on a sure Ducks goal.
- The aforementioned save by Emery was both lucky and huge. The Ducks had Emery dead to rights in the prone position and couldn't lift the puck over his toe. The Hawks turned it around and ended up tying the game, but it wasn't the shot in the ass they needed. The Powerplay goal was the last time one of their pucks saw the back of the net.
- Leddy's end to end rushes are thing of beauty. At least once a game, he decides that he wants to layeth the smack down, and take the puck end to end by himself. The kid may not be an elite defender today, but he's going to be dane close in 2 or 3 years. He has speed like Paul Coffey back in his heyday.
- Outshooting the Ducks 26-24 is right about what you'd ask for, but one goal obviously won't do the job.
- Just a couple of minutes into the second period resident Ducks pest, Corey Perry, snuck in behind Oduya and ended up in on a 2-on-1 with Getzlaf. Hjalmarsson did what he was suppose to do, which is take the pass, but when you have a sniper like Perry bearing down it's more like death by firing squad, or death by hanging. The guy might be a huge shithead, but he is a hell of a player that can score at will.
- Once again, Stalberg was left with a wide open net and couldn't hit the gaping cage. This is one reason why I feel that if the Hawks wanted to unload him before Wednesday, I wouldn't be heartbroken. They aren't going to be able to afford to extend him, and getting even a draft pick is better than nothing. It's time to see what Morin or Smith can do.
- El Capitan, Megamayers and Bolland were all good a the dots, but the bottom 2 centers got donkey punched once again. Overall the Hawks were better, but that was because Toews was so good.
- Yes, I'm going to dog Carcillo again. Not his fault, necessarily, but he only played 7 minutes. It would be nice to have a 4th line that they can trust, again. Ben Smith can play 7 responsible minutes a night, and probably chip in on the PK. Carcillo is only useful, and I use the term "useful" lightly, 5 on 5.
- The Hawks score just enough on the powerplay to keep everyone from panicing but that doesn't mean they are good. This team should be in the top 10, if not, the top 5. Another powerplay goal changes this game.
- The Ducks winning goal was shitshow from top to bottom. The Hawks couldn't get the puck out of the zone, and the Ducks were severely out working them. Jimmy Hayes was roaming around aimlessly, low in the zone, leaving Kane to run around and cover both points. That is never good, late in a shift, and late in a game. Souray was the lucky recipient of time and space at the point, and dog him all you want, but the man has a cannon for a shot. He let loose and the shot was so hard that is shattered Hjalmarsson's stick on the way to the net. The redirection threw Emery off enough to allow the puck to sneak by him with about two minutes left in the game. It never fails. The Hawks just seem to find a way to throw the game away, late, to this team.
- Hjalmarsson and Oduya seemed to get clowned all night long, by Perry/Getzlaf/Ryan. It's about time that Keith and Seabrook get back to their usual slot against the top lines in the league. The league has figured out 4 and 27. I'm not saying they suck, but some adjustments need to be made. The have a place, but that place has changed. They were each minus two on the night and could have been minus 4. It seemed like every time that the Ducks had a chance, it was with 4 and 27 on the ice.