Now that we have that out of the way, seriously, we can get to the task at hand, which is back to back games against the Stanley Cup Champ Kings and lowly Calgary Flames. The Kings have found their "swagger" lately, despite losing two in a row, and one might call this the Jerome-a-palooza. Both teams are reportedly in the short list of Iginla destinations. Mr. #12 might find two bouquets of flowers left behind after last night's game. First of all the game needed to be played. Live from the United Center in Chicago, it's the Blackhawks and Kings.
After the brutal ending to the last game, the Hawks came out just as we would all hope. They out shot the Kings 11-7 and had the only goal of the period. There were a few other really good Hawks chances that could have really handicapped the Kings, but one goal was all they mustered up.
The second period was almost a complete shitshow for the Blackhawks. They gave up two early goals, and barely managed many shots at all. Thanks to some dumb luck they managed to salvage some self worth with a couple of late period goals, but a very late Kings goal to tie the game hurt. The shots heavily favored Los Angeles 12-5, and despite the Hawks goals, the Kings held the momentum.
The third period was much like the second, with the Kings controlling a majority of the play and scoring another late back breaking goal. The Kings out played and out shot the Hawks 17-8, leaving the UC with a 5-4 win. Nice showing on a nationally televised game, boys. Just enough to fuel the troll fire.
- With the absence of Hossa, Frolik was given a shot with the top line, and he took advantage almost immediately. In his second shift of the game, he put the Hawks up 1-0. Toews won the faceoff, and Saad ended up with the puck on his stick. He saw a slight window to hit Frolik, and did. Quick pass, one timer by Frodo, and B-I-N-G-O. I love seeing him finally rewarded with some success.
- Frolik scored his second of the game with just over five minutes remaining in the second period. Deuce wound up with the puck on his stick walking the blue line and instead of ripping a clapper on net, he unleashed a slap pass to Frolik. Frodo redirected the pass enough to find Quick's 5-hole. This tied the game up, when the Kings had all the momentum.
- Kaner took the lead back for the Hawks with 40 second remaining in the second period. He snuck in behind the shadow of Jimmy Hayes, who had somehow drawn two Kings defenders. Kane slid in behind all three players and ended up on a partial break-a-way. Kane dodged a Quick poke check, and stuffed it in behind him. The goal was a beauty, and highlight worthy.
- Frolik got his third point of the night on an El Capitan goal, just a couple of minutes into the third period. Toews won the faceoff to Keith, who found Frolik. Frodo snapped a shot on Quick, but the rebound landed right in front of Toews, who shoveled it between Quicks legs and into the net.
- El Capitan put a move on Mr. All-World, and made him look like he was big orange pylon outside the UC. After all the bukkake sessions the league has had over Doughty, it's nice to see him schooled by classier and more talented player. That's right, CLASSIER AND MOIRE TALENTED.
- Even though they were plus 3 each, Deuce and Lucky Number Sleven didn't exactly tickle my tits. Seabrook was better than he had been, and Keith's pinch on the powerplay helped lead to the shorthanded goal.
- Anze Kopitar took advantage of a great Kings bounce, walked between Oduya and Hjalmarsson and beat Crawford with a perfect shot to tie the game at 1, with almost 5 minutes gone in the second. Johnny and Nik looked pretty confused from the moment the puck hit the blue line.
- Dullig got back to the hammer throwing shenanigans in a tussle with Jordan Nolan. Dullig took the decision, but the Kings proceeded to score two goals shortly thereafter. You connect the dots.
- Oduya and Hjalmarsson were minus 3 each. Is the rest of the league catching up to them?
- Not sure what other outcome you should expect when you're out shot 36-24, but this was a generous fate. Two goals on 5 second period shots was fortunate.
- Toews and Kruger were the only Hawks to win over 50% of their faceoffs, but one particular Toews loss cost them the game winning goal. Dismiss faceoffs all you want, but deep in either zone, they are crucial.
- Look at that, the Hawks actually out hit a team. How did that work out for them?
- It worked out in the Hawks favor, but Mike Richards was called for a 4 minute high stick penalty on a shot follow through. Bad call. TERRIBLE call, in fact. The Hawks promptly blew the power play chance, so no harm, no foul, eh?
- Kane threw a tantrum in the second period, after getting a cross check in the back, and then proceeded to board Rob Scuderi from behind, like a spoiled child. Really, kid?
- Jarred Stoll scored a shorthanded goal just a three minutes after the Kopitar goal, to take a 2-1 Kings lead. After the faceoff deep in the Kings zone, Shaw fell, Deuce got caught all the way down at the dot, and Seabrook was left to fend off a 2-on-1. Seabrook actually played it pretty well, taking away the pass, but Crawford got beat on his glove side. Ugly, ugly goal. Embarrassing, actually.
- After the Hawks took the lead with 40 seconds remaining in the period, Drew Doughty decided to make something happen by rushing right up the gut of the Hawks zone and through all 5 Hawks defenders. Apparently, the Hawks thought that time would run out before the puck could end up in the net, or something. They were clearly wrong. After easily dismissing Kruger and Bickell, Stalberg, Hjalmarsson, and Oduya couldn't have looked less interested in Doughty's effort. Doughty got a decent shot off after tripping through the muck of uninterested Hawks players. The rebound eventually went off cement head Dwight King's Sasquatch sized skate and into the net with .5 seconds remaining. Stellar way to finish a complete clowning.
- The Kings tied the game AGAIN, in the third period, on a weak flip shot from Tyler Toffoli. Not Crawford's prettiest goal against, by any stretch of the imagination. There was a slight screen, but pretty ugly all around. The Hawks just seemed insistant on giving gifts to the Kings.
- The Kings took their final lead with under two minutes in the third. The Hawks lost a key faceoff, and Dustin Brown took a quick shot, hitting Oduya in the back. The puck came right back to Brown, who had a wide open net because Crawford had overpursued the initial shot. Brown isn't going to miss many of those open nets. Game, Set, Match.
- Remember when I said the Powerplay and poor faceoffs would hurt the Hawks? Looks like I wasn't as stupid as some might think.
- Crawford was fighting the puck and pretty average all night. When they needed him, he wilted. Quick wasn't much better, but the percentages were with the Kings.