The Blackhawks hosted the pain in the ass Coyotes Saturday night at the United Center. What a year does in the scheme of the NHL. The Blackhawks had been rolling along with the best record in the league, and a chance to clinch that best record. The Yotes, on the other hand, were fighting for a chance to even make the playoffs. As we're all aware, though, the Coyotes can be a real obstacle to this Blackhawks squad. Just so they don't have to face Phoenix in the first round. Live from the United Center in Chicago, it's the Blackhawks and Coyotes.
The Hawks opened up the game with a big first period powerplay goal, but then let off the gas and gave up two Coyotes goals. The Hawks out shot the Yotes 16-9 despite the two Phoenix goals.
The second period was much more Blackhawk-like. They out shot Phoenix 12 to 4 and scored their second powerplay goal of the night. This was a very familiar situation against the Yotes, so the Hawks needed to be just as careful in the third period.
The Blackhawks and Yotes played even in the third period, even with the Yotes out shooting the Blackhawks 15-8. Since no one could break the tie, the game went into extra time. The extra five minutes weren't enough to decide a winner, so the extra point would be decided in a shootout. Hopefully the Hawks are done seeing this team, this year.
- The Hawks converted on their second powerplay of the game, just past the halfway point of the first period. Leddy fed Lucky Number Sleven for a blistering one timer that went off
- Kane made a beautiful highlight reel backhand pass to Seabrook, who was wide open in the slot. Seabrook wasted little time and snapped it past Mike Smith for his second goal of the night, tying the game up for the Blackhawks.
- The Hawks beat the Yotes at the dots with the help of El Capitan and Handzus, because Kruger, Bolland and Shaw were all under 50%.
- Two minutes after the first Yotes goal, Radim Vrbata put them up 2-1 following a bad Marcus Kruger turnover at the blue line. Kruger's pass was far behind Bolland and ended up on the stick of former Blackhawk Rob Klinkhammer. The Coyotes turned the play around and another former Blackhawk, Vrbata, just snapped it over Crawford's glove.
- 31 shots are a little too much for my liking, especially for a team like Phoenix.
- I don't think there is a better #5 defenseman in the league than Nick Leddy. He plays everywhere and when he turns that speed on, there are few that will keep up with him.
- oh hey, Megamayers! There you are.
- About halfway through the first period the Hawks got a powerplay but it should have been a penalty shot. Hossa had a good two steps on Ekman-Larsson who hooked the hell out of him. How that was not a penalty shot is beyond my comprehension.
- Just a minute after the Hawks took the lead, Crawford completely dicked the dog on a 140 foot dump in that bounced over his glove and into the net. I have no defense for that one. Fucking terrible. About as bad as you'll see. Even worse was that the momentum swung in the Yotes favor after this.
- Toews almost beat Smith
- Boedker beat Crawford stick side.
- Kane beat Smith 5-hole to tie the shootout up
- Vrbata couldn't beat Crawford.
- Hossa hit the goal post.
- Sclemko beat Crawford for the win
