Nine games and counting, for the Blackhawks. Their next target was the Detoilet Red Wings, who they have a good chance of playing in the first round, come playoffs. In fact, if the playoffs started last night, the Blackhawks would have faced Detoilet. A jest a good deal about my hatred for the Wings but, as I've said many times over, I respect them. This game is the end of an era. The last regular season division game the between these two. EVER; and that's sad. Hockey purists, and I consider myself one, like what little remains of the old Norris division rivalry. This rivalry is going to go the way of the Leafs/Hawks rivalry. It will disappear. I don't want to get all weepy on you but, in short, I'll miss them. I'll miss the fact that have been an enormous pain in the ass for many years. Fans will be left with only one old Norris team , St. Louis (Minny and Dallas don't count, because neither are the old Northstars), who cry and demand respect despite having earned absolutely nothing. Thanks Detoilet. Thanks a lot! Live from the UC in Chicago, it's the Blackhawks and the Wings.
The first period was an odd one, especially for the Hawks, who took 3 penalties. They normally don't take 3 penalties in and entire game, much less a period. As a result, their red hot start went luke warm really fast. Even with the cool down, they were able to out shoot the Wings by a slight margin, 11-10. No goals either way.
The Hawks looked like they were going to take and hold a second period lead, when it all fell apart. They gave up two goals in the final 5 minutes of the second, after taking an early 1-0 lead, and were out shot 9-7. The good part is that the Blackhawks had a period to right the wrong.
The Blackhawks scored the only goal of the third period, to tie the game up, while also out shooting the wings 10-8. After late flurries both ways, this game would take extra time to decide the extra point. Overtime passed without a winner, even though play was wide open, and a shootout was in store for the final Hawks/Wings divisional game.
- Sharpie opened up the early powerplay at center and proceeded to win two offensive zone faceoffs. Brilliant idea. Take it for your own Quenneville. I'll cover his faceoff prowess a bit later.
- Vik Stalberg opened up the scoring for the Blackhawks, almost halfway through the second period. He was able to sneak behind the net with the puck as Howard was tight to the wrong post. Once Stalberg got to the goal line he had only a gaping net in front of him. One he actually didn't miss
- With three minutes in regulation, El Capitan picked up a rebound of an Oduya shot, to Howard's left. He camped just outside the crease and it landed right on his stick. That's automatic for El Capitan, scoring his 20th of the year.
- The Hawks had their way with Detoilet centers all night. The won 63% of the faceoffs, with Sharp winning 7 of 8 faceoffs. Kruger was a the low man on the totem pole at 46%, but all the others were in the 60s.
- On the fourth powerplay of the game, the Wings tied the game up, late in the second period. Stalberg scored the first goal, and was the guy responsible for the penalty that allowed the Wings to tie the game up. Franzen was allowed to camp his ass out right in front of Crawford, and tipped a long point shot just enough for it to sneak through Crawford and into the back of the net. What? We haven't learned that Franzen in front of your goalie is bad?
- About two minutes after the Franzen goal, Cory Emmerton took advantage of a held Rozsival stick in the corner and a fortunate bounce, to beat Crawford over his blocker side shoulder, taking a 2-1 lead.
- Gorilla Salad with 6 minutes of glory. Are we at a point where this guy goes away? Please?
- Believe it, or not, the Hawks were actually out shot for the game (29-28). Tighten up, gents.
- The Hawks took three penalties in the first period and 5 in the first 40 minutes. Two of those first period penalties were from Michal Handzus. We'll call it an anomaly, but it's completely unacceptable. The game wasn't that physical. They were sloppy penalties
- El Capitan was stopped by Howard
- Datsyuk met Crawford's glove
- Crazy 8s was out waited by Howard
- Zetterberg beat Crawford top shelf
- Hoss hit double posts and in.
- Brunner was stopped by Crawford
- Rozsival hit the goal post.
- Nyquist couldn't beat Crawford.
- Saad backhander beats Howard.
- Crawford got a piece of Franzen's shot.
