The Hawks took on the Penguins in one of the last two Stadium Series games Saturday night. Due to the weather, the game was about as slow as any hockey game I've ever seen. Not only the foot speed, but the game itself. There were several extra stoppages for the shovelers to clear off the ice, which was saturated with snow. The game was sloppy, hokey and commercialized but it helped fans forget about the last Hawks outdoor game.
- The first goal was just a scrum in front of Fleury and Sharp smartly just threw the puck at the net. It looked like that the puck went off either Saad, or the defenseman, but either way, it was in the net.
- The second goal, by Toews, was a highlight goal. He went in one-on-one with Orpik, spun Orpik like a top, and went right around him. Fleury did his best to shut the 5-hole down, and the puck dribbled into the net.
- Late in the second period the Hawks were fortunate to get a couple of odd man breaks in a row, the final one was led by Pat Kane. He waited...and waited...and waited, until Versteeg got to the far post and hit Versteeg right on the tape. 3-0 Blackhawks at this point.
- With just about 6 minutes left in the third, Saad squeezed past the Pens D and got in 2-on-1 with Bryan Bickell. Saad then fed Bickell, who got about 4 whacks at the puck right in front of Fleury, eventually slamming it past the Pens goalie for a 4-1 Blackhawks lead.
- The final goal was a fluke off the Pens defense, following a rush by Toews. He put a shot off Fleury's pads and the rebound popped out and off Despres and into the Pens net. After the Neal goal, the Hawks will certainly take that slop.
- Crawford didn't need to do much early, but the Pens came on late. He was as good as could be expected, and the only goal he gave up was off the stick of his teammate.
- The big names were huge. Toews had 2 goals and an apple, Sharp had a goal and an apple, Kane had really pretty feed to Versteeg, and Saad was a plus 4. These are the guys that need to get hot for the stretch run.
- Hossa took some contact in the first period and didn't return. Hopefully it's not another concussion issue. Word has it that he actually had a shoulder issue.
- The snow slowed a little in the second period and the powerplays ruled the first half.
- The ice. The snow made the ice almost impossible to make a pass longer than 5 feet. The Hawks overcame, but it was some of the worst conditions I've ever seen for a game. The first Winter Classic is the only one that can compare, and that was only sloppy at the end.
- Poor Crawford has his shutout broken by his own defenseman. James Neal tried to feed the puck in front of the net and Seabrook buried the feed right into his own net. Not entirely sure what he was trying to do, but it looked TERRIBLE