It was the Wednesday Right Rivalry game on NBCSN between the Blackhawks and Blues last night, in Chicago. This was a game where the backup netminders took the headlines. For the Blackhawks it was recently recalled Scott Darling, and for the Blues it was recently signed Martin Brodeur. This might have been the first non fabricated rivalry game that NBC has broadcast.
The first period was full of knuckle dragging shenanigans, sloppy play and plenty of shots. The Blackhawks won the period by a slim shot margin 13-10, and goals 1-0. If the Blackhawks wanted to keep the game from turning into a sideshow they can't win, they needed to take less penalties.
The parade to the box continued in the second period, and it cot the Blackhawks the lead. not only were they out scored, but they were out shot 13-7.
Clearly the Blackhawks were not happy with their second period performance, because they came out in the third and fired off three quick goals, to pretty much end the game with 12 minutes remaining.
- With about four minutes remaining in the first period, The Saadfather caught Ian Cole trying to keep the puck in at the Blackhawks blue line and Cole coughed up the puck to Kruger. Saad and Kruger came in 2-on-1 and Kruger beat a cheating Allen for a 1-0 lead.
- Just moments into the third period, following a Blackhawks powerplay, El Capitan held on to the puck long enough to draw two defenders. Once they bit, he dished to Versteeg for a snappy one timer.
- Mere moments later, a Richards to Versteeg to Kane play ended up beating Allen through a Barret Jackman screen for a 3-1 Blackhawks lead and they were dancing in the streets.
- AGAIN, minutes later, Versteeg threw a puck in the area code of Kaner, who turnstyled Barret Jackman and ended up in on a breakaway. For good measure, Jackman took a hooking call, but all was for naught when Kaner beat Allen for a 4-1 Hawks lead.
- Don't look now but, with 3 points, Kris Versteeg is second on the Blackhawks in scoring with 21 points, leads the team in +/- with a +13, and is tied with Kaner with a 1.00 PPG.
- Ben Smith was worked over at the dots, winning only 3 of 14 but, overall, the Blackhawks were really good at 54%.
- Raanta looked rusty early on. The third shot that the Blues got was pretty much a whiff that hit the crossbar. Later on, he almost kicked a wonky dump in, into his own net. All that said, he made 40 saves pretty quietly.
- Shaw got caught by Steve the Pirate, with his head down in front of the Blackhawks net, and Ott tagged him. Gorilla Salad showed shades of his previous self and took a retaliatory penalty. More recently, Quenneville has stayed away from the knuckle dragging shenanigans but, in this one, he was reeled right in. Starting Gorilla Salad, Shaw, and Bickell was evidence of that.
- Teams should always be delighted when their Captain takes a shady penalty in their own zone. St. Louis should be so proud. Best Captain in the league according to the mouth breathing trash in Missouri, folks.
- Midway through the second period, Patrick Kane got stuck on stupid, drawing a penalty for throwing his broken stick at the puck carrier. On the ensuing delayed penalty, with very tired defenders on the ice, Ian Cole made up for his earlier gaffe scoring the game tying goal.
- Shit just got stupid at the end as St. Louis pulled out their usual weak gorilla tactics. Gorilla Salad was given a 10 minute misconduct for directing a player away from a heated get together. I don't like the guy, and I hate defending him, but that was extreme and undeserved.
- Anyone notice Stastny, Lehtera or Tarasenko out there? Me either.
- I will leave you with this stat line. Best Captain in the league right here, St. Louis. Be proud.
Kane-Richards-Versteeg
Carcillo-Shaw-Bickell
Nordstrom-Kruger-Smith
Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Rundblad-Roszival