The Blackhawks welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the United Center with very heavy hearts as it was announced that assistant equipment manager Clint Reif passed away Sunday. Let us all remember Clint for what we know him best for:
Clint Reif asst equipment man. With family last guy to have day with #StanleyCup @nhlblackhawks @nhl @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/Yb7how9Dnk
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) October 30, 2013After all these emotions, unfortunately, there was actually a game that had to be played.
The Blackhawks started the game out a little low in the first period, but rebounded nicely to score two goals and out shoot the Leafs 12-7. A last second goal seemed to take a lot out of the Leafs sails for the second period.
In the second period, the Blackhawks and Leafs were scoreless, but the Hawks led again in shots, 15-9.
The third period started out as a disaster, with the Hawks getting out shot 9-1, but a powerplay turned their fortunes around. They were still out shot 15-7 but scored 2 goals in the second half of the period, to blow out the Leafs 4-0.
- Of all people, David Rundblad scored on a long shot to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. This after a friend and teammate (@MSchuldt29) found THIS gem of a video:
He will be now and forever more names "The Magic Number Five". - With very little time left in the first period, Patrick Kane rushed up the ice and dished to Versteeg, who juked and snapped the puck by Reimer for a 2-0, with just 0,4 seconds remaining.
- This was a sample size, but Raanta looks to be in control of his positioning and rebounds. He made a few nice plays in which I would have expected him to be slightly out of position, or at least spit out a fat rebound. This is very good news for the Blackhawks.
- Marcus Kruger is the league's best 4th line center at this point. He's basically slaying bums, in his current position. Some team could drop a wheelbarrow of cash on the table, and he'd be stupid to resist. Not only that, but he could get third line minutes at the very least.
- After a terrible start to the third period a David Clarkson penalty opened the flood gates. The first goal was Kaner's but the effort by El Capitan to keep control of the puck while down on the ice, and to get it back to Seabrook should be noted and applauded. Seabrook unleashed a shot and the rebound laid to Reimer's left, where Kane put it into the net.
- Less than 2 minutes after the Kane goal, El Capitan got a goal of his own with some hard work. He was able to beat Gardiner to the puck and then just waited out Reimer. All business.
- The Blackhawks team hug after the win was emotional, as well as equipment manager Troy Parchman's face, and Patrick Kane pointing to the sky as he was announced as the first star.
- If it can be quiet, Patrick Kane quietly had a goal and 2 assists. Money. The other Patrick on that line, Sharp, had three assists.
- As good as Kris Versteeg has been this year, playing him at #2 center is a stretch. I'm sure he can handle the offensive zone assignments, but it's the defense that gives me hives.
- We didn't hear the names Kadri, Kessel, Phaneuf, or Van Riemsdyk at all. Credit to the Hawks for that.
- Once again, Michal Roszival has a play where he had the entire rink to make a clean pass, somewhere, and put it right on the stick of an opponent. How much more of this do we need to endure???
- About halfway through the second period, Patrick Kane beat Roman Polak drive him face first, with a forearm to the back, into the boards like a neanderthal. Luckily Kane wasn't hurt, and the Blackhawks were awarded a powerplay...which they promptly blew.
- The Blackhawks led in shots, going into the third period 27-16, and open up the 3rd getting out shot 9-1
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Versteeg-Kane
Carcillo-Shaw-Bickell
Smith-Kruger-Nordstrom
Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Rundblad-Roszival
