The Blackhawks welcomed the Minnesota Wild into the United Center for their second meeting in four days. The Wild were still feeling the effects of the game in Minny-haha, and a thrashing by the Preds Saturday night.
You would not be able to guess based on the score, but the Blackhawks wee actually out shot for the first period 14-13. Some early sloppy play by the Wild had them in a very uncomfortable position (Not the back of a Volkswagon). A 2-0 lead, at home, going into the second period, is right were the Blackhawks should be.
In the opposite fashion of the first period, the Blackhawks started out a little slower but picked up the pace to out score the Wild 2-0 and out shoot them 14-12. $-0 heading into the third period, just how they drew it up.
The third period was just a mere formality, because it was clear that the Blackhawks had cemented a solid lead, and the Wild had given up. The only question was if the Blackhawks could maintain the shutout. As with most games Crawford plays in, it was not to be. Nonetheless, the Blackhawks came away with a win. A solid and convincing win.
- Just over 4 minutes into the game and The Blackhawks were already up 1-0. The way the Hawks were swarming around the net, it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. The previous 3 shifts, the Hawks were buzzing the net. The combination of Saad, to Toews, to Hossa made it look easy.
- Just a couple of minutes after the Hossa goal, the Richards/Bickell/Kane line pulled a similar play. Kane drew the goalie and a defender, which left Bickell wide open on the back door, and the first period wasn't even half over, ad the Hawks were up 2-0.
- Brad Richards scored the 3rd Blackhawks goal of the game about halfway through the second period. This was a perfect time for the Hawks, because the Wild had the momentum. Kane led the rush and tried to take a shot, but it was blocked. The puck conveniently ended up on the stick of Richards, who had a lot of net to shoot at.
- In the final minutes of the second period, a Marian Hossa defensive play turned into a Toews/Saad/Oduya 3-on-1. Toews tried to force the pass to Saad, and it was blocked by Spurgeon. The puck sat out in the high slot until Oduya was able to step up and tee off. Spurgeon blocked that shot too, but the momentum made the puck knuckle past a committed Backstrom. Ugly goal, but the Blackhawks are owed a few of those.
- For the first time in his Blackhawks career, Teuvo Teravainen looked like an NHL player. He looked comfortable and was involved in some legitimate scoring chances. I cannot wait until he has full confidence.
- While this isn't a true goalie win, Crawford had 36 saves, and the Blackhawks were out shot 37-35. Nothing to complain abut there.
- The Blackhawks were dominant at the dots, winning 61%. Shaw was the Blackhawks leader, winning 8 of 10.
- Shoutcast Tuesday night.
- The Hawks started out fast and furious, but they let the Wild take momentum through the second half of the first and first half of second periods.
- Noted shithead Matt Cooke was the fortunate beneficiary of the 3rd pairing matchup, and picked up a fat rebound off Crawford's pad to break Crawford's shutout bid.
- Four days off is usually a good thing, but just as the Blackhawks are getting hot again, they have to sit on their thumbs.
- Nik Hjalmarsson got turned around like a top, by Jason Zucker, late in the second period, eventually taking a penalty, which then resulted in a penalty shot. Zucker shot wide, so all was forgotten, but not Hammer's best play.
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Richards-Kane
Sharp-Shaw-Teravainen
Carcillo-Kruger-Smith
Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Rundblad-Roszival