Just 24 hours after they faced that other team labeled "New York" in Chicago, the Blackhawks found themselves at the "World's Most Famous Arena" in New York to face the Rangers. With Henrik Lundqvist still sidelined with an injury, the Rangers had super sub Cam Talbot in net while the Hawks countered with some guy from Lemont named Scott Darling. With all those 3's in net, lets all be thrilled Pat Foley wasn't calling this game.
The first period could be described in one word; thrilling. Both teams saw excellent opportunities, but both goalies rose to the occasion. Also in the first period, the Blackhawks had two power plays, but unlike in the last couple of games, the Hawks couldn't capitalize, and the game would be scoreless after one.
Much like the first period, the second period again featured a lot of energy, and a torrid pace of end to end action. This time however it wasn't the Hawks who would get a power play, it instead was the Rangers, who like the Hawks in the first couldn't capitalize. Despite the chances and excitement, the game would still be scoreless after two.
The third period would finally see the end to the scoreless play. Brad Richards found a loose puck behind the Rangers net, and would patiently out wait Cam Talbot and roof a shot to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Despite another Rangers power play, and a flurry of chances in the final minutes, the Hawks would hang on and Lemont native Scott Darling would record his first career NHL shutout.
The Good
- Pretty simple here. Lemont native Scott Darling was awesome tonight. How awesome you ask? Well his save on Rick Nash in the first period made the highlight reels on shows not seen on NHL Network.
- Equally as good, and deserving of a shout out is Rangers goalie Cam Talbot. But unlike last time, the Blackhawks were able to get a puck past him tonight.
- Well wherever Brad Richards was hiding for the first 2 months of 2015, it seems like he is back to at least being serviceable again. Isn't that nice of him?
- That turtle Michal Rozsival was a scratch tonight, I'm not complaining.
- Once again, a solid night by the penalty kill. This time they killed off both of the Rangers chances.
>The Bad
- The long awaited healthy scratch of Kris Versteeg finally happened tonight. Hopefully he'll respond a little better than Bickell has to his benching.
- As good as the power play has been of late, tonight they were a bit off, as they were 0 for 2.
- The Hawks were dominated at the face off dot tonight 37 - 26. Notables who struggled were Vermette (24%) and Kruger (22%.)
- Kimmo Timonen played a team low 7:30 tonight. Its hard to pick on a guy coming back from blood clots, but this is a little troublesome. Come playoff time, the schedule will be more condensed, so he'll have to get in game shape real soon.
The Ugly
- As annoying as the "Lemont native" talk about Scott Darling is by Pat Foley and other Chicago media, tonight the NBCSN crew took the tall goalie talk to a new level. We get it, Darling is tall, and the tall goalie is the new wave of the future. I don't need this talk shoved down my throat. And I also thought Pierre McGuire calling Darling a "monster" is a bit too soon. He's a backup goalie Pierre. With talk like this, its no wonder you can't get a GM job in the NHL.
- That turnover by Brent Seabrook that lead to Nash's breakaway was vomit inducing.