Nick Leddy's New York Islanders visited Chicago, for a St. Patrick's day game, Tuesday night. Unfortunately for the Islanders, Leddy was out with an injury, but the rest of a young, up and coming, Isles team was out in full force.
The Blackhawks came out like we normally expect them to spending a god majority of the opening period in the Isles end of the ice. They out shot the Islanders 16-10, and out scored them 2-0 in the first, and it really could have been 4-0, based on the pressure the Hawks had.
The Blackhawks had a bit of a rough second period, partly due to an incredibly stupid major penalty that they had to kill. They weathered that storm and some Isles pressure from some unlikely sources to out score the Isles 1-0 but get out shot 15-5. That isn't a typo, they were out shot 15-5 and won the period 1-0.
The third period was much more tame after both teams scored to open the the third. The Isles out shot the Blackhawks once again 14-9 and 39-30 for the game, but the final tally was 4-1.
- About seven minutes into the game, and the Isles surrendered an awful first goal to El Capitan. Toews chased a loose puck into the Isles corner and he threw it to the front of the net, looking for an open teammate. Instead, the puck hit a defenseman, then Neuvirth and into the net. Neuvirth was still out of position though.
- Just an example of what we have in Marian Hossa. For a majority of the first period, he toyed with one of the best players in the entire world, in John Tavares. At his age to be playing top line level like this, and dominating, is astounding. He's pulling some Jagr stuff.
- Late in the first period, Nik Hjalmarsson set up Jonathan Toews for another gift of a goal. Hjalmarsson looked like he was going to pass the puck near the red line but, instead, took it up the boards past some shocked Islanders. After getting to the blue line, he dumped the puck off to Toews, who was in on a 2-on-1. Toews went to his backhand and threw a shot at the net, which should have been a pretty easy bad angle save. Somehow the puck hit Neuvirth in the shoulder and went into the net. This was some long overdue luck on St. Patrick's day.
- Shortly after killing Shaw's dumb penalty, Toews caught the Isles changing and got in behind their defense. He stuck with the puck and and was able to feed Hossa for a really pretty one timer and a 3-0 Blackhawks lead.
- Fifty seven seconds into the third period, and the two hottest Blackhawks connected once again to take a 4-0 lead. Toews tried to hit Hossa but it deflected off Hossa's skate and into the net. It was abundantly clear that there was no kicking motion, so the goal stood.
- Crawford once again held his team in the game. When all was said and done, he had 38 saves. The goal was a pretty fat rebound, but we can let him slide. (Ed. Note - Goal was not a fat rebound. Keith redirected at the point of attempt. Not much Crawford could do. Thanks @xxCARBONxx)
- The Hawks won at the dots, again, winning 56% of their draws. Toews won 13 of 17.
- Pat's favorite play is when Crawford, or any goalie, plays the puck and brutally turns it over. He got his wish about halfway though the first period. I could hear him saying, "stay in the fucking net". Crawford recovered but it was ugly. Luckily for Shaw, the Blackhawks killed his dumb 5 minute major off masterfully, but that doesn't mean it wasn't colossally stupid.
- I can honestly say that I didn't notice the third line on the ice until there were 3 minutes gone in the third period.
- The Isles broke the shutout early in the third period, on a pretty innocent play. Crawford kicked the rebound out into the slot and Kulemin was able to deposit the puck into the open net between Saad and, you guessed it, Rozsival.
- Versteeg played a team low 11:53. That hand injury might be the end of the good Versteeg this year.
- Not 2 minutes into the game and this so called "bigger body" wearing number 11 got rocked by Calvin de Haan. MOAR.....cap space, I guess.
- This Teravainen/Timonen Dad/Hockey Dad shit needs to end. We got it the first 40 fucking times.
- About 5 minutes into the second period, Andrew Shaw got a 5 minute major for head butting. What a fucking asshole. How he hasn't been in Q's doghouse exclusively, for his stupid penalties, is beyond me. It is pretty clear that Gorilla Salad is completely redundant on this team now, as they have Shaw to now do the colossally stupid shit.
- John Tavares and Josh Bailey both -4. Ouchie.
Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Richards-Teravainen
Versteeg-Richards-Bickell
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw
Keith-Rozsival
Timonen-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson