The Blackhawks welcomed the filthy St. Louis Blues into the United Center, Saturday night, for a meaningless preseason tilt. The Hawks trotted out some of the money players, including the most infamous man in the NHL right now, Patrick Kane.
The big news of the day, though, was right before game time. The Blackhawks announced an eight year extension, worth $6.85 million per season. The deal really makes this writer happy, as Seabrook is my favorite Blackhawks player. Good on the Hawks for nailing down their excellent top pair for a long long time. A welcomed distraction, under the circumstances.
Following the extension announcement there was a game to be played. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights:
- Just over 7 minutes into the second period, the lottery line tied the game for the Blackhawks. Jonathan Toews tried to hit Hossa for a one timer, but it was in Hossa's skates. Hossa was still able to stop it, and set it up for a shot past Jake Allen.
- Late in the 3rd period, in a 4-on-4 situation, Patrick Kane stole the puck at the Hawks blue line and went in on a long breakaway. He shielded the puck on his backhand and beat Jake Allen low to the glove side, to take a 2-1 lead.
- Just a couple of minutes after the Kane goal, Duncan Keith used a powerplay situation to blow a long clapper past the glove side shoulder of Jake Allen, giving the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead.
- The Blackhawks solidly out shot the Blues 34-21.
- Corey Crawford pretty quietly had a real nice night, saving 20 of 21 shots.
- Artem Anisimov got a penalty shot late in the first period, and really didn't do much of anything to score. He really made it easy on Jake Allen.
- Hjalmarsson took a third period run at Steve, the Pirate, Ott and completely missed. I, for one, would have been very happy to see that homicide occur. Ott is a steaming fucking turd.
- Hey, look at that, Scott Gomez is still trying to play in the NHL.
- The Blackhawks and Blues played a 3v3 OT, even though the Hawks on the game. A minute in, the Blackhawks got caught trying to make a change and former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer scored on a back door one timer. This 3vs3 OT stunt is going to be a real shitshow.
- The Blackhawks lost in hits, as they always do, and at the faceoff dots. Just goes to prove that at the end of the day shots on net are more important that either.
- After a Kyle Baun penalty late in the first period, the defensive pairing of Visnovsky and Schilling allowed Joel Edmundson to sneak in on the back door and take a pass from Chicago Wolves legend Ty Rattie.
- I'm not sure what the hell Brandon Mashinter thought he was doing, late in the second period, but he completely submarined the Blues Colton Parayko. Stupid fucking play, by an obviously stupid player. He should have been tossed.
Shaw - Toews - Hossa
Garbutt - Anisimov - Kane
Bickell - Hinostroza - Baun
Mashinter - Kero - Hartman
Hjalmarsson - Keith
van Reimsdyk - Seabrook
Visnovsky - Schilling