Wednesday marked day one of the Blackhawks third title defense in 6 season, and began with all the makings of a ridiculous Cirque du Soleil. There were red carpets, limousines, suits, long celebration videos and even some crowd participation. The whole ordeal wrapped up with the ceremonial banner raising, which is NEVER distracting. Nevertheless, after all was said and done, the Hawks still had a game to play. Right, the game...
The first period was pretty much a complete shit show from the word go. The Rangers went up 1-0, 2-1, and eventually 3-1 before the final horn sounded. This was all despite actually being out shot 12-11. The goal the Blackhawks did have was nice, but major lapses on the back end left Corey Crawford to get sniped twice and then get completely taken out by his own teammate. Not really how you want to open the season.
The middle period was a little more what all of us fans were looking for. I'm not going to say that it was a perfect period, far from it, but much batter than the display that they put on in the opening period. The Blackhawks were able to cut the lead to one. The shots favored the Rangers 9-8 but everyone seemed to settle in a little bit. A one goal game going into the third period is not a bad position to be in despite their horrid start.
The third period began with the lineblender in full effect. Bryan Bickell and Kyle Baun rode the pine, while the Blackhawks peppered the Rangers goalie with 14 shots. A late flurry nearly yielded a goal, but in the end the Hawks fell short. It was admirable that they shut down the Rangers for the final two periods, but that hole they dug in the first period was just too much. Not a big deal. Next is the "Home-n-Home" with the Islanders, Friday and Saturday.
- With just about 5 minutes left in the first period, and after a questionable waved off icing, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin caught the Rangers defense napping. Keith Yandle bit on Kane and left Panarin completely wide open. Kanes pass hit Panarin on the tape and the Russian beat King Henrik to tie the game.
- Seven minutes into the second period, the Lottery Line got into the act. Jonathan Toews forced a Dan Girardi turnover that wound up on the stick of Marian Hossa. Hossa found a breaking Teuvo Teraivanen in a soft spot just inside the circle. Teravainen one timed the puck past Lundqvist to cut the Rangers lead to 1.
- The Hawks won the faceoff battle 30-27.
- I know the outrage is to get Tervainen to the pivot, but I'm perfectly fine with him playing wing. His hands are really unreal. From the limited play we saw of Marko Dano, Teravainen is a far superior choice at this point in time. Jonny must be licking his chops.
- Just a little over a minute and a half after the Panarin goal, Ryan Garbutt took a high sticking penalty that led to a 6 on 5 delayed penalty advantage. The Rangers worked the puck to the open guy Kevin Klein. Klein one timed the puck over a shifting Crawford, from a tight angle. 2-1 Rangers
- It's not the popular opinion, but the waved off goal with a minute left in the game was frozen long enough for a stoppage before Patrick Kane poked it into the net. The refs got it right, as much as it pains me.
- Kyle Super Baun Baun took all of 2 periods to hit Chateau Bow Wow, and Bryan Bickell joined him.
- I'll fully admit that David Rundblad is not much more than adequate on his good days, but he takes a lot up undeserved heat. It took him until late in the second period to really fuck up. When he does fuck up, he makes sure it's a good one though.
- Just 1:43 into the first period, Rookie Oscar Lindberg took advantage of an oddman break after the Hawks forwards got sucked in deep to the Rangers zone. His backdoor shot beat Crawford pretty cleanly for a 1-0 Rangers lead. Who assisted on that goal? Yup, Viktor Stalberg. Also, makes one wonder if the duo of van Riemsdyk and Daley were going to be the whipping boys this season.
- With a minute left in the first period, the duo of Daley and van Riemsdyk were on the ice once again for a Rangers goal. A Daley shot was blocked and ultimately led to a 2-on-0 back the other way. Corey Crawford made the first save and Trevor Daley took Crawford completely out of the play. Hayes passed the puck between Crawford and the net, and it dropped into the crease where Stepan was able to waltz right in and tap the puck into the net between Daley, van Riemsdyk and Anisimov.
- The "very important" Jarrett Stoll won 1 of 6 faceoffs. Try again NBC.
- Duncan Keith did NOT have the best game. His terrible turnover deep in the Hawks zone, inthe third period, nearly led to a 4th Rangers goal, but Crawford bailed him out and then took a swipe at Derick Brassard for good measure
- I don't care if you don't want to hear "what ifs", just stop reading now. If Bowman finds a way to sign Kevin Hayes, he might not have to trade for Vermette, may not have to take on the Artem Anisimov salary and "The Cap Genius" looks like more of a genius. I'm never going to buy that there was nothing Bowman could have done and no one is going to tell me otherwise. Not only that, but there would have been room for Saad. But fuck me, #3CUPZ.
- Thanks to the terrible AT&T U-Verse, our very own Fatrick wasn't able to watch the game or even tweet. I'm sure he didn't have anything important to say anyway.
Teravainen - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Bickell - Shaw - Baun
Desjardins - Kruger - Garbutt
Keith - Hjalmarsson
Rundblad - Seabrook
van Reimsdyk - Daley