by Patrick Stankus
On Friday afternoon the Blackhawks started their southern California portion of the Circus Trip with a visit to the pond in Anaheim. The Hawks were coming off an impressive with in the bay area on Wednesday night over the Sharks and looked to carry that momentum to So. Cal for the back to back this weekend. This also marked the Hawks first trip to Anaheim since winning the Campbell Bowl last season, how's that for a Game 7 memory Anaheim?
The first period got off to a disastrous start for Hawks. Patrick Kane turned the puck over just inside the Ducks zone, which led to an Anaheim 2-0 and Andrew Cogliano scored to put the Ducks up 1-0 just a minute into the game. It didn't get much better for the Hawks. Throughout the period, the Hawks coughed up the puck numerous times, but Crawford was there to bail them out. After two lifeless power plays that generated 1 shot, the Hawks found their legs towards the end of the period, but couldn't get the puck past Gibson, and trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
After the lackluster showing in the 1st period, the Hawks looked like a team that got their ass chewed out during the intermission. They came out with more energy and were able to generate a few more chances. The Hawks seemed to turn the momentum in their favor after a power play in which they had several good looks, but didn't score. All that momentum was killed though after Andrew Shaw took a soft, but correct slashing penalty. The Ducks were able to cash in just as that power play ended as Chris Stewart beat Crawford with a knuckleball to increase the Ducks lead to 2-0. As time wound down, Kane was able to get a breakaway, but Gibson stoned him and after 40 minutes the Ducks retained their 2-0 lead.
The third period got underway with the Hawks being shorthanded for the first 1:52 for a carry over penalty of Niklas Hjalmarsson from the 2nd period. The Hawks penalty kill came through and was able to kill off the penalty. The majority of the 3rd period was a snoozefest with whistle after whistle. That however changed in the final 2 minutes of the game. With Crawford pulled, the Hawks were able to score two goals in just over a minute to tie the game at 2 and send the game to overtime. The overtime frame would take just under two minutes for the Hawks to complete the improbable comeback. Brent Seabrook set up Artem Anisimov for the game winner, giving the Hawks a 3-2 win. Holy shit, I gotta get out of this business.
- Much like the game in Calgary where the Hawks had no business earning a point in the OT loss, today the Hawks had no business earning 2 points for the OT win. The Hawks can thank their goaltending for those 3 points. Much like Darling in Calgary, Corey Crawford kept the Hawks in the game today when they had no business whatsoever.
- The final two minutes were pretty exciting wouldn't you say?
- Patrick Kane extended his points streak to 18 games, and tied the record for longest streak for a U.S. born player with an assist on Duncan Keith's game tying goal.
- Quietly today Brent Seabrook had 3 assists, for that, I'll forget his ill timed hit of Kesler that in part led to Chris Stewart's goal.
- Marian Hossa's opening goal for the Hawks was on the power play. I think I'll go wet my pants.
- Artem Anisimov has turned into quite the 2nd line center for the Hawks. Too bad it came at the expense of a 1st line left wing. Because that hole is still humongous.
- Just as the Hawks generated some momentum following a better power play in 2nd period, Andrew Shaw takes his usual selfish, careless penalty to kill the momentum.
- The Hawks 1st two power plays that were essentially back to back yielded one fucking shot. With this amount of talent, that's beyond pathetic.
- Just when Kero and Kruger seemed to be developing some chemistry, Q decides to scratch Kero with Teuvo returning, but keeps The Manshitter in the lineup. I give up on trying to figure out this guy's "coaching" or developing of young players.
- 4pm local time start in Chicago + orange Ducks jersey + screaming of the National Anthem = the hat trick of shit to start this game.
- As good as Patrick Kane has been playing, his turnover on Cogliano's goal cannot happen. I don't care how good of a player you are.
- The first period was full of turnovers, and sloppy play by the Hawks. They're lucky their goalie was able to bail them out.
- Ryan Kesler is a fucking tool. Late in the first period, he and Toews got into a scuffle, in which Toews dropped his gloves, and Kesler waited until the linesmen jumped in before dropping his gloves. If you're gonna fight, fight. Then again different jersey, same old Kesler we know from his Vancouver days.
- There was a whole lotta suck on Anaheim's 2nd goal. A bad change, coupled with Seabrook going for a big hit on Kesler, led to a 3 on 1, and Anaheim increasing their lead to 2.
- The Hawks were hammered at the dot this afternoon 43-31.
- A big F-U to the people who made Ryan Kesler the 3rd star of the game.
