The Blackhawks returned home on Monday night from their brief and unsuccessful two game road trip to the north last week. Standing in line tonight was the visiting Los Angeles Kings, who have gotten their early season issues snorted out and come to town riding a 7 game winning streak. The Blackhawks on the other hand are struggling to say the least. To try and spark the team, the Hawks sent overpriced forward Bryan Bickell to Rockford and recalled forward Marko Dano for tonight's game. In addition to that roster shuffle, the Hawks would also be without Marian Hossa for tonight's game.
As is always the case when the Kings and Hawks battle, tonight's game got off to a fantastic pace. The opening minutes featured end to end action with several scoring chances. The Hawks however would get on the board first courtesy of a one timer from Garbutt to The Captain just over the 6 minute mark. With 5 and a half minutes remaining in the period, Alec Martinez tied the game up for the Kings on a point shot with a little help from a Marko Dano screen, but still was one Crawford should have had. The Kings wouldn't be done with scoring. With 1:20 remaining, Anze Kopitar scored on a rebound attempt to give the Kings a 2-1 after the first period.
The fast pace of the the game would continue as the second period got underway. Both teams would have a few quality chances during the period. Both teams came within inches of scoring as both Jake Muzzin and Teuvo Teravainen found the post. The highlight of the period came from a goal mouth scrum that featured Marcus Kruger and Anze Kopitar earning roughing penalties. After 40 minutes, the Kings would still lead 2-1.
The third period would get started on the right foot for the Hawks. Patrick Kane tied the game just 1:22 into the period on a lazy wrist shot, that similar to the Martinez goal, is one that should have been stopped. That wasn't the only time we'd hear from Kane in the third period. Midway through the period, Kane fed a no look pass from behind the net to a wide open Teuvo Teravainen who put the Hawks up 3-2. Throughout the period the Hawks and Corey Crawford were able to hold off a flurry of chances from the Kings, along with two Kings' power plays. Artem Anisimov put the game out of reach in the final two minutes with a breakaway goal, and sealed a 4-2 win for the Blackhawks.
- The all around play by Panarin, Garbutt, and Toews on the Hawks opening goal was superb. Panarin kept it simple, got the puck out, while Garbutt fed Toews a perfect pass to one time the puck past Quick. It doesn't get much better than that.
- This just in. Patrick Kane is good at hockey. That no look pass to Teuvo was, well, it was friggin' awesome. And who didn't enjoy him destroying Trevor Lewis along the boards?
- Anyone want to call out Jonathan Toews?? The guy has been lights out of late. The Captain added another goal to his hot streak.
- Corey Crawford shook off a soft goal early and bounced back nicely. He fought off a 19 shot third period from the Kings en route to the win. In the end he made 33 saves tonight.
- Artem Anisimov continues to make me look like an idiot for saying why the rush to extend him over the summer. I think Jonathan Quick is looking for his jock after that breakaway goal in the third period.
- I very much approve of the snarl that Kruger displayed against Kopitar in the second period.
- Another guy who deserves a shout out is Ryan Garbutt. Again, I don't approve of the role he's playing on the first line at times, but he's doing all the little things right.
- The Hawks for a change had a solid night at the face off dot 37-27.
- Alec Martinez's goal was one Crawford should have had. Yes, there was a partial screen from Dano, but still a point shot like that is one that should be stopped.
- Marko Dano got the dreaded "he was alright" from Quenneville tonight. I thought he was better than that, but again, Q likes to piss on everyone's parade.
- Viktor Svedberg had an up and down game. If he can work on not being hell bent of reaching for the puck, and skating towards it instead, he may turn into a reliable defenseman.
- Yielding 19 shots in a period is never a good thing. Let alone the third period. The Hawks defense needs to tighten up, but tonight they can thank their goalie for bailing them out.
- Ryan Hartman got the "Q treatment" and was benched following a bad turnover. In the end he played a team low 9:19.
- Trevor Daley.......WOOF. We're starting to drain some of the patience out of the patience pool I have for a veteran defenseman.