The Blackhawks finished their quick trip through Florida on Friday night by visiting the Panthers in Miami. The Hawks were coming in off a 2-1 loss on Thursday night in Tampa, which ended their 12 game win streak. The two trips that I usually pencil in as losses before the season starts are the Western Canada swing, and the Florida swing. After Thursday's showing, the Florida swing got off to the start I had expected, but how bad could it get in Miami?
Once the puck dropped, it was quite clear this game could go right down the shitter really fast. Just over a minute, Andrew Shaw took a hooking penalty, and our worst nightmares were coming true. After the Hawks killed off the penalty, it was all down hill. The Panthers rang up three goals in the final 10 minutes of the period to go up 3-0 after the opening frame. You can debate that two of those three goals were soft. Oh, and that third goal, well don't we all enjoy seeing a weak, short side shot go in with 2.1 seconds remaining?
The smoldering tire fire that was the Blackhawks continued right where it left off in the first period. The lack of energy, and overall pace was very apparent. The looks that the Hawks did have were a lot of one and done chances on Roberto Luongo. The highlight of the game came by way of Rob Suckderi in the second period. Suckderi turned a puck over on a weak clearing attempt, and Aaron Ekblad picked up the loose puck and beat Scott Darling cleanly on the glove side with a snap shot to make it 4-0. But by all means, blame Rozsival for that one. After two periods of play, the Hawks would trail the Panthers 4-0.
The third period was much like this summary of this recap was, a hurry up to get it over. The Hawks did end up out shooting the Panthers 12-9, so you can go wet your pants if you want some sort of positive vibe. Mercifully the horn ending the game sounded shortly after 9pm Chicago time, with the Hawks falling 4-0 to the Panthers. All that was missing from this shit show trip to South Florida was a trip to Las Vegas as a reward for shitty play. Then again, Gate is supposed to go to Nashville tomorrow, so maybe we'll count that a reward, for sitting through this game.
- The Blackhawks only travel to Florida once a year.
- You're kidding if you thought anything else would go in "The Good" category.
- Tonight was nothing more than a waste of our time.
- Jiri Sekac made his debut. No seriously, he did.
- The Hawks took a page of out #DickPanik 's book, and overslept to miss the start of the game.
- The Power Play was 0 for 2 tonight, and 0 for 5 in the two games in Florida. Why do people like going to Florida again?
- If you wanted to see former Blackhawks Dave Bolland, Brandon Pirri, and Dylan Olsen, you had to look up. Like, way up in the press box.
- The Blackhawks are now 0-2-0 in the post Ryan Garbutt era. Who would have thought?
- Three of the four goals Scott Darling yielded tonight were on the short side. I'd argue all three were stoppable. Its a good thing Corey Crawford has been lights out, because Scott Darling is a fragile goalie with a lack of confidence right now.
- As good as the #AK72Line has been this year, tonight they really stunk up the show. 72, 15, and 88 were all -2 on the night.
- If you had Dennis Rasmussen being the best Blackhawk at the dot tonight, at 75%, please go collect your winnings.
- After the first period, wasn't it nice to watch the Hawks just try and get the game over as quick as possible?
- The #GusBus looked like he had some sort of engine problem, or a flat tire tonight.
- There was a whole lot of suck on Aaron Ekblad's goal that made it 4-0. Take your pick, the back turnover by Suckderi, or the fact the puck beat Darling cleanly on the glove. BARF.
- With just under 9 minutes, and down four, Quenneville thought it'd be funny to pull Scott Darling for the extra attacker. This Patrick Roy bullshit needs to stop.
- Towards the end of the game we were treated to a now famous #AccordingToKonroyd moment. Tonight's moment was his textbook excuse of the Blackhawks being tired because they had played 12 games in 20 days. SHUT THE HELL UP STEVE. The Hawks were awful, NO EXCUSES.
- Whatever honeymoon there was with the 12 game win streak should be over now, and be nothing but an afterthought.