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by Gatekeeper
The Blackhawks returned home, Thursday, while still licking their wounds as a result of a thorough thrashing in Minnesota, Sunday afternoon. They got some good new during the time off, when it was announced that Michal Rozsival would not have any sort of additional punishment following the "hit" on Jason Zucker that resulted in a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct for Rozsival. Correct call by the NHL. Anyhow, Neither team came in particularly hot. Both won only 5 of their past 10, and were looking for some momentum. This had all the makings of a complete and utter snoozefest. of course the Blackhawks announced a blockbuster deal just minutes before puck drop. The Hawks acquired Andrew Ladd, Matt Fraser and defenseman Jay Harrison from the Jets in for Marko Dano, 1st round pick and a conditional pick in 2018.
As we all tried to keep our enormous boners in our pants, after hearing the Ladd deal, there was still a game to be played. The action back and forth was pretty entertaining, or so I heard. I was too busy telling meatball idiots how good the trade was. Kill me. Kill. Me. Now.
The Blackhawks had a majority of the shots 13-9, and had a very mediocre powerplay. The Preds had pressure too, but both goalies were totally on point. I'm not even going to try and tell you that I was able to use this game as anything more than background noise while I basked in the glow of Andrew Ladd.
The entire internet finally gathered themselves and paid attention to the second period, and it was a good thing. Both teams got on the board, first the Blackhawks and then the #PERDS a couple of minutes later. Shots were again in favor of the Blackhawks 16-13. Kind of high for a game involving these two teams, but this was a good sign for the Blackhawks
The third period was more like the first, except for the score. The shots were dead even at 10, but the #PERDS scored a late goal to go up, and then finished the Blackhawks 3-1. Can't kill my Andrew Ladd buzz #PERDS, so...
- Jonathan Toews had a MONSTER first period. Unfortunately, it earned the Hawks no goals.
- It took 26 minutes for either team to take a lead, and Brent Seabrook was the trigger man. Jiri Sekac used his large frame to control the puck behind the #PERDS net long enough for Seabrook to sneak into the soft spot in the slot. Sekac put it right in the wheelhouse and Seabrook drilled it home. Sekac's first point as a Blackhawk after spending some time in the doghouse.
- Pekka Rinne was just vintage Pekka Rinne, which was outstanding.
- Gustafsson made his return to the lineup. I'll put it in the good section because he wasn't necessarily "bad". He was alright and didn't kill the Hawks.
- Jiri Sekac played a great game. He seemed to be everywhere on the ice. He was so good that Quenneville moved him up with Toews and Shaw, while dropping Panik down to the 4th line
- Just a couple of minutes after Seabrook gave the Blackhawks the lead, Viktor Arvidsson picked a whacky bounce off the boards behind the Blackhawks net and was able to chip the puck up and over Crawford's leg. Originally, the officials were confused as to whether it was a goal or not, but quickly figured out that it was in the net.
- Mike Fisher set up Calle Jarnkrok for the go ahead goal with 1:51 remaining in the game. Fisher out worked Hjalmarsson and Keith deep in the Hawks zone, dished to Jarnkrok, and Jarnkrok one timed it high over Crawford.
- Salomaki ended up with the empty net goal. Blah.
- Hawks were on the negative side of faceoffs.
- Andrew Shaw's late second period breakaway. Had 5-hole all day long and completely "yipped" it.
- Shea Weber missed the game with a lower body injury. That is never going to be good for the #PERDS
- Midway through the first period, Dennis Rasmussen had almost a full 4x6 and missed the net entirely. OY VEY!
- I have to know what is up with Trevor van Riemsdyk. He just looks bad. Really bad.
- #HockeyStarMikeFisher had two assists, which will tell you how the night went.
- The possession was heavily in the Blackhawks favor. The #AK72 line were each all up over 15 on the plus side of 5v5 Corsi.
- Hjalmarsson was a minus 10 5v5 Corsi, which looks pretty god damn bad.
- Seabrook and Gustafsson have been taking a ton of heat but they were both in double digits for 5v5 Corsi
Shaw - Toews - Panik
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Rasmussen - Teravainen - Desjardins
Mashinter - Danault - Sekac
Keith - Hjalmarsson
Gustafsson - Seabrook
van Riemsdyk - Rozsival
