by Patrick Stankus
I'm so sorry to start the recap on such a sad note. Tonight, was supposed to be a surprise with a recap by @UncleRozsival, but since he bailed like Ryan Kesler when it comes to fighting Jonathan Toews, you are all stuck with a #FatCap tonight. I'm sorry, I tried folks. While our beat writers were tweeting about the Saddledome catwalk, I was working the phone tirelessly trying to get a hold of our favorite diabetic guest.
Tonight saw the Blackhawks open a crucial four game road trip that begins with a tough back to back in Calgary and Sunday in Vancouver. Returning to the Hawks line up for the first time in 2016 was the true #16, but now #22 in your programs, Marcus Kruger. Oh how I have waited for this day to come. Stop kidding yourselves. You damn well know you have to with the way things have gone for the Hawks of late. Should I mention to that Scott Darling was getting the start for the Hawks? Frankly who cares about that. All we care about is, MARCUS KRUGER IS BACK!!!
Once the puck dropped it was clear the Hawks had seen the Central Division standings. The Hawks came out with a sense of urgency, and energy, something they have lacked of late. Early on, both teams traded shots, with few quality chances. That would change in the middle part of the period, as the Hawks dominated play, but Joni Ortio made a couple of terrific saves to keep the Hawks off the board. In the final minutes of the period, the Hawks seemed to take their foot off the gas, and it nearly bit them. Luckily for a change, Scott Darling made the saves he's supposed to make, and a couple of really good saves to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Early in the second period the Flames would pick up right where they left off in the first period. The Flames had multiple chances, but each time Darling was there to make the save. Just past the five minute mark, Andrew Ladd opened the scoring off a brutal turnover by T.J. Brodie to give the Hawks the lead. The lead didn't last long, as seven minutes later, Dougie Hamilton tied the game at one. The later stages of the period saw the game get a bit chippy with six penalties called in the final ten minutes of the period. In the final minute, Andrew Shaw put the Hawks back on top with a redirect from a Michal Rozsival shot, to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead after two periods.
The third period saw both teams rack up double digit shot totals, despite there only being one power play in the period. The Hawks were the team that had the opportunity on the power play, but nothing came of it. As time wound down, both teams would trade one and done chances, but none that really stood out as a prime scoring chance. In the final minutes, Calgary would pull Joni Ortio for the extra attacker. The Hawks added two empty netters from Ladd, and Teravainen to seal a 4-1 win on the start of the four game road trip. Up next is a stop to @atomicfroster 's land in Vancouver for an Easter match up with the Canucks.
- As mentioned earlier, Marcus Kruger returned to the Hawks line up. If you had listened to Brian Hedger from the start, you would have never thought you'd see this day this season. Thanks for being 100% wrong Mr. Hedger.
- Scott Darling was solid in net for the Hawks. He made some big saves when the Flames had a lot of momentum towards the end of the first period, and while the Hawks were parading to the penalty box in the second. In the end Darling made 31 saves. Lets see how he does in the back to back if he indeed gets the start in Vancouver.
- 2/3rds of the fourth line, and Andrew Ladd deserve a lot of credit for the go ahead go in the second period. Hard work down low by Shaw, Kruger, and Ladd saw them cycle the puck back to the point, where Rozsival put a shot on net, with traffic in front. The stunning result? The puck was in the back of the net.
- Kruger returns, and the Hawks PK kills off both of the Flames power plays. Lets hope this trend continues.
- The Hawks lost the face off battle 28-26, but based on how bad they've been at the dot of late, I'll take this.
- Andrew Ladd had himself a nice little three point night, with two goals, and an assist. Hey this is the guy the Hawks were supposed to get from Winnipeg right?
- Okay the tons of mentions of Kruger returning is part of the joke, but come on and admit it. The fourth line was outstanding tonight.
- Artemi Panarin was caught napping on the Flames lone goal. Panarin completely lost his check in Dougie Hamilton, and allowed Hamilton beat him to the slot and to chip a loose puck past Darling.
- Noted Hawks enforcer Jonathan Toews decided to go after Dougie Hamilton, after Hamilton lit up Seabrook with a hit. I didn't have any problem with the hit. I'm guessing Toews wanted to show former teammate Brandon Bollig how to be an enforcer?
- A #FatCap wouldn't be complete with a bad Andrew Shaw penalty. This time it was an offensive zone slash because he was mad he got knocked down. I'm not going to miss these penalties.
- The feast or famine power play was a famine tonight. They were 0 for 2 in their chances.
- What the fuck is up with Calgary's third jersey? Its a complete disaster. What the hell was wrong with this jersey being your alternate from a few years ago?
- Speaking of disasters, when is Calgary going to find a starting goalie? My apologies, but Joni Ortio?? What is this, pick a random ass guy from Finland and see if he's the next Miikka Kiprusoff. Not to mention seeing a goalie in Calgary wearing #37 made me wonder if I was seeing Trevor Kidd in net again. How'd that 1990 draft go for you guys? (Do yourself a favor and look that up if you don't know what I'm referencing)
- What the hell was T.J. Brodie thinking with a cross ice pass while skating backwards?? Christ almighty that was a brutal turnover. Thankfully Ladd made Brodie pay for that mistake.
- Artem Anisimov was 25% at the dot tonight. Let us all say it together, WOOF.
