by Patrick Stankus
The Blackhawks continued their "Mom's Trip" on Friday night with a trip to Dallas to take on the Stars. For the Hawks, tonight marked the return of Marian Hossa to the lineup for the first time since being injured on February 13. In addition to Hossa's return, I also returned to the recapping world for the first time in the month of March. Oh and did I mention it was our own, "Goalie-saurus Rex's" (Gatekeeper if you've been living under a paper plate) 1,042 birthday? Lets see, Gate's birthday plus a trip to Dallas, what the hell could possibly go wrong?
Once the puck dropped, it was quite clear the Hawks weren't ready to play. Their now trademarked "slow start" was on full display. The Hawks benefited from receiving two power plays, to mask some of the bad start. However, Shaw would take a bad penalty during the second power play, and it was all downhill from there. Jason Spezza scored on the ensuing power play from the blueline to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. The Hawks sloppy play would continue as they would hand the Stars two more power plays in the first. Thankfully for the Hawks sake, they would kill both of them off, and find themselves only down one after the first period.
The second period wasn't much better for the Hawks. The Stars would add to their lead just over a minute in, and the rout was on. Following the Stars goal, the Hawks would get another power play chance, and much like in the first period, nothing would come of it. Dallas would add two more goals before the 11 minute mark of the period to increase their lead to 4-0. That would also spell the end of the night for Corey Crawford, as Scott Darling came in. The Hawks would show a little life, as Teuvo would score after a nifty pass from Fleischmann to cut the Stars lead to 4-1. At the end of the sammich stanza, the Hawks would trail the Stars 4-1.
The final 20 minutes would simply be played in the "hurry up and lets get the hell out of here" mode. The Hawks could only muster six goddamn shots, which would end up giving them a total of 23 for the game. With just over eight minutes remaining Q decided to be an asshole and pull Scott Darling for the extra attacker, and shockingly, it wouldn't work. The Stars added an empty netter to increase their lead to 5-1. Late in the game, Fleischmann would add just about as meaningless of a goal as possible, draw the Hawks within three. For the love of God, the horn finally sounded, and the Stars defeated the Hawks 5-2.
- If there was a bright spot for the Hawks, it was the "WTF Line" of Weise-Teravainen-Fleischmann, as they had both of the Hawks tallies. All wasn't great though with this line. (See later points)
- You're kidding if you think there's anymore good.
- The Hawks had two power plays in the first ten minutes tonight, and got nothing to show for it. Oh and did I mention Andrew Shaw negated the final 22 seconds of the second power play by taking a lazy tripping penalty. To top off that stellar open to the game, Jason Spezza scored on a 50 footer from the blueline on the power play.
- The parade to the box continued after Shaw's penalty. Fleischmann and Weise marched their way to the box in the first period as well.
- Corey Crawford was the only reason the Stars didn't ring up 7 or 8 goals. The Hawks simply hung their goaltender out to dry tonight.
- The Hawks ended the game with an embarrassing shot total of 23. What makes it embarrassing is, they could only find the net six times in both the first and third periods. Great way to start and close out a game.
- Dallas managed to block 26 shots tonight. Way to skate to find open shooting lanes by the Hawks tonight.
- Pat Foley certainly gave the Hawks power play the kiss of death. Before the first Hawks power play, Foley mentioned the Hawks had power play goals in five straight games, and were "sizzling." The Hawks followed up this statement by going 0-5 on the power play. DRINK.
- Speaking of special teams, the penalty kill continued to suck up the joint of late. The Hawks took six penalties, and yielded two goals to the Stars tonight. Suddenly that Marcus Kruger contract doesn't look so bad after all.
- The TVR-Gus pairing is about as good as a goalie tandem of me and Gate. That's not a compliment.
- The Hawks introduced a new sponsor tonight called turnovers. I lost track at how many there were. Absolutely pathetic.
- Of course Q gave Gate the ultimate birthday present, and pulled Scott Darling for the extra attacker with eight minutes remaining. On the count of three say it with me. One. Two. Three. WHAT AN ASSHOLE!!! I'm so tired of this idiotic move.
- Could you pick two worse cities to take the Hawks' moms on? Seriously? St. Louis, "the puke on the sidewalk capital of the USA" and Dallas the "strip club capital of the hockey world." Nothing says thank you mom like a trip to those two cities.
- Lastly, one last happy birthday to Gate. Apparently he celebrated at Mullet's in Homer Glen. That's ironic since mullet and Gate haven't gone hand in hand since 1989. Otherwise known as the year he went bald. I hope they served you your cake on a cheap, flimsy paper plate.
