by Patrick Stankus
On Sunday night, the Blackhawks returned home to The UC after their one game road trip, to take on the Minnesota Wild. Before the game started, the Hawks and Wild announced they were teaming up to help support injured Chicago Cougars player Matt Olson with an auction to raise some money for Matt's medical bills. Things like this just show how tight the hockey community is, and I speak for all of us at Puckin' Hostile when I say, we're pulling for you Matt.
Getting the nod in goal for the third straight game for the Hawks was none other than #LemontNativeScottDarling. Tonight also marked the first time the two teams have played each other since Minnesota destroyed the Hawks in the Stadium Series game one month ago.
The first period got underway with the Hawks having a huge opportunity to put the Wild down early. The Hawks received a four minute power play, but nothing came of it and the game remained scoreless. Throughout the period, both teams traded one and done shots that resulted in somewhat of a boring opening period. As the teams headed off after 20 minutes, the game remained scoreless.
In the second period, the Wild wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. Erik Haula opened the scoring 50 seconds in to give the Wild a 1-0 lead. The Wild added to that lead about six minutes later to give themselves a 2-0 lead. The Hawks wouldn't go quietly though. Andrew Shaw and #DickPanik scored less than five minutes apart to tie the game at two. When the period came to an end both teams would end the period with ten shots each and the score tied at two.
When the puck dropped on the third period, the ice was tilted in favor of the Wild. They simply dominated play, but Scott Daring was there to bail the Hawks out. The Wild ended the period with 16 shots, six of which that came on their one power play chance. Early in the period, the Hawks and their fans were given a scare when Matt Dumba lit up Patrick Kane with a huge hit. Kane left the game briefly, but ultimately did return. In the end 60 minute of hockey wasn't enough, and the game headed to overtime.
The overtime was completely boring. The Wild received a power play after Artem Anisimov ran over Devan Dubnyk with a little help from Zach Parise. The Hawks penalty kill answered the bell, and the kept the Wild from scoring and the game headed to a shootout. In the shootout, Charlie Coyle scored the lone goal, and the Wild went on to win by the final of 3-2.
- Despite the loss, Scott Darling was solid in net. He made a few big stops, and was peppered with 34 shots, 16 of which came in the third period.
- Another Hawk that stood out tonight was Andrew Shaw. Shaw was all over the place tonight, making his presence felt. He also opened the scoring for the Hawks, and turned the momentum in their favor.
- #DickPanik showed once again why he should be playing instead of The Manshitter. Hopefully for everyone's sake, Q was paying attention. Panik had a great wraparound goal, after some hard work by Desjardins and Shaw on the shift.
- The PK seems to be turning it around, tonight they killed all three Minnesota power plays. Oh, and they'll be getting some help, since Kruger will be joining the Hawks on their Western Canada road trip later in the week, regardless of what Brian Hedger says.
- Stick taps to the Wild and Blackhawks for coming together and raising money for Matt Olson.
- The Hawks had a chance to put the Wild in an early hole, after Zach Parise put his team shorthanded for four minutes. The Hawks did nothing with the opportunity, nor generated anything that was noteworthy.
- The Hawks continued to struggle at the dot. Tonight the Wild won the battle 40-33, and Teravainen was a team worst 20%.
- That 3 on 3 overtime was beyond boring. I think its time the honeymoon ends with that gimmick.
- Patrick Kane got destroyed by Matt Dumba in the 3rd period and briefly left the game. I'm sorry, but I'm aware Dumba made contact with Kane's head, but Kane has to do a better job of A) not skating with his head down, and B) putting himself in a vulnerable position like that. You can't expect Dumba to pull up at the last second just because a player has their head down. Luckily for the Hawks, Kane did return, and didn't look like he missed a step.
- Speaking of the hit on Kane, Panarin decided to go after Dumba following the hit. I wouldn't have a problem with this if it had been a dirty hit, but since Kane had his head down, its a different story. Not to mention the Hawk yielded six shots to the Wild on that power play.
- The goalie interference calls are getting out of hand. In overtime, Anisimov was tagged for it, as he ran over Dubnyk, after he was checked by Parise. When a former goalie calling the game (Brian Boucher) questions the call, the NHL should listen.
- Brent Seabrook's struggles continued tonight. In the first period he coughed up a puck at the blueline that lead to a breakaway for Jason Zucker. Thankfully for the Hawks, Zucker rushed the shot, probably because he felt the ghost of Rozsival behind him, and Darling was able to bail Seabrook out. Or is it "Slow-brook" as @UncleRozsival said?
- While everyone will blame their usual scapegoats of TVR and Rozsival for Haula's goal, I think you should look at the replay, and pay attention to Artem Anisimov. Anisimov did a fly by and left Haula wide open in the slot. That falls on 15, not 32 or 57. But hey, its easier to just blame TVR and Rozsival when you look at a stat sheet instead of watching the game.
- I'm still trying to figure out what Keith and Hjalmarsson were doing on the Wild's second goal.
- The 7:30pm, or 7:45pm tv start didn't bother me, but NBCSN has to start allotting the time of a hockey game to 3 hours again, like ESPN did in the day. Because of this, they missed the start of the game. Bravo.