by AtomicFroster
The Chicago Blackhawks take to the ice for the second night in a row as they finish off a back to back in my home province of British Columbia and play the struggling Vancouver Canucks. Darling gets the nod and will play two games in two days, a rare thing for a NHL goalie, but really what do they do anyway other than let pucks hit them? Right Gatekeeper?! The two teams are headed in opposite directions as the Canucks have scored only three goals in their last six games and the Hawks netted four just last night in Cow Town.
The first period starts with the Hawks lineup looking a little different than of late, Kruger rejoining the team last night, Rasmussen in for the first time in nine games, and Anisimov out with a case of lower body general soreness; he is listed day-to-day so Teuvo will take his spot up on the second line. Some would want you to believe that he's a healthy scratch and in Q's doghouse but I don't believe the hype. Also the third D pairing is featuring Ehrhoff rather than Uncle Rosival. The frame would be a rather boring one if not for a late period goal by Fleischmann set up by TVR and Ehrhoff. The Hawks did have the better of the chances and almost doubled up the Nucks on shots.
Shots: Blackhawks- 13 Canucks- 7
The second starts with Henrik Sedin taking a tripping penalty and sending the Hawks on the PP. Can the Hawks break their horrid streak of power plays? No-- the Hawks don't score and are now 0-23 at this point. Eleven and a half minutes in, the Canucks put a point on the board via an Alex Burrows one timer wrist shot set up by Linden Vey from behind the net. The goal seemed to wake up both sides and the pace for the rest the period was quickened with the Canucks controlling the majority of the chances. Hawks fend off the push and exit the period all tied at one.
Shots: Blackhawks- 9 Canucks- 6
The final frame starts with the same pacing as the second ended but this time with the Blackhawks controlling most of the play. It's too bad you can't score a third hand assist: Panarin with a great heads up play slap passes the puck from his own zone to a streaking Kane but the pass is to hot for Kane to handle. He takes it behind the net, passes to TVR who one touches it to Teravainen, who then buries it in the open net. Toews takes a 4 minute rest in the box for a highstick and the PKers along with Darling come up large, killing the penalty. Unfortunately, the Canucks do end up evening up the score at two with a Baertschi goal the was generated from Panarin over handling the puck in the offensive zone. Luckily the tie was short lived as Toews sets up a Ladd slap slapshot putting the Hawks over the Canucks 3-2. *sidenote the Canucks pulled the goalie with only couple minutes left as to not upset Gatekeeper.
Shots: Blackhawks-10 Canucks-15
Total Shots: Blackhawks-32 Canucks-28
THE GOOD
- Winning the second game of a back to back which has been next to impossible for the Hawks this year;
- TVR's play tonight was exactly what we are looking for from the young D man;
- Darling getting two wins in two days this close to the playoffs is great, it will give him the confidence he needs;
- All lines looked be able to handle them selves on the ice unlike the weeks past where maybe one would show up; and
- I, @atomicfroster got my first win making my recap stats 1-2-2;
- Blackhawks clinch a playoff spot for the eighth straight year.
THE BAD
- While I liked Panarin's pass to set up a Teuvo's goal I was not impressed but his turnover that lead to a Baertschi goal; and
- I'll go easy on them tonight and leave it at that (even though it should not be this close with the worse team in the league).
THE UGLY
- News came that Crawford may not play again during the regular season, being thrown into the fire come playoffs is a less than desirable situation;
- Anisimov, is he hurt? is he scratched? Calling him day-to-day rather than scratching him is a easy was to avoid the media storm that could have ensued; and
- Letting @atomicfroster beat you!
Ladd - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Teravainen - Kane
Fleischmann - Rasmussen - Weise
Desjardins - Kruger - Shaw
Keith - Hjalmarsson
Svedberg - Seabrook
Ehrhoff - van Riemsdyk