by Gatekeeper
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The Blackhawks returned to action Friday night against Taylor Hall's shiny new Kingdom, the New Jersey Devils. Once again, they were competing with the Cubbies for attention, and let's be honest, they could have won 10 straight cups and still not been able to out draw the Cubs. This made it a lonely night in Blackhawks Land. That is all fine and well. It's been slightly less meatballish in our special little corner of the Chicago sports world, with the knuckleheads doing stupid things like showing up to line up for a evening game, at 5AM. When the Cubs season ends, it'll be back to full on irrational meatball idiocy. This isn't a Cubs site, though, thank god. More about OUR beloved. The Blackhawks. We all had far too many days to think about their abhorrent penalty kill. It was time to get out there and get Cooter to fix that busted ass hooptie. Hey at least the Blackhawks scored, which is more than you could say for the Cubs.
Well, not so fast on fixing that penalty kill. The Blackhawks gave up the lead about ten minutes through the first period on (you guessed it) the powerplay. It's getting comical at this point, because they just look awful. They started off with 2 powerplays of their own, but could barely manage a shot. The Blackhawks were out shot 12-7, which will happen when you can't even get sustained pressure with the man advantage.
The second period turned out a little better for the Blackhawks, even though they were out shot once again pretty badly, 16-5. That is just unacceptable, when you're coming off 3 days rest. Of course, the Blackhawks managed to tie the game roughly midway through, but it was generally a soft goal given up by a backup goalie.
The Blackhawks folded in the third period, and almost lost the game in regulation, as a result. They were not without their opportunities and it took a late double minor with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker to tie the score. Oddly enough, the Blackhawks actually dominated the third period in shots, which eventually worked itself out. Coming from behind on the road can't be a bad sign. This got the Blackhawks to overtime, and their offense just overmatched the Devils and they took home the extra point. The fact that the Hawks fought back to bring the shot differential to just 3.
- The Blackhawks powerplay finally came through and tied the game, about seven minutes into the second period. Artemi Panarin was left all alone to size up a leaning Keith Kincaid with the big ass of Artem Anisimov in his grill, and Panarin picked this up. He snapped a long lazer past Kincaid's glove, for the first sign of Blackhawks light through the clouds.
- Ryan Hartman actually had a pretty damn good game. He was physical and engaged in the Devils end of the ice.
- With the goalie pulled and the Hawks down 2-1, Marian Hossa found a garbage puck in the Devils crease and chipped it past Keith Kincaid to tie the game for his 501st goal.
- Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov hooked up with 3:45 left in OT to win the game for the Blackhawks. We'll take it.
- Corey Crawford played another excellent game. He got a little help, but held the Blackhawks close enough to get the win.
- Nick Schmaltz on the point for the second powerplay unit with Brian Campbell. The terror in my mind, if I'm Corey Crawford. WOOF! Even Pat Foley was dumbfounded.
- Halfway through the first period, it looked as though Artemi Panarin looked to have gotten a lead for the Blackhawks off a little touch pass from Marian Hossa. The puck actually hit the post and then the crossbar, and came to rest between Kincaid's pads.
- Four minutes into the third period, a huge coverage mixup turned into a John Moore goal, and a 2-1 Devils lead. Brian Campbell got crossed up and Artem Anisimov was napping away for this shift. Crawford had no chance whatsoever.
- Don't you just love when your 5 minute a game meathead gets a stupid cross checking penalty in the offensive zone and your team is struggling to kill penalties?
- I can officially admit that I'm disappointed in Michal Kempny's contribution to this team, thus far. He should have been playing more than 14 minutes and should be playing a bigger role than 5th defenseman.
- The powerplay looked just as bad as the penalty kill to begin the game. They couldn't even manage a god damn shot on net.
- Speaking of the penalty kill, the Hawks game up yet another powerplay goal to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Yohann Auvitu took a long shot that Crawford saved but the Hawks couldn't control the rebound, and former Blackhawk P.A. Parenteau whacked the puck into the net. How a team not named Arizona can be this fucking terrible on the penalty kill is beyond comprehension.
- Taylor Hall had a chance to give the Devils a lead with a minute gone in the third period, and put the puck off the outside of the net.
- Patrick Kane took a really fucking stupid and blatant slashing penalty in the third period. Just selfish and brainless with your team struggling to kill penalties.
- Pat was right about the WGN intermission show. It's brutal. I'm not sure how they hired someone more vanilla than Rich King, but it happened. Lauren Magiera and Steve Konroyd are about as interesting as lukewarm vanilla rice. If she said, "Goose Island, We don't want to be the only beer you drink, just the best beer you drink" I was going to put my foot through the TV.
- The 4th line, expectedly, got torn up possession wise, but they also started just about every shift in their own end.
- John Moore was a -21 and Ben Lovejoy was a -15 Corsi. Brutal.
Left Wing - Center - Right Wing
Panik - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Hossa
Motte - Kruger - Hartman
Rasmussen - Schmaltz - Tootoo
Keith - Campbell
Hjalmarsson - Seabrook
Kempny - Rozsival