by Gatekeeper
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The Blackhawks began what one could only predict as a tumultuous season, Wednesday night, against the same team that they ended last season as well as this preseason against. Those pesky and wretched St. Louis Blues. While I certainly hated the Red Wings (how can you not?), I had to respect their success. The Blues and their fans demand respect, but have earned none of it. Typical of this great unwashed Blues fan base we have been saddled with. All that said, we have been presented the freshest Blackhawks roster in recent memory. This is both a blessing and curse. We could be watching the next generation of Blackhawks regulars emerge, or we could be watching the next crop of colossal Blackhawks failures. Call it ignorance or blind faith, but I'm going to suggest that we all have an open outlook until given some concrete doom and gloom. That said, I'm not going to predict a certain dominant regular season followed by a cruise through the playoffs and sweep of the Stanley Cup final. We're going to see some struggling, especially early in the season. Just hang on to your asses, fans. It's not time to #DickPanik, just yet.
The Blackhawks opened up their play and looked fairly promising for most the first period, even though the Blues out shot them 9-6. Of course, it certainly doesn't hurt your chances to look good when you take quick 1-0 lead. The kids had a little spring in their step, and the vets looked happy to be back. I could have done without some of the big chances against but we'll take what we can get, right? Not so fast, Kemosabe.
The Blackhawks second period was a different story for the men in red. The Blues absolutely dominated the entire period, out shooting the Hawks an incredible (and embarrassing) 15-3. Luckily for the home team, they only surrendered one goal, and managed to score on one of their 3 shots. They certainly tried their damnedest to give the Blues the lead, though. Quite frankly, the Hawks play was embarrassing, save for their one goal. There is no excuse to be dominated like that, at home.
The embarrassment continued and rolled right on in to the third period for the Slackhawks. They gave up an early powerplay goal on the remaining penalty time which rolled over from the infraction filled second period, and then gave up two late empty net goals. Shots were actually only 10-10, because the Hawks actually mounted some late pressure but it did them no good. There is still a long way to go, but this game wasn't exactly the most memorable or promising season openers. Hell, they were out scored by some kid with Toronto that scored 4 goals in his NHL debut. We all need to forget about this one, in fact.
- First goal of the season was by my guy, #DickPanik! After I spent a good 10 minutes the night before, on the Shoutcast, talking about fans irrational hate of the guy, he opens up the 2016 season with the first goal. To reel this back in, lets not forget that players like Brandon Bollig have had the same distinction. The bar is low. Give the man his credit, though. Panik did exactly what I said he needed to do weeks ago, which is JUST NOT FUCK UP. He planted his as in the slot and picked up a Toews rebound with a gaping net in front of him. ON THE POWER PLAY, no less. Tell me, again, how he isn't going to be able to put in 30-35 points. He clearly has to work on those multiple, blind turnovers to opponents in the slot, but you can bet Quenneville won't let him forget those anytime soon.
- It was nice to see Brent Seabrook get called out for some good plays in the first period, rather just than his contract. He ended up with the most shifts and, consequently, led the Blackhawks in time on ice. Maybe the smarmy crabasses will lay off him for bit. I still love the guy, and I'm not afraid to admit it.
- This new third line gave the Blues fits, for a short time at least, with about 6 minutes left in the second period. Their hard work led to Ryan Hartman's first NHL goal and Tyler Motte's first NHL point. Hartman and Motte just used their youthful hustle to out work the Blues in their own zone. It needs to be pointed out, because scoreless narratives, that a timely #ScorelessMarcusKruger stick check was what led to Motte driving the puck in front of the net, and eventually to Ryan Hartman.
- Corey Crawford didn't have a terrible night. He saved 29 of 32, and kept the Blackhawks close until the final minutes.
- It took Quenneville all of 40 minutes into the new season to move Artemi Panarin up with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. I've been saying this should happen for 2 months, but lets all now act surprised.
- I did not hate the wing duo of Tyler Motte and Ryan Hartman. They seemed to have some good speed and a little agitation factor. I'm curious to see how this works itself out, because Hartman certainly has that ability to go full meatball, much like his predecessor Andrew Shaw. Again, I'm open minded. Ride it out for a few games.
- A second period Trevor Van Riemsdyk penalty turned into the game tying goal, about 5 minutes in to the middle period. Kevin ShitInPants was given far too much time and space to unleash a wicked one timer, and Brian Campbell severely screened Corey Crawford. You could tell by Crawford's reaction that he didn't see it at all.
- The completely baffling need for Joel Quenneville to dress a hammer throwing bum, and then nail the guy to the bench in any important part of the game just makes you want to chuck a bud light from the 300 level into Joel Quenneville's general direction. Jordin Tutu barely saw the ice all night, and finished with a grand total of 4:26. Almost every second of those four minutes and twenty six seconds were in the first two periods. He played one 19 second shift in the third. WHY? What is the point?
- While we're talking about ice time, Nick Schmaltz, folks. May the Schmaltz be with you, right? He played a grand total of 8:51 with that "almost unplayable" 4th line. Vinny Hinostroza played 7:47. Ryan Hartman only played 8:33, but made the most of his limited time. I say "almost unplayable" because Jordin Tutu is useless, and you have 2 rookies that are trying to get their NHL footing. You're throwing 3 guys out there that all need some support, and none of them can support each other. Schmaltz and Hinostroza need to have talent with them. The 4th line is honestly just Quenneville saying, "Who's left? OK, the rest of you guys just get out there for 35 seconds". This is going to be the most painful part of the season.
- Right off the bat, they screwed up the mic level on the anthem. You had ONE JOB!
- This was not Trevor Van Riemsdyk's best night, to put it lightly. In all fairness, Joel Quenneville played him way out of position. Might as well put him at first line left wing, for fuck's sakes. How does everyone but Quenneville realize this guy is just a number 6 defenseman? That said, Van Riemsdyk did himself no favors by also taking a late penalty in the third. If Q plays Van Riemsdyk on the top pair again, someone needs to knock him out with a shovel and hope he ends up with amnesia. Put the guy where he belongs. Bottom pair, sheltered minutes and not too many defensive zone starts. Quantum physics this is not.
- The Blackhawks absolutely fell apart at the end of the second period. They put themselves down 5-on-3 with some sloppy play and were on yet another delayed penalty when Vlady Tarasenko beat Corey Crawford to tie the game. The worst part of the entire situation is that the Blues remained on the 2 man advantage because of the delayed penalty. The only saving grace was the fact that the intermission mercifully came. If you have a 5-on-3 and the goalie pulled for another delayed penalty and you don't score, it should be a shock.
- Just a minute into the third period, the Blues picked up where the second period ended. Paul Stastny whacked a rebound past Corey Crawford for a 3-2 Blues lead and they never lost the lead again. What do you really expect when you take three penalties in the matter of 3 minutes?
- Of all the bad, the worst might have been the final minute or so. The Blackhawks gave up not, but TWO empty net goals. That is not even the worst part of it. The last goal was Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith combining to score on their own net. Just perfect. Like a perfect horse's ass. This is another coaching decision I never bought into. If you give up an empty net goal, just throw the goalie back out there and admit defeat. Instead, Quenneville left Crawford on the bench and it turned into the Benny Hill show.
- This; just because:
- Not only did Jordin Tutu and Nick Schmaltz bring up the bottom or the Blackhawks CORSI, but there wasn't a single offensive shot created which them on the ice. Ten against. WOOF!
- As odd as this sounds, Campbell, Panarin, Hossa, Toews, Forsling, Panik and Kane all had CORSI over 56%. I guess it all evens out when you have numbers like 0%, 0%, 7%, 19% and 25% at the bottom. We all thought it was going to be a top heavy lineup, but yikes!
Left Wing - Center - Right Wing
Panik - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Motte - Kruger - Hartman
Hinostroza - Schmaltz - Tootoo
Keith - van Riemsdyk
Kempny - Seabrook
Forsling - Campbell