by Patrick Stankus
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Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii everybody!!! (Bonus points if you get the reference)
Well Blackhawks fans, and Hostile Tribe, I'd personally like to welcome you back to another season of Blackhawks Hockey, instead of Gate speaking for me. While its still the preseason, its nice to be back, and get ready for another season. We have a lot of interesting story lines that could play out this year, so it looks to be an interesting season to say the least.
With 1/3rd of Puckin' Hostile in attendance for tonight's scrimmage, the Blackhawks actually dressed a roster that resembled an NHL team. Lucky me that my first recap of the season is also Kruger's preseason debut. But back to the opening sentence of the paragraph. Its unlucky for the Blackhawks, that Gate made his way down to the UC for this one. I'm fully expecting the #Slackhawks to show up instead of the Blackhawks. That's how the Puckin' Hostile curse works folks. Actually I'm surprised they let Gate in the 300 level since he barely meets the minimum height for the escalator. Alright enough of that "lets make the intro paragraph semi interesting" and lets get onto the the game.
The first period started out with the Hawks getting a number of quality chances, but couldn't find the back of the net. Their best chance early on was a pass from Seabrook that sprung #DickPanik on a mini breakaway, but Carter Hutton stoned him. Later in the period, the Hawks had an extended 5 on 3 power play, and despite a few good looks, again couldn't score. After 20 minutes, the Hawks out shot the Blues by a 13-5 margain, but the scoreless streak was extended to 7 periods, as both teams headed into the locker room deadlocked at zero.
The sandwich stanza started out with both teams looking a tad bit sluggish, but that would change in a big way as the period went on. While the Blues looked like their skates were cemented into place, the Hawks started skating circles around them. The Hawks would open up the scoring just past the midway part of the game, with Artemi Panarin one timing a sick pass from Patrick Kane to give them a 1-0 lead. As time wound down in the period, the Hawks would add two goals of the ugly variety, something they seemed to be allergic to last season. Michal Kempny and Tyler Motte both tallied their first goals of the preseason to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.
When the puck dropped for the start of the third period, one figured it was going to be a "lets wrap this up and end it" type of pace. For the first half of the period, that's how it went. In the final half of the period, all hell broke loose. Misconducts were handed out to Joel Edmundson and Ryan Hartman, while Niklas Hjalmarsson was handed a 5 minute major and match penalty for a hit on Ty Rattie. Hjalmarsson will probably be getting a phone call from the Dept of Player Safety, mainly because people skate into hits because they have their head down. Whatever. It just adds gasoline to the fire known as the Blues/Blackhawks rivalry. Before the final horn sounded, Tyler Motte added his second goal of the night, and Darling made 18 saves to give the Hawks a 4-0 win.
- While it was nice to see my brother #CountYeoCula in town, its still a slap in the face to the family he could take a job with the Blues. Shame on you. Enjoy your Thanksgiving in that pig slop city battling fat, lose 50 pounds and still fat Kelly Chase for the last of the spare ribs on the Thanksgiving pig.
- The Blackhawks dressed a lineup that rivaled that of Derek's Pizza Hut team on NHL 17, so this was a welcome change for a preseason game.
- The #AK72Line was no more, at least at the start of the game tonight. Bet your ass, the second the line blender reunites that line, I'll be all over it. But for the preseason's sake, it should be experiemented with, just to see what other line combinations can work to spread out the scoring.
- Speaking of the #AK72Line , we were treated to some, not all, of their magic in the second period. Patrick Kane had a ridiculous pass to Panarin, who one timed the puck past Hutton.
- Two of the Blackhawks three goals in the third period came by way of the ugly kind. Yes, that is nice to hear for a change. Kempny's goal was the result of great work down below the goal line by and along the boards by Hartman and Kruger. Motte's goal was from net-front presence and was able to knock down a point shot.
- Michal Kempny, well we know his status with the team.
- Tyler Motte had two goals, and likely earned a roster spot after his play tonight, and this preseason thus far. I'll take it, but I won't get too excited.
- Speaking of another bubble player, Gustav Forsling had another solid game, but I'm not getting my anointing oil out yet to call him a stud. Continue to improve and then we'll talk.
- Someone open up Brian Hedger's eyes so he can see what Marcus Kruger brings to the Blackhawks. For Christ sake, tell him there's a player named McKruger out there dressed like a hamburger. That'll open his eyes.
- Scott Darling was in net, and recorded the 18 save shutout. None of the saves were noteworthy, but what is noteworthy is, he's supposedly from Lemont.
- Well, David Backes may be gone, but we have a new Blues player emerging as the newest ballbag on the team. That title goes to Joel Edmundson.
- It took less than two minutes for us to hear "big hit by Hartman." If this is all we hear about a former 1st round pick, that's a problem. How about working a little skill into those stone hands.
- Wasn't that second period "fight" between Tootoo and Edmundson adorable? Even Carcillo was laughing. Well, I'm assuming he knew what channel the game was on.
- For a preseason game, I could have done without all the stupidity there at the end. But that is expected when you play the Blues who have the same level of intelligence as their coach does when it comes to a diet.
- This was my first time navigating through the Blackhawks website since it was redesigned. (Back off, bloggers are allowed to take a summer break.) Anyway, holy shit, what a piece of shit that site has become. I guess Gate wasn't lying. See not all new technology is good. Well now we know what is really driving away all the Blackhawks bloggers.
- Who didn't enjoy seeing The Manshitter and Tootoo playing together on the same line? Uh, Gate and I didn't.
- Gate is convinced that Niklas Hjalmarsson is getting suspended for his hit on Ty Rattie in the third period. My guess is, he's probably right despite the fact the hit wasn't dirty. Its not Hjalmarsson's fault because Rattie had his head down and skated into his arm. If he's suspended, it just shows how much of a joke contact sports have become.