by Gatekeeper
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The Blackhawks had 2 games to pull out an over .500 record for this last Circus trip, and the first of which was against the Anaheim Ducks for a Black Friday matinee game. They were riding a 2-3 record on the trip, and haven't looked looked well at all. The Ducks haven't really been all that impressive, themselves. They came into the game 9-7-4 which put them at 7th in the conference. This is a team the Blackhawks needed to beat, and beat them fairly easily if they wanted to end this trip on a good note.
oh, right. They were going to have to do so without Jonathan Toews. Swell.
The Blackhawks first half of the first period can be best described with one word; Tryptophan. The Hawks were out shot 8-3 and looked off. Of course they immediately come back from the mid period TV timeout to take a 1-0 lead. That still doesn't take away from the bad Rozsival penalty and slow start.
The second period was a much better result for the road team. The Blackhawks came out and out shot the home team 5-3 in the opening half of the period, while taking a 2-0 lead. Of course, they proceeded to get out shot 9-3 for the remainder of the middle frame. There were goals each way which gave the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead going into the third period.
With a 2 goal Blackhawks lead, the Ducks tried to mount a comeback, but it was not to be. The Ducks out shot the Blackhawks 15-10 for a 36-25 total, but the Blackhawks held on for a 3-2 win, without their captain, no less. After this long trip, the Hawks will take it.
- Immediately following the mid-period TV timeout, Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov worked a 2-on-1 that was sloppy as Thanksgiving gravy, but still ended up in the net. Kane and Anisimov tried a give-n-go, but the pass back to Kane was intercepted. Kane was still able to somehow get the puck to Gibson, who made the save, but he was stuck in the prone position. The puck flipped and bounced between Gibson's legs and Anisimov pitchforked it over the goal line like Fatrick stabbing at the turkey last night, but knowing Fatrick, it was a Thanksgiving McRib.
- The Blackhawks powerplay gave them a 2-0 about seven minutes into the second period. Noted turd face, Kevin Bieksa, took a penalty and the Blackhawks were able to set up in the Ducks zone. Kane was open on the right side and Brent Seabrook fed him for a one time clapper. The shot seemed like there was a little taken off but beat John Gibson, anyway.
- With 4:20 left in the second period, a Marcus Kruger's forecheck ended up right on the stick of Hartman, and Hartman blew the puck by Gibson's glove hand for a 3-0 Blackhawks lead.
- This was a Corey Crawford win. He saved 34 of 36, and stood tall when the Ducks were pressuring hard.
- Ryan Hartman was also out there making himself useful again, drawing a late second period penalty. He's winning my praise, and I'm liking it. Might have to grab myself a Hartman player shirt.
- It was really pretty nostalgic to hear Foley calling the name "Manson", again. Brought me back to 1988.
- As I stated earlier, the Hawks were without Jonny Toews after hurting himself in the second period Wednesday night.
- Ten seconds after the Hartman goal, the Ducks took the faceoff and broke the Hawks shutout. Nick Ritchie used Brent Seabrook as a screen, and surprised Corey Crawford. I realize that Crawford had a good distance to pick that puck up, but those are hard to find, especially with Seabrook wearing black pants. That was 100% the screen, rather than a Crawford gaffe.
- I'm not sure if he's still nursing anything, but Tyler Motte has been invisible since returning to the lineup. Totally invisible. I didn't even realize he was playing until late in the second period.
- Antoine Vermette came into the game winning a NHL leading 66% of his faceoffs. It's wonderful how the Blackhawks coach drove him out of town 2 seasons ago, so that there was no chance to get him to come back as a solid depth center this summer. No need for anything like that, for a team that only has 2 centers that can win faceoffs.
- The Blackhawks started Michal Rozsival over Kempny for the second game in a row. I'm not really sure what this accomplishes other than frustrating a player you're going to be depending on in April.
- Those burnt orange Ducks jerseys are terrible. I think they design team is color blind, or headed up by Harms.
- How about Getzlaf and Perry, eh? The goal-less wonder twins.
- Playing the role of Brandon Bollig tonight was Jordin Tootoo, with a game low 4:17 of TOI.
- With 5 minutes gone in the third period, the Ducks looked to have cut the lead to 1 goal, but Ondrej Kase had it go off his glove, then off his skate and into the net. The call on the ice was no goal, and the replay confirmed that.
- Four minutess after the Ducks thought they cut the Blackhawks lead, they actually did cut the lead to one goal. Seabrook, Campbell and Crawford got all turned around, and Jakob Silfverberg was able to pick up a loose puck to wrap around.
- I have to know how John Gibson was an NHL all-star last year. He gives up a metric shit ton of rebounds. There is no way that there were no more deserving goalies in the Pacific. He might have a good future, but right now he's raw.
- Blackhawks were awful at the faceoff dots. They lost a ridiculous 73%. That is unacceptable for any opponent.
- Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen were +29 and +25 in overall Corsi. I'm not even sure how that is possible. That's a complete ass whooping.
- The only Hawks players with positive Corsi were Vinny Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman.
Left Wing - Center - Right Wing
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Hartman - Hinostroza - Hossa
Motte - Scmaltz - Panik
Rasmussen - Kruger - Tootoo
Keith - Hjalmarsson
Campbell - Seabrook
Forsling - Rozsival
