by Patrick Stankus
Tweet to #Fatrick
After finishing up the Western Canada portion of the final Circus Trip on Monday night, the Blackhawks traveled down the West Coast of the USA, for a Thanksgiving Eve match up with the San Jose Sharks. The Hawks were coming off a pathetic performance on Monday night in which they were handed a 5-0 defeat by the Oilers. Wednesday night's game also starts a stretch of three games in four days for the California portion of the trip.
The Blackhawks have had a troublesome theme on this road trip of starting out games stuck in neutral. Tonight was no different. Aside from a good chance from Panarin, the Sharks controlled the pace of the game for the majority of the period. Just past the midway point of the period, the Sharks added two goals in just over three minutes to give themselves a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Despite being outplayed, the Hawks did manage to throw 14 shots at the San Jose net, but none found the back of the net, and they would trail by two after the opening 20 minutes.
In the second period, the Hawks came out with more energy than the first period, and it showed early on. While the Hawks had less shots on net than the first period, the chances in the second were of more quality. In addition, Corey Crawford looked like the Corey Crawford were used to and made some spectacular saves. Finally just past the midway point of the game, Artemi Panarin one timed a pass from Anisimov into the Sharks net to cut the deficit to 2-1. As the period wound down, the Hawks would kill of an extended San Jose 5 on 3 power play to keep it a one goal game after two periods.
The final twenty minutes proved to be an entertaining period of hockey. Both teams had numerous chances, but both Corey Crawford and Martin Jones rose to the occasion and kept the score at 2-1. The lone power play of the period went to the Sharks, but the Hawks penalty kill had the answer for that. In an evenly matched period, both teams ended up with nine shots, and in the end it was the Sharks who skated away with the 2-1 win. Next up for the Hawks is a back to back in southern California that starts on Friday afternoon in Anaheim. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Hostile Tribe, and we'll see you Friday.
- After a shaky first period, Corey Crawford settled in nicely in the second and third period. In the final 40 minutes, he made 22 saves, and gave the Hawks a chance to stay in the game.
- That Artemi Panarin one timer is a thing of beauty. I'm glad the honeymoon isn't over with him yet.
- While they gave up a power play goal in the first period, the penalty kill came through when needed in the second period by killing off a 5 on 3 power play. They followed it up in third period and killed off another to keep it a one goal game.
- Artemi Panarin had a brutal pass that was read perfectly by Vlasic, luckily Seabrook bailed Panarin out by chasing down Vlasic.
- Vinnie Hinostroza had a great chance in the second period to put the Hawks on the board, but couldn't finish it. Hinostroza was in alone on Jones, and beat him, but ended up tucking the puck into the side of the net.
- Have you ever seen a team miss the net like the Hawks?
- While the final 40 minutes were good, once again the Hawks dug themselves a hole early. It'd be nice to see them play a complete 60 minute game.
- What the fuck was that horrendous camera angle we had to sit through in the first period. For fuck's sake AHL broadcasts have a better position. Just another swell WGN telecast.
- The Sharks first goal came on the power play. We'll go with "textbook Blackhawks penalty kill" for that one.
- The Hawks opening power play was a complete tire fire. Seabrook fell at the blue line and allowed Joel Ward to get in alone on Crawford, and Ward made it a 2-0 game.
- Speaking of the Ward goal. Corey Crawford gave us the latest example of why goalies should STAY IN THE FUCKING NET. As soon as Crawford hesitated on whether or not to come out and play the puck he was toast. All the evidence you need is seeing how Joel Ward turned him into a pylon.
- In the second period, Jonathan Toews left the game and didn't return. As if that wasn't bad enough, Marcus Kruger got destroyed along the boards, and left the game. Unlike Toews, Kruger did return. Last thing this team needs right now is to lose Toews for an extended period of time.
- The Hawks pissed away a power play chance by taking a "too many men on the ice" penalty. How did they follow that up? By taking another penalty while it was 4 on 4.