by Patrick Stankus
Send a McRib to #Fatrick
In their next to last game before the All-Star break, the Blackhawks played host to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night at The UC. The Hawks came into the game riding a three game win streak, while the Lightning came to town in last place in the Eastern Conference. From the looks of it, tonight's game had the potential to be one of those famous games where the Hawks play down to their opponent. If there's a team on the outside looking in that could make a run at a playoff spot, its the Lightning as long as they get healthy in time. Someone should have reminded the Hawks not to take Tampa lightly.
When the puck dropped to begin the game, it looked like it would be the same old song and dance for the Hawks. They were sluggish out of the gate, and pissed away an early power play chance. Midway through the period, The Captain put the Hawks on the board first, capping off a perfect passing play from Panik and Hartman. After controlling the pace of play from the midway mark of the period, the Hawks were guilty of taking their foot off the gas. In the waning minutes, Brian Boyle faked Crawford out of his jock, and tied the game at one.
In the early minutes of the second period, it looked as if the Hawks were actually going to give a shit, and try to win the game. Duncan Keith fired a bomb from the blueline just over a minute into the period to put the Hawks back up by one. Unfortunately that would be the high mark for Keith and the Hawks. Late in the first they would squander another power play, and leave the door open for the Lightning. While, Tampa failed to score down the stretch in the second period, they clearly had momentum going in their favor heading into the third, down by one.
The third period can be summed up perfectly like this. IT WAS A COMPLETE AND UTTER SHITSHOW. PERIOD. In the first three minutes, Tampa managed to tie the game at two, and from then on it was all Lightning the rest of the way. Just to rub salt in the wound, Tampa scored two goals in thirty seconds, to increase their lead to two. Oh, and since Q pulled his Patrick Roy shit, Tampa also added an empty netter, just to make sure the scoreboard looked every bit like the ass kicking the Hawks received tonight. After four unanswered goals in the third, the horn finally sounded, and the Hawks headed down the tunnel with their tails between their legs after a 5-2 defeat. Lovely wasn't it? I guess I should have let Norton recap this big old pile of shit game after all.
- The opening goal by Toews was nothing short of a brilliant tic-tac-toe play, Sadly that was the high point for that line on the night.
- Seriously, there's nothing else.
- The Hawks had a chance to feed off the crowd at The UC with an early power play, but once again a sluggish start doomed that potential.
- I'm pretty sure Corey Crawford is still looking for his jock after Brian Boyle's opening goal. It should be pointed out the play all started by Duncan Keith getting checked to the ice. I thought hits were meaningless?
- The Hawks and TVR caught a break at the end of the second period. TVR shot the puck over the glass as time expired, and the linesman signaled for a Delay Of Game penalty. However the officials huddled up and no penalty was called. I don't mind the officials getting together, but some sort of an announcement of what the discussion was would be nice.
- It was two minutes into the third period that I heard #DickSchmaltz 's name. Lord and Savior eh?
- In the third period, Jonathan Toews took a big open ice hit from Vladislav Namestnikov, and labored to the bench afterward. Luckily for Toews and the Hawks sake, Toews returned to the game. Regardless not a good sign for someone who's been battling injuries this season.
- Tonight is a night where +/- can be deceiving. If you look at the box score TVR was a -3, but he wasn't at direct fault for two of the goals. You should look to Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, who a -2 on the night, and was hands down worse than TVR. And did I mention that Kempny was a +1 on the night? He was flat out awful tonight. Late in the first, Kempny had a horrendous turnover that shifted the momentum in Tampa's favor. It took Tampa another shift to cash in on the momentum and tie the game. I should also point out his lazy high sticking penalty too. After his last game, one has to wonder why did Kempny even play tonight? Jesus, Rozsival can't be that bad of an option.
- The importance of defensive zone faceoffs was on full display tonight. Wait I thought someone said those were not important? If only he had time to explain that theory on the Shoutcast. Enough about him. Early in the third period, Toews lost a faceoff in which the Lightning scored immediately on. Even more painful was hearing Edzo make an excuse for Toews about an unfair drop.
- During the span of thirty seconds in the third the Lightning managed to put the Hawks away with two goals.
- Who didn't enjoy seeing Killorn clown Keith like a rag doll on Tyler Johnson's second goal?
- #DickFuckingPanik and Ryan Hartman led the way for the forwards by being a -3 each tonight. It wasn't their best effort either.
- Watching Q pull a Patrick Roy and pulled Corey Crawford with over three minutes left. Glad that turned out for the good.
