by Patrick Stankus
Send a McRib to #Fatrick
On the eve of their bye week, the Blackhawks headed up to Edmonton to take on the Oilers, who themselves were coming off of their bye week tonight. The Hawks came into tonight's game riding the momentum of a four game winning streak, something that was desperately needed after the inconsistency leading up to the All-Star break. For the Hawks, it was Scott Darling getting the nod in net, as Corey Crawford was given the night off following last night's win in Winnipeg. With five days off looking them in the face, tonight had the potential to be one of those famous trap games that always end up so well. Luckily for us, we have Steve Konroyd to point that out, and the other obvious things five hundred times tonight. With Norton being a late scratch for the recap, and Gate busy sucking maple syrup out of trees in Canada (literally, see Twitter), you guys are getting one more #FatCap before the bye week. My apologies.
The Hawks came out of the gate looking every bit like a team that had played the night before and faced a decent amount of travel. Early on the Oilers took advantage of that, and less than five minutes in, the Hawks were in a 1-0 hole. The goal horn at Rogers Place must have served as an alarm clock for the Hawks. Shortly after the Oilers goal, the Hawks responded with two goals in under five minutes to give themselves a 2-1 lead and stun the Oilers. Despite the two goals, the Hawks were out shot by the Oilers in the period by a 12-8 margin. Thankfully, the Lemont native kept the Oilers off the board for the rest of the period, and the Hawks headed into the intermission up 2-1.
Unlike the first period, the Hawks came out strong to start the second period. Actually as the period went on, they blew the doors off the Oilers. Looking like a well oiled machine, the Hawks clamped down on the Oilers and limited them to just six shots, none of which were of great quality. As the Hawks controlled the pace of the game, they kept the action down in the Oilers zone throughout the period. Just before the midway point, TVR added a goal to increase the Hawks lead to 3-1. The Hawks were not done though. #DickFuckingPanik added another goal for good measure to give the Hawks a three goal lead heading into the third period.
For the third period, the Oilers made a change in net, thinking that would somehow spark a team that had cement legs thinking they were still on a bye. Shockingly, it didn't work. Aside from a couple of chances here and there, the Oilers couldn't generate much. Scott Darling withstood all the shots thrown at him, thirteen in all, and preserved the Hawks lead. To add salt to the wound, Artem Anisimov added another goal to increase the lead to 5-1. Finally as the minutes were beginning to wind down, the game just didn't seem like it wanted to end. We were even treated to a fight between noted enforcers Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins! Eventually the horn sounded, and the Hawks left Edmonton 5-1 winners. Now its onto the much loved BYE WEEK!!! See you all next Saturday. Oh shit, never mind, just because the Hawks are on a bye, that doesn't mean we are. That's right this upcoming week is a PUCKIN' HOSTILE SHOUTCAST WEEK folks! Enjoy.
- TVR scored his third goal on the season in the second period. Most noteworthy about the goal is, it moved him past Michal Kempny's goal total on the season. That's how stats work right? You damn well knew this was coming as the first point in the good.
- Shoutout to our man @Wm_J_LePetomane for bringing this one up again. Remember when everyone was laughing at Gate and I for saying #DickFuckingPanik would score fifteen goals? Well tonight the DickMan added two more goals to bring his total to fourteen. So by all means laugh it up meatballs.
- Speaking of the meatballs. Remember all the trade Toews talk? He notched two assists tonight. You'd think a guy who was playing through an injury would get a little more slack.
- Patrick Kane had a three point night. His goal came of the fancy side too. He managed to bank the puck off a sprawling Cam Talbot in the crease from behind the net. It was impressive. Its okay to admit that.
- I've been critical of Dick Schmaltz this year, but I will admit, since his call up from Rockford, he's been a lot better. Tonight was another example. Now if he could only drop that dopey frat boy look.
- For the second night in a row, Brent Seabrook had a solid game on the blueline. He also tallied an assist.
- The power play had a perfect night. They went two for two, while the penalty kill went two for two as well.
- Scott Darling had an excellent night in net for the Hawks. He stopped thirty of thirty-one shots en route to the win.
- The Hawks finished up their six game Ice Show Trip by taking ten out of a possible twelve points. I think everyone with a brain will take that, but you damn well know there's one asshole out there that will complain about the loss in San Jose. I'm guessing its Derek.
- There wasn't much to bitch about tonight with the Hawks, other than their start to the game. Frankly it was kind of expected after playing last night in Winnipeg. Credit to them though, they weathered the storm, and answered Edmonton's goal less than two minutes later.
- Alright, I lied. I'm going to get picky. The Hawks got their asses handed to them at the face off dot tonight; 43% to 57%.
- Niklas Hjalmarsson looked every bit like Michal Kempny on defense on Patrick Maroon's goal.
- The Vinnie Hinostroza fight with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was adorable to watch. If you're wondering what it would be like to see Gate fight, there it is.
- I miss watching Hawks/Oilers games from Rexall Place. There was just something special about having the camera on the wrong side behind the benches that was so appealing. Somethings just shouldn't change.
- Well the bye week couldn't come at a worse time for the Hawks. Winners of their last five games and now they get to sit for five days. Awesome. Talk about a momentum killer. All you have to do is look at the Oilers tonight. They were coming off their bye week. What's strange is next Saturday the Hawks take on the Oilers, at home, on Hockey Night In Canada, while coming off a bye week.
- And because one reader suggested this; can you believe the Oilers traded Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, who was a team worst -2 tonight for the Oilers?
- I got nothing else that's ugly in the game, so here's a pic of Gate.
- Scary huh?
