by Patrick Stankus
Send a McRib to #Fatrick
Fresh off the All-Star break, the Blackhawks opened up the unofficial start of the second half of the season in San Jose on Tuesday night to take on the Sharks. Tuesday's game marks the beginning of the annual "Ice Show Trip" which means the Hawks won't be on home ice until the middle of February. The length of the delay in the return to The UC is exaggerated, thanks to the Blackhawks having their bye week at the conclusion of the six game road swing. With the trade winds starting to pick up, it will be interesting to see how the team responds to the recent rumors that have come out. Shameless plug alert, you can hear more on those rumors and other trade talk on the next Puckin' Hostile Shoutcast that records Wednesday night with guest John Jaeckel.
Once the puck finally dropped, because apparently a 9:30 start means 9:45, the Hawks and the Sharks looked like two teams that benefited from having four days off. Both teams had a little jump to their game, which had been something missing from the Hawks game prior to the All Star break. As the period went on, the Hawks got a little sloppy with their passing in their own end, but fortunately the mistakes didn't bite them. Despite taking two penalties in the opening frame, overall the Hawks looked pretty good, and went into the intermission scoreless after twenty minutes. Not a bad start to a long road trip.
When the second period got underway, most of us figured we'd get more of the same from the first period. Turns out we were wrong. It took both teams several minutes to find their legs and return to the form of the opening period. Midway through the period, Patrick Marleau appeared to put the Sharks up 1-0, but the Hawks challenged for offside, and in fact the play was offside, so the game was scoreless once again. It didn't remain that way for long though. A few minutes later, on the power play, Marleau struck again, and this time it counted. Credit to the Hawks, they didn't fold up. Crawford made a huge save on a breakaway, and with the momentum in their favor, Dennis Rasmussen fired a laser past Martin Jones, to tie the game at one. In the final seconds of the period, the Hawks turned the puck over twice, which led to two quality chances for the Sharks. Luckily for the Hawks, Crawford bailed them out, and kept the game tied at one after two periods.
At the start of the third period, we had reason to be optimistic at the possibility of the Hawks escaping San Jose with two points. That optimism quickly vanished. The Hawks had a golden opportunity to go ahead with a power play early in the third period, but of course they couldn't do anything with the man advantage. As the period went on, the momentum turned in favor of the Sharks, and it was only a matter of time before they cashed in. In the final minutes, the Sharks capitalized on a bounce off the end boards, and Tomas Hertl put the loose puck into the net to give San Jose the lead. In the final seconds, the Sharks added an empty netter, and went onto defeat the Hawks by the final of 3-1. Next up for the Hawks is a trip to GLENDALE, not Phoenix, (I've been told that's how we're supposed to drum up hype for the Arizona Coyotes) on Thursday night.
- Corey Crawford had an accidental, old school, stack of the pads save in the second period that any current or former goalie would appreciate. Its too bad Gate couldn't make it past the first intermission to see it.
- The Hawks caught a break after it appeared the Sharks took the lead, midway through the second period. Joel Quenneville challenged the play for offside, and actually won the challenge. Regardless of the outcome, replay still sucks.
- Dennis Rasmussen netted his fourth goal of the season in the second period. It was absolute perfect shot, off the post and all. Never hurts to shoot the puck.
- For a change, the Hawks dominated at the faceoff dot. Tonight they won 59% of the draws.
- Its no secret Corey Crawford has been fighting it of late, but tonight he had a solid performance. He gave the Hawks a chance to win, and made a few nice saves in the loss.
- Ryan Hartman had a great chance to put the Hawks on the board first, with a breakaway early on, but Martin Jones was able to make the stop.
- Of course the beginning of the second period was delayed a couple of minutes due a problem with the ice in Crawford's crease. Anything to make a 9:30 game on a weeknight longer.
- The parade to the penalty box finally bit the Hawks in the ass in the second period. On their third power play of the game, the Sharks managed to open the scoring, thanks to noted ballbag Patrick Marleau.
- Corey Crawford was the victim of a bad bounce off the board, combined with bad defensive zone coverage by Keith and Hjalmarsson on the Tomas Hertl's game winning goal in the third period. It also didn't help that the fourth line got stuck on an extended shift.
- Hinostroza found himself with a team low 9:13 of ice time tonight. Guessing that lazy turnover at the end of the second period had something to do with. It also wouldn't surprise me if he sharing shrimp with Kempny in the press box on Thursday night.
- Maybe its because this is the first recap I'm doing of one of those "great 9:30 local starts" (said no one ever), or its the fact this is my first recap of a game this late in my 30s, but I'm gonna agree with Gate. They suck. The only person on the Hostile Crew that enjoyed this start time was Mr. Canada. Although I won't go as far as to say they should be banned. Regardless, the crabby shit hip has spoken.
- Big thanks to Comcast Sportsnet for giving us Steve Konroyd tonight on the telecast. I've never struggled to stay awake so hard in my life.
- Late in the second period, the Hawks were caught in a horrendous line change, but Crawford was able to deny Meier on a partial breakaway.
- The third period wasn't something to celebrate for the Hawks. Aside from a chance early on by Patrick Kane, that he was taken down on, I don't remember another quality chance.
- Special teams struggled for the Hawks tonight. The power play was 0 for 3, while the penalty kill allowed a goal.