by Patrick Stankus
Send a McRib to #Fatrick
The Blackhawks returned to the ice on Sunday night following their last win on Thursday night. Tonight they welcomed the St. Louis Blues to town, who were coming off the dreaded bye week. Just as we were settling into the game, all hell broke loose in the NHL trade world. In under an hour we say Tampa trade Ben Bishop to Los Angeles, and Arizona ship Martin Hanzal to Minnesota. The Hanzal trade impacts the Hawks in more than one way, as a divisional foe gets stronger, and a name being tied to the Hawks is taken off the board. Oh yeah, back to the game at hand. Since the Blues sent Hitchcock packing to the local Arby's and brought Mike Yeo on board, the Blues have turned it around. They've turned it around so much, that they brought two, YES TWO, bus loads of season ticket holders to the game in Chicago. Too bad they weren't traveling first class with the Columbus Cottonmouths. (Google to understand the JOKE.)
In the first period, the Blackhawks picked up right where they left the other night. They simply dominated play, and dictated the pace of the game throughout the opening period. The Hawks didn't take long to get on the board. Just over the four minute mark, Jonathan Toews opened the scoring to put the Hawks on top. Midway through the period, the Hawks added another goal, this time on the power play, to increase the lead to two. If there was one complaint about the first period with the Hawks, they got caught taking their foot off the gas for a shift or two, and it bit them in the ass. St. Louis managed to cut the lead in half to 2-1 as the period came to a close.
The middle frame saw a much more evenly matched twenty minutes. Both teams were nearly even in the shot category with twelve for the Blues and eleven for the Hawks. After a failed power play for the Hawks, the Blues found themselves on their own power play just past the midway mark. Of course, since it was TVR who took the penalty, the Blues scored to tie the game at two. Down the stretch both teams traded chances, but neither could add another goal, and after two periods, the game was tied at two.
With both teams looking for the go ahead goal, there was a sense of urgency to start the third period. The Blues had some quality chances, but Scott Darling was there to keep the Blues off the board. While the Blues had their chances, the Hawks peppered the Blues net with eleven shots again. It wasn't until late in the period that the Hawks finally took the lead. Artem Anisimov added his twenty second goal of the season to put the Hawks up 3-2. Tanner Kero added an empty netter for good measure, to give the Hawks a 4-2 win, and send the Blues season ticket holders back home to St. Louis in their soiled jorts.
- The #STPLine is on fire right now. #DickSchmaltz had a nifty pass to Toews, who undressed Jake Allen to open the scoring. Our Governor @Wm_J_LePetomane offered this.
- Duncan Keith Keith recorded his 500th career point on Kane's goal. Just another milestone for the blueliner.
- Speaking of Kane's goal, that came on the power play in the first period. All in all, the Hawks power play was one of two tonight. Eh, can't complain I guess.
- Scott Darling was absolutely outstanding tonight after getting the late notice he was starting. Darling stopped thirty of thirty-two shots en route to the win.
- As much as I'd like to add Matt Duchene, I'm with Stan Bowman on this. No fucking way I am throwing Ryan Hartman in a deal. The kid just continues to impress.
- The #AK72Line struck again with Anisimov's goal, late in the third period. That line is simply unstoppable.
- The Hawks ended the game with forty-two shots, twenty of which came in the first period.
- The Blackhawks ended February 9-1-0. Yeah, I'll take that. But don't let that distract you that the Hawks still have two giant holes on this team. Not to mention that record also came with a bye week thrown in.
- Tomas Jurco made his Blackhawks debut. He wasn't terrible, just had a so-so game. My issue is, when the Blackhawks acquire someone, can they give them a number they're not destine to fail in? Serious 13? Nice memories of..... Dan Carcillo there. And don't get me started on #17. That list is legendary. Ryan Johnson, Brendan Morrison, Sheldon Brookbank, Chris Simon, and on and on.
- Marcus Kruger played less than ten minutes tonight. Lets throw some gasoline on those trade rumors as the deadline approaches.
- TVR's bad night didn't get better as he took a bad high sticking penalty, that which of course, saw the Blues score on the power play.
- Corey Crawford was a late scratch tonight with the "flu." Which is code name for; he's going to be traded. Oh wait, this isn't the offseason, so we're good there. Maybe he's actually sick. Any way Lars Johansson was recalled to keep the bench warm.
- Niklas Hjalmarsson was out tonight with an upper body injury. All you need to do is follow our friend John Jaeckel (@jaeckel) to see exactly how worried the Hawks are about this.
- TVR had a horrendous turnover, that even I can't defend, on the Blues opening goal. How did Q punish him? He played him more than twenty minutes, which is six minutes more than Kempny. I'm sure that will sit well with a group of miserable bloggers not named Gate.
- Jaden Schwartz was a team worst -3 for the Blues tonight. This guy is the definition of overrated.