by Gatekeeper
Yell at Gatekeeper
Friday was officially "the rest of your life" for the Blackhawks. No more trade rumors. No more speculation. This was the team the Blackhawks were "going to battle" with. That said, they were also nursing several injuries:
- Niklas Hjalmarsson was having a bit of a back issue (which might have something to do with carrying his teammates on it for the previous five months)
- Artem Anisimov left the Pens game early in the second period and missed practice Thursday with an undisclosed injury.
- Artemi Panarin missed the Thursday practice with an upper body injury
- New old Blackhawk Johnny Oduya was still nursing an ankle issue.
- Nick Schmaltz missed two days of practices with an undisclosed illness.
- Goalie Jeff "glove of" Glass was recalled before the game because Scott Darling injured himself in the morning skate. Word is that it's a hand/finger injury and Quenneville said he'll be out about 3 weeks.
The Islanders, on the other hand, were just "OK" in their last 10 games, going 6-4-0. The Isles were also coming off a 5-4 win in Dallas after THEIR stupid bye week. Much maligned rookie Josh Ho-Sang (god forbid you wear the fucking number 66) made his NHL debut, but didn't record a point.
With all the injuries and the wonky lineup, the first period was a little bit of an adventure. Fans were treated to a partial breakaway for, and a shorthanded breakaway against, but neither resulted in a goal. Even a powerplay each way could not boost the shots any higher than 13 total. That was really all there was to report in the opening twenty minutes.
The second period wasn't much better for the Blackhawks. Kind of made you feel bad for the fans that dished out top dollar for a Friday night at the United Center for the slop they saw. The only good thing about sloppy hockey is the inevitable penalties. Unfortunately, though, the penalties turned into shorthanded chances against for the home team. There were quite a few more shots on net but it was the Islanders that led 12-7 in shots and scored the only goal. Thirteen shots in 40 minutes of play isn't exactly the way to win a hockey game.
As the third period opened, the Hawks had several really good chances in the Isles end but, again, none tied the game. The Isles regrouped briefly on the back end of the period, which settled the action for the middle portion of the period. With the goalie pulled very late, the Blackhawks unleashed a flurry of action on the Islanders net. Their pressure paid off as they tied the game with just over a minute remaining, sending this game to overtime and eventually a shootout.
Even though I'm not a huge fan of 3-on-3 overtime, it was really entertaining as hell. I would much rather see them just play seven or ten minutes of 3-on-3 than ever go to a shootout, if the NHL really must have a winner. Somehow neither team scored in the overtime, to the shock of all watching, which meant we were going to see the first Blackhawks shootout since November. Two of the three Blackhawks shooters scored in the shootout and the Blackhawks netminder held the Isles scoreless for a big come from behind win.
- With under two minutes, Coach Wizzo pulled his netminder and used his timeout to gather the troops. Jonathan Toews won the ensuing faceoff which eventually resulted in Duncan Keith feeding Artemi Panarin for one of his patented one timers. Finally, the United Center had something to truly cheer for, and the Blackhawks were able to guarantee at least one point.
- Corey Crawford saved the Blackhawks asses by saving a few breakaways and kept the Islanders off the board in the overtime and shootout. This will be huge with Scott Darling injured down the stretch.
- It sure seemed like Tomas Jurco was out on the ice for more than the official 11:04.
- Toews, Kane and Panarin logged heavy ice time. All three played over 22 minutes.
- Marcus Kruger blocked a first period powerplay shot with his hand was was in some extreme discomfort on the bench into the first intermission. He returned and toughed out the rest of the game.
- The teams were a combined 0-5 on the powerplay with one, basically, shorthanded goal. Patrick Kane played an amazing 3:23 of the Blackhawks 4:00 of powerplay time.
- The first legit chance of the game was by Jordin Tootoo, who got a partial breakaway and shot it right into Greiss' armpit.
- During the first Blackhawks powerplay, Artemi Panarin tried to force a bad pass at the Isles blue line and it turned into a John Tavares shorthanded breakaway. Corey Crawford bailed them out but it'll surely be overlooked by the idiot meatballs.
- Late in the second period, as a Blackhawks powerplay was about to expire, the Isles jumped all over a bad Brian Campbell pinch which resulted in a shorthanded 2-on-1 against the Hawks netminder. This time Corey Crawford wasn't able to bail out his defense, and the score was 1-0.
- Brent Seabrook had a brutal turnover late in the second period, which left Andrew Ladd all alone in on Corey Crawford. Crawford made the initial save and then flashed the glove on the second.
- I love Marian Hossa, but his turnover in overtime was just awful. The Blackhawks were about to have a 3-on-2 and Hossa ran into the defenseman and the puck was sent back for a breakaway. Once again, Corey Crawford was the hero.
- The faceoffs were shaded slightly in favor of the Islanders, but the Blackhawks won the one that counted before the game winner.
- According to the official scorer, the Blackhawks had SEVEN giveaways.
- Not only did the big 3 forwards all play huge minutes, but their possession numbers were all over 15.
- Michal Kempny had a good possession night as well, with a +15 Corsi.
- Jonathan Toews took his time and beat Greiss
- Corey Crawford stops the rookie Ho-Sang
- Patrick Kane kicked away by Greiss
- Kulemin beat Crawford but hit the post
- Artemi Panarin beat the Isles for the win
Left Wing - Center - Right Wing
Hartman - Toews - Panik
Panarin - Kero - Kane
Jurco - Kruger - Hossa
Desjardins - Rasmussen - Tootoo
Keith - Seabrook
Campbell - TVR
Kempny - Rozsival