Maple Leafs-2 Blackhawks-3: That's As Clever As The Headline Will Get

by Killion on Nov 14, 2009 3:11 AM CST in Recaps

Is it any surprise that we went out drinking after the game? I hope not.

I drew the short straw and have to write a recap of the game. Obviously I hope to make more sense later and give some sort of analysis (heh.. anal) in the morning but right now I have almost nothing.

This game was far closer than I was hoping we'd see. It had the makings of a trap game written all over it and it damn near came true. The Blackhawks absoulutely dominated the first 35 minutes or so but fell apart in the third and the Leafs could have easily won this one. Huet was pretty solid despite both goals being stoppable.. maybe. I was pretty damn surprised to see the Leafs get 31 shots in this game but they evidently shoot quite a bit.. even if few of those go in. I still feel this win was another frustrating example of the Blackhawks playing down to the level of their oppenents. There's no reason this game should have been so close - hopefully they were just saving something special when they play the Sharks on Sunday.

More tomorrow - Have a good night all.

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The Hawks

dominated a little more than half of the game….when they were up 3-0 i figured they will score another goal or two and maybe the lafs get 1 or 22,so i was thinkin pretty much 5-1,5-2……buuuuuuuut Phil Kessel scored a feww,wow,what a sniper,i liked him a lot in Boston….Kane was his usual self,his first goal was back checkin gettin the puck and sendin it to the net,nicely done….dont know whether the second goal was Keiths or MAddens but anyways nice shot….and the third was another power play goal,wicked!!!even though they didnt score a pp goal last game it does seem like the pp is gettin better

and is it me or does the 4th line look pretty good now that Eager is back?i’m really startin to like that line….Huet was very good in my opinion,made some huge saves….but the Hawks should have put this game outta reach,Kane,Toews,Versteeg,Eager,and Kane again,all had 1 on 1 chances with Toskala,they should have buried at least one or two of those,hopefully Hossa will when he recovers

by csm on Nov 14, 2009 3:29 AM CST reply actions

I agree with csm...

I thought this game should have been a blow out, even though the leafs have played a bit better the past few games with Kessel back. Regardless we had many chance on two on ones and break aways that should have scored. I feel like on the break aways, we are keeping the puck on the ice when the goalies were facing are going down on a butterfly, just lift the puck and score, is it me or do all you feel the same. As for the sharks, we do have the number on Nabakov. Go hawks!!! let the count down to Hossa began!

by redtribe14 on Nov 14, 2009 9:23 AM CST up reply actions

You are right

about the Hawks players keepin the puck on the ice a bit too long on break aways….it seems like tha Hawks are havin trouble scorin on break aways….dont know whats goin to happen with the Sharks,it would be great to win,and get all the points on this homestand….they are sayin that Hossa will play his first game on the big road trip,though they are not sayin which game it will be,hopefully he’ll play at least the last 3

by csm on Nov 14, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

Seriously

I was expecting at least one hat trick.

But what I really want to know is what Beauchemin and Huet were saying to each other. hee heee.

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Nov 14, 2009 6:52 AM CST reply actions

wasn't the hawks most consistent effort

but that has kind of been their M.O. this whole season. It seems as though they are slowly getting to the point where they can turn in a good 60, right now they’re kind of floating in between a solid 40-50 minutes and the rest looking kind of pokey.

I have to say, even though huet let in two (maybe) soft goals, watching the highlights afterwards, i didn’t realize how good some of the saves huet made actually were while i was at the game.

by SLoop on Nov 14, 2009 9:41 AM CST reply actions

I thought

Huet had some big time saves,and hats off to him…the first goal i guess he should have stopped,as or the second,there was a pretty good screen in front of him,and i dont think he even saw the puck,and thats not on him,that is on one of his players gettin the opponent away from the front of the net

GO HAWKS!!!

by csm on Nov 14, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions

Kessel has such a heavy wrister, that first goal was a shot. It was to the stick side and low, it would have been a great save had Huet made it but more than anything it was a great goal.

I thought Huet was standing on his head most of the night. He seems to have the soft goals somewhat under control and really seems to be in a groove. But he was also pretty good last year when ‘Bulin went out Feb/March and hit that wall after starting 12 games in a row. Interesting to see what the 35 yr old’s endurance is like this year. Go Hawks!

beck

by beck5613 on Nov 14, 2009 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Playing down to opponents

sums it up pretty well. I don’t care about seeing blowouts as much as I care about seeing the Hawks being able to adjust to whatever type of game their opponents want to play. Playing a full game would be nice too.

by NKLHD on Nov 14, 2009 9:52 AM CST reply actions

As long as

they win i’m happy,but i understand the whole playin down to opponents,and i dont like it,they should have had a few 5-1 or 6-2 blowouts,but they haven’t,maybe with the addition of Hossa they will,i would just like to see a nice game tomorrow,a win,and a nice game,dont wanna see anything lethargic

by csm on Nov 14, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

Huet...

after the amazing so called stop by Huet when he was laying on the ice stickless and the leaf trying to poke it in, I thought that was great by huet, But today watching the NHL on the fly….well guys their was a better view and that was a goal. But I don’t care because we have seen it happen to us many times.

by redtribe14 on Nov 14, 2009 9:57 AM CST reply actions

Huet...

Thought Huet played very well and make all the key stops except for the Kessel goal late in the 2nd period which turned the momentum in the Leafs favour.
The 2nd goal he had no chance on as Kessel was allowed free access into the Hawks zone and ripped a 100mph wrist shot off the crossbar and in while being screened in the process. Pretty tough to stop that.
All in all Huet is 8-4-1 with a 2.19 GAA and a .905 SV% which is exactly what the doctor ordered at the season’s start. If he contiunes to play like this the Hawks will be in great shape come April.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Nov 14, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

I was going to reply to this

Then I saw who wrote it and realized I would never see any actual response attached.

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Nov 14, 2009 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

A Win is a Win no matter how you look at it.

With that said though, it wasn’t the most inspired efforts on the season as the Hawks virtually fell asleep once Brouwer scored to put the Hawks up 3-0 and barely held on to win 3-2. Agree with everybody here that the Hawks this season tend to play to the level of their competition, however it may be the case of the other team playing above their normal level due to the fact that their going up against, arguably, the best team in the NHL and if the don’t bring a good effort they’ll be blown-out very badly.

Pretty goal by Kaner to strip the loverboy (Schenn) of the puck and roof it top corner and give himself a little retribution after Mr. Foot-in-mouth’s comments earlier in the morning. Who’s laughing now bitch?

Leave Brouwer on the PP. Please and thank-you. As Brouwer has become the Hawks most improved player this season and has taken his opportunity to become a regular within the line-up as now you cannot picture him being a healthy scratch, something that probably would’ve happened at the beginning of the season if not for Hossa’s injury. Hjalmarrson continues to impress as well.

11-5-2. First in the Central. What’s not to like about that? Bring on the Sharks (tell them it’s a playoff game as we’re sure to win then)!

by hawks61 on Nov 14, 2009 11:02 AM CST reply actions

Good 2 Points

Would’ve been a nice game to let Dunc (26 minutes)and Seebs (23) put their feet up a bit more, but Kessel didn’t let that happen.

I’m not a Huey apologist, but a couple very good shots there, especially the second one.

Be inneresting to see him and 20 Cent together this winter.

by cliffkoroll on Nov 14, 2009 11:10 AM CST reply actions

The only thing more aggravating than the Third period malaise was Pat Foley calling Ebbets name THREE times during the game, with Ebbet sitting on the bench…

by WirtzGMnomore on Nov 14, 2009 11:25 AM CST reply actions