Blackhawks End Goal Slump In Win Over Oilers

The Blackhawks finished off the season sweep of the Oilers, scoring five goals in all three wins over Edmonton this year. The Blackhawks looked more like their usual selves on Sunday night with all four lines contributing to the win. This was the first of four straight home games and with three tougher opponents coming up, getting the win over the Oilers was a nice start to the week.

The Blackhawks started Sunday night’s game with a bit more purpose and energy than what we have seen of late. Andrew Shaw nailed Mark Acrobello with a big hit, behind the Hawks’ net, in opening moments. In spite of the extra jump in their step the Blackhawks fell behind to the Oilers 6:08 into the game. Ales Hemsky took advantage of a defensive pair that was a step slow and a goalie that was too deep in his crease. After receiving and nice stretch pass from Jeff Petry, Hemsky drove wide past Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook was slow getting to the net to help. Antti Raanta stayed deep in his net, instead of coming out to challenge the puck, and Hemsky slipped a backhand shot under Raanta’s stick. The Hawks would tie the game up at 14:26 on a play that started with a big hit from Brandon Bollig. Taylor Hall misplayed the puck along the right side boards with Bollig coming in hard for the big hit. Marcus Kruger got the puck to Niklas Hjalmarsson who fired a shot from the point that was deflect by Ben Smith on its way past Devan Dubnyk.

The 2nd period got pretty interesting, even borderline stupid at times. The Blackhawks took the lead 2:36 into the sandwich frame. Andrew Shaw finished off a nice 3 on 2 rush by putting a wrist shot up and over Dubnyk. Brandon Saad and Patrick Kane assisted on the Hockey Monkey’s 12 goal of the year. Patrick Kane would end his goal drought at 11:29 but the only problem was he put the puck in his own net. Devan Dubnyk was called for a slashing penalty while the Hawks were on the power play. Kane passed the puck from his goal line to where the point man was supposed to be, but no one was there. The puck slowly rolled all way down into the vacated Hawks net. Boyd Gordon was the last Oiler to touch the puck and was credited with the easiest goal he will ever score. The game didn’t remain tied for long as the birthday boy, Marian Hossa, would blast a one timer from the point during the 5 on 3 power play that followed the strange Edmonton goal. Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane assisted on Hossa’s 17th goal of the year. Jonathan Toews pushed his point streak to six games with a sweet back hand, fore hand goal he snuck between the legs of Dubnyk. Patrick Sharp made a great pass to set up the goal and Hossa got the secondary assist on the captain’s 17th goal of the season.

The Oilers would get the lead down to one goal, at 5:17 of the 3rd period, when Taylor Hall tapped a rebound past Antti Raanta while too many Hawks defenders were caught napping near the blue line. Brent Seabrook gave the Hawks an insurance goal when he scored off a long wrist shot at 14:19. David Perron tried to clear the puck along the boards put passed it right to Seabrook who flicked the puck through traffic, including a screen from the Hockey Monkey, for his 6th tally of the year.

* Antti Raanta was solid in his 12th win of the season.  He didn’t get tested too much only having to face 21 shots and only a handful of quality scoring chances.  He could have came out of the net a bit and try a poke check on Ales Hemsky but those are plays that will come as Raanta gets some more experience.  The guys in front of him let him down on the third Edmonton goal.  I am still trying to figure out where Niklas Hjalmarsson was going on that play.

* I was wondering if Joel Quenneville was sniffing magic markers again when he started the game with the 4th line.  He put Marcus Kruger back with Ben Smith and Brandon Bollig and it paid off, as they finsihed with CF%’s of 76.2, 68.4 and 64.7 respectivly.  They produced the first goal of the game and also had two great back to back shifts in the second period.  As much as Pat Foley wax poetics about hitting, the threat of a big hit from Bollig did lead to the Smith goal.  My favorite moment of the night was when Bollig called for the puck by whacking his stick on the ice like he was Sydney Crosby and Smith skated right by him.

* Duncan Keith’s night didn’t start off great with his lazy defense on the first goal and missing the net after a great feed from Patrick Kane. After the rough start Keith settle down to play another great game. His quick stick at his blue line led directly to the Andrew Shaw goal. Keith picked up his 41st assist of the year an attempted a total of 10 shots, four of which got to the net. He was also credited with two takeaways and two blocked shots.

* The Blackhawks won 61% of the faceoffs. Jonathan Toews was a beast winning 17 of his 23 draws. Marcus Kruger went 4 for 6 and Ben Smith went 3 for 7 as they split faceoff duty on the 4th line. Andrew Shaw went 4 for 7 and Brandon Saad won 3 out his 5 draws. The only other Blackhawk, besides Smith, to finish under 50% was Michal Handzus at 38%.

* Pat and Eddie were puzzled when Q put two defensemen on the blue line during a 3rd period power play, intead of Patrick Sharp at the point.  It’s moments like these that make me wonder what games they have been watching this season.  Sunday was not the first time this has happened.  Q has done this in the past during the 3rd period of one goal games.  Stop giggling and watch the games sometimes.

Player of the Game

Photo credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Shaw said after last night’s game he need to bring more energy to his game and that energy was there from the beginning of the night. Perhaps getting a shot to center Patrick Kane all nght will put a jump in one’s step. Shaw had the big hit in his first shift and followed it up with a goal in 2nd period. He drew two penalites, including the one that led to Kane own goal, but it was also the same penalty that Hossa would score on the two man advantage. He finished the game with four shots and spent most of the night taking his lumps in front of the Edmonton net.