The Chicago Blackhawks fell 8-6 in their preseason home opener to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at the United Center in Chicago.
Since this is just preseason hockey where everything is made up and the points don’t matter, we’ll throw three thoughts about this contest in your direction. Let’s go:
Cam Ward Better Not Be Stan Bowman’s Idea of a ‘Long-term Solution’
Fans entered Tuesday’s contest talking about how head coach Joel Quenneville was going to play Cam Ward in goal for the entire game. Most of us sat down around 7:30 p.m. and wondered, “how well is the ‘Cam Ward Experience’ going to go in this one?”
The large majority of the United Center hadn’t even sat down yet, when Ward allowed the opening shot of the hockey game to cross the goal line. In fact, Ward allowed the first TWO shots of the game across the goal line. By the time Ward’s time on the ice was over (which was during the second intermission), he had allowed six(!?) goals on 17 shots.
Cam Ward called his performance tonight “embarrassing.” #Blackhawks
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) September 26, 2018
It’s clear the Blackhawks (1-3 preseason) should NOT allow Corey Crawford to play as long as he is recovering from lingering concussion issues, but they better start looking at Collin Delia as a viable option in goal if the “Cam Ward experience” continues to be this frustrating.
The “Young guns” might be needed in the startling lineup on defense ASAP
Henri Jokiharju sat out, which meant more ice time for this year’s first-round pick in Adam Boqvist.
After Chicago announced earlier in the day that both Joni Tuulola and Carl Dahlstrom would be assigned to AHL Rockford, it seems like a wise decision to use Boqvist and Jokiharju as two of the seven defensemen.
Considering that Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Jan Rutta, Brandon Manning, and Erik Gustafsson are likely additions into the 2018-2019 lineup, it would be smart to add the youth and speed of Jokiharju and Boqvist instead of the experience of a Brandon Davidson on opening night.
Highmore and Kahun are looking better and better
Watching Matthew Highmore and Dominik Kahun score goals was a welcoming sight to an offense that needs some youth and speed. Highmore was solid in the faceoff circle, while Kahun flourished in his spot alongside Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat.
Kahun now has two goals and two assists in the preseason and is looking like a guy Coach Q will want to keep in the lineup. Don’t be surprised if the Hawks decide to keep one or both of the Highmore/Kahun duo heading into opening night.
Kahun working on his batting average. pic.twitter.com/q4RdkTKFjk
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) September 26, 2018
Chicago will play their fifth preseason game Thursday night at home against the Ottawa Senators.