The Blackhawks took the ice in Calgary tonight in the second game of the Circus Trip, falling to the Flames in overtime by a final score of 2-1. The game was not nearly as score as the one-goal final deficit would indicate, as the Flames dominated play and nearly doubled the Blackhawks in shots, 37-19.
The Blackhawks definitely did not get out to the start that they wanted in this one, as they played just awful for almost the entire first period. They were outshot 13-7 in the opening frame, but escaped it in a 1-1 tie. Calgary opened the scoring with a goal from Sean Monahan after a bit of a net-front scramble. The Hawks responded less than two minutes later, though, as Artem Anisimov banged home a rebound from a Brent Seabrook shot to draw even. Both goals were challenged by the opposing coaches, but they were upheld after review.
The middle frame went much better for Chicago, as they were able to control more of the play, and outshoot Calgary 8-4 in the frame. The Blackhawks generated some good scoring chances, but Flames goalie Karri Ramo was equal to all their efforts. Scott Darling protected his net as well, and the teams headed into the second intermission with the score remaining in a 1-1 tie.
The third period looked a lot like the first. Calgary dominated the play, and the Blackhawks struggled to get much going. Chicago registered just four shots on goal in the entire period, while Calgary put 14 on Darling. Darling answered all of them, though, and the game went to overtime still with the 1-1 score.
Overtime was the Calgary show. More specifically, it was the Johnny Gaudreau show. “Johnny Hockey” absolutely embarrassed the whole damn Blackhawks team for all during his time on the ice in overtime. He put on an absolute clinic in the final 40 seconds play before eventually scoring the game-winner. Here’s the play-by-play:
He got the puck into the Chicago zone, made a few moves, let the puck off to Dougie Hamilton for a shot, recovered the puck on a takeaway, took a shot on Darling himself, recovered the put again, made a move, took a shot, got his own rebound, and then scored.
There was nothing Darling could do, and he looked livid as he skated off the ice after getting no help from his team for most of the game and especially overtime. But this is the fate both teams deserved, as the Flames heavily outplayed the Blackhawks all night. They certainly deserved the win as much as the Blackhawks deserved the loss.
The Blackhawks take the ice next tomorrow night in Vancouver. Puck drop for that one is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. CT.
One, Two, Tree Thoughts
Circus Trip already a sideshow
The Blackhawks have the two worst Western Conference teams to open up the Circus Trip, and they find themselves barely able to tread water. They’ve gone to overtime with both Edmonton and Calgary, and have been largely outplayed for huge portions of these first two games. They were able to steal the game in Edmonton, and damn near did it again tonight. The only problem with that is they should not have to be stealing these games. They are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Sure, there’s been roster turnover, and some players are off to slow starts. But the Oilers and Flames should not be giving the Blackhawks fits, and yet here we are. They’ve managed to get three out of a possible four points so far, but I struggle to be encouraged by that with much tougher competition coming up tomorrow and next week. They are going to need to get their acts together if they’re going to make this Circus Trip more than a silly sideshow.
Breaking News: Bad lineup plays bad
With Teuvo Teravainen and Marko Dano out with an injury and illness, respectfully, Joel Quenneville was certainly limited in his lineup options for tonight’s game. However, the line combinations he sent out were still baffling and bad, and they played similarly. Andrew Shaw didn’t do much on the top line, the third line was mess all night Brandon Mashinter skating around aimlessly, as he is wont to do, and if you can tell me what the Tikhonov-Kero-Garbutt line did tonight, I’d be very excited to hear about it. Even the best Chicago line of Panarin-Anisimov-Kane struggled to get much going outside of the first period power play. Just a pitiful effort from a pitiful lineup. Hopefully Teravianen and Dano make their way back soon, or it could just get uglier.
Power play ineptness continues
I wish I could tell you I understood why and/or how the Blackhawks power play constantly seems so listless, but I just can’t. The offensive prowess that this team has is nearly unmatched in the NHL, and yet their power play is so boring and dull, half the time I think they’d be better off declining the penalty. The Blackhawks got a prime chance to take control of the game when Calgary took a penalty with a minute and half remaining in the second period. Late period goals are always killers, and a power play goal to kill Calgary’s momentum could’ve been the dagger before the third period even started. Instead, the Blackhawks passed constantly, and just looked completely flat. They didn’t convert on the power play in either period (they carried around 30 seconds of PP time to the third), and Calgary recaptured the momentum. This is something that needs to change.
Adam Hess is the creator and editor of Feathers in the Hat, and a staff writer at Second City Hockey. You can follow him on Twitter at @FeathersInDaHat.