It sure wasn’t easy to watch at times but the Blackhawks still found a way to win a meaningless game. Yes, I know the Hawks can still win the President’s Trophy, but I really don’t care too much about that. What I do care about is how awful the defense played tonight. It looked as if the team decided to celebrate Pat Foley Night by doing keg stands in the locker room before the opening faceoff. I will just chalk this one up to a team not being focused for their first game that didn’t mean a thing this season.
It’s late on a Friday, I’ve been drinking and their were 9 total goals scored, so I am going to skip the blow by blow details. The Blackhawks got their regulation goals from Duncan Keith (3), Brandon Saad (10), Patrick Kane (21) and Michal Handzus (2). The Predators answered with goals by Kevin Henderson (1), Bobby Butler (4) and two from Matt Halischuk (3,4). Yeah, I don’t keep up on the Milwaukee Admirals, so I’ve never heard of them either.
The Hawks got to start overtime on a 4 on 3 power play thanks to a Rich Clune high sticking double minor at the end of the 3rd period. Even with the Hawks power play being as bad as its been lately, there was no way this game was going to a shootout. Marian Hossa ended the game 52 seconds into the extra frame with his 17th goal of the year and the second best OT goal he’s scored against Nashville.
The Hawks are right back at it with a rare Saturday night game at the Untied Center versus the Phoenix Coyotes. The game was supposed to be the first game in Chicago for Raffi Torres since he tried to murder our Panda last April. That is, until Doug Wilson actually traded for this waste of oxygen and ruined all of our fun!
* First observation is dedicated to the law enforcement in the Boston area. Between the tragedies in Boston and Texas and the flooding locally, if this week does not make you want to hug a First Responder you have no soul! I found it rather fitting that scumbag coward #2 was taken into custody at the same time Jim Cornelison was belting out the greatest song in the world.
* Corey Crawford was ok tonight. He made some good saves but, giving up 4 goals to this Predators team is not good, but his defense did not do much to help him out tonight. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow night. I don’t think starting Crow on back to back nights is a good idea this close to the post season. With Ray Emery hurting, and absolutely nothing to play for tomorrow, I would have zero problem with letting Carter Hutton getting a start.
* Is it just me or has Viktor Stalberg been on a mission to shut Edzo up lately? Whatever it takes….
* When is Q going to catch up with the rest of us and realize Patrick Kane does not put up points when Dave Bolland is on the ice? Not to beat a dead horse, but it is so frustrating.
* Why is Shea Weber growing a beard? Hey buddy, you have no use for one this spring!
* It’s safe to say that the trade for Michal Handzus is already much better than the last time we traded for a guy who wore 26, Sammy Pahlson.
Blackhawks Corsi numbers
| Player | Pos | ES TOI | Total Shots For | Total Shots Against | Corsi | Net Zone Starts | Adjusted Corsi |
| Duncan Keith | D | 19:07 | 18 | 12 | +6 | +4 | +4 |
| Niklas Hjalmarsson | D | 17:17 | 15 | 9 | +6 | +4 | +4 |
| Brent Seabrook | D | 17:14 | 18 | 14 | +4 | -4 | +6 |
| Nick Leddy | D | 17:06 | 16 | 14 | +2 | -4 | +4 |
| Daniel Carcillo | L | 11:25 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Marcus Kruger | C | 13:31 | 20 | 9 | +11 | -1 | +11 |
| Sheldon Brookbank | D | 17:46 | 18 | 8 | +10 | +3 | +9 |
| Jonathan Toews | C | 14:34 | 14 | 5 | +9 | +2 | +8 |
| Brandon Saad | L | 14:50 | 16 | 6 | +10 | +2 | +9 |
| Viktor Stalberg | L | 13:42 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 | -6 |
| Michal Handzus | C | 7:30 | 6 | 7 | -1 | +1 | -1 |
| Johnny Oduya | D | 15:47 | 17 | 5 | +12 | +3 | +11 |
| Bryan Bickell | L | 13:20 | 7 | 7 | 0 | +2 | -1 |
| Dave Bolland | C | 14:44 | 23 | 9 | +14 | -1 | +14 |
| Andrew Shaw | C | 12:37 | 6 | 7 | -1 | +1 | -1 |
| Michael Frolik | R | 10:00 | 11 | 9 | +2 | +2 | +1 |
| Marian Hossa | R | 13:34 | 13 | 5 | +8 | +2 | +7 |
| Patrick Kane | R | 16:18 | 27 | 11 | +16 | -1 | +16 |
Predators Corsi numbers
| Player | Pos | ES TOI | Total Shots For | Total Shots Against | Corsi | Net Zone Starts | Adjusted Corsi |
| Shea Weber | D | 24:18 | 17 | 21 | -4 | -5 | -2 |
| Jonathon Blum | D | 9:53 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Kevin Klein | D | 18:55 | 13 | 27 | -14 | +2 | -15 |
| Filip Forsberg | C | 11:51 | 11 | 9 | +2 | -3 | +3 |
| David Legwand | C | 13:11 | 9 | 14 | -5 | -2 | -4 |
| Nick Spaling | C | 15:30 | 6 | 18 | -12 | +1 | -12 |
| Craig Smith | C | 12:29 | 10 | 14 | -4 | -1 | -4 |
| Rich Clune | L | 13:15 | 9 | 12 | -3 | +1 | -3 |
| Chris Mueller | C | 12:09 | 6 | 6 | 0 | -2 | +1 |
| Bobby Butler | R | 12:01 | 7 | 5 | +2 | -2 | +3 |
| Matt Halischuk | R | 15:30 | 8 | 20 | -12 | -1 | -12 |
| Kevin Henderson | L | 12:48 | 7 | 11 | -4 | -4 | -2 |
| Daniel Bang | L | 14:21 | 7 | 16 | -9 | +3 | -10 |
| Taylor Beck | L | 10:03 | 7 | 10 | -3 | -2 | -2 |
| Roman Josi | D | 24:34 | 15 | 22 | -7 | -4 | -5 |
| Victor Bartley | D | 16:55 | 11 | 22 | -11 | +1 | -11 |
| Sergei Kostitsyn | L | 12:55 | 6 | 18 | -12 | +3 | -13 |
| Hal Gill | D | 9:25 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 | -3 |