Observations From Section 321 : Thorn In My Side, Pain In My Ass

The Ducks have the Blackhawks number this season, as they completed the season sweep Friday night. I am still not completely sold on the Ducks. They have two really tough lines but I don’t think they have the depth to make a deep run into the playoffs. I would like to get a crack at these guys in the Western Conference Finals and have to the chance to beat them when it really counts.

Corey Perry broke the scoreless tie early in the 2nd period. Brandon Saad failed to get the puck deep at his own blue line and Perry was left with plenty of room to snap a wrist shot past Ray Emery. Getting a body on Perry seemed to be a problem the entire game.

The Hawks were able to tie the game with a Patrick Kane power play goal at 2:26 of the 3rd period. That’s right, I said a power play goal. Kaner was given room at the right faceoff dot and was able to snipe the puck past Jonas Hiller for his 18th goal of the season. 88 is absolutely deadly from that spot of the ice and am shocked that he is allowed as much space as he gets some nights. Duncan Keith and Marcus Kruger picked up assists on the play. I was very happy to see Frogger get an apple on the power play.

The Blackhawks were victimized by another late 3rd period goal, this time from the corpse of Shedlon Souray. While the Hawks were having problems getting the puck out of their zone Souray fired a heavy slot shot from the point. The puck deflected off of the stick of Niklas Hjalmarsson and Emery had no shot at the puck.

*The Hawks power play reminds of vomiting in my own hat. Yes, they scored last night but they also should have given up 2 or 3 shorthanded goals too. Too many goddamn passes last night. They have to find a way to get more pucks to the net. And what was with Kane on the point? I wouldn’t exactly say he has an Al Iafrate type slap shot.

Blackhawks Corsi Numbers

Ducks Corsi numbers