Much like the weather outside back here in Chicago, what transpired inside Nationwide Arena tonight certainly wasn’t pretty. But, similarly both yielded positive results, with the Hawks coming away with two points and many among us not having to go into our respective places of businesses tomorrow. With 11 goals scored, I don’t necessarily have the inclination to give a blow-by-blow recap, so let’s just get to the bullets, shall we?
Observations
- Columbus’ four goals against were two blown coverages spanning two shitty clearing attempts in between. I keep hoping they’re going to learn, that eventually with every passing milepost the light will flip on and the turning point will happen, but it wasn’t tonight.
- On that note, rough night for Nick Boynton, no? Once again we’re left wondering upward at the biblical conditions in the air as to what he possibly brings over Jordan Hendry, or what Hendry has done to get himself scratched. Few would have thought it possible, but Matt Calvert’s goal outside-inning Boynton at the end actually made him look more ridiculous than having a puck go into his own net off his face.
- Fresh off his All Star MVP performance, Patrick Sharp returned to form with a -3. Way to be interested in your own zone there Sharpie.
- Not all was icky, though. Jonathan Toews grabbed the team by the scrotum after the timeout in the second, and willed the team to a lead. His shorty was a thing of beauty going around the unfortunately named Grant Clitsome (got only knows what he gets called by the opposition). Good show, Captain.
- The PK was 5 for 5, and is now 22 for 24 in the last 8 games, including a big 5 on 3 with Toews and Hammer in the box. Granted, it’s in Columbus, but it seems that the kill is picking things up, and it’s likely attributable to Mike Haviland resuming his duties on that unit. Enjoy it now, as Haviland will likely be at the top of many lists once heads behind benches roll in April.
- In spite of the first goal, Marty Turco was very very solid otherwise tonight. Two of the goals (Brassard’s and Calvert’s) came as a result of top flight moves, and Pahlsson’s went off Boynton’s face. Turcs made no bigger save than the one on Jakub Voracek as he left the box and broke in alone when the game was tied at 3. It kept his team in the game, and that’s all that was asked of him here.
- I’m very rarely an advocate of fighting after a clean hit, but credit Troy Brouwer for doing it the right way. He took Marc Methot’s number and got him on the next shift with a solid check of his own, and it was Methot who initiated the scrap, where Brouwer properly removed his shield before tangling.
- Plain and simple, this type of play is going to get the Hawks bent over something and split open on Friday in Vancouver. The D has to be tightened up, and something has to be done about Sharp and The Slovaks’ zone coverage.
Player of the Game
As if there was any other option?