Blackhawks Roll But Lose Crawford.

The opening period would begin with a bang but end with a buzzkill. Tomas Kopecky took a run at Niklas Hjalmarsson, for some odd reason, as was called for interference just 57 seconds into the game. The Blackhawks gained possession after the ensuing the faceoff, cycled the puck and Patrick ripped a one timer from the blue line with Andrew Shaw screening Scott Clemmensen. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane assisted Sharp’s 12th goal of the season. The Blackhawks would score on the first half of a double minor penalty about eight minutes later to increase their lead to 2-0. Brent Seabrook noticed everyone in white was on the left side of the ice so he came down to the right circle where Brandon Saad hit him with a nice cross ice pass. Seabrook boomed a heavy shot from the dot that blew past Clemmensen’s glove hand. Marian Hossa got the secondary assist on Seabrook’s second goal of the season. The buzz of a two goal lead was shortly killed after Corey Crawford came up lame after making a save. Crow had to be helped off the ice and would not return to the game. Antti Raanta would get tested right away as the Panthers would get 3:53 in a row of power play time but the Hawks would kill off both penalties.

The 2nd period got off to an even faster start than the opening frame as Marian Hossa increased the Hawks lead to 3-0 just 37 seconds in. Jonathan Toews made a nice outlet pass to spring Patrick Sharp and Hossa on a 2 on 1. Sharp took the shot and was stopped but Hossa skated right to the net to tip in the rebound for his 13th goal of the season. The Panthers would get back into the game with two goals of their own. Dylan Olsen scored after some sloppy play by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya, who ended up screening his own goalie. Five and half minutes later Raanta would try and pass the puck up the boards but it was intercepted and blasted past him by Marcel Goc. The Hawks would get one of those goals back with just 2:34 left in the period. Michal Handzus was in front of the net to clean up the mess from a Seabrook blast from the blue line. Patrick Kane picked up the secondary assist on Handzus’ second goal of the year.

The Hawks would regain their three goal lead with their third power play goal of the night 2:44 into the final period. The play was nearly a replay from their first goal except this time Andrew Shaw deflected Sharp’s shot past Clemmensen. Patrick Kane also picked up his 3rd assist of the night on Shaw’s 9th goal of the year. Brandon Saad would add his 9th goal of the season with breakaway tally in the final minute of the game. Jeremy Morin and Kris Versteeg, who started the play with a great pass while taking a big hit, assisted on the play.

* Jeremy Morin had an assist and four shots on goal in just 11 shifts.  What’s this kid got to do to get more ice time?

* You think Patrick Kane is on a mission this year?

* Good to “Red Wedding” line score a 5 on 5 goal.

* Brandon Saad had a season low 11:17 of ice time, which is over five minutes less than his season average.  Not sure what this was about but I sure hope this isn’t a trend.

Player of the Game

Photo credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY

Patrick Sharp put up a goal and two assists tonight.  For some reason the Panthers’ penalty killers thought it would be a good idea to give Sharp a ton of room at the point, not once, but twice and he killed them both times.  Sharp likes to score in bunches and with a possible messy goalie situation on our hands, scoring is very good right now.