Recap: Blackhawks at Golden Knights 5-2 Loss

  

The Blackhawks lose their 7th game in a row and their season record is now below .500.

After losing an embarrassing game to the Arizona Coyotes Monday night, the Blackhawks traveled to Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights 24 hours later.  The lines continued to be shaken up as head coach Joel Quenneville sat Anthony Duclair and Vinnie Hinostroza for Patrick Sharp and Ryan HartmanCarl Dahlstrom started the game on the 1st defensive pairing with Duncan Keith in just his second NHL game.  The ‘Hawks seemed like they came out with more of a purpose tonight, wanting to reverse a bad streak of losses.

It was noticeable the Hawks knew they were going up against one of the top teams in the West.  They were heavy on the forecheck and were really skating with the Knights all night.  At least until the third period when the wheels came off the wagon, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

In the first period, the Blackhawks took advantage of an early power play when Tommy Wingels scored on a tipped Erik Gustafsson shot from the point.  Wingels started the game on the first line with Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews and has been rewarded with power play time for his efforts.  He certainly cashed in on the opportunity.  But just minutes later, the Golden Knights’ Ryan Carpenter stuffed in a shot from behind the net that tied the game at one.  The Hawks were lucky to get out of the period tied because they had three minor penalties in the first alone.

In the second period, Tommy Wingels almost had another chance to score but Marc-Andre Fleury came out to challenge him and knocked the puck away.  Later in the period, Patrick Sharp was awarded a penalty shot because Fleury pushed a loose stick in his direction which is illegal.  Sharp however missed on the shot.  The only goal in the period was from the stick of rookie Alex DeBrincat who scored his 21st of the season on a one-time shot from the slot.

The Hawks started the third period on the penalty kill but couldn’t stop the Knights when Brad Hunt scored on a long point shot.  Two minutes later Riley Smith scored on the second shot in the period, then another two minutes later David Perron scored on the third shot of the period.  The Blackhawks pulled their goalie with three minutes left in the 3rd but Tomas Nosek put the game away with an empty net goal.

The Blackhawks ended the game being out-shot by the Golden Knights 37 to 31.  Jeff Glass wasn’t the best tonight, but I don’t think a cold Anton Forsberg could’ve saved this one either.  The Hawks let up a lot off odd-man rushes and a couple soft goals were let in.  It’s just disappointing that the Hawks went into the 3rd period up 2-1 and just laid an egg.

If you had to take away some positives from this game, you have to start with Alex DeBrincat.  This kid is throwing everything at the net and finding success.  Tommy Wingels was also noticeable with a goal tonight and a lot of good chances.

You have to wonder what the Hawks have to do to get out of this funk.  They have less than a 2% chance of making the playoffs, they have lost seven games in a row, and seem to be in a free fall of sorts.  Do they need to make a coaching change?  Do they need to make a big trade?  Do players need to be benched or given less minutes?  There are a lot of questions that need to be answered as we near this year’s trade deadline, but there’s no doubt something drastic needs to happen.  The number of under-achieving players on this team is unacceptable and seems to be a theme.  This team has packed it in.

 

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Center Ice Forums Recap: Blackhawks at Golden Knights 5-2 Loss

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  • #4971
    Aaron Goldschmidt
    Participant

    The Blackhawks lose their 7th game in a row and their season record is now below .500. After losing an embarrassing game to the Arizona Coyotes Monday
    [To continue reading full article, click here: Recap: Blackhawks at Golden Knights 5-2 Loss]

    #4972
    Matthew Paulish
    Participant

    Ever been on a team where you had to play perfect just to hope to get a tie ? Thats what the Blckhawks are now with their less than capable below average goaltending.
    The guys in the room cant compete wont compete with these 2 AHLers in net.
    The organization has 0 goalie philosophy. The Blackhawks are no good at drafting or trading for goalies. Goalies matter. Especially with this swiss cheese defense.

    Ballys moves before the deadline :
    Trade Keith based off of salary and what could be a haul.
    Trade AA
    LTIR Crawford and make room for a bad contract from another team that needs to clear some space at the cost of a 1st rounder.
    Think ANYONE would take Seabrook at 50% ? Doubt it.
    Have a good day fellas .

    #4976
    kevin
    Participant

    This Team Turn’s the puck over at alarming rate at least the last month or 2.  Goaltending is getting worse not better.   the only 3 prospects of Note that are close to the NHL are Hayden (4th liner) forsling 5th D due to his speed and size being small and Avg speed.   And Sikura who seems to be not 100% committed to signing which would be another hit.

    Play Forsberg and see if he is a NHL backup or Backup +

    Trade wingels and resign in the off season as the 12-13 forward.

    I still think we need to get a good draft pick (Hope if a top pairing or top line player) get younger. Kieth and AA have not been good and to think at 30-35 they are going to be better is not going to happen.   the only 2 guys that could have bounce back years IMO are Teows (been terrible and stop doing Yoga and eating plants and regain some strength)  and SAAD his worst year since he was 19 but only 24..   I love the fact that they blame everything on Turnover now!  They just go blown out by a 100% turnover team.   The core is Avg and getting worse and seems to give min effort.    I’m fine not being as good next year if we move a few more core and get younger.    We are winning nothing with the 6 30+ core guys we need to try and get Younger and hope we find something we some of the young guys.  We need more speed and more net presence as well.   SAAD, DUKE,HAYDEN,HART need to understand that.

     

     

    #4977
    kevin
    Participant

    So assuming we move a few forwards out what about bringing up Tyler sikura? let him play on the 4th line.  He has played well as of late would probably mean allot to Sikura family. He would make more money.  Would be tough for Dylan to turn down a chance to play with his brother.  Wingels should be traded and Sharp and Bouma as well if you can or send them to rockford after the trade deadline. Sharp does not have to go.  IE ROZ and TOOTOO.

    #4978
    Seymour
    Participant

    Wow – this season can’t end quick enough.  I don’t see Q surviving a prolonged losing streak – even if it means letting him go at the end of the season.  There’s plenty of blame to go around and the autopsy can begin later.  I’d like to see the kids play a lot more just to see what’s there.

    That said, I can’t remember a team with so many “veterans/core” guys on it that can’t finish or at least steady the ship.  I understand that the goaltending is AHL at best, but the wheels don’t just start shaking when they get scored on, they come flying off.

    It truly does appear that this team has quit on the coach and the system.  We’ve been lucky to watch 10 years of outstanding Hawk hockey.  Unfortunately, looking at what is currently there both on the big club and the Rock – and looking at the division competition alone?  we are headed for some tough times.

    #4979
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    @Matthew… I like the idea of LTIR Crawford and trying to do something with that cap space like taking on an expiring expensive contract + pick from a team that needs to clear cap space right now. I also like the idea of trading AA if the return is right. Either way, they’re going to have to get creative. It’s too late to keep guys around because they do ‘some’ things well. Everyone should be on the table, and if the return makes it worth it, let them go.

    #4980
    Seymour
    Participant

    [quote quote=4979]@Matthew… I like the idea of LTIR Crawford and trying to do something with that cap space like taking on an expiring expensive contract + pick from a team that needs to clear cap space right now. I also like the idea of trading AA if the return is right. Either way, they’re going to have to get creative. It’s too late to keep guys around because they do ‘some’ things well. Everyone should be on the table, and if the return makes it worth it, let them go.

    [/quote]

    AA has a locked in NMC for this year.  Starting in July he has a modified.  If he’s willing to waive it for this year, I would be all for it – for some picks.  That leaves Toews/Schmaltz/Kampf/? Pretty bare in the middle.

    I like the idea of LTIR for CC as well.  Why bring him back if you’re already playing for lottery picks at this point?

    #4981
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    brutal third period but otherwise an ok game. better than the past week anyway.

    #5001
    jr_howie
    Participant

    I’m not sure I follow the rationale. We trade Keith, Seabrook (eat money), fire Coach Q. How do these moves make us better moving forward. These thoughts are based on cap space, but you still need to ice quality hockey players/minds. These are still very good hockey players & hockey minds. Are the days of never making the playoffs so far in the past that you want to “tear the playhouse down”. Do you remember the Chelios trade? We got nothing for him and he played FOREVER afterwards. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR !

     

    Go HAWKS

    #5008
    Seymour
    Participant

    [quote quote=5001]I’m not sure I follow the rationale. We trade Keith, Seabrook (eat money), fire Coach Q. How do these moves make us better moving forward. These thoughts are based on cap space, but you still need to ice quality hockey players/minds. These are still very good hockey players & hockey minds. Are the days of never making the playoffs so far in the past that you want to “tear the playhouse down”. Do you remember the Chelios trade? We got nothing for him and he played FOREVER afterwards. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR ! Go HAWKS

    [/quote]

    I don’t know how Q survives this season.  They could very easily see a 10 game or longer? losing streak.  The “system” doesn’t seem to be working.  There’s a disconnect between Stan and Q.  That was masked by winning, but seeing Trevor Daley shown the door? Rundblad kept in the lineup?  Something is off and it appears that the team now is not ‘buying in’.  Why try to continue shoving a square peg in a round hole?

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