Reeling from 3 consecutive losses, the Blackhawks returned home to the United Center Sunday night to face the Calgary Flames. The obvious question in this affair would be whether the Hawks could finally notch a win and break their tailspin. And more specifically, could Chicago avoid the same horrible start that had plagued them for the last several contests versus a high-scoring Calgary team.
Corey Crawford and old nemesis Mike Smith faced off in between the pipes. Alleged defenseman Erik Gustafsson was a notable scratch for the Blackhawks.
BLACKHAWK LINES AND PAIRINGS
Brendan Perlini – Jonathan Toews – Brandon Saad
Dominik Kahun – David Kampf – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – Dylan Strome – Alex Fortin
Marcus Kruger – Artem Anisimov – Chris Kunitz
Duncan Keith – Henri Jokiharju
Brandon Manning – Brent Seabrook
FIRST PERIOD
Calgary launched the game’s first 4 shots before Chris Kunitz took a slashing penalty at 2:49. Aided by a brilliant save from Corey Crawford on Flame defenseman Elias Lindholm, Chicago was able to kill the penalty off.
Patrick Kane got in alone on Calgary goalie Mike Smith at 7:40 and took the Hawks’ first shot—to 9 from Calgary at that point—which Smith turned away.
Seemingly inevitably, the Flames lit the lamp at 10:07, with Sean Monahan picking up a rebound at the side of the Hawk net and putting it past Crawford. 1-0 Calgary.
However, at 11:33, Hawk captain Jonathan Toews jumped a pass at the Hawk blue line and powered his way all the way in on Smith, evening the score at 1-1.
The Hawks got their first power play at 14:57, but struggled to even establish possession in the Calgary end, continuing season long futility, that had become particularly acute, registering 0 goals in the previous 6 games. The power play ended with zero shots on goal.
The Hawks almost took the lead at the final horn in the first, when Brandon Saad had a chance on the doorstep that caught the crossbar. Several outstanding Crawford saves kept the game tied, although Calgary outshot the Hawks 18-6 in the period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Hawks got a power play at 00:48 which proved as futile as their first man-advantage.
The game settled in to a predicable ebb and flow until 12:52, when Kunitz earned a major penalty with a dirty hit on Calgary’s Travis Hamonic. The penalty did nothing to help the Hawks, and left Chicago having to kill off a 5 minute power play. Early on in the power play, a Lindholm shot was close enough to crossing the goal line to trigger a War Room replay—leading to a Calgary goal. 2-1, Flames at 7:45.
And the power play continued and, sure enough, Derek Ryan beat Crawford, who was screened in front, at 8:44. 3-1, Calgary. That would be all the damage from Kunitz’ dumb penalty.
The Hawks had a few good chances at around 12:40, including an Alex DeBrincat breakaway, but could not solve Smith.
The game got progressively more chippy throughout the second, culminating in a major scrum in Crawford’s crease at 14:35, which in turn led to another Hawk power play. On the man advantage, DeBrincat set up Dylan Strome for a gorgeous backhander off the break at 16:45. 3-2 Flames. There seems to be some chemistry between Strome and former junior linemate DeBrincat.
The Hawks finished the period on yet another power play incurred at 19:02, but failed to convert. Shots were 11-10 Calgary, as the Hawks came on toward the end of the period.
THIRD PERIOD
The Hawks opened the third still on the power play. Patrick Kane had a nice chance at 00:37 that Smith swallowed up.
Brandon Manning and Garnet Hathaway squared off at 4:22. Call it a draw. Gustav Forsling took a delay penalty at 5:01, joining fellow defenseman Manning in the box. But the Hawks were able to kill off Forsling’s minor and get back to even strength.
Then Jan Rutta took a a bad tripping minor at 8:44, putting Calgary back on the power play, which the Hawks killed.
The Hawks began to really dominate action from about the 14:00 point on, with several grade A chances, but too many missed nets.
Corey Crawford was pulled for the extra attacker at about the 18:00 mark, but went back in for a neutral zone faceoff at 18:42. Crawford could not get back off until about 40 seconds left. The Hawks mounted some pressure at the end but the final horn blared with the Flames the winners.
Final shots were 40-25 Calgary.
The Good.
Crawford was mostly stellar and, as usual, had to face a barrage of shots much of the night. Strome and DeBrincat generated a fair amount of chances. I also thought, other than the third period tripping penalty, Jan Rutta had a decent game, seeming to realize that responsible and physical play may keep him in the lineup.
The Bad
The Hawks again started slow, outshot 9-0 before their first shot on goal. Fortunately, it only resulted in one goal for the opponent.
The Ugly.
If Gustafsson’s benching is any indication of coaching staff dissatisfaction (and it should be), then Kunitz needs a long trip to the press box for his penalties tonight, especially the second.
It was a better outing for the Hawks, but not good enough versus a solid Flames team. Some positives, but still a day late and a dollar short, and Kunitz’ bonehead move may have cost them the game. Comment below.