First Period:

The Blackhawks and Canadiens traded chances for much of the first period. The Canadiens had some good shots on Petr Mrazek, but he managed to stop them all. A bad misplay by Nikita Zaitsev almost cost them a goal, but Mrazek managed to stop the Canadiens’ Jake Evans with the pad right in front of the net. The Blackhawks would get the next great chance to score. MacKenzie Entwisle got a good shot on Cayden Primeau in close. The rebound was lying right in front of him, and Anthony Beauvillier put a backhander right past him. Unfortunately, Jayden Struble was right there to have the puck go off of him, as he took up the goal crease.

But, with just over three minutes left in the period, the Blackhawks would find twine. Connor Bedard skated into the offensive zone and stopped along the boards. He got the puck over to Ryan Donato, who wristed the puck past Primeau, 1–0 Blackhawks. The Blackhawks would go into the intermission with that slimmest of leads.

The UC was owed a goal and Ryan Donato delivered!#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/WVpW2kp8QI

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 23, 2023

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Second Period:

The second period took a few minutes to get started, but Colin Blackwell made sure it got going. He got the puck at center ice, deked a defender, and got the puck back to Jason Dickinson, who wristed the puck right past Primeau for a beautiful goal, 2–0 Blackhawks. This was Dickinson’s tenth goal, giving him a new career high.

Colin Blackwell makes it all happen and Jason Dickinson scores his 10th goal of the season, which is now a new career-high. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/OBlX1XnNY1

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 23, 2023

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Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, that is all the good that would come out of this game. Thirty-seven seconds later, the Canadiens won an offensive zone faceoff. The puck came back to Mike Matheson, who put the shot on net from the point. Mitchell Stephens was right in line with the shot to get the redirection, 2–1 Blackhawks. Then, with just under five minutes left in the period, things would get knotted up at two apiece. Sean Monahan got the puck from along the end boards out in front of the net. Josh Anderson was right there to put that puck past Mrazek and into the back of the net.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks weren’t done taking shots in the chin in this period. Nick Suzuki put a shot on net that got slowed down by bodies in front. The puck settled in front, where Juraj Slafkovsky put a backhander on net, making it 3–2 Montreal. Then, Tyler Johnson managed to get a redirection right on net on a beautiful chance out in front. Primeau stopped that opportunity, sending the game to the intermission with that same 3–2 Canadiens lead.

Third Period:

In the third, both teams would trade chances early on, without anything to show for it. Then, with seven minutes remaining in the frame, the Canadiens would strike again. Cole Caulfield got a shot on net, with Nick Suzuki cleaning up the rebound to make it 4–2 Montreal. The Canadiens looked like they had added to that lead, but somehow got that goal from Jake Evans called back due to offsides. The play appeared to be completely onsides based on an overhead angle that, but still wasn’t allowed. Montreal would pick up that fifth goal on an empty netter from David Savard, giving them the 5–2 victory.

Analysis:

The Blackhawks really seem to struggle in games giving away the puck way too many times. Even against the Avalanche, where they won the game, they still had more giveaways. In this game, some of those even came in dangerous areas that could have resulted in a much worse outcome. They also have not done a good job recently of taking care of the fundamentals, like winning faceoffs. Winning less than fifty percent of your draws is not a good recipe for success in the same manner as giveaways.

The Blackhawks are back in action against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. That game will be at 7:00 pm Central on NBC Sports Chicago.

The post RECAP: Blackhawks bounced into loss column, drop to Montreal appeared first on The Rink.

To set things off on the right foot, Seattle wing Jordan Eberle scored his first goal as a Kraken on a nifty zig-zag, odd-man rush just 1:02 into play. Just as his teammate cleared the path to Canadiens goalie Jake Allen, Eberle snapped a shot over Allen’s glove, which sent the home fans into a frenzy.

That lead lasted for 10 minutes, as Habs forward Mike Hoffman picked up a rebound in a goal-mouth scramble and buried it into the back of an open net for the visitors’ only goal of the night. This game was different. Kraken players were buzzing around the rink and were generally outskating Montreal.

As a result, the home team refused to let that Montreal goal discourage them. Kraken cult hero and goal-scoring leader Brandon Tanev grabbed the lead back four minutes later, which the hosts never relinquished. Tanev drove hard to the net while forward Jared McCann and defenseman Jamie Oleksiak set up a slick drop play. Oleksiak found Tanev’s open stick and Tanev pushed the pass past Allen in close quarters.

The teams headed into the first intermission with Seattle up 2–1 and leading in shots 11–9.

Seattle was buzzing in the second period as well. Center Yanni Gourde had a beautiful goal, then assisted on Tanev’s second of the night just two minutes apart before the game was half over. As it turned out, the Kraken were well on their way to a commanding win.

The bad news on the night was that Kraken wing Mason Appleton went down awkwardly along the boards when Canadiens defenseman Sami Niku fell on Appleton’s right leg toward the latter half of the second period. Appleton needed help off the rink and did not return.

Just for good measure, the Kraken added a third-period breakaway goal by Ryan Donato, but the damage was done. The Kraken outshot the visitors by a 26–24 margin to give their home fans a night to remember and celebrate.

Anchor points

The Kraken were much better at the faceoff dots, winning 60% after getting beaten pretty easily in the dot during their home opener. This showed in the possession numbers as well. The Kraken were over 50% in both Corsi and Fenwick metrics.

 Philipp Grubauer was very good in this game. His only goal against was a fluke that left Hoffman wide open. He saved 23 of 24 shots and made a couple of highlight-reel stops, including a splits save in the first period that temporarily kept the Canadiens off the scoreboard.

This Grubauer save hurts my groin pic.twitter.com/v6jzg7Tk0X

— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) October 27, 2021

 The Kraken have adjusted their shot focus to attack the slot area (as shown on this heat map) rather than their perimeter shots from early games.  

  All of the Kraken players, except three, were positive in 5-on-5 puck possession, led by Joonas Donskoi’s very nice 69%. Donato, Morgan Geekie and Riley Sheahan were the only players under water.

The Kraken are off today but right back at the grind Thursday, as they host the Minnesota Wild at Climate Pledge Arena. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PDT. 

The post RECAP: Kraken earn first-ever home win against the Canadiens appeared first on The Rink.

Instead, Bowman stepped into the now all-too-familiar “Bring Back” Machine and emerged with the little ball of hate known as Andrew Shaw. The price? The Montreal Canadiens receive a 2020 second round pick, a 2020 seventh round pick, a 2021 third rounder and the Hawks get Montreal’s 2021 seventh round pick.

We can debate until the cows come home whether the Hawks overpaid here. Most of our contributors at The-Rink, sort of like a Supreme Court majority opinion, do not care for the deal (one, in particular—think little guy with flowing beard and goalie stick—hates it). I suppose I am writing for the minority. I do not hate the deal; I do not love it. For me, it all comes down to context.

Is Shaw overpaid?

Depends on how you look at it. Artem Anisimov currently draws a $4.5 million annual salary from the Hawks, and I think you can make an argument that Shaw, at $3.9 million per, is a better value. Why bring Anisimov into it? Because I keep hearing, as do others, he is “out of it,” as in playing elsewhere (I’ve heard possibly Florida) soon after tomorrow or Tuesday. Is it guaranteed? No, but after the Hawks pay a significant roster bonus owed to Anisimov, he suddenly becomes more appealing to another team. He is definitely being shopped hard, and who knows, maybe the Hawks recoup a pick or two in that deal.

Does Shaw bring anything to the table?

He can play all three forward positions. And all situations, five-on-five, penalty kill and power play. He can be spotted anywhere from the second line to his more appropriate third or fourth line. Last year, he scored 19 goals and 28 assists in 63 games and was +17.

What’s the downside?

Shaw gonna Shaw. He takes dumb penalties at times and can be a bit of a distraction. I do not think this move will placate those who believe “the game has changed” to the point where it is more akin to the Ice Follies, but Shaw checks an important box: he brings nastiness and that elusive quality (for the Hawks of the last few seasons) of being tough to play against. But, he is going to kill you some nights with a bonehead move (think: Mike Smith, 2012 playoffs, first round).

It’s all about context

Shaw’s the kind of player you go out and get if you are looking for a little extra toughness and versatility—a complementary piece. So, if Bowman is “finished” for the summer (in terms of meaningful moves) with this acquisition, then it does not make as much sense. If he has another rabbit or two to pull from his hat, and the Hawks really do become a legitimate potential playoff team, then the addition makes some more sense.

All we have for now. Please comment below.

The post Blackhawks re-acquire Andrew Shaw from Montreal for draft picks appeared first on The Rink.

6:00pm CST

Centre Bell

TV/Radio: WGN

PROJECTED STARTERS

Chicago – Corey Crawford (11–15–2, SV%: .902, GAA: 3.18)

Montreal – Carey Price (29–21–5, SV%: .915, GAA: 2.58)

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play

Chicago (20.9%, 12th)

Montreal (12.1%, 31st)

Penalty Kill

Chicago (73.0%, 31st)

Montreal (80.5%, 17th)

Shorts for/against

Chicago (32.5, 12th; 34.9, 30th)

Montreal (33.5, 4th; 31.0, 12th)

Shooting %

Chicago (10.4%, 8th)

Montreal (8.8%, 23rd)

Faceoff %

Chicago (49.3%, 20th)

Montreal (48.8%, T23rd)

Avg. height/weight

Chicago 6’1”, 195lbs

Montreal 6’0” 195lbs

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS

Chicago Blackhawks

Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–Dylan Sikura

Dominik Kahun–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane

Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Brendan Perlini

Chris Kunitz–David Kampf–Marcus Kruger

Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson

Carl Dahlstrom–Connor Murphy

Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook

Montreal Canadiens

Tomas Tatar–Phillip Danault–Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen–Max Domi–Andrew Shaw

Jonathan Drouin–Jesperi Kotkaniemi–Joel Armia

Paul Byron–Nate Thompson–Jordan Weal

Victor Mete–Shea Weber

Brett Kulak–Jeff Petry

Jordie Benn–Christian Folin

Analysis

After nearly blowing a 5-0 lead in their last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Blackhawks travel east to Montreal to face the Canadiens. The Blackhawks played very well early against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, scoring four of their five goals in the first period. The star of the game was certainly Brendan Perlini, who continues to light the world on fire as he is fighting for a new contract next season. Perlini has five goals and two assists in his last five games, this also coming after his two goal performance against the Kings six games ago.

Every game down the stretch is important for the Blackhawks. Colorado’s loss last night would now allow the Blackhawks to jump the Avalanche in the standings with a win in Montreal. The Blackhawks would only be one point back of the Wild with a win, but still four points back of the red-hot Coyotes for the second wild card spot.

The Montreal Canadiens have been a pleasant surprise this year. After the trade of Alex Galchenyuk for Max Domi, many fans around the league wondered what the Canadiens were doing. The move paid off as Domi is currently the team’s leading scorer with 62 points. The Canadiens have been a very good team in every major statistic category and, with Carey Price returning to his old form, the team is in a position to make the playoffs in a deep Eastern Conference.

The Canadiens can move into a tie for the second wild card spot tonight with a win against the Blackhawks. Montreal currently sit two points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets, hoping for a chance to make the dance—when most people around the league wrote them off before the season ever began. A Canadiens win tonight would keep Montreal on the outside looking in due to Columbus having more regulation plus overtime wins.

One storyline to watch is Corey Crawford. Crawford has historically been dominant against his hometown team, so expect a solid game out of Crawford after he battled a 24-hour bug that saw him leave Wednesday’s game early.

Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com.

The post Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks at Canadiens appeared first on The Rink.

5:00pm CST, 6:00pm EST
United Center
TV/Radio: NHLN,NBCSCH/WGN

PROJECTED STARTERS

Chicago – Corey Crawford (5–13–1, SV%: .902, GAA: 3.22)
Montreal– Carey Price (10–8–4, SV%: .899, GAA: 2.96)

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play
Chicago (11.5%, 31st)
Montreal (14.1%, 29th)

Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.2%, 29th)
Montreal (78.3%, 18th)

Shorts for/against
Chicago (31.8,13th; 33.7, 26th)
Montreal (34.3, 4th; 30.7,10th)

Shooting %
Chicago (8.3%, 28th)
Montreal (9.1%, 20th)

Faceoff %
Chicago (50.0%,16th)
Montreal (46.9%, 30th)

Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
Montreal 6’0” 195lbs

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS

Chicago Blackhawks

Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–David Kampf
Dominik Kahun–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Alexandre Fortin
Andreas Martinsen–Marcus Kruger–John Hayden
Duncan Keith–Henri Jokiharju
Erik Gustafsson–Connor Murphy
Brandon Manning–Brent Seabrook

Montreal Canadiens

Jonathan Drouin–Max Domi–Andrew Shaw
Tomas Tatar–Phillip Danault–Brendan Gallagher
Paul Byron–Jesperi Kotkaniemi–Artturi Lehkonen
Kenny Agostino–Michael Chaput–Matthew Peca
Brett Kulak–Shea Weber
David Schlemko–Jeff Petry
Mike Reilly–Jordie Benn

Analysis

Chances are Chicago will be playing form behind tonight. The Blackhawks have surrendered the first goal in nine consecutive games. Even good teams would struggle always playing from behind.

Jonathan Toews currently holds a three-game point streak (2 goals, 1 assist). Toews also currently ranks third, in the league, in faceoff percentage at 58.2%. The captain has been one of the few bright spots this season.

Playing his first game of the year, Connor Murphy should be one to watch. The 25-year old defenseman is a welcome addition to a struggling defense, even if Murphy has been inconsistent in the past. A shakeup on the backend is definitely needed.

Montreal is 6–4–3 on the road this season. Max Domi, acquired from Arizona, leads the team in goals (13), assists (17) and points (30). The 23-year old already surpassed his goal total from last season (9).

Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com. 

The post Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks vs Canadiens appeared first on The Rink.

Alex DeBrincat – Jonathan Toews– Richard Panik
Brandon Saad – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp – Artem Anisimov – John Hayden
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – Ryan Hartman

Duncan Keith – Cody Franson
Jan Rutta – Brent Seabrook
Michal Kempny – Connor Murphy

The Chicago Blackhawks travelled home from Minnesota to meet the Montreal Canadiens, back at the United Center, for a Sunday night contest.  One thing was evidently clear, after the back-to-back shutout wins.  This team was relying too much on Corey Crawford.  As good as he is, this pace cannot last, and it didn’t last the full 60 minutes in this game.  The Canadiens were playing a very inexperienced goalie in fellow left handed goalie Charlie Lindgren and, like so many inexperienced goalies before him, the Blackhawks made him look like an All-Star.

Both teams had the offensive pressure turned up to a solid eight for the first half of the opening period.  The Canadiens goaltender looked really comfortable and calm in net, saving all 14 shots he saw.  Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford was showing no ill effects from playing back to back days, either, making nine saves of his own.

The Blackhawks had the first powerplay of the night, shortly after the midway point of the first period, but were not able to register much more than a blip on the radar.  They also finished the first period with 14.6 seconds of powerplay time, which was hardly enough to really generate anything.  As a result, the first period ended scoreless.

The second period opened with the Blackhawks finishing the remainder of the powerplay they were awarded late in the first period.  Once again, they failed to register much more than a minor blip on the radar.  This was a common theme throughout the game, with the Blackhawks going 0-3, overall.

As play went on in the second, the Hawks dominated in shots on net, leading 14-6 late in the period.  Luckily for the Blackhawks, the Canadiens were also not able to muster up enough pressure on their two late powerplays to break the scoreless tie, generating only two shots on net in the process.

Just two minutes into the third period, the duo of Michael Kempny and Connor Murphy had what you might call an “adventurous” shift.  Said shift ended with Jonathan Drouin cutting around the Blackhawks defender Murphy, and beating Crawford cleanly, to take a 1-0 lead.

Just a few minutes later, Connor Murphy was, once again, at the center of a scoring play against.  Murphy was slow to play the puck deep in his own end and turned it over.  Canadiens defenseman Joe Morrow ended up with the puck and sent a shot through an Andrew Shaw screen for a 2-0 Habs lead.

That was pretty much “all she wrote” for the Blackhawks, in this game.  They pulled their goalie and had the expected amount of pressure, but were not able to solve the young Montreal goaltender.  As the final horn sounded, Lindgren had shutout the Hawks with a 38 save performance, while Corey Crawford’s shutout streak and winning streak came to an abrupt end.

Pluses

• Cody Franson played solid, once again.  His contribution on the powerplay, alone, should keep him in the lineup.  That is all logic though, and logic doesn’t always win with Joel Quenneville
• The Blackhawks showed some rare physicality with Brandon Saad taking a kamikaze path to the net in the second period, and the duo of Seabrook/Wingels taking on 6’6” man mountain Michael McCarron.

Minuses

• Looks to me like Ryan Hartman has a case of the “Half-ass Flu.”  I watched him make several less than 100% style efforts for lose pucks, and just floated around much of the night.
• If anyone on defense has played subpar enough to sit, it has been Connor Murphy.  He had a rough night, especially back-to-back-to-back bad shifts in the third period which resulted in two goals against.  I want to love this guy, but he is making it very hard.
• Lefty goalies always seem to cross up the Hawks forwards, and this game was no exception.  Charlie Lindgren stymied the Blackhawks all night but, honestly, it didn’t seem like he had 38 shots on him.
• Nick Schmaltz and Tommy Wingels had rough nights at the dots, each losing five of seven draws.  Hell, even Artem Anisimov was better than 50% at the dots.
• Lance Bouma played a team low 9:03, which might be some foreshadowing for a Tanner Kero appearance in the near future.

Tweet to Gatekeeper

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