Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Sean Fitzgerald, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard and Jimmy O’Malley discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Honest recaps of this miserable season.

Thoughts on Frank Nazar.

Ethan Del Mastro makes his NHL debut as well.

A special segment where we welcome Ford Hatchett from ABC15-Phoenix to discuss the sale of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the X right here:

#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 8, Episode 17 – Hawks in Review and The Sale of the Coyotes https://t.co/1WO6BJswFS

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) April 19, 2024

Subscribe, rate this episode, share it with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 17 – The Blackhawks (and Coyotes) Bitter End appeared first on The Rink.

First period

The Coyotes struck first when Clayton Keller scored his 24th of the season at 6:09 of the opening frame. With both teams playing four aside, Arizona won an offensive zone draw and kept the puck in. Keller took a pass from former Blackhawk forward Nick Schmaltz and fired a wrist shot from near the top of the left circle to give the Coyotes a 1–0 lead. Arizona would take the lead into the locker room after 20 minutes.

Second period

Arizona wasted no time to increase their lead to 2–0. Just 11 seconds into the period, Keller scored his second of the game and 25th of the season. Arizona won the opening draw and entered into the Hawks’ zone. Schmaltz passed the puck from the half boards to Keller, who skated in alone and scored.

Connor Bedard cut the deficit to 2–1 with his 18th of the season. Bedard retrieved the puck behind the net and banked it in off an Arizona defender and into the net at 5:28 of the second.

BEDSY MAKES IT HAPPEN pic.twitter.com/30fLsMnc6w

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 10, 2024

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Chicago tied it at 2–2 on Colin Blackwell’s sixth of the season. Jason Dickinson fed Alex Vlasic at the point, who fired a shot that was stopped by Ingram, but Blackwell swept in the rebound from the crease at the 6:57 mark.

COLIN BLACKWELL LET’S GO pic.twitter.com/3SWd9hv25m

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 10, 2024

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The Hawks took their first lead of the game on Bedard’s 19th of the season at 10:05 while on a two-man advantage. Philipp Kurashev dished to Bedard in the left circle then Bedard toe-dragged into the slot and fired a shot top shelf and into the net to give Chicago a 3–2 lead.

GO OFF CONNOR pic.twitter.com/3SppVBimsS

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 10, 2024

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With 6:03 left in the period, Dylan Guenther tied it at 3–3 with his ninth of the season at 13:57. Victor Soderstrom skated in and shot one over the net but the puck took a fortunate bounce in front and Guenther buried it past Soderblom, who was out of position.

The Hawks took a 4–3 lead on a Tyler Johnson power play goal. Nick Foligno won the face-off back to Seth Jones, who passed to Bedard, who skated toward the top of the left circle and fired a back-door pass to a wide-open Johnson, who one-timed it for the goal. For Johnson, the goal was his 14th of the season at 17:50 to cap a wild second period.

TJ POWER PLAY GOAL pic.twitter.com/hzMVYsh4l0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 10, 2024

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Third period

Chicago extended its lead to 5–3 on Blackwell’s second of the game and seventh of the season. Jones pinched in and took a shot from the left circle, which was stopped, but Blackwell was there again on the doorstep to pounce on the rebound just 33 seconds into the third.

TWO GOAL NIGHT FOR COLIN pic.twitter.com/bqDUqfmNtb

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 11, 2024

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Schmaltz cut the deficit to 5–4 with his 19th of the season at 6:49. The Coyotes generated several strong chances that Soderblom stopped, but the Hawks were unable to clear it and a rebound went to the right of Soderblom onto the stick of Schmaltz, who fired it in.

The scoring continued when Ryan Donato scored his eighth of the season at the 7:59 mark. A neutral-zone turnover sent Donato in and he fired a wrist shot from the left face-off dot over the right shoulder of Ingram to give Chicago a 6–4 lead.

It’s not delivery, it’s DONATO pic.twitter.com/sYJFPiDOYH

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 11, 2024

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With 2:36 left, Blackwell completed the hat trick, which was his eighth of the season. With the Arizona net empty, the Hawks chipped it out and Blackwell pounced on a loose puck and skated in and fired it into the open cage to give the Hawks a 7–4 lead, which was the final.

FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK FOR COLIN BLACKWELL pic.twitter.com/ifpaEGt3L3

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 11, 2024

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Analysis

It was a strong bounce-back performance by the Blackhawks, despite a slow start in the first. After trailing 1–0 after one, the Hawks potted seven goals in the final 40 minutes. Full marks also go to Soderblom, who made some big-time saves when the game was close. The Hawks’ four-game homestand resumes on Tuesday night when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Windy City. Puck drop is at the United Center at 7:30 p.m. CDT on NBCSCH with the radio call on 720 AM WGN.

Slaggert signs

Before the game, the Blackhawks signed Notre Dame forward Landon Slaggert to a two-year entry-level deal that runs through the 2024–25 season at a $912,500 salary cap hit.

The 21-year-old, who was also the team’s captain, played 36 games this season and posted career highs in goals (20) and points (31). Slaggert led the team in goals and finished 12th in the NCAA.

The 6-foot, 190-pound native of South Bend, Indiana, was drafted by the Hawks in third round (79th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. His signing follows the conclusion of Notre Dame’s season, which came after the Fighting Irish lost 4–3 on Saturday night against the Michigan Wolverines, who swept their best-of-three Big Ten Postseason Tournament quarterfinals series in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While not official, the expectation is Slaggert will join the Blackhawks this week for practice and potentially make his debut shortly thereafter.

The post RECAP: Blackwell and Bedard lead Hawks past Coyotes 7–4, Slaggert signs appeared first on The Rink.

Let’s look at the victorious lineup:

#Blackhawks lineup vs. Coyotes:
Foligno-Bedard-Kurashev
Blackwell-Dickinson-Anderson
Beauvillier-T. Johnson-Raddysh
Donato-Sanford-Entwistle

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Tinordi-Phillips

Söderblom
Mrazek

Extras: R. Johnson, Katchouk, Crevier

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 6, 2024

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The Blackhawks added Zach Sanford and Isaak Phillips to the lineup.

First period

In the first period, Connor Bedard took another big hit, this time from Matt Dumba. Bedard was able to shake it off and continue playing. Seth Jones got the team on the board with a power play goal.

Seth Jones scores on a 5-on-3 power play after his shot went off an Arizona player and in. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Ujcxt9mqAo

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 6, 2024

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The first period ended with the Blackhawks holding a 1–0 lead.

Second period

In the second, the Coyotes tied the game with a blast from Nick Bjugstad. The Hawks re-took the lead on the power play. Bedard caught the Yotes off guard with a pass to Nick Foligno for the goal.

Connor Bedard to Nick Foligno, and Chicago scores its second power-play goal of the game. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/d8NqWRrHUH

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 6, 2024

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Soderblom had one of this best saves of the season before Arizona was able to tie the game.  Michael Carcone tied the game for Arizona with shot past Soderblom. The Hawks answered with another power play goal, this time from Jason Dickinson.

Kevin Korchinski connects with Jason Dickinson, who scores Chicago’s third power-play goal of the game. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/BcypXB7liD

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 6, 2024

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Korchinski had a great pass to Dickinson for the goal. After the Dickinson goal, the Hawks were not done scoring. On their fourth power play, the Hawks got a goal from Philipp Kurashev.

Philipp Kurashev scores Chicago’s FOURTH power-play goal of the game. Wow. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/8pz2WWnPmi

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 6, 2024

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The period ended with Hawks up 4–2.

Third period

The third period had the Hawks fend off the Yotes’ push and Jones potted an empty-net goal to end the game.

Analysis

The Hawks needed this victory against Arizona. After two awful performances, the young players on the Blackhawks needed a victory to feel good about.

Bedard recorded two assists to get back on the score sheet. Korchinski, who has had an extremely rough time as of late, needed a confidence boast and got one with his assist on the Dickinson goal.

The player who needed this game the most was Soderblom. Soderblom has endured a challenging season and has not been able to make even the routine saves at times. Tuesday was a reflection of the promise he showed last season. Hopefully, this win gets his game trending in the right direction.

The Blackhawks’ next contest is the Washington Capitals on Saturday at 6 p.m. CST.

The post RECAP: Blackhawks finally win a road game, defeat Arizona 5–2 appeared first on The Rink.

First period

The first half of the first period looked promising for the Colorado Avalanche. A goal from Ross Colton four minutes into the game gave them the momentum. Colton was assisted by Miles Wood and Bowen Byram on the play.

To infinity and beyond!

Woody Buzz #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/XezO1a7jqo

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 18, 2024

Only three minutes later, an Arizona goal from Matt Dumba weakened their momentum. Former Avalanche forward, Alexander Kerfoot, and Jack McBain picked up the assist.

Dumba with the ripper! https://t.co/YJa2uFs0ny pic.twitter.com/hecv7dabhN

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 18, 2024

Collecting his 20th goal of the season, Matias Maccelli and J.J. Moser assisted Lawson Crouse. The Coyotes outshot the Avalanche 7–15 to give them the lead heading into the second.

100 goals for the Sheriff! https://t.co/YP0SQM7RON pic.twitter.com/xVrJ4nxQUT

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 18, 2024

Second period

Jack Johnson opened the second period with a goal with help from Ryan Johansen. This goal marks Johnson’s third of the season and Johansen’s ninth assist.

All tied up!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/WhcyB3kXPl

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 19, 2024

The Coyotes responded soon after with a goal from Logan Cooley. Maccelli and Dumba both picked up points on this play as well, allowing them a multi-point night.

COOLEY, WHAT A SNIPE https://t.co/djE3NFuwys pic.twitter.com/K8AWVJKZmH

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 19, 2024

Just seconds later, Nathan MacKinnon found the back of the net after a pass from Byram and Johnson. Arizona tried challenging this goal but failed and allowed the Avalanche a power play.

With this goal, MacKinnon extends his home-point streak to 26 games. He also passes Bobby Orr for the second-longest season-opening home point streak. He now sits behind Wayne Gretzky.

Also on this goal, Johnson gained his second point of the night. This marks his third multi-point game of the season.

Nate the great!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/7V2Ppu6INX

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 19, 2024

Third period

The second challenge of the night came after a goal from Kerfoot. After reviewing the play, the referees determined that the goal was offside and overturned it. Moments later, a Colorado goal from Jonathan Drouin was also offsides and overturned.

With six minutes remaining in regulation, Devon Toews ripped one past Arizona goaltender, Karel Vejmelka. Drouin and MacKinnon both tallied assists.

Alexander George held his own in the final two minutes of play while Arizona played with an empty net. He had multiple huge saves after Artturi Lehkonen spent the last minute in the penalty box.

Takeaways

Following a six-game road trip, where the team struggled, a few games at home are exactly what the Avalanche needs. The Avalanche now have 21 home wins this season which is good for first in the league.

The Avalanche are back at home in Ball Arena Tuesday night to face off against the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver currently sits at No.1 in the league with a record of 37-13-6 and 80 points so far.

The post MacKinnon extends point streak amid challenges appeared first on The Rink.

This is the third matchup between the two teams this season, the most recent being just before the holiday hiatus on Dec. 23, where they secured a 4–1 victory.

This time around, Colorado came ready to play and looking to secure its third straight win, but five unanswered goals did not go unpunished. Ultimately, the team fumbled the first of a two-game road trip with a 5–4 overtime loss.

First period

Right off the bat, Josh Manson and Arizona’s Jason Zucker were both awarded two-minute penalties for roughing. Neither team could score, and they spent the next 15 minutes engaged in a goalie battle.

Until Zucker was sent to the box for slashing Ross Colton, it did not appear either team could overcome the defensive block. Mikko Rantanen broke the stalemate on the power play, putting the Avalanche ahead by one. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar assisted the goal and MacKinnon’s contribution extended his point streak to 19.

Raise your hand if you want more Mikko goals! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/tY8AWINP2B

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

Second period

A source of criticism is Colorado’s performance during the second period. An inability to put the puck in the net coupled with allowing an opponent to close the goal margin has been a large contributor to many of the losses this season.

In the last meeting between the Coyotes and the Avalanche, Colorado worked through this setback and scored the only goals of the period, marking their fourth unanswered goal of the game.

Like déjà vu, the Avalanche had a suspiciously mirrored performance on Wednesday. Jonathan Drouin found the back of the net only a minute into the second frame, assisted by Colton and Devon Toews.

How you Drouin?#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/hSt531sWbX

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

Six minutes later, Logan O’Connor added to the action with passes from Manson and Bowen Byram.

A wraparound goal for LOC!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/h7KtQ1oJSi

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

Makar drew a tripping penalty, placing the Avalanche on a power play. A few seconds later, he drew a second tripping penalty to send Colorado to a 5-on-3 advantage. MacKinnon found an opening and netted a goal, marking his, Rantanen’s and Makar’s second points of the game.

After allowing four unanswered goals, the Coyotes put a goal on the board, narrowing the margin to three, though the Avalanche dominated the second period with 12 shots on goal.

One point tonight wasn't enough. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Kmnyuc2KB4

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

Third period

With a lead securely in place, the Avalanche were sitting comfortably going into the final 20 minutes of regulation.

But sports have a way of never being easy. Almost four minutes into the period, the lead narrowed to two. Three minutes later, the Coyotes found another opening and were only one goal behind.

Arizona spent much of the period hovering around Alexandar Georgiev and the Avalanche struggled to make their way to the offensive zone. To force a tied game, Arizona emptied its net in favor of the extra attacker.

A mere two minutes to the end of the game was enough to get the job done. A fourth unanswered goal from the Coyotes forced extra time.

Overtime

The Avalanche wanted to put this game away. Living in the offensive zone, things looked promising.

But Colorado could not maintain the momentum they started with, and after Georgiev made a series of phenomenal saves, the constant offensive pressure rewarded the home team with a 5–4 overtime win.

Takeaways

Five unanswered goals are only considered normal when the Avalanche are scoring them. Both the offensive and defensive units completely unraveled in the third period, and it showed. Whether it was lack of communication or simple complacency, the team simply could not close out and fumbled in overtime.

Even though Colorado ultimately dropped the game, there were several good things happening on the ice.

Georgiev bailed the Avalanche out of several dangerous situations, especially the pressure during overtime. His recent performance resembles the goalie Avalanche fans were used to seeing throughout last season. With some confidence being built back up, he should find his feet again.

Georgieeeeeeee #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/B0t63njzFX

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

It is worth noting the effectiveness of the power play. The performance is wildly different from the beginning of the season. The Avalanche used to struggle to convert with the advantage, but the team went 2 for 3.

Next up, the Avs will finish their road trip against the St. Louis Blues. In the matchup on Nov. 11, Colorado suffered a horrific 8–2 loss and will look for redemption.

The post Avalanche fumble in overtime loss appeared first on The Rink.

This one would be ugly. In pretty much every other loss, the Blackhawks have at least looked competitive and put up a fight. It would appear that the wheels fell off on Monday, as they were not able to put much together.

First period

The Blackhawks started off rolling, with Connor Bedard’s first line starting things off. Twenty-eight seconds in, Bedard put a wrister over the glove of Connor Ingram with his wicked release to make it 1–0 Blackhawks early, following a nifty cross-ice feed from Kevin Korchinski, providing an exciting glimpse of the team’s future.

1-0 thanks to the No. 1 overall pick pic.twitter.com/VYBiGBYt4x

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 31, 2023

But that is where the excitement would end. Just under two minutes later, Michael Carcone cleaned up a rebound out in front of the net to tie everything up at 1–1. The Coyotes kept pouring it on, creating more chances off of rebounds. At the 13:53 mark of the frame, defenseman Josh Brown skated to the front of the right circle and wristed a shot over the glove of Arvid Soderblom, 2–1 Coyotes. Just a couple of minutes later, the Coyotes would go on the power play on a Connor Murphy trip. Lawson Crouse dug out the puck along the boards, and fed it across to Carcone, who potted his second of the night, making it 3–1 Arizona. The first period would end with the Blackhawks down by two after one. Nick Foligno tried to get his team energized before the period would end, but we would have to see in the second if it would get his team to step up.

Second period

An even five minutes into the second, the Coyotes had the puck in deep in the Blackhawks’ end. Carcone threw the puck out in front, and it ended up going off of Soderblom into the back of the net, 4–1 Arizona, and giving Carcone his first hat trick of his career. Just 1:38 later, the Coyotes came back up ice in a 2-on-1, as Jarred Tinordi got lost behind the play. Alexander Kerfoot put a saucer pass across to Jack McBain, who potted his third of the season to make it 5–1 Coyotes. Carcone would also pot an assist this period, as he got the puck out in between the circles, where Sean Durzi skated into a wrister right into the back of the net, 6–1 Coyotes. Liam O’Brien, despite sporting a black eye from his fight with Foligno in the first, deflected the puck off of his skate past Soderblom to make it 7–1 Arizona.

No one:
No one on earth:
Michael Carcone on a Monday night in the Mullett: pic.twitter.com/D55h6NxqtG

— Bill Armstrong’s Burner (@BillArmstrongGM) October 31, 2023

Third period

The Blackhawks played their best period of the night defensively, with Petr Mrazek replacing Soderblom in the net for the final frame in this game. It took 10 and a half minutes for the Coyotes to put one in the net in this period, with Kerfoot connecting with McBain once again, making it 8–1 Coyotes. Even playing their best period of hockey of the night, the Blackhawks could not muster anything resembling a scoring chance, finally getting this bloodbath to end at 8–1 Arizona.

What Luke Richardson should do once the clock hits 0:00 at the end of the 3rd period. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/1u07LNXfSR

— Joe (@ChiSportsFanJoe) October 31, 2023

Analysis

The Blackhawks almost instantly lost momentum after Bedard’s opening goal. They got lost defensively all over the ice, and it was not simply one player looking like he was getting beat, it was everyone. Tinordi looked sluggish in particular on a couple of the Coyotes’ goals, but overall, the Blackhawks failed to show up defensively. The Coyotes are a younger team as well, and they showed much better how a team should play as a unit, with all four lines coming on and scoring in some capacity. Soderblom did not look good, but he was hung out to dry more times than not, and even if he was better, this game would have still been a big L on the scoreboard for the Blackhawks. Hopefully, they decide to show up next game, which is on Saturday at home versus the Florida Panthers. That game will be at 7 p.m. CDT on NBC Sports Chicago.

The post Blackhawks Post-game One-timers — Oct. 30 at Arizona Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Stalock would stay in net against Arizona, looking to win three straight, and looking like the best free agent the Blackhawks signed this past offseason.

First period: This game got off to a really quick start, with the Blackhawks getting the puck quickly into the offensive zone and getting the puck from behind the net up to Jarred Tinordi, who one-timed the puck toward the net. It was tipped on the way in by Jujhar Khaira, putting the Blackhawks on the board first, 1–0. That would be the only scoring in the period, however, as both goalies proved up to the task in keeping the puck out of the net.

Second period: It took almost the entire period, but the Coyotes finally got a puck past Stalock. Clayton Keller skated in along the boards, putting the puck toward the net. Barrett Hayton was skating right through, and redirected the puck past the Blackhawks goaltender, tying the score at 1–1.

Third period: The Blackhawks went on the power play a little over three minutes into the third period, and were able to convert. After a failed attempt by Lukas Reichel, the puck came right out to Caleb Jones, who wristed it past Ivan Prosvetov, giving the Blackhawks the 2–1 lead. The Coyotes would knot things back up with six minutes gone in the third, with Keller outwaiting Stalock, and wristing it past him on the short side to tie everything up at two apiece. With a delayed penalty coming, and their goalie pulled because of it, the Coyotes’ Juuso Valimaki snuck down low and buried a Keller pass past Stalock, 3–2 Coyotes. The Blackhawks pulled their goalie to try to tie things up again, but Matias Maccelli would put the dagger in things with an empty-net goal, giving the Coyotes the 4–2 win.

With the loss, the Blackhawks stayed only five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the worst record in the NHL, and two points in front of the San Jose Sharks for the second-worst record.

The Blackhawks are back in action on Monday at the Colorado Avalanche. Coverage will begin at 8 p.m. CDT on NBC Sports Chicago.

The post Blackhawks Post-game One-timers — March 18 vs. Arizona Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago entered Tuesday’s game after a 4–2 loss at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, finally snapping the Blackhawks’ five-game winning streak. Goaltender Alex Stalock was back in net against the Coyotes after being activated off the injured reserve.

• Chicago looked like a team that just lost its superstar earlier in the day. Andreas Athanasiou scored the one and only goal for the visiting team late in the third. Arizona goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 23 shots on his way to victory.
• Former Blackhawk forward Nick Schmaltz scored his 18th goal of the season, extending a four-game goal-scoring streak, to finish off the Coyoes’ scoring. Travis Boyd, Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain also scored, as Chicago trailed 4–0 until the Athanasiou tally.
• Stalock stopped 29 Coyotes shots in his first game back in net after missing 18 contests with a head injury and vision issues. The loss dropped Stalock to 6–6–1 on the season.
• If you are looking for a silver lining from the game, Arizona is also in the hunt for the worst record in the NHL and snagged two points against the hapless Blackhawks. The loss was Chicago’s second straight defeat after winning five straight.

The Blackhawks are back on home ice on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. CST puck drop against the Dallas Stars.

The post Blackhawks Post-game One-timers — Feb. 28 vs. Arizona Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
2/22/2023		Future Consideration		Nikita Zaitsev '23 2nd Round Pick '26 4th Round Pick
2/23/2023		Josiah Slavin		Hunter Drew
2/26/3023		Jack Johnson		Andreas Englund
2/27/3023		Jake McCabe (50% retained) Sam Lafferty Conditional '24 5th rd pick Conditional '25 5th rd pick		Joey Anderson Pavel Gogolev '25 1st-round pick (top 10 protected) '26 2nd-round pick
2/27/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Future Considerations	Manitoba Moose	Colin Bilek
2/28/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Adam Clendening	Hartford Wolfpack	Zach Jordan
2/28/3023		Patrick Kane (50% retained) Cooper Zech	via	23 2nd Rd Pick (conditional 1st) 4th Rd Pick Vili Saarijarvi Andy Welinski
3/2/3023		Future Considerations		Anders Bjork
3/2/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Carson Gicewicz	Rochester Americans	Future Considerations
3/2/3023		Max Domi Dylan Wells		25 2nd Rd Pick Anton Khudobin
3/2/3023		Dylan Sikura		Max Golod
3/2/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Future Considerations	San Diego Gulls	Rocco Grimaldi Logan Nijhoff
3/3/3023		Future Considerations		Austin Wagner

Trade Analysis/Break Down:

• • • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Nikita Zaitsev, 2023 2nd Round Pick and 2026 4th Round Pick from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations
    • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Hunter Drew from the Anaheim Ducks for Josiah Slavin.
    • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Andreas Englund from The Colorado Avalanche for Jack Johnson
    • Chicago Blackhawks trade Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, a conditional 2024 5th-round pick & a conditional 2025 5th-round pick to Toronto for a 2025 1st-round pick (top 10 protected), a 2026 2nd-round pick, Joey Anderson and Pavel Gogolev.
    • The Arizona Coyotes acquired Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks for Vili Saarijarvi
    • The New York Rangers Acquired Patrick Kane from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2025 conditional 3rd Round Pick
    • The Chicago Blackhawks acquired 2023 conditional 2nd Round Pick, 2025 4th Round Pick and Andy Welinski from the New York Rangers for Cooper Zech
    • The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Anders Bjork from the Buffalo Sabres for future considerations
    • The Dallas Stars acquired Max Domi and Dylan Wells from the Chicago Blackhawks for Anton Khudobin and 2025 2nd Round Pick
    • The Anaheim Ducks acquired Dylan Sikura from the Chicago Blackhawks for Max Golod

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

The Rink Official

Chicago Divison
The Rinkcast
Jeff Osborn
Andy Campbell
Ray Napientek
Eric Andrews
Sean Fitzgerald
Andrew Bard
Matt Csakai

 

The post The Rink’s Chicago Blackhawks 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

The first period started off fast-paced. With only a minute and a half gone by, Clayton Keller took a Jakob Chychrun pass and wristed it past Stauber, 1–0 Coyotes. With just over seven minutes left in the period, Keller set up Nick Schmaltz, who one-timed it past Stauber, making it 2–0 Arizona. Just over a minute and a half later in the period, Seth Jones out-waited Connor Ingram to put the Blackhawks on the board at 2–1.

The second period was relatively uneventful for the Coyotes, but the Blackhawks kept the pressure on. Andreas Athanasiou scored his 11th goal of the season to tie the game up at 2–2. Then, Max Domi got a great pass to get into the zone and made a great pass to Taylor Raddysh, but the goal was waved off because of goaltender interference, as Domi barreled into Ingram in the process. With just under 10 minutes to go in the period, Jake McCabe stole the puck and got in on a breakaway that was stopped by Ingram.

The third period took a while to get going compared to the previous two. With just over five minutes remaining in the period, Colin Blackwell found himself right in front of the net to poke the puck past Ingram, putting the Blackhawks up 3–2. It did not take long for the Coyotes to answer, though, with a Nick Bjugstad wrister tying things up again at 3–3 and sending the game to overtime.

With a minute and a half to go in overtime, Athanasiou took a breakaway in on goal and was stopped, but Caleb Jones followed up and put a wrister past Ingram to give the Blackhawks the 4–3 overtime victory.

The Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday night at the Winnipeg Jets. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. CST on NBC Sports Chicago.

The post Blackhawks Post-game One-timers — Feb. 10 vs. Arizona Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago started quickly and took the lead within the first minute of the game. Jake McCabe swept in the point and fed Jonathan Toews. Toews attempted to stuff one in from the far-right post. The rebound bounced to the slot, where McCabe was waiting and he buried it to make it 1–0.

Jake McCabe scores his fourth goal of the season, which ties a career-high. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/3TzVUTShcH

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 21, 2022

With less than five minutes in the frame, Dominik Kubalik would add to the Hawks’ lead with his 14th goal of the season. Toews fed Tyler Johnson from the behind the net; his attempt was thwarted by Coyotes netminder, Karel Vejmelka, but Kubalik was there to pounce on the rebound. The Hawks took the 2–0 lead into the second period.

Another strong shift by the Blackhawks near the net leads to Dominik Kubalik's quick tap-in goal to double their lead #ARIvsCHI #Yotes #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/aSYViYs0y5

— nopClips (@nopClips) April 21, 2022

After the Coyotes cut the lead in half at 2–1 from a Barrett Hayton goal just over halfway through the period, Chicago would reclaim the two-goal lead when rookie Alex Vlasic scored his first NHL goal. Patrick Kane’s missed feed to Dylan Strome in the slot made its way to the point, and Vlasic calmly sent a wrist shot to the goal mouth. The puck deflected off a Coyote defender and into the back of the net for a 3–1 Blackhawks advantage.

What might look like a “lucky bounce” is a goal only because Vlasic has the patience to pump and wait for traffic in front before shooting. Congrats on your first NHL goal, Big Al! pic.twitter.com/X2NWPDLBc7

— Bartlett Hockey (@BartlettHockey) April 21, 2022

Nathan Smith and Anton Stralman tallied third period markers to send the game into overtime tied at 3–3. In the extra frame, Kane retrieved a rebound on the left side of the net after his initial shot hit the post. He sent a pass across the goalmouth to DeBrincat, who popped it in the open cage.

Alex DeBrincat. Overtime winner. Officially a two-time 40-goal scorer. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/kylof1jtbv

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 21, 2022

Kevin Lankinen was solid with 32 saves on the evening. The Hawks continue their West Coast trip on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. CDT against the Los Angeles Kings.

The post DeBrincat notches 40th goal as Hawks win in overtime appeared first on The Rink.

A great Captain but a better teammate. #ChicagosCaptain pic.twitter.com/PqC8gYK8Cx

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 3, 2022 

In the game, the Blackhawks took on the maligned Arizona Coyotes. After getting outclassed on their Florida road trip, the Blackhawks looked to get back on track in the first period.

First period

In the first period, the Blackhawks rode the energy wave of the Toews ceremony into an early goal. DeBrincat picked up a loose puck at center ice and got it to Dylan Strome, who charged toward the net and snapped off a shot for the game’s first goal. The tally was Strome’s 20th goal of the season, a new career high.

Later in the period, Riley Stillman made a nifty move in the offensive end and nearly dangled home the game’s second goal. Sadly for Stillman and the Hawks, he could not finish the move.

For the period, the Blackhawks outplayed the Yotes and lead by one goal. During the first period intermission, the Blackhawks named Chris Vosters as the replacement for Pat Foley as the new TV play-by-play voice. Foley will be calling his last game next Thursday.

Chris Vosters will be the next voice of Blackhawks hockey! pic.twitter.com/nWupsfX8NH

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 3, 2022

Second period

The Blackhawks have been a horrible second-period team this season and Sunday’s game was no different. The Coyotes came out fast and furious to start the second period while the Blackhawks looked sluggish.

The Coyotes tied the game up at one with a goal from Michael Carcone. Anton Stralman recovered a Blackhawks defensive zone turnover and fired a shot at the net. Carcone deflected the Stralman shot attempt for the Coyotes’ first goal of the game.

Later in the period, Shayne Gostisbehere took the puck in from center ice and then flung a pass over to Travis Boyd, who scored the Coyotes’ second goal of the period. Boyd walked through the Blackhawks’ defense for the goal. Gostisbehere was lucky to be on the ice after taking a puck to the throat early in the period.

Third period

In the third period, the Blackhawks finally capitalized on a power play opportunity. Coming in the third period, the Blackhawks were 0–2. On the power play, Seth Jones fed a pass over to Kane. Kane snapped a long-range wrist shot past Karel Vejmelka for the equalizer.

After the Kane goal, the third period ended with a whimper with neither team able to find the back of the net again.

Overtime

In overtime, the Blackhawks and Coyotes traded odd-man rushes for the majority of the time. With less than a minute left in overtime, Kane was charged with a high sticking penalty on Gostisbehere. The replay showed that Gostisbehere was actually hit in the face with his own stick, but, since it was not a double-minor, it could not be reviewed or challenged.

The game-winner was scored on an errant pass from Gostisbehere that deflected off of Toews’ skate, giving Arizona a 4–3 victory.

Analysis

The game was secondary to the Toews ceremony and the announcement of Vosters becoming Foley’s replacement. It is obvious that the Blackhawks are now focused on other things besides winning games. The focus will be on the development of prospects, trades before the draft and moves in the front office.

The Blackhawks return to the ice when they take on the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

The post Blackhawks fall in OT on Toews Night, name Vosters as Foley’s replacement appeared first on The Rink.

The Kraken definitely had more energy to open the contest, peppering Arizona goaltender Karel Vejmelka with 15 shots on net, while only surrendering eight Coyotes shots. However, as has been the case many times this season, the Coyotes opened the scoring just over four minutes into play. Veteran Phil Kessel found the puck on his stick with only Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer to beat after a poor turnover on the half wall by Seattle defenseman Adam Larsson. This turned out to be all the first period scoring as the teams headed into the first intermission.

Arizona bounced back in the second period to outshoot the Kraken 10–9 and were able to pad their lead with five minutes remaining in the period. Nick Schmaltz raced up the left wing by himself on a breakout and beat Grubauer over the glove for a 2–0 Coyotes lead. The Kraken were getting shots, but could not solve the 25-year-old Arizona netminder, which set up a tense third period for all involved.

As the third period commenced, Seattle finally got on the scoreboard despite killing a Vince Dunn slashing penalty that carried over from the previous period. Colin Blackwell carried the puck up the right half wall with, what seemed like, little opportunity for scoring. Blackwell snapped a long wrist shot from the top of the circle and beat a seemingly surprised Vejmelka to cut the Arizona lead to 2–1, just 16 seconds into the third.

Jarny nets his eighth goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/w3cAqpEPum

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) February 10, 2022

Arizona came right back and expanded their lead to two goals, once again, just 1:36 later. Veteran defenseman Anton Stralman surprised everyone by sneaking into the play and scooping a loose puck past Grubauer. This was how the score remained heading into the final five minutes of regulation.

While the Kraken have had many disappointing results this season, they cannot be accused of quitting very often, which was also the case in this game. With 4:08 remaining in regulation, potential trade deadline trade target Calle Jarnkrok took a cross-ice backdoor pass from Yanni Gourde for a tap-in goal that cut the Coyotes’ lead in half once again.

Unfortunately, this would be as far as the Kraken could come back, with Arizona scoring empty-net goals from Alex Galchenyuk and Schmaltz to secure a 5–2 win.

Anchor points

The rule of thumb is that if you outshoot your opponent at home, you should win said game. The Kraken did so and lost. They cannot keep allowing these unforced errors to cost them wins. Larsson’s strange, blind, between-the-legs turnover in his own end is an avoidable mistake. Just chip it up the wall. Keep things simple, make the smart play and win the game.

Converting on the power play, in addition to the shorthanded Blackwell tally, would have had the Kraken tied heading into the final minutes of regulation rather than pulling their goaltender and eventually surrendering two more goals. Little things.

Grubauer was “just okay” in this one. The Schmaltz goal seemed to surprise him and was definitely a low percentage opportunity. The Kessel and Stralman goals can be chalked up to poor defensive coverage.

As mentioned earlier, Larsson had a rough night and his underlying numbers strongly support that. He was on the ice for 22 5-on-5 chances against and only 12 for. Dave Hakstol might want to consider breaking up that pair of Giordano and Larsson. He may be forced to if Giordano gets moved at the deadline, which should be a very real possibility.

I have been really hard on Jeremy Lauzon all year, but the Dunn–Lauzon pair was analytically really good with 63% Corsi at even strength.

It is strange to see a team lead in shots by a considerable margin but get beat in possession metrics in almost all categories, but the Kraken are an enigma.

5-on-5 Corsi (total shot attempts) 51%–49%
5-on-5 Fenwick (Unblocked shot attempts) 52%–48%
5-on-5 High-danger chances for 56%–44%
5-on-5 Expected goals for 56%–44%
Face-off percentage 53%–47%

The Kraken are off today but travel to Southern California to face the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.

The post RECAP: Kraken drop first game back from break, fall 5–2 to Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

For a team that continues to tease its fanbase with highlight-reel goals while the on-ice product continues to tumble toward irrelevancy, it is going to be another long season with anyone’s guess as to when this franchise will return to their winning ways.

The Yotes got on the board first when Dysin Mayo sent a sharp-angle wrist shot over the shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury at 3:16 of the first frame. Though the Hawks generated chances throughout the period and tallied 13 shots, Arizona took a 2–0 lead with less than a minute to play when Johan Larsson deflected in a shot from the point.

In the second period, Chicago came out firing. Kirby Dach cut the lead in half by batting in a rebound out of mid-air to the back of the next. Philipp Kurashev and Connor Murphy assisted on the play.

Connor MurphyPhilipp KurashevKirby Dach

Dach bats the puck out of the air baseball style for his 6th goal of the season to cut the #Blackhawks deficit to 2-1 just 1:02 into the 2nd period!pic.twitter.com/E6rqu4lYU3

— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) January 7, 2022

Just after five minutes into the period, MacKenzie Entwistle scored his fourth goal of the year off a nifty feed from Jonathan Toews to make it 2–2.

NHL Video Highlight – Jonathan Toews feeds Mackenzie Entwistle a nice pass, who puts away the tying goal in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/g0MpKPci7R

— Chicago Blackhawks Bot (@BHawksGameBot) January 7, 2022

After a Murphy penalty at the halfway point of the period, the Coyotes regained the advantage when Phil Kessel fed Travis Boyd in front of the net. Arizona took the 3–2 lead into the third period.

Chicago essentially gave the game away in the third stanza, and attempted to claw back late, but was unsuccessful. After surrendering two quick goals that gave the Yotes a 5–2 lead, Jake McCabe scored to make it 5–3. The goal was initially credited to Toews, but was changed to McCabe’s tally on Friday.

Toews with his 5th goal of the season and 7th point in his last 9 games#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NKXidej4MS

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 7, 2022

Later in the third, Alex DeBrincat swatted in his 21st goal of the season on the power play with the help of Dylan Strome and Patrick Kane.

DeBrincat with the powerplay goal for his 21st of the year, pulling the #Blackhawks within one of the #Yotes 5-4#CHIvsARZ pic.twitter.com/h9Hjn7dhvW

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 7, 2022

It all proved to be too little, too late, as the Coyotes scored an empty-net goal and skated away with the win. Arizona goalie Karel Vejmelka steered away 32 shots and was impressive throughout the night.

Blackhawks fans should continue to be prepared for more tough results in the games ahead. The Hawks head to Nevada to take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday for a 9 p.m. CST start.

The post RECAP: Blackhawks’ descent continues in 6–4 loss to Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Derek King: "When I first got here, you could just see how fragile they were. But they’re enjoying it. It’s not pretty sometimes, but that’s the game. They’re battling for each other, playing hard…[and] we’re just finding ways to win."

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 13, 2021

First period

The first period was about as uneventful as you can find in the NHL: Two bottom-feeder teams looking to get on the scoresheet with poor chances on either end. The period did allow Blackhawks’ fans the ability to reminisce when former Blackhawks Stanley Cup champion forward Andrew Ladd interfered with Alex DeBrincat. Chicago did not score on the power play and did kill off the only penalty kill they faced after Jonathan Toews went to the sin bin for hooking.

When the paint finally dried after the first period horn sounded, the game was tied at 0–0 and Chicago had been outshot 7–5.

Second period

Patrick Kane had a breakaway opportunity stopped by Arizona netminder Scott Wedgewood early in the period that was an excellent opportunity. The Blackhawks looked like a different team in the early stages of the middle frame, as their speed kept the Coyotes on their heels.

During a delayed pentalty call, Kane created an excellent scoring opportunity, as he stickhandled through several Coyotes players and entered the offensive zone with speed. Kane found himself with a split second more of time (not many at this level have his capability of doing so) and found DeBrincat at the left circle for a one-timer that beat Wedgewood for a 1–0 Chicago lead.

Arizona would challenge the play after Wedgewood’s hissy fit, as he thought Arizona had touched the puck and would have stopped the play on the delayed penalty. However, the goal stood, much to the chagrin of the heated goaltender.

Third period

Dylan Strome took a double-minor high-sticking penalty with four seconds remaining in the second period in which the aforementioned Ladd would beat  Chicago goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to tie the game at 1–1. A goal in the past would have sent the Blackhawks reeling, but the poise the team showed was the perfect example for King’s comments about the team being “fragile” in the past.

Dominik Kubalik would have two opportunities a few minutes after the Ladd goal when he found himself all alone with Wedgewood, but would strike the cross bar with his first attempt and could not squeeze a shot behind Wedgewood’s five hole on his second attempt. Kubalik is streaky and needs to find the back of the net to show he can play top-six minutes with a purpose.

Strome would make up for his bonehead penalty with his first goal of the season at the 9:26 mark of the period. Kane created the opportunity (yes, it is the only way they can score) and found Strome in the slot, who beat Wedgewood with a quick one-timer to put the Hawks back on top at 2–1.

When it was all said and done, Chicago could not add another late insurance goal and finished off the league-worst Coyotes 2–1 on home ice.

Fleury stopped 22 Coyote shots for his second win this season.

Analysis

Chicago has won three straight since firing Jeremy Colliton and look to like they are having fun for the first time all season. A win against the Coyotes still counts.

DeBrincat continues to shine and Kane is still the engine of the Blackhawks’ offense. These two are exciting to watch and really the best two players this team has to offer, by far.

Fleury showed that he is settling back into the top-notch goalie hockey fans are accustomed. When he keeps it simple in net, he is tough to beat with his positioning. When he loses his confidence, he can surely fight the puck and overcommit on shots.

Kirby Dach needs to start finding his way onto the scoresheet. His opportunities seem to come each game (which is a result of him knowing where to be and creating chances which is a good thing), but he needs to get going by finishing his chances.

The post Blackhawks finding ways to win, beat Arizona for third straight victory appeared first on The Rink.

Two straight winnings days for Tommy’s picks! Let’s get the puck to go our way again tonight.

I have two plays for tonight’s slate. Let’s dive in!

(Odds courtesy of BetRivers)

Seattle Kraken (+116) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-134) 

O/U: 6 -103

The Seattle Kraken earned their first win in franchise history last Thursday in a 3–2 road win in Nashville. They followed it up with an overtime loss in Columbus on Saturday. Former Pittsburg Penguin Brandon Tanev has been the highlight, scoring three goals in the last two games. Seattle’s opponent Monday night, the Philadelphia Flyers, dropped their season opener to Vancouver 5–4. Joel Farabee tallied two goals in the loss.

My pick: Flyers three-way. Seattle looks to be finding their game a bit. However, I will take the experienced group in the Flyers tonight. Carter Hart is in the net, and I am expecting them to bounce back in a big way. I may even sprinkle a little money on the Flyers team total of over three goals in regular time as well.

St. Louis Blues (-180) vs. Arizona Coyotes (+155) 

O/U: 5.5 -112

It is going to be a rough year in the desert. They will be atop the league in goals allowed and especially shots against. Carter Hutton is in net tonight for the Arizona Coyotes, and his season debut did not go well: Eight goals allowed. The St. Louis Blues will likely be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. They opened the season with an impressive win in Colorado. I am a fan of Jordan Binnington. His journey to become a full-time NHL goalie was a long and tough road. The Blues bolstered their offense in the offseason with Pavel Buchnevich and Brandon Saad. If they get hot, they will be tough to stop.

My pick: Blues -1.5 +143. Some nice action here. The Blues outclass the Coyotes in every category. If they start how they did against Colorado, Arizona will not be able to match their play.

Happy gambling and remember, always ride the Tommy Train.

Basics of hockey betting Money line — Winning team Puck line — Team wins by at least two goals (-1.5 when placing a bet) Three-way line — Team wins in regulation  Over/under — Total goals scored during a game including overtime but not a shootout  Parlay — A combination of two or more bets

The information contained on this website is for entertainment purposes only. Please confirm any wagering regulations in your jurisdiction, as they vary from state to state, province to province and country to country. Using this information to contravene any law or statute is prohibited. The Rink is not associated with or endorsed by any professional league, association or team.

The post Tommy’s Puckline Picks — Oct. 18, 2021 appeared first on The Rink.

• 1–4 in featured picks. WSH three-way only winner
• Parlay was busted from the start with Leafs not hitting the over
• 0–3 in props 

We keep going today, though. It was a rocky start, but it is only the beginning. Let’s get into my picks for Thursday night.

(All odds courtesy of BetRiversIL)

Arizona Coyotes (+138) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (-162)

O/U: 5.5 -112

The Arizona Coyotes gutted their team. Darcy Kuemper is in Colorado, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland were traded to Vancouver and Christian Dvorak wound up in Montreal. There was a lot of shakeup in Arizona as the focus turns toward the youth. 

On the other side, the Columbus Blue Jackets want to make some noise. Their forward group is solid, led by Patrik Laine and Oliver Bjorkstrand. They have invested in Elvis Merzlikins to tend the pipes, and new head coach Brad Larsen was hired after eight years as an assistant in Columbus. Their defense will have a chip on its shoulder, as there is plenty to prove. 

My pick: Columbus three-way -103 

New York Islanders (+108) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-124) 

O/U: 5.5

The New York Islanders play a style that suffocates their opponent. Barry Trotz is one of the best coaches in the league. As many say, they bore you to sleep, but they get the job done. Anders Lee is back. They re-signed Kyle Palmieri, who is a perfect fit for their style of play. Zach Parise was added for forward depth. In addition, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock may be the best defensive pairing in the NHL. I had them in a future bet to win the Stanley Cup last season, but they fell just short to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semifinals. 

The Carolina Hurricanes are a loaded squad, too. While losing Dougie Hamilton was not ideal, Ethan Bear should help pick up the slack. And, they snagged Jesperi Kotkaniemi from Montreal. They should run the tables this year. 

My pick: Islander ML. Hard to get against Mathew Barzal and the boys. Ride the Isles. 

I will have a bonus play at 5:30 p.m. CDT on my Twitter, @ThomasGibbons_3.

Basics of hockey betting Money line — Winning team Puck line — Team wins by at least two goals (-1.5 when placing a bet) Three-way line — Team wins in regulation  Over/under — Total goals scored during a game including overtime but not a shootout  Parlay — A combination of two or more bets

The information contained on this website is for entertainment purposes only. Please confirm any wagering regulations in your jurisdiction, as they vary from state to state, province to province and country to country. Using this information to contravene any law or statute is prohibited. The Rink is not associated with or endorsed by any professional league, association or team.

The post Tommy’s Puckline Picks — Oct. 14, 2021 appeared first on The Rink.

The opportunity has finally come for the Colorado Avalanche to eliminate the Arizona Coyotes and advance to the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now facing elimination, it will be interesting to see what Arizona Coyotes squad the Avalanche will be facing. If they are facing a motivated team, this game could be close. However, if the Avalanche continues to ride the momentum from Game 4, the Avs can very well see themselves strolling into the second round.

Following their 4–2 loss in Game 3, the Avalanche came back for vengeance in Game 4, dismantling the Coyotes 7–1 to take the first 3–1 series lead. The victory would be memorable, as they would chase Coyotes superstar goaltender Darcy Kuemper out of the net for the first time in the series. Now will it continue to be a factor in Game 5? Only time will tell.

One of the most notable players for the Avs during their Game 4 victory was Nazem Kadri, who tallied 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist), who now has 9 points throughout the playoffs, leading the Avs in goals (4) — the best part of this? Kadri has 0 penalty minutes so far. Keep in mind, Kadri missed the past two playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs due to suspension.

Kadri had 10 points (3 goals and 7 assists) in his 19 previous playoff games in his career with the Maple Leafs from 2013-2019.

“I just try to come to play and compete every single night,” Kadri said. “That’s what good pros do, and I just felt like I didn’t have my best game last game so I just wanted to give it everything I had. Got a couple of nice breaks early, and obviously that makes the rest of the game a little bit easier.”

Player(s) to watch:

Gabriel Landeskog

While it may come as a shock, the Avs captain is scoreless so far in the first round against the Coyotes. Landeskog has the reputation of finding the back of the net at important times, so keep an eye on him to make a difference in Game 5 as the Avs look to advance to the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Coyotes Top Line

With their leading scorer in Conor Garland possibly out (not yet confirmed, but did not participate in the Coyotes practice yesterday), the Coyotes will be looking towards their top line of Taylor Hall, Derek Stepan, and Clayton Keller to make a difference and try to force a Game 6.

While most of the league is predicting the Avalanche to advance to the second round today, the Avalanche will be approaching the game just like any other game in the series. They are aware the Coyotes will be coming out out of the game, and only time will tell how they will counter it. We expect to see the same intensity that we saw from the Avs in Game 4 to close out the series.

The post Preview: Avalanche look to advance past Coyotes in game 5 appeared first on The Rink.

The Kuemper fortress has been broken.

After falling to the Arizona Coyotes in Game 3 by a final score of 4-2, the Colorado Avalanche came out swinging in the first period, tallying 3 goals in the first period and limiting the Coyotes to three shots in the opening frame.

In what could only be described as a complete team performance, the Avalanche blitzed the Coyotes en route to a 7-1 victory. While multiple Avs players put up multi-point performances, one of the main players who stood out from the rest was Avs forward Nazem Kadri, who tallied 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in the victory.

Cale Makar, Matt Calvert, and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist, and Philipp Grubauer made 14 saves.

First period

It didn’t take long for the Avalanche to gain control of the game, as they took a 1-0 lead at 14:07 of the opening frame as Avs forward Matt Nieto deflected a pass from Calvert on a 2-on-1 to give the Avalanche the lead.

A couple of minutes later, Kadri tallied his first goal of the game at 16:07 on the power play when he jumped on a loose puck in front of Darcy Kuemper. He wouldn’t be done there, however, as Kadri increased the lead to 3-0 at 19:39 of the first period with another powerplay goal, converting on a rebound in front of the net that came from a Nathan MacKinnon shot.

Second Period

A famous phrase in hockey is that a three goal lead is the worst lead in hockey. However, this would not apply to the Avalanche as they continue to put pressure on the Coyotes, as Joonas Donskoi would convert on a 2-on-1 rush with Andre Burakovsky to extend the Avs lead.

The Coyotes would ruin Grubauer’s shutout bid at the 13:31 mark of the second period as Coyotes defenseman Jacob Chychrun found the back of the net. That goal would close out the period and the Avalanche held the 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Third Period

Scoring the last goal of the second period, the Coyotes were probably thinking they would carry the momentum to attempt a comeback. The Coyotes would replace Kuemper in net for backup goaltender Antti Raanta to begin the third period.

However a comeback would not be in the cards for the Coyotes, as Makar had other plans. Only 19 seconds into the final frame, Makar would pick up a pass from the side board and go coast-to-coast for a highlight reel goal to give the Avs the 5-1 lead and squash any momentum the Coyotes may have built from their powerplay goal in the second period.

Calvert converted on MacKinnon’s pass at 2:57 for the 6-1 lead and Rantanen tipped Erik Johnson’s slapshot from the point at 16:24 to give the Avalanche the 7-1 lead, putting this game to bed.

Things would get chippy towards the end of the game, as Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse checked Makar into the boards from behind, drawing attention from everyone on the ice. Out from the pile, MacKinnon ended up ragdolling Coyotes forward Christian Fischer shortly after Fischer cross-checked MacKinnon to the face — a mistake he should never forget.

While we do not know the extent of the injury, Arizona lost Conor Garland in the middle of the second period. Both sides have had some “unfit to play” players heading into this game, as Colorado forward Vladislav Namestnikov and Arizona forward Nick Schmaltz were ruled unfit to play before the game.

Player of the Game

Nazem Kadri

With two goals and an assist in the Avs 7-1 victory over the Coyotes, Kadri continues to be one of the best players for the Avalanche. After being suspended in his last two postseason appearances with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kadri has had 0 penalty minutes through his first six games — all while tallying six points (2 goals, 4 assists).

I asked Kadri about this postgame:

"We exchanged some words and I felt like he gave me a couple extra shots that were unnecessary and I had to let him know about it.

"I get under people's skin—I've figured that out the last few years. The important part is staying composed"#Avs https://t.co/zPToYtGSAQ

— Scott MacDonald (@0ffScottFree) August 18, 2020

What’s next?

The Avalanche will be looking to advance to the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they face the Coyotes on Wednesday, August 19 at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

The post Recap: Avs take commanding 3-1 series lead with 7-1 victory appeared first on The Rink.

Though the score for the third game in the series was 4-2 Coyotes, the game also saw the Avalanche playing some of their best hockey of the series. They ended with 51 shots on goal following an offensive effort that was stopped only by the incredible play of Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

To secure Game Four, the Avs will need to approach the entire game with the same level of intensity we saw previously and they will need to clean up the defensive errors that cost them late in the game, like the empty-net goal that came just prior to an Avs goal that could have tied things up:

Thank you for this, Taylor. pic.twitter.com/sOufwEbLJ5

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 15, 2020

Again, solving Kuemper will be a priority. Without him, the Coyotes would not pose nearly as much of a threat. The Avs will need to throw everything they have at him in the hopes of breaking through. Keeping the puck in Arizona’s end will need to be the move to get on the board, as Arizona has done a decent job of limiting breakout chances from the skill players on the Avs.

Though Joonas Donskoi played last game despite initially being listed as day-to-day, Vladislav Namestnikov did not take the ice. He is still considered day-to-day, so he likely will not be in the lineup for Monday’s game.

Pavel Francouz, who made his official playoffs debut in Game Three, stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced — two of the goals being empty-netters at the end of the game. We will likely see starter Philipp Grubauer back in net for Game Four, as Francouz didn’t have the kind of performance that would wrest the starting position away.

Players to watch

Andre Burakovsky has been playing well recently, with five points in his last five games. He opened the scoring for the Avs last game, sinking a laser from the blue line. With the Avs powerplay lackluster in the postseason, his goal served to invigorate the team and opened the offensive onslaught late in the game. Several players on the Avalanche have had issues shooting the puck, preferring to take the pass or handle the puck — if Burakovsky can continue throwing his skills at the net, he can easily be a big impact player going forward.

A few more of these, please.#GoAvsGo https://t.co/TFfCA6SQhy

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 15, 2020

The Arizona top line stepped up in a big way last game, combining for two of the four goals. The first goal of the game came courtesy of Derek Stepan, with an excellent setup by Clayton Keller behind the net. Arizona doesn’t tend to generate meaningful offense without this line on the ice, so I would expect to see them leading the charge as the Coyotes look to even the series in Game Four.

Great setup, great goal. pic.twitter.com/9BpZ20r7Fh

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 15, 2020

The post Preview: Avalanche look to reclaim the series appeared first on The Rink.

Ready for some more playoff hockey?

Good.

Only 24 hours after the Colorado Avalanche came away with an exciting 3-2 victory in a tightly contested Game Two, the Avalanche have an opportunity to increase their series lead over the Coyotes on Saturday. A win on Saturday would help the Avs claim a 3-0 series lead, and create a situation where the Coyotes could be facing elimination in Game Four on Monday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

However, if Game Two taught us anything, the Coyotes will more than likely be ready to give it their all to possibly avoid this situation. So far in this series, we have seen two completely different Coyote teams — one who allowed the Avalanche to completely establish their style of play and dominate all aspects fo the game, and one gritty and in your face style. We suspect that the Avs will see more of the same from the Coyotes, so don’t be surprised if this game ends up being a close one again.

Joonas Donskoi and Vladislav Namestnikov are considered day-to-day by Avs head coach Jared Bednar, so it will be interesting to see what the lineup will look like for Game Three. If one of these players are not able to return to the lineup tomorrow, one of the main players who could make an appearance would be former DU Pioneer and Colorado Eagles standpoint Logan O’Connor — however, time will tell.

Starting in goal the past two games, it will be interesting to see if the Avs continue with the hot hand and keep Philipp Grubauer in net, or if we may see Avs goaltender Pavel Francouz make his official postseason debut (minus round-robin) in Game Three against the Coyotes. Francouz last played in the Avs round-robin series when the Avs shutout the Dallas Stars 4-0.

Players to watch

Nazem Kadri

With one game-winning goal and assist, Avs forward Nazem Kadri continues to be a difference-maker for the Avalanche in the playoffs. Kadri tallied four points (One goal, three assists) in the round-robin series and has continued to prove that he can be a difference-maker in the playoffs for the Avalanche. After being suspended the past two playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, questions were circling about how he would perform with the Avs in the playoffs. So far, he continues to be one of the best Avalanche forwards. It truly seems like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder and is on a mission to prove critics wrong — which is good for the Avalanche.

Michael Grabner

While I felt like I could pick a few Coyotes who could be a difference-maker in Game Three, I eventually kept circling back to speed Coyotes forward and penalty-killing specialist Michael Grabner. While there was some controversy in regards to his goal in Game Two, Grabner was able to help the Coyotes tally their first real goal against the Avalanche — since the first goal was an unfortunate own goal. If Keller and Phil Kessel are unable to get things going right away for the Coyotes, keep an eye on Grabner.

The post Preview: Avs Seek to Extend Series Lead Over Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Colorado Avalanche found a way to come away with the Game 2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes with a late third period tally from Avs forward André Burakovsky. With the victory, the Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead and have the opportunity to increase their series lead Saturday at 1 p.m.

Compared to Game One, this was a completely different looking Coyotes squad right from the opening faceoff. They were in your face and constantly held a two-man forecheck that seemed to catch the Avalanche off-guard. However, good playoff teams find a way to win, and that is exactly what the Avalanche were able to do.

After being held without a shot, but finishing Game One with two assists, Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon tallied his first goal of the series, as he just seemed to be all over the ice. Tyson Jost tallied a goal of his own, and Phillipp Grubauer made 30 saves to help the Avalanche come away with the victory and extend their series lead over the Coyotes.

“Nobody feels like they have to dominate,” said MacKinnon, who had two assists in Game One. “We’re all trying to chip in. We have such a deep team and we’re ready, hopefully, for a long run. To do that, we need all four lines to be going and they were today.”

Clayton Keller and Michael Grabner scored for the Coyotes, while Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves for the Coyotes.

Avalanche forward Vladislav Namestnikov left the game late in the third period after a collision with MacKinnon and is not deemed day-to-day by Avs head coach Jared Bednar. Joonas Donskoi is also considered day-to-day for the Avalanche.

After a lopsided Game One and a tightly contested Game Two, we can make bets that the Avalanche can expect more of the same style of play from the Coyotes that they saw today. Expect another tightly contested style of game on Saturday.

The post Avalanche take 2-0 series lead with gritty win over Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

Make sure to check out our in-depth preview of this series against the Coyotes on The-Rink.com.

Playoff hockey. Is. Here.#GoAvsGo https://t.co/sfZN2vvstK

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 12, 2020

I absolutely love the intensity and physicality the @Avalanche are playing with right now.

— Orlando Franklin (@OFranklin74) August 12, 2020

First period

Now that the games truly count, it was pretty obvious that the Colorado Avalanche flipped a switch and started playing playoff hockey.  They were forechecking hard and finishing all their checks on the Coyotes players.  Even skill players like Mikko Rantanen were laying the body.  The result of the physical play was that it was almost all Avs in the first period.  Arizona had the puck in their zone almost the entire period.  One player who stood out was centerman Nazem Kadri who got some quality shots on goal.  The Avs did get one powerplay from a holding minor on Jason Demers, but it was killed off by the Yotes despite several good looks by the Avs.  The period ended with no score but a lopsided shot total with the Avs leading 13-3.

The moose is LOOSE!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/XNg0CV3BSB

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 12, 2020

Second Period

The pace picked up a little bit in the second period as both teams began to really feel each other out.  The Yotes clearly wanted more than just three shots on goal in the next period so they were noticeably more aggressive, but the story continued to be Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper.  Adding 15 more saves to his total, Kuemper made it look pretty easy on his side of the ice, making saves without much traffic in front of the net.  Arizona was again outshot heavily in the second and couldn’t really get their possession game going, however, Avs goaltender Philip Grubauer made a few good saves of his own. The Avs defense then locked down in the final ten minutes of the period where they didn’t allow a single shot on goal.

Here are the second period highlights!

Keep firing those shots @Avalanche! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/pCMUdnh8zB

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) August 12, 2020

Third Period

Noticeably frustrated with not scoring through the first 40 minutes of play, the Avs turned it on late in the third period and broke the ice.  With seven minutes left in the game and the score still tied, Kadri cleaned up a rebound and finally got the Avalanche on the board.  The adrenaline was running through the Avs lineup as it took just 15 seconds for the Avs to score again.  This time it was forward J.T. Compher who found a loose puck again in front of Kuemper and scored on a nice backhand shot.  But the Avs weren’t even done yet!  They generated a three-on-two rush that resulted in a really nice tic-tac-toe goal scored by Rantanen.  All three goals were scored in just 1:23, putting the game out of reach for Arizona.  Grubauer got the 14-save shutout as the Avs take a 1-0 lead on the Coyotes in the series.

The @Avalanche just scored three goals in 1:23.

Here's the opener from @43_Kadri!#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/kheV7eLprs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 12, 2020

JT Compher
2-0 #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/i4U59yiIDE

— Fuck Dave Portnoy (@TheReplayGuy) August 12, 2020

MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog are pretty good at hockey pic.twitter.com/JVOFCcPLVg

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) August 13, 2020

What’s next?

The Avs and Yotes will meet again on Friday for game two and will drop the puck at 12:00 PM MST.  Colorado will most likely see some adjustments from Arizona and will have to be prepared, but, in the meantime, it looks like Grubauer will stay in net.  Backup Pavel Francouz has been very good this season and beyond, which is great insurance in case Grubauer falters.  The game did have some physicality, especially with the star players, but it’s unclear how Arizona will find an edge against this Avs team.  With the Avalanche limiting their opponent to just 14 shots in a playoff game and exploding for three goals in under two minutes, they have to feel good going into game two.

The post Avalanche solve Kuemper late, take Game 1 from the Coyotes 3-0 appeared first on The Rink.

Following a fairly successful round-robin series to obtain the second seed, the Colorado Avalanche will begin their quest for the franchise’s third Stanley Cup when they take on the Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This will be the first time that the two teams will face off against each other since the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Avs defeated the Coyotes in 5 games in the first round to advance to the next round. That season the Avalanche made it to the Western Conference Finals where they eventually fell in seven games to the Dallas Stars.

While the Avalanche are among some of the favorites to lift the Stanley Cup this season, they will have to focus on the task at hand against a tenacious Coyotes squad, who is fresh off an impressive performance by eliminating the Nashville Predators in four games. Coming into the playoffs as a favorite, the Avalanche are in a similar role that the Calgary Flames were in last year — when the Avalance eventually shocked the Flames in five games. Expect the Avs to not overlook the Coyotes.

X-Factors

Nathan MacKinnon (COL)

Finishing the regular season with a team-leading 93 points, MacKinnon will continue to be an important part for the Avalanche if they hope to claim the Stanley Cup. While MacKinnon has not found the back of the net yet following the round-robin games, we can expect him to take his game to the next level for the first round of the playoffs against the Coyotes. The clear goal for the Coyotes will be looking to shut down MacKinnon, but this year the Avalanche reap the benefits of four lines who can score — something that they did not have in last year’s playoffs.

Clayton Keller (ARI)

One of the Arizona Coyotes superstars that the Avalanche will want to keep in check is Clayton Keller. Although not having the same attributes as MacKinnon, Keller is more than capable of taking over a game. Leading the coyotes with 4 points through the play in series against the Nashville Predators, Keller is likely feeling optimistic about his play heading into the first round against the Avalanche.

Game Schedule

Game 1: Wednesday, August 12th 3:30pm MDT

Game 2: Friday, August 14th 12pm MDT

Game 3: Saturday, August 15th, 1pm MDT

Game 4: Monday, August 17th, 3:30pm MDT

Game 5*: Wednesday, August 19th, TBD

Game 6*: Friday, August 21st, TBD

Game 7*: Sunday, August 23rd, TBD

The post Series Preview: Colorado Avalanche vs Arizona Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

The Hawks faced an already depleted Coyote team without defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and goalie Darcy Kuemper and they took full advantage in the first period. Mid-first period, Corey Crawford deflected a shot and the puck ended up in front of Patrick Kane who pushed it to Brandon Saad up the left side for his 14th goal of the season. This allowed Kane’s point streak to reach 12 games.

The first period was all Hawks and Corey Crawford used his whole body to block 12 shots on goal and give the Coyotes a 1–0 deficit to end the first period.

There's no being Saad about this shot.

Brandon Saad (@BSaad20) definitely wouldn't be. pic.twitter.com/LlbVXUpDyv

— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2020

The Hawks would face a different animal from the Coyotes in the second period, however.

The away team started the second period off with a little déjà vu. Kane hit Saad for his second of the game (15th this season), putting the Hawks up 2–0. This time, Kirby Dach gets credited with an assist for his eighth on the season. Kane takes advantage of yet another defensive mistake by the Coyotes as they have four guys behind the goal line with Saad in front to flip one over Antti Raanta’s shoulder for the goal. Hawks up 2–0 and look to be cruising to a road “W”.

Goal No. 2 of the night for No. 20! #CHIvsARI pic.twitter.com/RUQ7NWL4VW

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 2, 2020

As previously stated, however, the Coyotes adjusted their game accordingly.

Halfway through the second period, Crawford stops an initial shot from Carl Soderberg, but the puck ricochets in front of an open Brad Richardson for his 4th goal this season. The Coyotes cut the deficit in half.

Then, Slater Koekkoek had Connor Garland one on one up the side, but he decided to switch at the last minute to block the net instead of staying the course allowing Garland to tie the game with a top-shelf goal for his 17th on the season. Surprisingly, Garland leads Arizona in goals. The Blackhawks and Coyotes were tied 2-2 at the end of two.

Large player the size of a small player completely fills the lane. pic.twitter.com/JhuaXZAqm7

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 2, 2020

The third period was sloppy for the Hawks early on. Jonathan Toews got called for hooking and Olli Maatta got called for holding giving the Coyotes two big advantages. The Hawks weathered the storm though and both goalies did not break the whole third period. Hats off to both Crawford and Raanta for coming up with some spectacular saves to send it to OT.

Raanta at one point was on his stomach and had to kick his legs up to save a goal. 13 for 13 saves in the third. A heck of an adjustment for the Coyotes from the beginning of the game.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, ANTTI?!#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/R7XekmsCJm

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 2, 2020

SHOOTOUT TIME BAYBAY!

Toews started it off with a slowdown goal to put the Hawks up 1–0 in the shootout. He is 4 for 7 this season now and 49 for 100 in his career. After a save by Crow on a Nick Schmaltz shot, it was showtime at the Gila River Arena. Kane, much like Toews, hits a chef’s kiss of a slow burn goal (5 for 7 on the season, 46 for 109 in his career) to put the Hawks up 2–0 with all the pressure on second-period villain Garland.

You can put this Patrick Kane (@88PKane) shootout goal on a continuous loop. pic.twitter.com/IwmHjqoL74

— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2020

Crawford gets his revenge with the stop and the game that should have never seen more than three periods ends with a Hawks 3–2 win. Hawks now sit two points out of a playoff spot. Crawford improved to 10–13–2 on the season and 13–4–2 against the Coyotes in his career. Chicago’s very own stand at 25–21–6 heading into the rest of February.

The Blackhawks look to continue their after-break win streak as they lineup to play Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. CST. Happy Groundhog Day to all.

The post Along the Boards: Blackhawks avoid season sweep with 3-2 shootout win over Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

The contest did not start pretty for the Blackhawks. By the end of the opening frame, the Blackhawks were down 3–0 with tallies from Michael Grabner, Clayton Keller, and Brad Richardson.

Grabner’s tally was an excellent display of speed, he dipped his shoulder and released a backhand shot that had eyes, finding it’s way past Robin Lehner’s blocker side. Keller’s was a result of a defensive breakdown, as he had a semi-breakaway after an excellent pass from Jordan Oesterle. The third goal was a result of excellent net-front presence from Richardson, as he was able to tip a nice Jacob Chychrun shot through Lehner’s five hole.

There was hope in the second, as the captain, Jonathan Toews, tallied his seventh goal of the season to cut the Coyotes’ lead down to just two. The goal was a result of a well-placed shot from Dominik Kubalik that resulted in a perfect rebound for Toews to hammer home.

Finders keepers#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/bTzxEOuQfU

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 13, 2019

However, the lead would be extended for the hometown team, this time by a familiar face. After a Coyotes’ face-off win, Nick Schmaltz walked to the slot and sniped a shot over Lehner’s left shoulder to give Arizona the 4–1 lead. 

The Blackhawks opened the scoring in the third period, however, it was too late. With right around seven minutes remaining, Dylan Strome tapped home an Alex DeBrincat shot to cut back into Arizona’s lead. The power play tally was Strome’s seventh of the season. 

Dylly Dylly!

Strome strikes on the power play. #CHIvsARI pic.twitter.com/F8L9pLcKPS

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 13, 2019

With two minutes remaining, the Coyotes added insult to injury. After a puck was dumped in, Christian Dvorak, the Chicagoland native, retrieved the puck behind Lehner. Erik Gustafsson was caught down low, leaving Keller wide open in the slot and he tucked a roof shot past Lehner to give the Coyotes the three-goal lead and the final score, 5–2. 

Three points

The Hawks looked terrible: There is no nice way to say it. The Hawks were badly outplayed. They just have not looked good recently. This team, earlier in the season, showed moments of brilliance. Now, this team is relying on Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford to keep them in games. They’ve done a great job doing that, but it hasn’t been enough to yield wins.

Injuries suck: You can tell that the Blackhawks miss Duncan Keith and Calvin de Haan. I’d even argue they miss the likes of Andrew Shaw. They need good players. In years’ past, circa 2015, this team had the depth to accommodate injuries. Now, this team is S.O.L without one or two players in the lineup. Did someone say tank?

Give me the top three: What does this mean? Well, it means if you’re going to change the franchise for the better, you need top 3 picks in the draft. Although no guarantees, these players are what it takes to change a franchise. I think Kirby Dach is a part of the long-term solution, as is Adam Boqvist, but the Hawks need a continuing influx of talent in order to fill the holes. With big contracts against their cap, that’s the only way to improve, young, cheap talent. 

The Blackhawks return to action on Saturday, paying a visit to the defending Stanley Cup champions. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.

The post RECAP: Blackhawks fall on their face, lose to Coyotes 5–2 appeared first on The Rink.

The lines and pairings for the home team were as follows:

Dominik Kubalik — Jonathan Toews — Brandon Saad

Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane

Alexander Nylander — David Kampf — Dylan Sikura

Zack Smith — Kirby Dach — Ryan Carpenter

Slater Koekkoek — Connor Murphy

Calvin de Haan — Brent Seabrook

Dennis Gilbert — Erik Gustafsson

First period

The Blackhawks got off to a quick start in this game. With less than 60 seconds off the clock, Calvin de Haan entered the offensive zone cleanly and drove past a couple of Coyotes with the puck. He spotted a waiting Jonathan Toews to the right of Darcy Kuemper, and the captain found a way to put the puck in the yawning yet with a shot through the legs of Jason Demers.

Jonathan Toews gives the #Blackhawks the early 1-0 lead pic.twitter.com/yGN8hK90X0

— Juliana Nikac (@juliananikac) December 9, 2019

Both teams exchanged scoring chances following the goal, with Robin Lehner making a great save on Palos native Christian Dvorak. Kuemper then came up with a big glove save on a Zack Smith breakaway about seven minutes into the period.

With 11:47 left in the period, Demers tripped Brandon Saad as he entered the zone and the Blackhawks’ power play went to work. After the Coyotes had a shorthanded opportunity, Patrick Kane found a streaking Alex DeBrincat, who potted his eighth goal of the season.

The Coyotes’ line of former Chicago Mission players then got on the board after some great effort along the boards to gain puck possession. Nick Schmaltz found Christian Dvorak out in front and a scramble ensued before the puck eventually went off of Christian Fischer‘s skate and past Lehner.

Schmaltz → Dvorak → Fischer.

You knew the @ChicagoMission line was going to score. pic.twitter.com/uJGKPBCclN

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 9, 2019

After their goal, the Coyotes tilted the ice in their favor and Lehner faced a decent amount of scoring chances for the next five minutes. But the Blackhawks were able to take an advantage of an offensive-zone faceoff that Jonathan Toews won. Connor Murphy retrieved the puck and simply flipped it towards the net, and Dominik Kubalik’s stick was right in the path of that shot. Kubalik tipped the puck by Kuemper and extended the Blackhawks’ lead to 3-1.

Just before the first period ended, Brent Seabrook took an interference penalty. The Blackhawks headed into the intermission with a 3-1 lead and 1:31 of a penalty to kill. Arizona led Chicago 16-11 in shots and 13-11 in scoring chances after 20 minutes.

Second period

The Blackhawks started the second period on the penalty kill and did a great job of limiting the Coyotes’ chances. For the next five minutes, each team got some good opportunities but nothing came from them.

Jonathan Toews then took a tripping minor and Chicago’s penalty kill went back to work, but they couldn’t stop the Coyotes from scoring and Conor Garland cut the Blackhawks’ lead to 3-2 with a power play goal.

Conor Garland's team leading 12th goal of the season comes just when we need it. pic.twitter.com/ouDzRk0JOr

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 9, 2019

Just a few minutes later, Jason Demers hit Alex DeBrincat from behind and Dennis Gilbert stood up for his teammate by fighting the Arizona defenseman. However, Gilbert was called for instigating and given a 10-minute misconduct, but the officials didn’t call Demers for boarding, so the Blackhawks were back on the kill. Once again, they couldn’t keep the Coyotes from scoring on the man advantage and Carl Soderberg‘s shot at the end of the power play went off Slater Koekkoek’s stick and past Lehner to tie the game.

No scoring occurred after Arizona tied the game, but once again, both teams exchanged scoring opportunities. Jonathan Toews had a great chance to score and had Kuemper beat, but the puck was rolling on him and he couldn’t elevate it. Robin Lehner also made a few great saves, especially on the penalty kill late in the second.

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1203850322868940800

After 40 minutes, the Blackhawks and Coyotes headed into the intermission tied 3-3. Arizona led Chicago 27-20 in shots, but the home team had a 15-5 advantage in scoring chances.

Third period

Robin Lehner began the third period with a handful of great saves on the Coyotes, including a wide-open chance for speedy forward Michael Grabner.

Back-and-forth action continued with each team exchanging scoring chances, and then the Blackhawks took yet another penalty in the middle of the frame. For the most part, Chicago did a good job keeping Arizona to the outside and not allowing chances. Lehner did come up with two beautiful saves toward the end of the kill, including a beautiful one on Clayton Keller.

Holy cow, what a save by Robin Lehner #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/nSMSCZuDzW

— Juliana Nikac (@juliananikac) December 9, 2019

The Coyotes continued pressuring, and Lehner kept the Blackhawks alive. With no scoring in the third period, Arizona and Chicago headed into overtime. The Coyotes outshot the Blackhawks 44-25 in regulation, but only led 34-31 in scoring chances. This was Chicago’s third straight game needing extra time.

Overtime

Despite a faceoff win from Kane, the Coyotes maintained possession to begin overtime. Robin Lehner stunned everyone once again with a spectacular save on Jakob Chychrun.

Are you kidding me, Robin Lehner? #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/YtCye4CS13

— Juliana Nikac (@juliananikac) December 9, 2019

The Blackhawks then got a power play and moved the puck well, but passed too much and didn’t shoot enough. Toews was then called for a weak slash, and the Coyotes went to the power play where Lehner stood tall once again.

With all of those opportunities, neither team scored. So the Blackhawks headed to the skills competition for the second game in a row.

Shootout

Everyone knows shootouts are Robin Lehner’s one weakness in goal, and that was evident tonight. Jonathan Toews missed the net wide, and then Nick Schmaltz scored a nice goal. Patrick Kane countered with one of his own, but Conor Garland converted, too. Kirby Dach couldn’t be the Blackhawks’ savior tonight, and Chicago fell 4-3 to Arizona in the shootout.

Overall, the Coyotes outshot the Blackhawks 47-29 and out-chanced them 36-34. Here’s a summary of the night for Lehner:

and then the shootout happens and his save percentage is under .500 somehow https://t.co/uA6eTyFSgC

— dom (@domluszczyszyn) December 9, 2019

Pluses

• Once again, Robin Lehner stood on his head and kept the Blackhawks in the game. He made 44 saves, and a bunch of them were spectacular. It’s obvious he struggles in the shootout, but he’s absolutely a great goaltender otherwise.
• Alex DeBrincat scored tonight, and he’s now scored in three straight games after enduring a very long goal drought. It’s great to see pucks going in the net for him. Hopefully his last few games instill confidence in him and he can keep up his play.

Minuses

• There were a few iffy calls tonight, but the Blackhawks have got to stop taking unnecessary penalties. More discipline is needed.
• A consistent issue for this team this year has been passing too much on the power play. It’s gotten better over the last few games, and they’ve converted on opportunities in their last three games. But when you have the puck as much as they did during overtime and don’t shoot, that’s a problem.

The Blackhawks will head to Las Vegas on Tuesday to face off against the Golden Knights for the second time this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. CST.

The post RECAP: Blackhawks fall to Coyotes 4-3 in shootout appeared first on The Rink.