Highlights
I realize I never did a recap for game 24 vs. the Sharks. Sorry about that - I blame my fat ass and tryptophan. What could I say about that game anyway - I had a red mark on my forehead from all of the times I slapped it in reacting to waaaaay too many DOH moments by the Hawks. And while I'm glad Nemo did well, I just don't want him to do it *against* us. Sadly, he got torched tonight by the Canucks, 6-1. Whoops.
Anyway, onto the game at hand.
- Although the Hawks outshot the Ducks 13-6 and outplayed them in the first, all it took was one ill advised penalty by Pisani to give the Ducks the 1-0 lead going into the locker room. That left me with an icky feeling during the intermission, and no it wasn't the leftover turkey sandwich I had for lunch.
- With as bad as the PP had looked as of late for the Hawks, it was nice to see Dunc tie the game with a shortie. Makes me wonder if we should just decline penalties - we were 0-2 with the man advantage.
- Aside from the Ducks goal in the first, the Hawks PK was much better overall, killing 4 of 5. They've got to stop taking the stupid penalties though - it really doesn't help matters much.
- Who says karma doesn't exist? After taking a run at Cullimore in the second, Dan Sexton set up Patrick Sharp with a beautiful centering pass to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the early minutes of the third. It ended up being the GWG /manical laughter
- Yay for TOFTBO breaking his scoring drought! And Bolland assisted on the goal? BIZARRO WORLD!
- Was that not the best shift of the year for Troy Brouwer in the third? After delivering a clean bone crushing hit on the boards, he received a beautiful pass from Jake Dowell to pot his fourth of the season and put the game on ice. I am a big TBrouw fan, but I will be the first to admit his play this season has been less than stellar. He seems to have picked it up on the circus trip - let it continue.
- Huzzah for the reuniting of the Keith/Seabrook and Campbell/Hjalmarsson D-Pairings! I have no doubt the terrible showing by Boynton on Wednesday led to it. Actually I was quite surprised Boynton even dressed for the game. Hendry must have gotten a scratch on Q's car again when parking it.
- Excellent face-off percentages by Toews (56%), Dowell (56%) and Bolland (53%). Unfortunately Sharp was a putrid 25% (3 for 12).
- I kinda like the Ducks third jerseys. Then again I do like the color orange. Don't believe me? I drive an orange car.
- All five games the Hawks have played on the circus trip have been decided by at least 3 goals. If that doesn't tell you how bi-polar this team is, nothing will.
I'm only handing out one award for this game...
Corey Crawford
With the offensive explosion by the Hawks in the third period, Corey's performance went mostly unnoticed. But let's not forget the big save made on the Ducks breakaway in the first when the game was still scoreless - if that goes in, it's a whole different ballgame. Crawford stopped 26 of 27, including all 12 SOG in the third. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in net tomorrow vs. the Kings. Is this the start of another Blackhawks goalie controversy? Honestly I could care less - the team's been so inconsistent, just play the hot hand and go with the flow.
TOEWS-FACE OF THE GAME
I'm always amused by the looks on fans' faces on the boards. These Anaheim fans look either asleep or like they're watching golf on TV.
So, with one game left on the circus trip, the Blackhawks are guaranteed to at least come home at .500. Personally, I won't call this trip a success unless the Hawks get at least one point versus the Kings tomorrow night. I will not see the game as I will be going to the IceHogs game in Rockford instead. It is Jack Skille Bobblehead Night - Y'ALL HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS!
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