Islanders Snap Blackhawks Streak

photo from islanders.nhl.com

The Islanders gave the Blackhawks their first loss since November 23rd last night in a fast paced back and forth that really could have gone either way, and looked like it was going to right up until midway through the third period.


Both teams played a fast and impressive game in the first period, with great chances at either end of the ice, but as it went on, the Islanders picked up speed and left the Blackhawks struggling to catch up. They were outshot 41-25, and had negative possession numbers for only the eighth time in thirty games. They're currently the best possession team in the league, controlling 54.8% of the shot attempts, on average, so I think it's safe to say that last night, where only three Chicago players had positive possession numbers, is a rarity. This game is the fifth in six since losing Corey Crawford that they've been outshot, and this is the widest margin yet. Crawford has been skating with the team since  the Boston game, and looks likely to return early next week, possibly against the Wild.

The Blackhawks seem back to their old, undisciplined playing style of taking too many penalties, and they finally allowed their eighth of the season on the Islanders' third attempt. This gives them a penalty kill percentage of 90.6&, almost three percent higher than second place (Detroit, with 87.8%).

The best player for Chicago last night was unquestionably Scott Darling, keeping them in it right up until the final whistle. He made thirty eight of forty one saves, and it's only the second time this season he's allowed more than two goals in a game.

Patrick Kane scored for the second game in a row, another highlight reel goal, but the best line for Chicago was it's third, Bickell, Shaw and Sharp all having an excellent game. Sharp led the team with seven shots on goal, so it looks like he's adjusting well to this line. He has one assist and fourteen shots since returning to the line up three games ago, so that's probably going to change soon, especially playing like he is. That third line was the best possession line, and combined for the most shots on goal, eleven of the twenty five in total.

Duncan Keith generally had a very strong game, but it was an uncharacteristic turnover to Cal Clutterbuck that resulted in the Islanders' first goal and the momentum shifted their way for essentially the rest of the game. Similarly, Kris Versteeg's untimely penalty to John Tavares that resulted in the Islander's second goal just tipped the momentum further. The Blackhawks weren't playing badly, but small breakdowns that the Islanders capitalised on were what cost them the game, as the Blackhawks were unable to jump on the Islanders' mistakes in turn.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Patrick Kane. Patrick Kane did what Patrick Kane often does, and scored a beautiful goal to give his team the lead. It's his second in two games, and he currently leads the Blackhawks with twenty eight points in thirty games. He also leads the league in third period goals, with ten of them.

2. Kyle Okposo. Okposo is only the eighth person to score on the Blackhawks during the man advantage this season, in over a hundred power play attempts, which deserves a star all by itself, but this is the goal that really tipped things in the Islanders' favour, and the game winner, scored less than a minute later, is a result of Okposo's goal.

1. Lubomir Visnovsky. His game winner was probably the best individual effort of the three Islander's goals, and the only one Scott Darling never really stood a chance on. It was impressive, and the Blackhawks just didn't have an answer for it.

Next game: December 14th, vs. Flames