Lukewarm Blackhawks Somehow Pull Out a Win

photo from newyork.cbslocal.com

The Blackhawks didn't look anything like their usual self this game. Despite being the struggling team and the tireder one, the Devils kept them pinned in their own end for long stretches, beat them to the puck countless times, and had little to no trouble shutting down our top two lines for the majority of the game.


The forwards looked like they did early in the season, like they just can't connect properly, despite the proven chemistry on the top two lines. The third line looked the strongest most of the time, with newly returned Patrick Sharp making the move to third line right wing and recording an assist on the first goal of the game.  I was surprised to see Sharp on the right wing, but I wasn't surprised to see him on the third line. Saad and Versteeg have both been playing well enough to earn their top six spots, demoting either of them would be a mistake. However, last season, Patrick Sharp was their leading points scorer. He's not a bottom six winger, and I don't think he'll be there for long. Brandon Saad plays well with Shaw and Bickell, and the Blackhawks are still looking for the kind of consistency in his game they know they're going to get from the veteran who has a decade of experience on him.

The fourth line was consistently good, too, and Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith continue to shine on the penalty kill, killing off the single penalty with ease. The Blackhawks are still first in the league, with over ninety percent on the penalty kill. No team has ever finished a season with a penalty kill over ninety percent.

The power play is still struggling, although with Sharp back in the line up, able to man the point with Duncan Keith, this will hopefully change in the next couple of games, as Sharp eases back into the lineup.

The offence was struggling in this game, but the defence was much better, preventing all but twenty four shots, two less than the average the Blackhawks allow every game. They're also still leading the league in shots for per game, with an average of 35.9 shots per sixty minutes.

The best player on the ice for either team was undoubtably Devils backup goalie and rookie Keith Kinkaid, making his first NHL start. Cory Schneider has started every game previous to this one. He was outstanding, making half a dozen point blank saves on some of the most dangerous shooters on the Blackhawks, including a highlight reel glove save on a Patrick Kane breakaway that he made look easy.

The Blackhawks looked like they came into New Jersey expecting an easy game. Hopefully they won't have this attitude on Thursday, when they face the Boston Bruins for the first time this season.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Scott Darling. Without Scott Darling, this game could easily have been 2-0 or 3-0 going into the second period. He looked a little less calm and collected than he did in Nashville on Saturday night, but he still has excellent stats, and has improved to 4-1-0 on the season.

2. Duncan Keith. Keith played over thirty minutes last night, and scored the tying goal late in the third.  He had a Corsi of +15, and leads all Blackhawks defencemen in points.

1. Keith Kinkaid. Kinkaid's first NHL start was a success, even without the W. He held the red hot Blackhawks to only two goals, and saved thirty seven of thirty nine shots, taking home a point for the Devils.

Next game: December 11th, vs Bruins