Blackhawks Bounce Back Against Wild

photo from chicagonow.com

Last night the Blackhawks went out feeling like they had something to prove. After a disappointing loss to the Oilers on Friday and a lucky win against Minnesota, they wanted to break this mini-slump, and they succeeded.


Corey Crawford put in another solid effort, probably his best since the return from injury. He saved thirty six of thirty seven shots, good for a .973% save percentage, and he made some highlight reel saves. The one goal he let in was on a rebound, and he just couldn't get across the net in time. A second strong game in a row is a good sign that he's feeling more comfortable in net. It took him some time to break out of the slump, but his play the last couple of games has looked more like the Crawford that started the season.

Marian Hossa, Brad Richards and Bryan Bickell all scored their ninth of the season, and Johnny Oduya scored his second to put the Blackhawks up 4-0. Bickell now has four goals in his last five games, and three of those have come against the Wild. Richards is starting to pick up the offence after a slump of his own. Since missing three games with an upper body injury, he has eight points in his last seven game.

Patrick Kane is continuing to put up points, with two assists giving him 47 points on the season, and tying him for third in the league. He continues to embody the Blackhawks' success, scoring forty one points in 28 wins, but being held to six points in 15 losses this season.

Johnny Oduya is starting to become more of a liability than an asset, despite scoring, he frequently takes penalties, including the penalty shot that Jason Zucker took last night. Defence was generally good last night despite Oduya's play, Duncan Keith especially having a good game, recording two shots on goal and finishing the night as a plus two, despite not recording a point.

The Blackhawks brought their penalty kill up again, going two for two on the PK last night, but they were also unsuccessful on the power play going 0 for 2, dropping them to sixteenth in the league. They also got outshot thirty seven to thirty five, being outshot for the third game in a row since losing to Colorado despite taking fifty four shots. Overall though, it was a strong game by Chicago, something they needed after losing two of their last three.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Brad Richards. Richards continues to play well with Kane, and is starting to pick up the offence after a minor points slump before the christmas break. He's playing well with Bickell, too, but it'll be nice to see the Versteeg-Richards-Kane line back together if Richards can stay hot.

2. Marian Hossa. Hossa still hasn't picked up his normal offensive output, but he's started scoring when it counts, and it shows. He has four points in his last two games.

1. Corey Crawford. This was Crawford's best game since his lower body injury. In his last two games, he's allowed three goals on eighty one shots. This could be a return to form, which is what the Blackhawks need, until they stop getting outshot every game. 

Next game: January 16th, vs. Jets