Ugly Power Play Almost Topples Blackhawks

photo from sportsmockery.com

Last night, the Blackhawks were 0-for-5 in their power play. They spent most of the game outplaying and outshooting the other team (37-20 in favour of Chicago), and they had one regulation goal to show for it.

Sound familiar?



Watching the game against Nashville was eerily like rewatching the game against Calgary from Wednesday night, except this time, overtime went in the Blackhawks' favour, with the Captain, Jonathan Toews, scoring his first of the season. I hesitate to use the word clutch, but, well, if the skate fits, right? Toews has thirty seven regular season game winning goals in his seven seasons in the NHL, and ten game winning goals in ninety four playoff games. It's impressive in anyone's books.

If you're no longer surprised that Jonathan Toews has a knack for timely and impressive goals, consider instead the lights out performance from Carter Hutton, who made thirty five saves after allowing a fairly soft goal on the first shot of the game, including seven power play shots before surrendering the OT goal as Toews scores on his own rebound to win the game 2-1. In my mind, there wasn't a better player on the ice for either team.

Corey Crawford also played well, stopping nineteen of twenty shots, including a scary 2 on 0, and no less than three Shea Weber slapshots (otherwise known as 'oh god, oh god' slapshots). He was definitely the best player for the Blackhawks, who, as well as power play woes, seemed to have trouble entering the offensive zone multiple times, being forced to dump and chase instead of carrying the puck over the line. For a puck possession team like the Blackhawks, this method produced lackluster shots and a disappointing back and forth feeling for most of the game. It seems like last night we gained a glimpse of the new look Predators, working under a new coach for the first time in franchise history.

It was the young players that impressed me the most last night, especially on the blue line for both teams. Seth Jones got both power play and penalty kill time last night, and was especially noticable playing with Weber, and rookie Blackhawk defenceman Trevor Van Riemsdyk continues to impress, switching to both a new side of the ice and a new partner now that Michal Rozsival is healthy.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Jonathan Toews. It took the Blackhawks 81 games to get their first OT win last season, but Captain Clutch does it only four games in this year. That has to go a long way for momentum and the mental block that they seemed to have last year in OT.

2. Corey Crawford. Crawford has started this season strong (2-0-1, 1.90 GAA, .920 sv% before last night's game) and last night was more of the same (1 GAA, .950 sv%). There are points where it feels like he's the only player on the ice in a red jersey, and he's standing on his head for a suddenly offensively challenged team.

1. Carter Hutton. Hutton held the Blackhawks to one goal for over sixty minutes of play. That's impressive for any starting NHL goalie, but for a backup in his second full season, it's downright phenomenal. I'll be interested to see if his second season is as solid as his first (20-11-4)

Next game: Tuesday, October 21st vs. Flyers