Kane Helps Chicago Edge Past Flames

photo from blackhawkup.com

Last time Chicago played Calgary, they outshot them 50-18, and lost 2-1 in overtime when they probably should have won. This time, they were outshot 27-22 and won 4-3 when they probably should have lost.


There were a lot of problems with this game, and how the Blackhawks played. For a start, the discipline was a real issue; they took five unanswered minor penalties, six in total, and they were only four for six on the penalty kill. For the first time this season, the Blackhawks allowed more than one powerplay goal in a game, and they're now 6 for 58 on the season, leaving them still first in the league, but they've dipped below ninety percent (89.7%). They did go one for two on the powerplay, with Adam Clendening scoring his first NHL goal on his first shot in his debut. It would turn out to be his only shot on goal. Clendening replaces the injured Trevor van Riemsdyk on the Circus trip. His play on this trip will likely determine whether he takes the spot full time until van Riemsdyk's return. Van Riemsdyk has successful knee surgery on Thursday to replace a fractured patella; he'll be out for three to four months.

I thought another weak point in this game was the defence. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook had strong games, as Seabrook scored the second period goal for Chicago and became the highest scoring defenceman on the Blackhawks with five goals (only Keith has more points, with eleven, but only four goals) but of the remaining four defencemen, they took eight penalty minutes between them, and only Clendening recorded a point and did not take a penalty. Niklas Hjalmarsson ended up taking a minor penalty to cover a mistake by his defensive partner, Johnny Oduya, and Oduya also took a penalty of his own, sending the puck over the glass for delay of game.

Patrick Kane continues to lead the Blackhawks offence with a team high three shots on goal (tied with Joakim Nordstrom, scoreless in two games so far this season) and his third game winning goal of the season (he's scored the GWG in back to back games vs. Dallas and Calgary). It's also his thirty third career game winning goal. Kane now has seven points in his last five games, and a three game points streak. He's tied for first on the team with sixteen points, so I think the worries about his offensive struggles are long over, especially considering how well he's clicking with his linemates.

The last time the Blackhawks won a game they probably should have lost, it was all down to Corey Crawford, who stood up behind them against the Dallas Stars in the season opener. I think this was his weakest game of the season, although he still made some solid saves, especially in the last three or four minutes of regulation, when he was facing a six on four power play late in the third. I'm confident that he'll bounce back next game, and continue with the level of play we've been getting so far this season.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Paul Byron. Byron opened the scoring for the Flames, and assisted on the 3-3 tying goal in the second period. He might not have been the best player for the Flames, but he was the most effective, and it was his goal late in the first Flames power play that gave them the momentum to stay in this game.

2. Adam Clendening. Clendening did something only two other current Blackhawks have done (Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw); his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot in his first NHL game. He opened the scoring for Chicago, and had a solid debut, despite his defensive partner having a less than ideal game.

1. Patrick Kane. Kane has back to back game winners and is on pace for sixty nine points this season. He had a slow start, but this is looking more like the Patrick Kane that everyone is used to seeing, and I'm hoping he's around to stay.