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| photo from milehighsticking.com |
I think it's safe to say that the Blackhawk's struggles both on the power play and in the second period are long gone. Of the three goals they scored last night, two of them were power play goals and two of them were second period goals, and this marks the sixth game straight that they've scored at least one power play goal. They're now eighth in the league with nineteen goals in ninety one attempts (good for over 20%). This is good, because only Detroit draws more penalties than Chicago in he whole league.
This win puts them at 3-3-0 against teams in the Central Division (10-5-1 vs the other three divisions). This is what Chicago really struggled with, especially at the tail end of last season, finishing with a record of 13-13-3. If they can win the same ratio of games against their own division as they do against the rest of the league, then their job will be a lot easier come the end of the season when everyone's fighting for playoff seedings.
Patrick Kane is now just one point under a point per game, at twenty one points in twenty two games after the same slow start as everyone else on the Blackhawks. He assisted on every Chicago goal for three assists last night, and is in first place for points and assists (Jonathan Toews has two more goals than him; his 1-1 tying goal made him the first Blackhawk to reach double digits for goals.) Even when he's not scoring, his ability to be involved in the play is pretty much unparalleled (The Blackhawks were only shut out four times last year, all without Patrick Kane in the lineup).
Brent Seabrook had an uncharacteristically weak game last night; despite scoring his 300th career point on the Toews goal, he made a lot of sloppy plays and turnovers, and allowed a breakaway during the first Chicago power play that Corey Crawford only just managed to save. His defensive partner, Duncan Keith took the only two Blackhawks penalties of the game, only the second or third time this season where only one Blackhawk has taken a penalty.
The Avalanche's starting goalie, Semyon Varlamov is currently on IR, and his backup, Reto Barra, got pulled last night. Colorado had to turn to their third string goalie, Calvin Pickard, who before this game, hadn't allowed a goal since October 18th in a loss to Montreal. He was the best player for either team the entire game, facing almost fifty shots and only allowing three goals (two on the man advantage for Chicago). He turned away several excellent chances from the top two lines especially, and this game could easily have been 4-0 or 5-0 heading into the second period. He was outstanding.
My Three Stars of the Game
3. Bryan Bickell. This is the Bickell that the Blackhawks are paying four million a year for, the Bickell that crashes the net and works hard, and he's finally been rewarded with a game winner goal that Pickard had no chance of stopping. I think everyone knows not to expect the kind of play we get form Bickell in the playoffs year round, but if he keeps going to the net like he's been doing the past couple of games, he's going to be rewarded with more and more points.
2. Calvin Pickard. Calvin Pickard made some almost impossible saves this game, turning away point blank chances from Hossa, Versteeg, Saad, I could go on and on. He almost singlehandedly won this game for the Avalanche, but their repeated penalties meant that the Blackhawks kept tipping momentum in their favour.
1. Patrick Kane. Kane now has ten points in his last five games and last night was his sixth multipoint game of the season. I think it's safe to say that he's settled into his scoring groove, and this is the Patrick Kane we're going to see from now on.
Next game: November 28th, vs. Ducks
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