Shootout Success Beats Lightning

photo from lightning.nhl.com

Last season, the Blackhawks won four of their twelve shootouts of the year, and notoriously struggled with overtime. So far this year, they're three for three, and have only lost once in overtime.


A lot of this has been due to some great late in the game work by Corey Crawford. He has allowed only two third period goals so far this season (including the one vs. the Lightning), one overtime goal (to Calgary) and has so far blanked everyone in the shootout. Their problem hasn't been stopping the other team from forcing an overtime; it's been the Blackhawks' inability to force overtime that's hurting them. Of their six regulation losses this season, all six of them have been one goal games that Chicago have been unable to tie the game on. It all comes back down to their struggling offence, although, with fourteen goals in the last four games, it seems that the Blackhawks' scoring woes are finally coming to an end.

Something else that's really helping out in keeping the goals against low is defence. Almost every defenceman is having a solid start to the season, and even the ones that sometimes struggle (Oduya, Rozsival) are having flashes of brilliance that leads to the defensive depth that a team like Chicago is supposed to display, and all of this is helped by Trevor van Riemsdyk's almost Hjalmarsson like versatility and ability to play with anyone on the team and either on the right or the left side.

Chicago's penalty kill is still getting far too much ice time for my liking, but it remains strong, killing off all three of the minor penalties and staying top of the league (four power play goals allowed in firty eight attempts). Worryingly, they're allowing just as many shorthanded goals (the one scored last night was the third of four involving a bad reaction from Richards). Quenneville has had to move his power play units around due to the Patrick Sharp injury, but they're still not producing at a consistent rate, and they were 0 for 6 last night, despite several rounds of in game tinkering.

Despite power play woes, Brad Richards finally seems to be finding his groove, jumping up and down the lines at any given point in the game and scoring his third of the season last night. He and Brandon Saad have had particular success, along with Bryan Bickell, and that trio is starting to become a legitimate second or third line threat. Kris Versteeg had another strong game, and goes from strength to strength, recording four shots on goal last night, tied with Toews and Richards for second on the team.

Jeremy Morin almost dropped the gloves for the second straight game, after he gets shoved over in the Lightning's crease, and he got a second roughing penalty after one of the Lightning hit linemate Peter Regin into the boards. Quenneville's obviously told him to be more physical to make up for not having Daniel Carcillo (lower body injury) in the lineup, and he's doing that, but I'm worried that it might be at a detriment to his offensive play.

Late in the third period, Chicago suffered yet another injury (that ultimately resulted in the tying goal being scored). Johnny Oduya blocked a shot on his leg that left him barely able to skate, but the play wasn't blown dead, and he was left stumbling around trying to defend a dangerous Lightning break after a clearing attempt bounced off the referee and in front of the goal. Oduya broke his foot blocking a shot in game seven of the Western Conference Finals against LA last season.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Ben Bishop. Bishop turned away thirty seven of thirty night shots, and allowed only one goal after the end of regulation (Patrick Kane's shootout beauty). A team missing Bishop and a completely healthy Steven Stamkos were swept in the playoffs last year by Montreal; and you can see just how much of a difference Bishop makes in high calibre games like this one.

2. Marcus Kruger. Kruger finally nets his second of the season on a beautiful tip in from Niklas Hjalmarsson, showing that he has the capability to score, not just kill penalties. (Kruger's previous goal was awarded instead to Kris Versteeg, against Montreal)

1. Patrick Kane. Kane scored the only goal in the shootout for two of the three shootout victories this season, tying him with Sidney Crosby for most shooutout winning goals of active NHLers (13), and while his new defensive responsibility might be putting some pressure on his offence, Patrick Kane keeps showing us that he can win games for his team.

Next game: November 14th, vs. Red Wings