Sloppy First Period Shoots Blackhawks in the Foot

photo from canada.com

It seems to be happening all too often recently. The Blackhawks are conceding two or more goals early in the first period, and find themselves playing catch up for the rest of the game. It feels like they're struggling to come out of the locker room ready to play, and they have to rely on their second and third periods. In this case, good goaltending from Washington and a late power play goal were the final nails in the coffin for Chicago.




Corey Crawford played well this game, but it still feels like he hasn't quite gotten his timing back since the injury. Before his injury, he had a .929%. After yesterday's game, he has a .921%, after allowing three goals or more on three out of five occasions. Hopefully getting back to playing regular games gives him a chance to get this timing back soon, because before the injury, his numbers were Vezina worthy. They're still very good now, but he's dropped to 11th in the league in save percentage, and sixth for GAA.

Add that to some shaky at best defence, with the first goal coming on a breakaway after a fumble by Brent Seabrook and the second and third goals coming as a result of failing to clear a rebound, and the Blackhawks were always playing a losing game. Duncan Keith in particular had an uncharacteristically weak game, with a few notable turnovers including one that led to two shorthanded chances for Alex Ovechkin. The power play continues to struggle, after striking seven seconds into the first chance of the game, they came up empty for the next five chances, including a 1:31 long five on three, where they didn't register a shot on goal.

The penalty kill allowed a goal, dropping them to just under a 90% success rate for the first time since November. They went three of four on the PK, but it was that last power play, am admittedly weak call on Jonathan Toews for hooking, that allowed the power play to strike with thirteen seconds left in the third period, and giving the Capitals the regulation win.

My Three Stars

3. Patrick Sharp. Sharp opened the scoring for the Blackhawks, and had a season high ten shots on goal. He's not been getting as much ice time as he used to, but with Kris Versteeg's injury in the second period, he could start seeing time on a line with Kane and Richards, if Versteeg is out for any length of time. If this happens, we're going to see a dramatic uptick in points for him, and we could get something like last season thirty four goal scorer back.

2. Troy Brouwer. Brouwer got the game winner with thirteen seconds remaining in regulation, and had a pretty solid game besides it. One of the more important ways the Capitals' play has changed with Barry Trotz in charge has been that the third and fourth line guys are scoring way more than they used to. He understands the importance of not making Ovechkin carry the team, and with two of the three goals coming from his depth players, he's obviously doing something right.

1. Braden Holtby. Holtby was the only thing keeping the Capitals in it at points. He was potentially their best player, and he's definitely the most improved player on that team. I'm expecting to see good things from him as the season progresses.

Next game: January 4th, vs. Stars