Delicious Cake
-Patrick Kane scored 2 goals including the game winner in OT, which was deflected off of Johnny Boychuk's stick. Seems like he's picking up where he left off last year, when he scored 64 points in 61 games before snapping his collarbone like a pencil. And then returning from that injury to post 23 points in 23 playoff games. Dude is a beast and will continue to be a beast.
-Johnathan Toews shoveled a tremendous behind the back pass to Kane for an easy goal. He also had a couple of great scoring opportunities including a mad scramble in the 1st.
-Corey Crawford, solid as usual. Love that fucking guy!
-Artemi Panarin has skill. He very good at hockey sport. Russian Ruble crash, so Panarin play in NHL now. Nostrovia!
So-So Soup
-Artem Anisimov scored a shorty with a slick backhand top shelfer. He anticipated and pounced on a weak Islanders pass for an easy breakaway. But other than that, his presence was a non-factor. Nice goal, though. That's what they brought him here for.
-Bryan Bickell continues to play uninspired hockey. At least he didn't do anything to hurt the team, but he certainly isn't helping.
Expired Tuna Salad
-Viktor Svedberg was paid actual money for his participation in the game last night. No really, he's a professional hockey player, look it up. I know, I know, it's his 1st game in the NHL, so I should cut the kid some slack, but I'll be damned if he doesn't look like Shawn Bradley on skates. A mutant with no mobility. I haven't seen such appalling turnovers since David Rundblad a couple nights ago. Just how fucked is the defensive depth that I anxiously await the return of Michal Rozsival?
-John Tavares' goal was entirely preventable. Keith got caught out of position in the corner, and Hjalmars let Tavares skate in front of Crawford and shoot twice without being touched. You can't let a player of that caliber have all day in the slot, because he will score.
-Ah yes, the first too many men on the ice penalty for the Hawks this year. One of many, I presume. The Blackhawks had the 2nd most bench minors in the league last year. Quenneville and his assistants need to fucking fix that shit. It's embarrassing and aggravating. And while they're at it, why not fix the goddamn power play, ya buncha piss turds.
A word on the Barclays Center:
Barclays Center seats 15,813 people, making it 2nd to last in seating capacity, even though that's just a few hundred less than what the old Nassau Coliseum could seat. The stadium with the least amount of seats is MTS Centre, where the Winnipeg Jets play to a mere 15,000 fans.
It's very clear that the Barclays Center was never meant to host hockey games. The left side (on TV) of the ice is a shitshow, with railings obstructing the view of the near corner. Oh, and there's a car parked behind the glass in the far corner, which strikes me as some KHL or Swedish league shit. It reminds me of a mall, actually. Kind of tacky for the NHL. "Ooh, a car!" Get outta here with that shit. For fuck's sake, replace the car with some seats. Or do a Street Fighter promotion and have a guy dressed like Ryu try to demolish the car with his fists in between periods. Yeah, do that!
But I'm glad that the Islanders moved to Brooklyn. For selfish reasons. My girlfriend is from Brooklyn, and we visit at least once a year, so I'll actually be able to see a hockey game when we go. Unless ticket prices are insane, which might be the case. That's what has stopped me from catching a game at Madison Square Garden. Also, the general ugliness of Rangers fans. But good on the Islanders for moving away from the concrete shitbox in the middle of Bumfuck, Long Island known as the Nassau Coliseum, a mere 90 minutes of walking and trains and walking from Brooklyn. And 90 minutes back. That's 3 hours of travel for a game that lasts less than 3 hours. There are better ways to spend my time in New York.
Final Thought:
I miss Nick Leddy. The Hawks D could really use him. Even if he looks like a murderer who tried to slit his own throat...
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