An Unexpected Comeback - Blackhawks 4 - Kings 2

I fully expected the Hawks to lose. After the standstill 2nd period, I figured the flat play was indicative of growing pains that would last for a while, especially with Hossa out, bringing the number of players from last year's active roster to 8. I figured the Hawks that weren't here last year would not know how to finish, that they had to learn and solidify before making the leap to beating good Western Conference teams. I was wrong. Sort of. The core of Toews and Kane will always be a threat to pull off a blitzkrieg of goals, as are anybody playing on a line with them. Kane and Toews were involved in all 4 goals scored, with a goal and an assist each. A 3-goal third period, along with Crawford coming alive after looking vulnerable early to stop all 25 shots in the final 2 periods, wrapped up a win that I thought would be a shitty loss to the surging Kings. I was genuinely surprised and elated, which I haven't felt since Columbus, 5 games ago. Let's get to it...




Delicious Cake

-Jonathan Toews. Scored the first goal on a brilliant feed by Garbutt, and assisted on the dagger to the face goal by Anisimov, late in the 3rd. 




-Artem Anisimov. Seems like he's the only guy who can score on a breakaway this year (besides Panarin on opening night). Anisimov is a true talent that I was unaware of, having been playing in the bowels of hockey hell, Columbus. He is the big 2nd line center the Hawks have always needed, and I hope he stays around for a long time.

-Kane. Patrick Kane. This motherfucker injected life into the game (and my bored brain) with an unsuspecting shot that flew over the shoulder of an unsuspecting Jonathan Quick. All of a sudden, the game was tied, and the momentum shifted to the Hawks. Then he follows that up with a behind the back, behind the net pass to Teuvo, who scored to put the Hawks up 3-2. He's on a 7 game point streak. He went on a tear last year before breaking his collarbone, and it seems like he's picking up where he left off. It's very likely that he'll surpass his high of 88 points in 2010.

So-So Soup

-The 3rd line. I gotta cut these guys some slack, because they are being thrust into a trial by fire situation. It's needed, though, as the roster got gutted after last year. Couple that with Hossa's injury and Bickell's cadaverous efforts, the only option is to put together a best-of-Rockford 3rd line, and hope they can find a way to contribute. Q should give the Kero-Dano-Hartmann-Baun-Hinostroza experiment some leeway, and hopefully they'll manage to contribute in a positive way. But as of now, it's just a bunch of bewildered young-ins, slapping around the puck, trying not to suck.  


Expired Tuna Salad

-Bryan Bickell. Oh, he didn't play last night? Well, I don't think anybody played terribly last night, so this is gonna be about ol' thin hair, garbage face, float around the ice, 6' 4" but won't use it, 5 shots in 7 games, $4 million salary cap albatross. He's like somebody you date for 2 months, fall in love with, is awesome, and then reverts back to the mediocre person they truly are, and you stay with them for 6 more months, hoping they can retrieve the spirit of the person you fell in love with. In my experience, it doesn't happen. 

It wouldn't be so bad if he hadn't shown the potential to be great. It makes me feel like a fool for believing he could sustain it. I'm glad the Hawks and Q have tried to make it work, exhausting the issue until there was no choice but to send him down to the minors. I hope he finds his game again, and I hope the Cubs will win the World Series in my lifetime. These things will never happen. Smell ya later, Bicks.




Noticeably Unnoticed Award for Excellence in Impalpable Impact

-Ryan Hartman. Least time on ice with under 10 minutes. It's unclear what he brings. Coach knows he ain't ready. He ain't ready. 

Final Thought:

I can't wait for the St. Louis game on Wednesday. I have hated this current Blues team since 2011, when David Backes was named captain. At one point, the Blues roster had Maxim Lapierre, Steve Ott, Barret Jackman, Ryan Reaves, and Roman Polak. That's 5 of the most despicable hockey players, all on one team. Other guys on the team get in on the after whistle noogies, which I think is because of Backes, who leads like a dirty cop, allowing all below him to try to get away with petty bullshit. By the way, Backes has 13 points and 32 penalty minutes in 29 career playoff games. What a leader. 


He's a mighty good leader


The departure of Jackman, who I hate the most, makes them a little less hateable, but not by much. I still maintain that Jackman would not look out of place in an SS uniform. He has that casually evil look to him that is only amplified by his shitbaggery after the whistle. Seriously, if he hears any whistle, even if it's a traffic cop, he is bound by Satanic order to cross check somebody in the neck, children and dogs included. 


More of this, please.
 

I do not like the St. Louis Blues and desire their continued failure.