The Chicago Blackhawks, led by rookie Alex DeBrincat, came back from a late 3-1 deficit to win a big road game last night.
Back in the heady days of 2009 and 2010, hockey analysts used to talk about how Brian Campbell took pressure off Duncan Keith, and in so doing, made Keith a better player. Less minutes, less high pressure situations. And there was evidence to suggest that was true.
For all the Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews Fatheads that adorn bedroom walls throughout Blackhawk Nation, the truth is, the heroes of this era of Blackhawk Hockey are, and always have been, human. Fallible. No capes, no tights, no flying without a boarding pass.
Sadly, that’s become more and more obvious as the salary cap has forced GM Stan Bowman to sell off more and more of the once great supporting cast that surrounded the cornerstones of the current Hawk success: Campbell, Byfuglien, Hjalmarsson, Panarin, etc.
If it’s just 3 Hall of Famers and a bunch of beer leaguers, the superstars aren’t going to look better by comparison, they’re going to look worse in isolation—and the whole team is going to suffer.
So the problem this year hasn’t been that Alex DeBrincat, Gustav Forsling, Nick Schmaltz, Connor Murphy, etc haven’t been good enough to play in the NHL. It’s that they haven’t been good enough to almost carry this team when necessary.
Keith, Brent Seabrook, and as I pointed out the other day, especially Patrick Sharp, aren’t getting any younger. There’s a compelling argument that Toews is not what he once was. Even Kane has struggled for stretches this year.
The core is nearing its expiration date.
At the same time, you can bet the front office/coaching staff calculus is (and has been) that there’s enough core talent left there, that when/if complemented by enough young talent, this team can go deep in the playoffs.
Are we there yet?
I don’t think so.
Because as well as DeBrincat, Forsling, and for the last 25 minutes or so, Anton Forsberg, played last night in keying the Hawks’ comeback OT victory, to expect these guys to deliver like this every night, without some more fits and starts (getting flattened with their heads down in the corners, brutal turnovers, etc) is unrealistic.
Still, the news last night was good. And encouraging.
After looking like hot garbage at times over the first 30 minutes or so, the Hawks kept working. Even during the third period, when the Hawks came back to tie the score on goals by Forsling and DeBrincat (his second of the night), Chicago was outshot 10-5. The recurring clown car act of trying to get out of their end subjected Forsberg to a barrage of tough chances—which he was up to, even if he did have a horseshoe in his pads when Jeff Skinner missed an open side.
All Hail Cat
But full marks to DeBrincat who, playing on the fourth line, showed more confidence and looseness than he has all year. And perhaps, being out of the spotlight of high expectations allowed him to play his game and not, as they say, squeeze the sap out of his stick on every shift.
It was “Cat,” (that’s for you, Gate) who not only scored the first two goals for Chicago (his second and third of the season when a goalie is actually in the net—that’s also for you, Gate), who deftly set up Brandon Saad for the game winner in OT.
Saad, also, is one of those “marquee” players who need the likes of DeBrincat to step up—so he can be at his best.
It was a huge win for the Hawks, two points in the standings—a million in psychology. And perhaps it creates some momentum for tonight’s home game versus New Jersey.
A big day to come on The-Rink
I’ll have a preview of the Devils game later this morning, and tonight, Gatekeeper and I face off with our own Coach Bob Rose, Jr. (aka “SnapitUpstairs”) on the RinkCast. Get your questions—especially about the mechanics and X’s and O’s of hockey— in to @TheRinkOfficial.