After a very uninspired loss in Vancouver the previous night, the Blackhawks took a short jaunt to Alberta to face the Edmonton Construction Cones. Making his NHL and Blackhawks debut was 32 year old goaltender Jeff Glass. This was not where the Blackhawks or their fans thought the team would be two days before the end of the year but, unfortunately, this is the turn they have taken. Joining the corp of walking wounded was possibly the most productive center on the team, in Artem Anisimov.
These were the Blackhawks starting lines:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Richard Panik
Ryan Hartman – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – David Kampf – Vince Hinostroza
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – John Hayden
Duncan Keith – Jordan Oesterle
Connor Murphy – Brent Seabrook
Michal Kempny – Cody Franson
Patrick Sharp, Gustav Forsling and Jan Rutta all took a seat after playing in Vancouver, Thursday.
As far as play went, It took almost eight minutes for either team to get a dangerous chance, until Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad hooked up to nearly beat Cam Talbot, but Talbot was able to narrowly keep the puck from crossing the goal line.
The Jeff Glass show then began. Connor Murphy and Brent Seabrook turned into a yakety sax skit and left Leon Draisaitl all by himself for a clear breakaway from the Blackhawks’ blue line in. Glass maintained his composure and was able to deny the Oilers young forward. This wasn’t the only time he was one-on-one with a young talented Oilers forward, as he was forced to stop Connor McDavid more than once.
A late first period Michal Kempny penalty allowed the Oilers to show off their power play chops and eventually yielded a 1-0 lead. Glass made the stop of a long Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shot but the rebound dropped right into the slot area. Jesse Puljujarvi just gave the loose puck a wild whack and it beat Glass.
After just a couple of chances very early on, the Blackhawks showed little signs of offensive life for the final 3/4 of the period, but were actually able to tie the game, anyway. Ryan Hartman continued his solid play by scoring his second goal in two nights by keeping his play simple. He drove hard to the net, and swatted a Patrick Kane rebound past Cam Talbot.
Even though they tied the score, the Blackhawks were out shot 19-11. At this rate, they looked like they were going to have a rough night, especially with a first time NHLer in the net.
The Oilers opened the second period much like they played a majority off the first period. They tested Glass from the opening faceoff, but the “rookie” had a little luck on his side and a little help from his friends Connor Murphy and Brent Seabrook.
At the midway point of the second period the Blackhawks finally drew their first power play of the game. The pressure was there for the Hawks, but they were not able to get many shots to the actual net. As a result, the power play was successfully killed by the home team.
Just a few moments later, Richard Panik drew another Oilers penalty after he was caught from behind on a breakaway. This time the Blackhawks capitalized on their man advantage. Duncan Keith made a brilliant play, turning away a potential Oilers shorthanded rush, and fed Nick Schmaltz back the other way. Schmaltz waited out the Oilers goaltender and dumped the puck off to Alex DeBrincat, who snapped a shot five-hole past Talbot for a rare Blackhawks power play goal.
The period ended with the Blackhawks leading 2-1 and leading the period in shots 14-12.
An Oilers third period too-many-men penalty, with about eleven minutes remaining in the game, quickly turned into Jordan Oesterle’s first NHL goal. He snapped a long shot past Cam Talbot that rang solidly off the post. The shot hit Talbot in the back and dribbled into the net, just seconds into the power play. An even more rare second power play goal.
With 2:19 remaining the Oilers cut the Blackhawks lead to one goal on a weird long shot that changed direction and ended up eluding Glass. Under a minute and a half after that, Leon Draisaitl chipped a rebound past Glass to tie the game with just under a minute remaining. As a result, this game was sent to overtime.
In overtime, Patrick Kane put the “Jeff Glass Feel Good Story” on his shoulders and put the cherry on top of the 32 year old sundae. The Construction Cones never controlled the puck in the extra period, while Duncan Keith and Nick Schmaltz held possession. Keith finally deferred to Kane, who put a little shake-n-bake move on Draisaitl and drove in one-on-one with Talbot. Kane put a pretty incredible move on the Oilers goalie but was initially stopped by Talbot’s left leg. He followed up the rebound, though, and poked it into the net for a Blackhawks win.
Pluses
- Once again, I call out a Blackhawks player and he answers the bell. For the second time this season Alex DeBrincat ended his goalless streak the game following a call out.
- Jeff Glass was incredibly composed for his first NHL game. He wasn’t perfect, by any means, but he was generally very solid, which is exactly what this team needed. 42 saves is nothing to sneeze at.
- Once again, the Pat Kane line carried the team. Hartman and Kane each had a goal, while Schmaltz had three assists.
- While he was slightly under 50%, David Kampf is listed as have taken 22 of the Blackhawks 59 faceoffs, which is almost unbelievable.
Minuses
- Those orange home Oilers jerseys are terribly hideous. The moron that thought those were a good idea should be fired.
- John Hayden looks to be in Q’s doghouse after playing a team low 10:46
- Speaking of the doghouse, the Kempny and Franson pairing barely played 10 minutes each on defense.
- Lets not all get our knickers in a bunch just yet. The Blackhawks played a struggling team alright, but blew a late two goal lead.