The Blackhawks completed the bottom of half of their Stars home-and-home Saturday night in Dallas. They also surprised everyone by announcing that goaltender Corey Crawford was put on IR Friday night, and goalie Jean-Francois Berube was recalled from Rockford. This meant that Anton Forsberg was in sole possession of the starting position for at least the next three games. While he showed some promise in the preseason, he has been a bit shaky in the regular season. Nonetheless, the Blackhawks have to show what they are made of.
These were the Blackhawks starting lines:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Richard Panik
Nick Schmaltz – Artem Anisimov – Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp – Ryan Hartman – Alex DeBrincat
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – John Hayden
Duncan Keith – Cody Franson
Connor Murphy – Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling – Jan Rutta
It was only a few minutes before the Blackhawks found themselves on the power play after Gustav Forsling drew an early tripping penalty. As what happened six of the seven power plays on Thursday, the Hawks squandered the opportunity. This would be a theme on the night.
Not only did they not score, but they turned around and took a penalty of their own.
Not only did they take a penalty of their own, but the Stars capitalized on said power play, taking a 1-0 lead. Alexander Radulov one timed a puck from just over the goal line to Forsberg’s left, on a feed from Tyler Seguin.
The Blackhawks soon answered, though. #KingKongCody Franson used a Patrick Sharp screen to sneak a long half clapper past Ben Bishop’s glove side, just a few minutes after the Stars took the lead.
No one was able to take the lead before they hit the intermission thanks to a big save by Anton Forsberg with under a minute remaining in the period. The play was about as even as possible as both teams threw 11 shots on net.
The second period opened with the Blackhawks killing off the final seconds of the late first period Duncan Keith tripping penalty but they were then pinned deep in their own zone for nearly two more full minutes post penalty kill. Anton Forsberg was big in net yet again, keeping the game tied at one.
The pair of Jan Rutta and Gustav Forsling had a rough go in the middle period. With about eight minutes remaining in the period, Remy Elie and Radek Faksa hooked up to put the Stars up 2-1 after Forsling failed to clear the puck much further than the Hawks blue line.
The Blackhawks answered, once again, but this time it was with under a minute to go in the sandwich period. Brandon Saad tipped a long Connor Murphy slap shot past a surprised Ben Bishop to tie the game up once again.
The period ended with the Blackhawks getting out shot 15-12, but were able to draw another Stars penalty, with seconds left, that carried over into the third.
Nothing changed for this power play, which also generated no pressure. Following the unsuccessful power play, the teams both went a little cold as far as scoring chances go. Matching two minute minors about mid way through the third period had the same results.
The third period ended tied and the Blackhawks out shot the Stars 9-5, so this game was going to be decided by extra time.
The overtime had a good amount of chances each way but most of this shots didn’t reach the net leaving teams to only tally five total shots. In the shootout, Ben Bishop saved both chances and his Blackhawks counterpart saved neither, to give the Stars the home-and-home sweep.
Pluses
- After his bad game Thursday, I was really glad to see #KingKongCodyFranson score a goal early on. I might be his biggest fan.
- Anton Forsberg made 33 saves and, once again, deserved to win a start. Seems like every time this guy plays the team lets him down.
- #ElGato didn’t score but was noticeable and showed off some quick hands
Minuses
- The Blackhawks were forced to play this game as an 8:00 start that ended way late, in Dallas, and they will have to rush home in the morning to get to the United Center for a 6:00 start against the Kings that night. Don’t be surprised if they lay an egg tomorrow.
- Looks like my Richard Panik jumpstart did not work. He was completely invisible. If you told me he was scratched, I would have believed you.
- The Schmaltz/Anisimov/Kane line was just run over in possession all night. They all finished with 5v5 Corsi percentages below 28%.
- The Blackhawks power play was wretched all night, going 0-3. This guy put it best when he said the following:
Here are the game highlights: