The Blackhawks and their brand new left-wing faced the red hot, Central division leading Winnipeg Jets, winners of three straight, Friday night. Anthony Duclair, or DUKE as I will refer to him, was marched out to the Hawks faithful after being acquired two days previous. Joel Quenneville went back to Jeff Glass in net, after Anton Forsberg took the narrow loss against Minnesota. The new look, younger lineup featured a third line made up of three players that were all under 24. Erik Gustafsson and Tomas Jurco continued to draw an NHL paycheck while having assigned seats in the Joel Quenneville Shrimp Cocktail suite.
(Photoshop credit to @Wm_J_LePetomane on Twitter)
These were the Blackhawks starting lines:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Vincent Hinostroza
Ryan Hartman – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane
Anthony Duclair – David Kampf – Alex DeBrincat
Patrick Sharp – Tommy Wingels – Lance Bouma
Duncan Keith – Jordan Oesterle
Gustav Forsling – Jan Rutta
Connor Murphy – Brent Seabrook
This game was a much better example of how the Blackhawks match up against the Jets after the previous meeting, where Hawks caught their opponent on an off night and beat them handily. The first period was generally quiet despite the potential firepower each team holds. Winnipeg jumped out to wide shot margin but the Blackhawks came back towards the final half to narrow the margin down to 7-6, and the teams went into the intermission still scoreless.
The best chance the Jets had in the first period was at the midway point, when Jan Rutta got a bad bounce off the glass and turned the puck over deep in his own zone. The Jets jumped on the loose puck and fed former Blackhawk-for-a-minute Marko Dano. The seas parted for Dano and he went 1-on-1 with Glass. Glass made the save on a knuckler that Dano kind of lobbed at his blocker, but the rebound laid in the crease for what seemed like 20 minutes. Gustav Forsling was able to seal off Dano long enough for Glass to find the puck and snuff out the opportunity.
In the second period, both teams showed a little more evidence of the potential firepower they possess, but the Blackhawks were the only team to be able to crack the scoreboard. Shots on net were nearly doubled in the second, with the Hawks holding a slight one shot advantage this time, 12-11.
Rookie center David Kampf opened the scoring five minutes into the second period with his first NHL goal. With new Hawk forward Duclair on the ice, the Blackhawks sustained pressure on the Jets. Alex Debrincat peeled off along the half wall, after taking a pass that Duclair had to jam between the defenders. Debrincat dropped the puck to a wide open Connor Murphy at the point, and Murphy sent a snap shot at Connor Hellebuyck. En route to the net, David Kampf redirected the puck, ever so slightly, past the Jets goaltender. Hellebuyck had no chance whatsoever on the play.
With three and half minutes left in the second period and Duclair involved in the play, again, Jan Rutta handcuffed Hellebuyck with a shot from the bottom of the circle in the Jets’ corner. Rutta almost ran out of room, at the goal line, but he snuck a shot through Hellebuyck’s five-hole and gave the Blackhawks a 2-0 led. The first assist was given to David Kampf, which was his second point of this birthday game.
(Photoshop credit goes to our friend Patrick Judge)
The third period basically turned into the “Jeff Glass Experience“, once again. Jets sniper Patrick Laine tormented the Blackhawks goaltender for most of the period, even drawing iron, but was eventually able to break the shutout bid. This cut the Blackhawks lead to 2-1 with just over three and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
Laine split through five Blackhawks defenders and ripped a snap shot over Glass’ blocker from the top of the left circle. This was probably a play that should have easily been snuffed out, by both the Hawks defense and their goaltender, but it looked like the shot actually surprised Glass. Cut Glass some slack, though, because he played a phenomenal game. Glass got his revenge just a few minutes later, absolutely stoning Laine with a fully extended back door blocker save.
After weathering the late Jets storm, the Blackhawks closed out the division leaders 2-1. The Blackhawks face the Detroit Redwings on Sunday for a matinee game.
Pluses
- Jeff Glass played very, very well. He saved 31 of 32 shots and looked more composed than his previous start, including great breakaway saves on Mathieu Perreault and Kyle Connor in the second period and the late flurry in the third period.
- I feel like I have to mention it because this was his first game, but Anthony Duclair looked “just alright.” He was a hockey player out on the ice. He had a nice 1-on-1 chance with Hellebuyck in the third period, but was not able to get his first Blackhawks goal. He clearly has speed and hands.
- David Kampf saved his first goal and added an assist for his birthday. This kid might never see Rockford again because he is becoming Quenneville’s new Marcus Kruger.
- The Blackhawks are going on a really nice streak of good games at the faceoff dots. They are currently on a SEVEN game streak of winning over 50% of their faceoffs. The last time they were under water was against the Oilers on December 29th.
- As of late, Jonathan Toews has looked like “Jonathan Toews“. We also mentioned this on the podcast, but it seems like the presence of Kampf and Quenneville’s willingness to play Kampf on the PK and deep in the Hawks zone has given Toews new life.
Minuses
- I hate to keep harping on this but, like we mentioned on this weeks Rinkcast, the scheme of the power play looks better but they were still held scoreless on three chances. Winning in the playoffs is not going to get easier going 0-3 every night, so they need to still address this.