Viktor Comes To Life - Penguins 3, Blackhawks 2
The Chicago Blackhawks haven't won a regulation game in any Pittsburgh hockey arena since 1997 and decided to let that stink linger for at least another season. The Hawks juxtaposed general ineffectiveness/lethargy in the first 40 minutes with an absolutely beasting final stanza. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as they fell 3-2 to the Penguins or as I may start calling them, St. Louis East. While it wasn't enough, I think I speak for a lot of fans that took heart in that third period. It was streets ahead of the effort in the first two periods and it seemed like it was going to be a sixty minute rotten egg. This Blackhawk team is excellent but they're not going to win every game. Pittsburgh is one of the best coached teams in the league and they're always going to be a difficult test in their building. It's a real shame that these teams don't play more often - this would be an excellent rivalry.
Here comes the Good, Bad and Ugly:
GOOD
- The Period of Stalberg was a sight to behold. Viktor has had his moments this year where he's shown flashes of talent to go along with that speed and movie star good looks. Tonight was one of those nights. It's as if the Hawks traded for another superstar who showed up in the third period. I have no complaints - he was all over the place creating chances left and right. Good on ya, Vik.
- Ray Emery was really good again tonight. There was talk of pulling him after the second period and I have no idea where it started. Some signs point to Jesse Rogers which wouldn't surprise me at all. Throwing Corey Crawford in when the whole world knows he's getting a start at home against Montreal where he can really try to build some confidence would have been idiotic. Quenneville isn't an idiot.
- Jonathan Toews is my favorite player of all time and he's still got something like 45 years left before he hangs up the skates. What a joy to watch.
- John Scott not only did that thing that he's paid very little money (relatively speaking) to do when he came to Marcus Kruger's aid and beat the piss out of Deryk Engelland, he also managed to get back on defense (though he only had to because he was out of position) and use his long reach (cue Pee Wee's Playhouse Magic Word screaming) to break up an odd man rush. It was as shocking as it was pleasing.
BAD
- Stop waiting 40 minutes to put on a show. There was some beautiful play in the third period and this team is capable of doing that all the time. Tonight proved that they're not going to get away with that crap against good teams, especially on the road.
- The first two periods were littered with bad penalties and a little bit of bad luck. Marcus Kruger got drilled by Deryk Engelland (who clearly has no idea how to spell either of his names) when Engellend left his feet and shouldered Kruger in the head. This would be the second game in a row that a Hawk player spent most of his night taking quizzes in the locker room. Scott got ten, five and two while Engelland only got five. That damn instigator penalty ended up with the puck in the Hawk net and Pittsburgh was on their way.
UGLY
- Engelland's hit on Kruger was filthier than the salad bar at Old Country Buffet. He left his feet and targeted the head yet the Blackhawks ended up having to try and kill an instigator penalty (they didn't). The hit basically tilted the momentum completely in favor of the Penguins and it stayed that way until the third period. Too little too late but it seems a little cruel that the Hawks were hard done by a hit that will probably warrant some kind of discipline from Shannaban.
- Deryk Engelland has entered penisloaf status. I'm going to throw James Neal into that group as well. His look of incredulity as the referee called a couple of horsecrap penalties on him was mind numbing. Yeah, dickhead - you can't crosscheck people in the back. Go fuck yourself.
The Hawks return to the United Center to take on the in-crisis Montreal Canadiens. With an Anglophone head coach will they change their name to the Canadians? The Habitants? Montreal is full of insane people. Go Hawks.
Posted by Slaky at 12/20/2011 11:02 PM 
Categories: Game Recap
Tags: Viktor Stalberg Ray Emery Chicago Blackhawks John Scott
Categories: Game Recap
Tags: Viktor Stalberg Ray Emery Chicago Blackhawks John Scott
Slaky,
You would be incorrect. The Blackhawks won an overtime game during their championship year at the Melon Arena. Niemi was about a minute or two away from a shutout.
Reply to this
Yep, you are correct. Updated for accuracy.
Reply to this
"Engelland's hit on Kruger was filthier than the salad bar at Old Country Buffet."
This is my new favorite simile.
Reply to this
Why do you guys have to keep knocking on places I like to eat?
Reply to this
BOOOOO MARIAN HOSSA BOOOOOOOOO!
Reply to this
Image what they are going to do to Jagr.
Reply to this
The odd thing about the booing Hossa thing is I didn't notice it until the 2nd period. Am I just behind on situational awareness or did it actually happen that way?
Reply to this
They definitely did the first time he touched the puck…after that it's all sort of a blur.
Reply to this
I was all ready to talk about how this game would be the one we point to in May/June when the Hawks are trailing late in a playoff game as a reason why we should keep the faith and not start asking ourselves why we wasted so much time watching such a gutless hockey team who clearly doesn't give a shit about winning or trying hard and we should burn all of our merchandise because we're stupid and it's Chicago and good things never happen.
I still think that third period was a good reminder of how goddamn good this hockey team is and can be. When they shore things up at or around the deadline, holy shit.
Also, we talked about this early in the season that the Hawks hadn't seemed to gel yet as a team. New faces coming in and all that - takes time to get to know each other. I really think they are getting more and more familiar with each other and it's only going to get better.
I love this team. Major boner. Carry on.
Reply to this
Defense should also be on the bad for not adjusting to those stretch passes as well as the lack of overall meaness we had opportunities galore for clean big hits but didn't take them..as well as the lack of shooting the puck at all times even in corner and board battles
Reply to this