Everyone relax.

The Chicago Blackhawks aren't pregnant, despite missing 2 periods.

The Hawks were clearly playing in Central Time, as they didn't start the game in Joe Louis Arena at the same time the Detroit Red Wings did. As a result, they were outshot 29-11 after 40 minutes, with only Corey Crawford showing all his glitches are ironed out, and a fluke goal on bad puckwork by Jimmy Howard keeping it from being worse than the 2-1 deficit they had.

Erstwhile Red Wing Marian Hossa slammed in a game-tying goal in the final minute to send it into overtime before known criminal, miscreant, and overall jagoff Todd Bertuzzi banged home a rebound to send the Blackhawks home on the bad end of a 3-2 overtime decision.

Let's get to this:


THE GOOD:

The Hawks and Red Wings. Three games, each decided by a goal, two in overtime. These teams need to meet in the playoffs. Hell, they should really just skate 82 games against each other, then play 4 playoff rounds. This is the shit right here, kids.

Corey Crawford. He finally looks like he has his mojo back. He wasn't fighting pucks, he looked strong in net. He stopped 40 Detroit shots, and there weren't many Frolik-like ones in there. This game was one that could have gotten very ugly very quickly, and Crawford saved everyone's bacon.

Andrew Shaw. Butch got his third goal by hustling in on what looked to be an ordinary dump-and-chase. Only Howard not getting his paddle fully down, allowing the puck to glance off the heel and right to Butch with a wide-open net, allowed the goal. But if Butch half-assed it in, that puck just bounces out of harm's way. He's not going to make it easy to send him down once Handsome returns.

The music in Joe Louis Arena. Yeah, they always play Journey, but they will bust out some cool stuff too. Today I heard "Town Called Malice" by The Jam. Maybe to even things out, we can send them Taint Nugget.

THE BAD:

Booing Marian Hossa? Really? All the years of dopey Hawks fans booing Chris Chelios finally rubbed off? Look, had there been no salary cap, Hossa would be a Red Wing for life. He liked playing there, and Ken Holland decided to go long on Johan Franzen instead of Hossa. I think this is pretty misguided anger.

Brian Bickell. 12 shifts, 7:11 ice time. If it weren't for waivers, he would have gone down instead of Ben Smith. How can such a ginormous, Franken-Berry-looking motherfucker be so invisible on the ice is a mystery to me. He's sure as hell not playing like a guy who is on the verge of being a throw-in in a deadline deal trying to show he should stay.

THE UGLY:

The Henrik Zetterberg "Bleacher Creature". Even creepier than the Kane.




Next up for the Hawks is a quick trip back home, where they face the red-hot San Jose Sharks tomorrow night in the United Center. See you in the shoutbox.