Hawks win! Hawks Win! Hawks Win!: Tribute To Pat Foley

 

It was a long time coming and it was appropriate during Pat Foley night that he was able to shout Hawks win! Hawks win!...one more time! It was an emotional night as we said farewell to the voice of the Blackhawks for the past 39 years with a pre-game on-ice ceremony, that included family and people closest to Pat. He will be sadly missed by Blackhawks fans from Chicago and beyond, since the broadcast can be accessed by all, via streaming services and network TV. I'm not even from Chicago and I've had the joy of watching Hawks broadcasts since I've been able to get them and it just won't be the same without him.

On the ice (after the ceremony), there was ahockey game and the Blackhawks played an inspired game and had much more jump and enthusiasm than the previous weeks. It was entertaining and the Hawks were competitive, something that's been missing since they were officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Highlights:

• Hey, the Hawks won! It was their first win in nine games and it took extra-extra time to settle the game with a 5-4 shootout win. Though the Hawks blew a two goal lead in the third period, they hung on and the Cat was the only scorer in the shootout.

• Goals: It was the start the Hawks were hoping for, Patrick Kane scored 1:18 into the first period. It was back and forth on the scoreboard, as the teams traded goals, twice with it tied 2-2, until late in the second when the Hawks took a lead 3-2. The Hawks scored again early in third to give them a two-goal lead, before the Sharks scored a pair to force overtime. Other goals were from Taylor Raddysh, who scored in back-to-back games giving him 9, on a tip-in from Seth Jones. Calvin deHaan from a great feed from Kane and a beautiful 3-way passing play between Kane, DeBrincat, Jones and Strome. It was Strome's 21st of the season, a career high. The Strome line which was reunited for this game, played especially well and were a threat every time they were on the ice. There is such a drop in offensive production behind these guys and breaking them apart made no sense. Patrick Kane finished the night with 1 goal and 2 assists, Dylan Strome with 1 goal and 1 assist and Alex DeBrincat with 3 assists, plus the shootout goal.
  

• Goal? The Blackhawks appeared to expand their lead in the second period with the puck fluttering around the goal line before James Reimer swatted it away. Depending on the angle, it was very close, but the call on the ice took, no goal.

• Foley: Very cool to hear past players, fellow broadcasters, family and even Gary Bettman offer their congratulations to Pat on his retirement. The common theme seemed to be he'll be doing a lot of golfing during his retirement. Visiting Pat and Eddie in the booth were Troy Murray, who works on the radio broadcast and Hawks legends, Denis Savard and Chris Chelios who wanted to thank Pat in person. Much of the telecast game was filled with reminisce and hilarious stories, that I'm sure Eddie was in tears of laughter, joy and sadness. A wonderful moment was following the game when the players saluted Pat up in booth, while Pat and Eddie gave a toast and chugged some brew from their Pat Foley pint glasses (it was giveaway night!). The night ended with Pat addressing the crowd and players one more time and thanked everyone for these great years!

Up next: It's an early matinee in Nashville, Saturday at 11:30 am Wow, that's early! 

"Blackhawks fans enjoyed the broadcast, and we know they enjoyed the outcome."

There Is Something To Play For...Really

With the Blackhawks playing out the string of games they have left in the regular season schedule, is there really anything to play for? Though it won't improve their chances of the post-season, the final couple weeks of the season is important for many in the organization. Starting with the coaching staff, Derek King is the interim coach of this team he inherited from Jeremy Colliton after he was fired earlier in the season. Since the Hawks made it known they wouldn't make a decision on a permanent head coach until the off-season, the rest of this regular season is King's audition of "real" life/game situations. He has to prove to the management he can guide this team away from it's losing ways to build and teach the present and future roster. Same goes with Marc Crawford who has been the co-coach with both King and Colliton. If Crawford is in charge of the defense (and penalty kill?), he's not doing a good job. Even though the Hawks made some personnel changes on the back-end (Jones, Jones, McCabe...), the defense and their defensive system is still a very weak spot. When King took over, the Hawks seemed slightly better, at first, but since the trade deadline they have sunk to the level of their play of the opening weeks of the season. The win-less streak is now at seven games and with only ten more games left, they might be lucky to win one or two of those. 

For the players, there are a lot of players on the current roster, which means each night there have been a number of healthy scratches. Last night, Dominik Kubalik, Henrik Borgstrom, Caleb Jones and Tyler Johnson took their turn in the press box and I can't help but think we won't be seeing a number of these players next season. Not sure why Gus still plays in the lineup with so many young defense prospects in the minors, considering he definitely won't be back. This team has too many third and fourth line players, so it's their opportunity to show management they want to be back. Lafferty, Entwistle, R. Johnson, Katchouk, as well as the previously mentioned players will be competing for a limited amount of positions, not to mention free agent signings, trades and prospects that could replace them. I'll go more in depth after the regular season is done.

Thoughts:

• Goals: The Hawks got a pair of goals from Esa Lindell in the first period. Actually, he deflected the puck into his own net for both goals, but the scoresheet credited, Philipp Kurashev and Jonathan Toews with the goals. Boris Katchouk got the "monkey off his back", literally (he even mimed it after the goal) when he scored his first goal/point with the Hawks since the trade. Kirby Dach scored a nice goal on the rush late in the game moments after Sam Laffery skated the same route around the Stars zone.

• Noticeable: Three of the goal scorers (Kurashev, Katchouk, Dach), caught my attention, at least through some of the game. Kurashev, who has been a healthy scratch often, got a chance to play with Kane and Toews and he carried the puck more than I've seen him all season. I guess it helps to play with skilled players instead of fourth lineers. Katchouk stood out, because it's sad to say, the fourth line seemed to be the only line that was engaged. they did what they have to do...hit, hit and hit. Effective! Dach's giveaway earlier in the game led to a goal for the Stars, but offensively Dach was carrying the puck with confidence and playing alongside Lafferty helps, because Lafferty digs out the puck and drives a lot of the play for the line.
• Not so good: Surprisingly, I barely noticed Patrick Kane for much of the game. Of course, during the power-play he's out there, but maybe his drive and intensity are waning due to so much losing. Not playing with the Cat and Strome definitely didn't help. Kevin Lankinen didn't help his cause for a job next season with the Hawks with an uneven performance in goal. He was replaced to start the third for Collin Delia, after giving up five goals.
  
• Erie Line: King reunited the Eric Otters junior line of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome and Taylor Raddysh for the whole game. Though they didn't do much, it would be worth it to keep them together for more games, this could be exciting. Also it would give management a better idea of Strome's value, seeing if he can still be effective not playing with Kane. I know the Cat can do it, but what about Dylan?
• Foley/Tallon: It was a treat to hear Pat Foley reunited with his former partner from Hawks broadcast from an evening of nostalgia and remembrance. I never had a chance to see/hear the Hawks TV broadcasts before the 2020's, so it was a joy to watch and listen to their stories of the old days. Dale Tallon has an unique perspective of the game, as a former player and as a NHL GM who built the Hawks championship team that won the cups and he also built the present day Florida Panthers, who are now a serious cup contender.

• The Blackhawks didn't do the Winnipeg Jets any favours. The Stars who led the Jets by 7 points before the night, maintained the lead as both the Stars and Jets won their games. Sorry Jets!
  

Up next: Hawks play again on Tuesday against the Kings.