It Still Feels Nice To Win, Once In A While!

The Chicago Blackhawks began the final week of their season with a win against another non-playoff team, the Philadelphia Flyers. Coming into the game the Flyers were feeling pretty good riding a two game winning streak and hoped to extend it to tie a season high of three in a row. They left the United Center probably feeling pretty crappy after losing to a team that has only won twice in the last 15 games, to Arizona and San Jose, both in extra time. Most of the scoring occurred in the first eight minutes of the game with the Hawks leading 2-1, finally the Cat extended the lead to 3-1 about halfway through the third period. Nothing very eventful happened during the scoreless second period, despite the Hawks continued inability to clear their zone. Fortunately, the Flyers were inept at taking advantage. Yes, the Hawks hung on and won their first game in regulation time in over a month. Yay!

Quick Notes:

• Goals: Another fast start for the Hawks with Erik Gustafsson scoring 1:44 into the game from a feed from Jonathan Toews, then the captain added one of his own less than 5 minutes later. Alex DeBrincat's goal in the third was from the all-too-familiar Kane to Cat one-timer. Timely for sure, because the Flyers were hanging around and this very easily could have gone the other way. 

• Almost a Goal: With just over a minute left in the third, the goalie pulled and on a Flyers power-play, they came dangerously close to making it 3-2. A shot went past Lankinen, hit the post, the puck bounced in the crease behind Lankinen, Riley Stillman saved a goal by clearing it from going into the net, then a pile of players landed in the crease with the puck loose. The puck eventually went between Stillman's legs who was sprawled on his back, and rested underneath him. It needed a video review to determine it did not in fact cross the line. Yay!

• Power-play? Once again the power-play didn't yield a goal. During one stretch, late in the second to mid-third, the Hawks had four consecutive man advantages. They moved the puck around really well and had some quality chances, but the Flyers 3rd or 4th string goalie, Felix Sandstrom made some great stops. On the fourth PP, they gave up more shorthanded shots than the PP. They finished 0/5 on the PP. Interesting fact (they mentioned during the ESPN+ broadcast), the Blackhawks are the only team in the league without a goal from a defensemen on the power-play. Yikes!
• A good game from Toews who was named first star of the game, which would be even better news if the Hawks were entering the playoffs, as he's beginning to regain his form. A tough year for Tazor and hopefully he'll return next season. Overall, the D was fine with both rookies, Vlasic and Regula playing strong games. As far as forwards, Sam Laffery continues to impress, as he set up the breakaway goal for Toews when he got out of the penalty box (heads up play!) and he got into a wrestling match late in the game after getting cross checked into the end boards, then cross checked in the back of the head from Joel Farabee. Tyler Johnson and Philip Kurachev played well and the Strome line had most of the scoring chances thanks to the PPs.

Apparently, the captain was in a giving mood tonight.

While Sam Lafferty was in more of a receiving, then giving mood!

 

Up next: Last Chicago home game on Wednesday at 7:30 against Vegas. If The Golden Knights can beat the Dallas Stars tonight, the Hawks game will be a meaningful for the Knights. If they lose, they miss the playoffs and might not bother flying to Chicago.