Monday, October 26, 2015

Toews' 2nd Straight OT Winner Makes Blackhawks Winners Again Beating The Ducks, 1-0

The Anaheim Ducks have not started the season like anyone had thought they would.  Many had them favored to win the Western Conference this year.  Coming into tonight they sat in the basement of the Western Conference (1-5-1), eight points out of a playoff spot.  They've managed only 6 goals in those 7 games.  They've been shutout 4 times.  No one had more than 1 goal.  No one had more than 2 points.  This had all the signs of a trap game for the Chicago Blackhawks.  But the Hawks prevailed as Corey Crawford had 39 saves, and Jonathan Toews ended the game for the second straight game, with an overtime winner.

The game started with the referees not allowing much of anything as 4 penalties were called within the first 8 minutes.  The Blackhawks had two chances in the period with odd man breaks, but one too many passes denied them a possible goal.  Anaheim had the better chances in the period along with the shot advantage, 9-6.  Hawks are just not getting pucks to the net, but, they weathered the storm of a desperate team trying anything to get a goal.

In the second, Corey Perry had an early chance for the Ducks with a breakaway, and he rang one off the post.  The Ducks had a few other prime chances, but when you are in a rut like the Ducks are, bounces are not going to go your way.  The Blackhawks had little pressure put on Duck goaltender Frederik Andersen in the period except for a good chance on a power play and at the end of the period, but the score remained scoreless after two periods.

The third period opened with scoring chances for both teams.  Perry stymied by Crawford.  Andrew Shaw grazes the crossbar on a rebound attempt.  Hampus Lindholm lofts a puck from the blue line that Crawford never saw, and it bounces off the top of the net.  Anaheim peppered Crawford in the 3rd with 19 shots in the period, but Crow stood up to the test.  With just over 5 minutes left in regulation, a bizarre play occurred when Andersen, after going post to post, kicked the net off the moorings as Artemi Panarin buried a shot into an open net.  The goal was disallowed as the puck passed the goal line after the net was dislodged.

So...overtime again.  For the second straight game.  Tied at 0-0.  So...for the second straight game, Jonathan Toews ends the game with an overtime goal worthy of a highlight reel as he wristed a shot in the upper right corner of the net over Andersen's shoulder, glove side.  Did I mention Toews was the best Captain in the NHL?  No??  Hmmm...well...he is.

Notable interests: It took until game 9 of the regular season before the Hawks played a team in the Western Conference.  The Blackhawks were horrible at the faceoff dot losing 34 of 58 draws.  The Ducks have now been shutout for the 5th time in the last 8 games.  A feat that has not been threatened since 1931.  Corey Perry had 8 shots on goal and still does not have a goal this year.  Corey Crawford in his last 4 games (4-0-0, 0.75 GAA, .970 SV%, 2 shutouts).

Stars Of The Game: 1st - CHI - Jonathan Toews (1G), 2nd - CHI - Corey Crawford (39 saves), 3rd - ANA - Frederik Andersen (24 saves)

Next game: Thursday, October 29th, Away, against the Winnipeg Jets, 7:00 PM

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

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