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The Blackhawks picked up a point last night against a very strong Western team, the Anaheim Ducks, remaining unbeaten in regulation.

They weren't outworked or outchanced, but they were lucky to get the point.

Rookie Brandon Saad's sheer athleticism was on display in the second period when he launched a shot in mid-air that counted as a goal and put the Hawks up 2-1.

Problem was, from just about every replay angle and according to both sets of normally somewhat partisan Chicago announcers, it wasn't a goal. Except in the typically perplexing view of the "War Room in Toronto."

Hey, you can make the argument that Saad earned a goal with a remarkable play. But Duck netminder Viktor Fasth and defenseman Luca Sbisa just as much earned a save. And it appeared (fairly clearly) Saad didn't actually score a goal.

So as the game was tied 2-2 going to overtime, that was a lucky point for Chicago.

The biggest problem for the Blackhawks last night was a power play, now 16th in the league and slowly sinking, going 1 for 8 and failing to convert on two fairly lengthy 4 on 3's.

Jamie Kompon, I'm looking at you. And Joel Quenneville, this was the guy you wanted.

Viktor Fasth stopped two out of three Chicago shooters in the shootout, Corey Crawford (who was really strong in regulation) could not stop either Duck he faced. Two points (and a deserved two points) for Anaheim.

Now to blame Saad for anything would be wrong. And I'm not blaming him. But I question, like I did Joel Quenneville sending out Nick Leddy last week, sending Saad out as the third shooter.

This isn't Amateur Hour. There's a point at stake. And there are probably 5-6 guys minimum on the bench wondering what Quennevile is thinking (yet again).

Saad's two "goals" this season have been made on effort and athleticism (which are undeniable), but not hands or finish. Sorry Saad Lovers. Fair's fair.

The shootout is ALL about moves and finish, not so much blowing past a defenseman. And it's about getting a point, not pleasing the crowd.

So when he went in on Fasth, Saad didn't exactly deke him out of his jock (as Nick Bonino did to Crawford). The puck went pretty weakly into Fasth's right pad. And the collective breath of 20,000 plus Hawk fans went out of the balloon.

Pfffffffffffft.

It's not about Saad. It's not about Leddy. It's about the guy (or guys) sitting on the bench who worked hard to get to where they could gain an extra point, and the guys who might well have converted that chance: Viktor Stalberg, Andrew Shaw, maybe even a Marcus Kruger (whose hands are largely underrated). Veterans. And guys who have shown some moves in the past.

Some say Saad earned the chance. Well, if it's really about 'earning' the chance, what about, oh, Kruger, who was AMAZING on the penalty kill last night (yet again), and, like I and others have noticed in the past, has at least a little electricity in his hands?

It's easy to sit here today and second guess Quenneville, as it was last week, with the choice of Leddy. But it's also not hard to argue that the choices are head scratchers in terms of the skill sets of these players chosen versus what is called for in the shootout.

The same logic is why Quenneville doesn't use Marian Hossa. Great offensive player, but his game and skill does not lend itself well to the shootout.

Oh well.

This team is 10-0-3-2. The last "2" is for obscenely lucky wins or points. And I know, I know, everyone will say, the team is unbeaten in regulation, what's to complain about?

Well, most objective observers will tell you, this team probably shouldn't be unbeaten in regulation. And it's not going to stay that way either. It's a very good team, but there are some tiny cracks in the facade.

Hopefully, Quenneville and his staff of Buddies can adjust before they become fissures.


All for now,


JJ

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