The Blackhawks and Red Wings were mired in a tight affair with its share of offensive pressure and sloppy play by both squads. Malcolm Subban and Thomas Greiss each kept their teams in it.
Dominik Kubalik ended his 4-game goal-scoring drought netting a pair including the overtime game winner to seal the 3-2 victory for the Hawks who are now even at 4 wins and 4 losses in OT.
The PP was nullified going 0-for-3 and continues to gradually regress toward a sustainable season pace. However, the PK went 2-for-2 and trending upward again to the top third in the NHL.
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Starting Lineup
The starting lineup included the return of Lucas Wallmark from COVID protocol and Reese Johnson getting his second straight start:
Blackhawks lines in warmups in Detroit:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 16, 2021
DeBrincat-Suter-Kane
Hagel-Strome-Kubalik
Kurashev-Soderberg-Janmark
Johnson-Kampf-Wallmark
Keith-Mitchell
de Haan-Carlsson
Zadorov-Beaudin
Subban
It's time to cheer! If your neighbors don’t like the noise they are probably from Detroit.@budlight | #CHIvsDET pic.twitter.com/WcHIdmUpoa
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 16, 2021
Scoring Recap
1st Goal: Janmark (1-0)
Soderberg's no-look pass made us do a double take 👀@NBCSChicago | #CHIvsDET pic.twitter.com/LS8jGrK1DP
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 16, 2021
2nd Goal: Kubalik (2-0)
Hagel hustles and Kubalik connects!@NBCSChicago | #CHIvsDET pic.twitter.com/1lvk0Kqipj
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 16, 2021
3rd Goal: Namestnikov (2-1)
.@Vladdy18 gets the #RedWings on the board! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/t6sUVldzD3
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 16, 2021
4th Goal: Djoos (2-2)
The Djoos, is loose. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/GzZmVN6i00
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 16, 2021
5th Goal: Kubalik (3-2) OT
Beaudin's smart pass → Suter's slick setup → Kubalik's poised finish!
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 16, 2021
The makings of a lovely overtime winning goal. @NBCSChicago | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/wHpbl5iDJp
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Other Plays
Net Coverage
The Hawks are improving at having someone constantly in the slot to protect the net. Whoever is there gets inside positioning, engages physically, and gives the goalie clear looks.
Another area that is improving is not getting baited to vacate the slot by chasing the puck behind the net. Defenders are also increasingly playing the body along the boards and in open ice.
Controlled Exits
Despite improvements in defensive coverage, the Hawks need to work on controlled exits. There is too much ringing of the puck around the boards or stretch passes where neither connect.
Aimless ringing and long passes tend to end up in either a direct turnover or a 50/50 puck. Quick shorter passes as teammates work hard to get open would be an obvious viable solution.
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Player Notes
Malcolm Subban
Although getting better in each successive start, Subban still needs to improve his rebound control either by gobbling up the puck outright or redirecting shots to safer areas on the ice.
Brandon Hagel
Hagel seems to literally be a puck magnet as the biscuit just finds him. Part of this skill is his active stick and hustle but another part is his ability to read plays and anticipate.
Philipp Kurashev
Kurashev continues to defy his critics who have previously questioned his capacity to push the pace. One way he is doing this is by keeping his feet moving and being strong on the puck.
Reese Johnson
Averaging a hit every minute and a half of ice time with 17 hits in a little over 25 minutes of TOI across 3 games, Johnson is making his presence felt despite limited deployment.
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Rockford Updates
Game Day
While the Blackhawks started a 6-game road trip last night, the IceHogs begin a 4-game homestand tonight hosting the Chicago Wolves at the BMO Center. Game time is 6:00pm CST.
MacKenzie Entwistle
Forward MacKenzie Entwistle has been re-assigned to the Rockford IceHogs. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/wmYgWZBkNw
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 15, 2021
While he is projected to be a bottom 6 forward at the NHL level, Entwistle should play top 6 minutes for the Hogs. He is also a weapon on both special teams and in key defensive situations.
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See you on the boards!