We're going to need to watch this at least seven more times 🤯#LetsGoBuffalo | @NewWaveEnergyCo pic.twitter.com/Y0NLbK2uLh
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 29, 2022
That was the lead paragraph for yesterday's blog and it's sad to say that nothing has changed as Monday's loss to the Sabres was worse than Saturday's loss to the Golden Knights: up 4-0 but dropped the game 5-6 with 12 seconds left in regulation.
Despite the Blackhawks dominating the 1st period by attacking somewhat in waves, the Sabres took it to them in the 2nd and 3rd as the home team did little to disrupt the flow of the visitors. The Hawks couldn't defend at all let alone in waves.
And Sam Lafferty showed yet again why he's a keeper but still the only one who's a shift disturber. The goal he scored was the result of his aggressive forechecking highlighted by a bone-crushing hit and a skillful redirect of a point shot.
After last night's disgusting defeat, the Hawks and Sabres have identical records at 24-33-10 sitting in the 25th and 26th spots in the league. If the Hawks cave in to a fellow bottom feeder as much as a contender, their future remains bleak.
Having high-end players like Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, and Seth Jones to generate offense is all well and good but doesn't mean a thing if the team as a whole can't compete, play defense, and nail fundamentals for a full 60 minutes.
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Blackhawks Game Summary
Monday Boxscore
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane Kubalik - Toews - Raddysh Kurashev - Borgstrom - T Johnson Katchouk - R Johnson - Lafferty
Gustafsson - S Jones McCabe - C Jones Stillman - de Haan
Lankinen Delia
Scratches: Dach, Entwistle, Vlasic
1st Goal (1-0): de Haan (Raddysh, Kubalik) 2nd Goal (2-0): Lafferty (McCabe, R Johnson) 3rd Goal (3-0): Toews (Kurashev, Kubalik) PP 4th Goal (4-0): S Jones (DeBrincat, Strome) 5th Goal (4-1): Olofsson (Cozens, Jokiharju) PP 6th Goal (4-2): Olofsson (Skinner) 7th Goal (4-3): Okposo (Cozens, Butcher) 8th Goal (4-4): Hinostroza (Dahlin, Thompson) 9th Goal (5-4): DeBrincat (Kane, Strome) PP 10th Goal (5-5): Tuch (Olofsson, Mittelstadt) 11th Goal (5-6): Thompson (Dahlin, Tuch) PP/OT
SOG For/Against: 21/37 PP: 2-for-2 PK: 1-for-3 Faceoffs Won: 51%
FINAL: Sabres 6, #Blackhawks 5
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 29, 2022
Shot attempts: 68-37 BUF
Shots on goal: 37-20 BUF
5-on-5 scoring chances: 28-9 BUF
5-on-5 high danger chances: 14-2 BUF pic.twitter.com/TjFrpXesTT
it's not delivery, it's de haan pic.twitter.com/mLi6KGteim
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 29, 2022
What a shift @SamLafferty18 😅 pic.twitter.com/2ax9ZONdGg
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 29, 2022
the goal: 💥 his face 🙂 pic.twitter.com/OM37zDc755
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 29, 2022
Blackhawks Notebook
MEDICAL UPDATE: Tyler Johnson has been activated off injured reserve (concussion protocol).
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 29, 2022
Kirby Dach will not play in tonight’s game (non-COVID related illness). pic.twitter.com/dGz63WVma5
* Tyler Johnson exited concussion protocol and dressed for the game playing wing on the 3rd line.
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See you on the boards!
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago