Last night in Brooklyn, the AK72 line dominated the scoresheet yet again, but the Blackhawks got enough from two other lines to take a 5-4 win in an overall sloppy game versus the Islanders.
Most notably, and coincidental to some message board discussion yesterday, Ryan Hartman had a very good game last night playing alongside Jonathan Toews (who still doesn't quite look 100%) and Marian Hossa.
He was physical—he was smart, creative and is showing enough speed, willingness and hockey ability to prove, at the very least, he is the best of the auditions in that role this year, and may be pushing Andrew Shaw for that distinction over the last two years.
And that may—may—be enough to give that line the lift it needs to keep opposing coaches and defenses honest—and not focus all its best defenders on AK72. This, as I've enumerated here on many occasions, would be huge for the team's playoff aspirations.
But that's also assuming Toews gets his game back fully—which, to the eye of this observer, has not happened yet.
What is interesting is that right now, most of the scoring on both the top two lines is coming from everyone but Toews and Patrick Kane. Odd, unusual, and not too terribly alarming as it suggests a degree of depth and balance.
I would also be remiss if I didn't credit the other line that scored last night, Marcus Kruger's, which potted the game-winning goal. Again, Joel Quenneville and the staff have something going here with Kruger, Dennis Rasmussen and Richard "Don't Call Me Panic—Well, On Second Thought—Call Me" Panik.
It's not pretty, but it's tough as hell to play against. And it worked last night to the tune of Kruger wrestling a puck away from an Islander d-man on the end board, which squirted out to Rasmussen who found Panic, I mean, Panik in the slot for the decider.
Dat Kroooooger, he don't score no goalssssss, but he helpsssss you win hockey gamessss, my frent.
And to be fair, it was Kruger's line that was victimized on two early Islander goals.
Yet another game in this strange season thus far where Chicago does just enough to win, warts and all.
Another big factor was the recently slumping Hawk power play that found the net 3 times last night—while the Hawks kiiled both Islander penalties. Puck and player movement were there all night last on the man advantage. It's too early to say if this is a result of coaching or just in-game adjustment to what the Islanders were allowing. Stay tuned.
Because all this gets put to a tougher test tomorrow night in St. Louis.
I'll have a preview.
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