The blogs are alive this morning with the sound of fanboy love for the pride of Korkino, Russia, Artemi Panarin. And who am I not to fall in line?
In a matchup, and a building, where Panarin’s pickle-juice swilling homie, Vladimir Tarasenko is normally the Russian the game revolves around, Panarin stole the show last night with, yes, a Gordie Howe hat trick.
But really, Panarin stole the show much of the game, up and down the ice.
Well, almost. Because both goalies were exceptional, too, and number 50 from Chicago (Corey Crawford, from Chateaugay, QC) continues to quietly make an early case for a Vezina Trophy.
And what a game it was. It’s easier for a Hawk blogger or Hawk fans to say that. Even though it was a 3-point game, the visitors took two points on an overtime Panarin bomb from the top of the right circle.
At 10-3-1, the Blackhawks have overall been more consistently lucky than good. With the exception of Crawford, who, along with backup Scott Darling, has been insanely good—hence, the luck.
Last night, I would argue, was the Hawks’ best game of the season, saved for the opponent that has been their chief nemesis and measuring stick since at least this time last season.
The Hawks were finally in the plus column for shots for/shots against, and they quite effectively killed all three St. Louis power plays.
Back to Panarin.
Six shots. Absolutely dominant along the wall. And in a pretty entertaining middleweight bout versus Scottie Upshall, his jackhammer left looked a lot more like Brandon Bollig than your average Euro top 6 winger.
The price tag is going up for Panarin’s offseason contract, but that is a more sober topic for another day.
And Crawford.
7-3-1, .939 save%, 1.91 GAA, 2 shutouts, and he came awfully close to a third last night. There are a lot of saves that Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk will get all gushy over that are really nothing more than blocks. But Crawford’s left pad stop on a wide open (temporarily) side, preventing Tarasenko from scoring, was absolute brilliance. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that his counterpart, Jake Allen, was nearly as good all night.
There were a few other wrinkles and subtexts to last night’s story. A bigger one was the consistent effort of Hawk veterans. It’s not big news when Marian Hossa backchecks like a demon, but when Patrick Kane does as well, it’s usually going to be a good night for the Hawks. These are the kinds of effort that set a great example for the younger players on the Hawks—how you prepare for and play in big games versus the top teams in the league.
A lot of Hawk fans, and perhaps even the coaching staff, have been hesitant to get too excited about this team, in spite of its blistering pace. But last night suggested there’s a legitimacy to what this team is doing. The Hawks didn’t dominant the Blues or anything even close to it. But they also didn’t look like they were always a day later and a dfollar short versus St. Louis as they did last season. The Blues were dangerous much of the night, attacking as they always do in well-coordinated layers. Shutting the Hawks down at the blueline with their big, mobile defensemen. Getting great goaltending.
But the Hawks came in and took care of business.
Great game. Big win. With another big test tomorrow night at the UC—the Washington Capitals. I’ll preview in the AM.
JJ
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