Beating a team that—especially minus Johnny Hockey—they should beat. Check.
Getting outshot by a fairly wide margin. Check.
Corey Crawford standing on his head for a key stretch. Check.
"Mr. Hossa" doing business in his office for a big, meaningful goal. Check.
The Blackhawks won in Calgary last night by following the same prescription (outlined above) they have in many of their victories thus far this season.
One important factor was special teams, where the Hawks were 1 for 1 on the power play and killed off all five Calgary man advantages.
The Hawks are doing enough of the little things to basically ride one consistent line's offensive dominance to win a to of games early on.
But some of the issues with last year's team remain, including most obviously a lack of production from Jonathan Toews' line, where the nightly audition at left wing is now well into its second year.
I can't really post projected lines this morning due to the back to back nature of tonight's game. Continue to assume Hossa lines up with Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov. That line had 4 points, factoring into 2 Chicago goals last night. The game-winner came when Panarin put a hard shot on the Calgary net, generating a rebound for Hossa, waiting in the crease—where and how a lot of his team-leading goal total have happened this season.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will line up with "someone" on their left flank, most likely Ryan Hartman, who has been making as strong a case as anyone for the job. Marcus Kruger and Dennis Rasmussen will be the key players on what was a very effective third line. Fill in from there.
I would also assume Scott Darling gets the call in net tonight versus Vancouver and likely Jacob Markstrom.
Gametime: 9PM Central/7 Pacific. TV: CBC and Rogers SportsNet in Canada, CSN-Chicago in the US
The rival that once existed between Chicago and Vancouver has largely disappeared. Still there enough of the old faces in the Canuck lineup, starting with two identical ones, that make this game a bit more meaningful for both sides.
I'll recap tomorrow.
JJ
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