Coming off their best game of the season in a 4-2 win over the Kings, the Blackhawks laid a steaming pile of inconsistency on the UC ice last night, in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Blues.
Not a statement game, both teams are in disarray due to injuries, and it's early in the season. In some regards, the Blues were lucky to have gotten back into the game after being down 5-2 after a period of play. In another regard, you make your own luck—and the Blackhawks basically let them back in.
Worst game of the year for Corey Crawford.
Niklas Hjalmarsson was not great, nor was his partner Trevor van Riemsdyk. Add Viktor Svedberg to that list. Artem Anisimov was absolutely destroyed in the face-off dot.
At 7-5-1, the Blackhawks don't need to panic. Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa will be back before too long and with them a lot of stability and consistency. And it is clear by the power play time being given to rookies Erik Gustafsson and Tanner Kero, for example, and lots of line-blending, the coaching staff is using this stretch of games for evaluation purposes as much as winning games.
The Hawks travel to New Jersey tomorrow for the first half of a back to back versus the Devils (6-5-1). The effort and consistency over three periods has to be better for the Hawks to win versus about anybody.
I'll have a preview tomorrow.
JJ