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Is it a really good thing that it was glacial, Czech defenseman Michal Rozsival battling to get to the front of the net on Brandon Saad's game-winning overtime goal last night at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg? Or a kind of bad thing? Let's go glass half full and say it was great—and great that the Blackhawks broke a two-game losing and shutout skid, great that they got two points (and the Jets just one).
Great that Corey Crawford played really well, victimized only on yet another, not-so-great David Rundblad failure in his own end. Great that the Hawks limited the Jets to just 22 shots. Great that Patrick Kane was his usual dynamic self, leading the way with a (beauty) goal and an assist.
So that is (mostly) all great.
But as 'Hawk announcer Pat Foley bemoaned all night, the lack of presence around the net for the Hawks is a year long problem. So kudos to Rozsival for at least trying.
The Hawks really tightened things up last night and gutted out a much-needed win against a likely playoff club in their building.
Some eyebrows were raised when it became known Dan Carcillo would be in the lineup last night. But this, along with the Hawks rumored pursuit of Zack Kassian (among others) seems to point to the team, at least, recognizing the need for more size and sandpaper upfront.
The next stop on this long road trip is in St. Louis tomorrow, where the Hawks face a Blues club that was destroyed 7-1 in Columbus last night.
Still this will likely be a tough game, and another opportunity for the Hawks to work some things out.
I'll preview tomorrow.
JJ
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