After coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win a game in overtime Friday night in Anaheim, the Blackhawks were on the receiving end of the same fate in L.A. last night.
From the start of the third period last night at the Staples Center, you could see the Kings comeback happening. The Hawks were being beaten to pucks and the Kings were coming at Chicago goalie Scott Darling in waves.It was kind of to be expected at the tail end of a 6-game Western road trip, and the second of back to backs.
Darling deserved a better fate. He was very good.
Fittingly, the hero of Friday night, Brent Seabrook, was the goat last night. Seabrook was looking up ice to initiate transition and left the puck behind right in front of his own net, which was jumped on by the Kings and converted into the tying goal. It's the kind of small—but huge—mistake that happens when you're playing tired.
Later in OT, Trevor van Riemsdyk took a very low percentage (dumb) shot from the goal line that rebounded to his defensive responsibility—who was left higher up in the zone. Odd-man break, which became a breakaway, and game. Again, a mistake probably due to fatigue, although you might question the coaching staff on why van Riemsdyk had to be out in that situation in the first place.
Still the Hawks took 8 of 12 points on this road trip. On the other hand, their play overall is still very much a work in progress. There are some areas of encouragement, but at the same time, there is so much line juggling that it seems real hard for this team to get into any kind of groove.
And the line juggling is probably happening because the roster isn't right. Too many wings whose best side is the right, not enough whose best is the left. Too many young players/new faces.
Still, in spite of the adjustments and rough patches, the Hawks are banking points now—while not firing on all cylinders—in hope (not certainty) that they will get it all together over the next couple of months.
I'll be back with more as I have it.
JJ