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Squid Game
November 18, 2021, 3:05 AM ET [229 Comments]
Theo Fox
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Alex DeBrincat's Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) was the highlight of the Blackhawks 4-2 victory over the expansion Kraken in Seattle to extend the win streak to 4 games. If he had picked a fight, Patrick Kane would have had his own Gordie Howe hat trick, too.

While it's nice to keep the gravy train rolling to dial up the win meter, the Hawks need to get secondary scoring so the offense isn't overly dependent on the top players especially since team defense is still a work in progress despite strides since the coaching change.


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Game Summary

Starting Lineup

DeBrincat - Dach - Kane
Kubalik - Toews - Khaira
Borgstrom - Strome - Kurashev
Carpenter - R Johnson

de Haan - S Jones
McCabe - Murphy
Stillman - Gustafsson
C Jones

Fleury
Lankinen

Scratches:
Gaudette, Hardman

Scoring Recap

1st Goal (1-0): S Jones (DeBrincat, Kane)
2nd Goal (2-0): DeBrincat (Dach)
3rd Goal (3-0): Kane (Kurashev, Murphy)
4th Goal (3-1): McCann (Schwartz, Geekie) PP
5th Goal (3-2): Gourde (Dunn, Eberle)
6th Goal (4-2): McCabe (unassisted) EN

SOG For/Against: 19/33
PP: 0-for-1
PK: 1-for-2
Faceoffs Won: 40%


Thoughts & Notes

* Plain and simple: keep the 11F/7D lineup format relegated to this single game and stick with the standard 12F/6D.

* Solution: dress Adam Gaudette, scratch Erik Gustafsson.

* Granted he's a regular on the PK, it's a head scratcher why Reese Johnson got double the ice time (14:33) over Henrik Borgstrom (7:35).

* Even though the Kraken held favorably wide margins on shots on goal, shot attempts, and high danger chances, the Hawks blocked 22 shots and forced 11 giveaways.

* As has been customary all season, the Hawks lost inside positioning on both goals allowed with Seth Jones being a step behind eventual scorer Jared McCann and the Chicago defensemen (Connor Murphy and Riley Stillman) allowing Ryan Donato to take away Marc-Andre Fleury's eyes on Yanni Gourde's shot.

Highlights

Kirby Dach didn't record an assist on this goal but he started the play with a breakout feed to send Kane off on the 3-on-3.

This is one of the rare times where a stretch pass actually connected and led directly to a scoring opportunity let alone a goal.

Kane is Kane so he will convert chances like this but Philipp Kurashev has underrated offensive skill including a wicked shot.

Amazing double glove save by Fleury stoning Gourde then knocking away Dylan Strome's errant glove.

Milestone

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Roster Updates

Caleb Jones obviously played his first game as a Blackhawk last night with 9:53 TOI. It would be ideal if he starts regularly and sends Gustafsson to the press box. And if Tyler Johnson does return during the road trip, he would further block Gaudette from starting.

According to Blackhawks news sites, Mike Hardman got sick yesterday (not related to COVID) which rendered him unavailable while Brandon Hagel is progressing from his shoulder injury but is still listed as day to day. Their returns wouldn't be good for Gaudette either.

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Coaching Staff

It remains to be seen whether new assistant coach Rob Cookson, recently promoted to associate coach Marc Crawford, and interim head coach Derek King are merely placeholders for the remainder of this season until management decides on permanent hires for the coaching staff.

As previously confirmed by Blackhawks news sites, decisions on permanent hires won't be made until the offseason. Hiring a permanent general manager -- whether that's Kyle Davidson or someone new -- could occur within the season. Same with a president of hockey operations.

On Cookson, here's a summary of his coaching timeline:

* 1994: Team Canada, Winter Olympics, video coach

* 1997 & 2003: Team Canada, World Championships, assistant coach

* 1995, 1996, 1997 & 2005: Team Canada, World Junior Championships, assistant coach

* 1998-2000: Philadelphia Flyers, video coach

* 2001-2011: Calgary Flames, assistant coach

* 2011-2012: University of Calgary, assistant coach

* 2012-2016: ZSC Lions (Switzerland), assistant coach

* 2016-2019: Ottawa Senators, assistant coach

* 2019-2021: HC Lugano (Switzerland), assistant coach

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See you on the boards!

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