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Checkmate, Vosters, and Game Day: Hawks vs Canucks

January 24, 2023, 3:49 PM ET [93 Comments]
Zach Jarom
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Chicago Blackhawks and LA Kings wrapped up their season series this past Sunday. The Hawks came in to this one on a three game heater and winners in 6 of their 7 games. Not exactly the start to the new year we were hoping for considering what is at stake this summer. Luckily, this team seemed to crash back to reality as their struggles continued in the 2nd half of back to back games. To say this was a sluggish start would be a gross understatement, as the Hawks would not record their first shot on goal until the 4:23 mark of the first period. They would end up finishing the period with 3 total shots on net while the Kings finished with 9 including one of two goals from Jaret Anderson-Dolan.

Things just never seemed to get going for the Hawks as the Kings controlled the play and if it wasn’t for the play of Petr Mrazek, this game could have gotten a lot uglier. Mrazek continued his decent play as he stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced and finished the game with a .926 SV%. I have officially lost count on how many games the Hawks goalies have bailed out this team and kept them from being completely embarrassed.

With the Hawks dropping this one, they are now 0-6-1 in game 2 of back to backs and snapped the latest 3 game winning streak. A funny fact to me is that this is the 3rd time these two teams have faced each other and all three games have ended by a score of 2-1. A not so funny fact from this one was Patrick Kane being held shotless, and with that he has gone two straight games with out a shot. Not something you see a lot from 88.

Tyler Johnson would only take 5 shifts in this one and left the game with what Coach Richardson said was a reaggravated ankle injury. Yesterday it was announced that he was placed on the IR and obviously will not be making the trip for the three game road trip that starts tonight.

Other roster moves that were announced yesterday include defenseman Isaak Phillips being sent down to Rockford, while forward Luke Philp and defenseman Filip Roos have been called up. Luke Philp has put up 30 points (14-16) in 31 games with the Ice Hogs this year and this will be Filip Roos 2nd stint with the Hawks after playing in 15 games earlier in the season. These moves to me shows we are officially in the see what we have mode. A lot of faces from Rockford will be making the trip to play a few games with the big club to see what they have. I don’t think there is too much to look into these moves just yet as this will be how this team fills out the roster post deadline if major trades are made

Chris Vosters
So this is something that has been bugging me all year, but I am at a point that I need to know if I am the only one. Is Vosters just making it almost impossible to watch Hawks games? I feel like he contributes almost nothing to the broadcast as 90% of his play calls are just saying players names and a lot of the time he doesn’t even get those right. When he does try to add more to his calls, he gets things wrong including Sunday after Ian Mitchell scored, he called it his first NHL goal… it was his 4th career goal. I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt because he had huge shoes to fill, but it’s been over 40 games and he has yet to improve, in my opinion at least. Don’t even get me started on Coby Cohen either. I miss Eddie and Pat more than ever.

Up Next: Vancouver Canucks 18-25-3
Players to Watch

Elias Pettersson 19 goals 35 assits 54 points
Bo Horvat 30 goals 19 assists 49 points
Quinn Hughes 4 goals 38 assists 42 points

Projected Starter
Collin Delia 4-3 3.17 GAA .897 SV%

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