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Game 26: Hawks 3, Bolts 6 |
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After going up 3-0, the Blackhawks gave up 6 unanswered goals including 4 on the power play as the Lightning thoroughly dominated them thereafter in the rubber match of the 3-game series.
A silver lining was the line of Carl Soderberg, Mattias Janmark, and Philipp Kurashev that was again a handful for the Bolts as they sustained pressure on many occasions with board play and cycling.
Halfway through the game, Connor Murphy laid a high hit on Erik Cernak that resulted in a head shot leading to a match penalty and 5-minute penalty power play for Tampa Bay who converted once.
Murphy should have a hearing and is likely headed toward a multi-game suspension. His hit on Cernak was eerily similar to the one Brent Seabrook landed on David Backes in the 2014 playoffs.
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Starting Lineup
The starting lineup saw the return of the 11F/7D format and the debut of defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk:
And the starters for the opening shift:
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Scoring Recap
1st Goal: Kurashev (1-0)
Kurashev missed scoring earlier on the shift after a sweet feed from Janmark in the slot but moments later he got the goal by finessing his way through the slot with a backhander.
2nd Goal: Janmark (2-0) PP
Dominik Kubalik made a nice touch pass that went airborne yet Janmark used excellent eye-hand coordination to bat the puck into the net to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy.
3rd Goal: Suter (3-0)
(No video available)
Janmark hustled to win the puck away from Victor Hedman in the right corner then shoveled it to the front of the net for Pius Suter to poke a trickler through Vasilevskiy's five hole.
4th Goal: Palat (3-1) PP
Ondrej Palat played catch with Hedman on the right side before snapping the puck home from the right faceoff dot.
5th Goal: Gourde (3-2)
Yanni Gourde fired a shot from the top of the left circle then got his own rebound at the bottom of the circle.
6th Goal: Hedman (3-3) PP
The Hawks gave up a goal in each game of the series where Hedman hammered a point shot from dead center.
7th Goal: Gourde (3-4) PP
Gourde unleashed a slapshot to score from the top of the left circle as Patrick Maroon screened Kevin Lankinen.
8th Goal: Killorn (3-5)
Gourde outworked Ian Mitchell behind the net then cycled the puck up the left boards before finding Alex Killorn.
9th Goal: Maroon (3-6) PP
As Nikita Zadorov screened Lankinen, Maroon pounced on the rebound from Gourde's shot from the top of the circles.
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Game Notes
Defending in Waves
The Lightning forecheck was relentless and kept the Blackhawks hemmed in their zone as the defense wasn't able to keep up with the layers of attack based on speed, work ethic, and passing.
Attacking in Waves
The Soderberg-Janmark-Kurashev line was a role model for how the Hawks should attack in waves. Use bodies to keep the puck alive in the zone, apply a heavy forecheck, and drive hard to the net.
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Player Notes
Wyatt Kalynuk
Kalynuk had a fairly solid debut buoyed by his defensive acumen. He battles for pucks and wins more often than not, has strong net coverage, and doesn't get tempted to chase behind the net.
Also, his elite skating allows him to mirror the opponent pretty flawlessly. And his capacity to walk the line with his technically sound backward strides is a thing of beauty to watch.
Adam Boqvist
Boqvist just keeps getting more and more dependable defensively. He does just enough to disrupt the opponent into not making an optimal play or simply knocks the puck loose.
Like Kalynuk, Boqvist also uses his first-rate skating to keep pace with the opposition especially when neutralizing rushes. His confidence jumping into the play on offense is much improved, too.
Brandon Hagel
What more could be said to praise Brandon Hagel? He has an uncanny ability to hunt down pucks and at least free it up for a 50/50 chance but oftentimes gains possession and makes the next play.
No matter the zone, if Hagel is in the vicinity of the puck, it's virtually a given that he will touch the puck. Even if he doesn't, he still makes a key defensive play that benefits the team.
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Roster Updates
Connor Murphy
Murphy's pending suspension will create yet another hole on the blueline with Calvin de Haan already out indefinitely. This should allow the Hawks to go back to 6 on D. For instance:
Keith - Mitchell
Zadorov - Boqvist
Kalynuk - Carlsson
It's inevitable that there will be a youngster on each D pair but one pair would have two. If that isn't preferred by the coaches, expect Madision Bowey to slot in at RD with either Carlsson or Kalynuk.
Keith - Mitchell
Zadorov - Boqvist
Carlsson/Kalynuk - Bowey
Taxi Squad
Brandon Pirri and Tim Soderlund were recalled from Rockford replacing Mikael Hakkarainen and Brad Morrison who played in the IceHogs game yesterday. The probability of Pirri and Soderlund slotting in is low.
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Rockford Updates
The IceHogs came from behind to beat the Stars in OT on a supercharged effort by Andrei Altybarmakian who scored Rockford's first and last goals. Collin Delia played reliably for a second straight game.
Starting Lineup
Game Recap
1st Goal: Altybarmakian (1-0)
Altybarmakian streaked down the left lane and cut to the slot to score on a nifty backhand.
2nd Goal: Dewar (1-1) PP
With Damien Giroux screening Delia, Connor Dewar faked a slapshot from the top of the left circle.
3rd Goal: Barratt (2-1)
Evan Barratt rushed up the left boards and banged home a slapper from the top of the left circle.
4th Goal: Dewar (2-2)
Delia blocked Mitchell Chaffee's shot from the left circle but left a rebound that Dewar dove to poke home.
5th Goal: Giroux (2-3) PP
Calen Addison spotted Giroux sneaking down the left who was able to pot one on a backdoor play.
6th Goal: Busdeker (3-3)
MacKenzie Entwistle sent a behind-the-back pass to D.J. Busdeker crashing the crease on the other side.
7th Goal: Altybarmakian (4-3) OT
Altybarmakian skated the puck around the perimeter of the zone before cutting up the middle to score the OT GWG on a wicked wrister.
Player Notes
Alec Regula sat out for a second consecutive game.
Along with Altybarmakian, Barratt, and Soderlund, count Busdeker in that group of forwards who goes all out to make plays at both ends.
Although still hard pressed to be nothing more than a career minor leaguer, Morrison does display offensive skill and intelligence.
For being a power forward, John Quenneville sure gets knocked down a whole lot during a game. After an inspiring season opener, he's been inconsequential ever since.
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See you on the boards!
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