Blackhawks Get Shut Out at Home 1-0

Oct 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin (23) fight for position during a shot on goal in the third period at the United Center. Anaheim won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Blackhawks Get Shut Out at Home 1-0

After a great win at home on Sunday night against the Ottawa Senators, the Blackhawks had a day to prepare themselves for one of the toughest teams in the Western Conference, the Anaheim Ducks, who were 7-2-0 going into this evening’s game. Here’s a quick recap of how each period went down.

FIRST PERIOD

Anaheim’s Hampus Lindholm was called for a high sticking penalty against Andrew Shaw, but then Shaw likewise received a penalty for embellishment, apparently because you are not allowed to react to getting a stick to the face. The teams played 4-on-4 for a couple of minutes, then quietly returned to even strength.

Later in the period, Bryan Bickell was also called for interference against Corey Perry, but the Hawks were able to kill that penalty. Michal Rozsival found himself on the receiving end of a huge hit by Ducks defenseman Mark Fistric.

The first period ended with no score, although the Hawks were able to spend a good deal of time in the Ducks’ zone.

SECOND PERIOD

The second period largely mirrored the first in that there were scoring chances aplenty. The goalies at both ends of the ice were standing tall and not letting anything past them.

Clayton Stoner (formerly of the Minnesota Wild) was called for a holding penalty against Patrick Sharp, leading to the first man-advantage of the game for the Hawks. I probably don’t have to tell you how that power play turned out, if you’ve been paying attention to the team’s power(less) play so far this season.

The Hawks seemed to have better quality chances overall in the second period, yet somehow managed to come up short once again Brandon Saad got loose on a beautiful breakaway, but both his initial backhand and the rebound attempts were shut down by Ducks goalie John Gibson. Morin also had a great breakaway chance as the period wound down, but that shot was saved as well.

THIRD PERIOD

The breakthrough period – though unfortunately, not for us.

Midway through the third, Anaheim’s Sami Vatanen was called on his first of two penalties that period – high sticking against Kris Versteeg. Bad enough that the Hawks are having problems converting on the power play in the first place. Now add insult to injury.

Brent Seabrook faltered at the Ducks blue line, giving their forward Devante Smith-Pelley the chance to scoop up the puck and race down the ice on a short-handed breakaway. Hawks goalie Scott Darling came out to challenge Smith-Pelley, perhaps a bit too much, as the puck found just enough room past Darling’s large frame into the back of the net.

But Vatanen would give us another gift with minutes remaining in the game, this time in the form of a tripping penalty against Morin. Some fans were a bit aghast that Coach Quenneville made the decision to pull Darling for the extra attacker, given the Hawks’ recent inclination toward turnovers. But even the big guns couldn’t get a tying goal during the 6-on-4 to send it to overtime and salvage at least a point.

The Hawks ultimately fell to the Ducks by a score of 1-0. It’s the third loss in the last four games, and the first time they’ve been blanked this season.

• Toews is (still) only 3 goals away from 200.

• Hossa is (still) only 3 points away from 1,000 career points.

• Hit parade: Ducks had 37; Hawks had 16.

• The Hawks face Ottawa again Thursday night, hoping to go 2-for-2 against the Senators.

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