Eight Is Enough: Isles Snap Hawks’ Win Streak 3-2

Dec 13, 2014; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) keeps the puck in front as Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) follows during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Eight Is Enough: Isles Snap Hawks’ Win Streak 3-2

The Chicago Blackhawks headed into the game against the New York Islanders hoping to extend their win streak to nine.Had the Hawks played a full 60 minutes, or at least matched the intensity with which they played the first period, they would have had a great chance to keep the train chugging along.

Alas.

Here’s the breakdown of the action:

FIRST PERIOD

The first several minutes of the game went the Hawks’ way, for the most part. They kept the Isles to just two shots on goal for the first ten minutes or so. A late surge brought the total within two of the Hawks, but the period remained scoreless.

The Hawks sole power play came just 46 seconds into the game, when Mikhail Grabovski was called for tripping against Brent Seabrook. Despite a number of great chances, they just weren’t able to convert. (Stop me if you’ve heard this one….)

Late in the period, the Hawks had to kill Patrick Sharp’s penalty for tripping Griffin Reinhart. Hawks goalie Scott Darling made phenomenal saves, not only on the penalty kill but throughout the game.

SECOND PERIOD

The dreaded second period. The Isles came out fast and furious. Both Darling and Isles’ goalie Jaroslav Halák made some incredible saves. But the puck started to find its way to the back of the net eventually.

Daniel Carcillo drew first blood on behalf of the Blackhawks. Halák made an initial chest save on Carbomb, but the puck bounced up and over the back of the netminder. In an effort to swat the puck away, the Isles actually facilitated the puck’s inward movement over the goal line.

The celebration was short-lived. The Hawks won a subsequent faceoff in their zone, but Duncan Keith committed an uncharacteristically bad turnover right in front of Darling. Isles’ Cal Clutterbuck capitalized on the opportunity and tied the game just seconds after the initial tally.

Penalty-wise, Jonathan Toews was called for high sticking, but the Hawks managed to kill the penalty off.

THIRD PERIOD

In which everything turned into a big steaming pile of ridiculousness. The Isles kept the Hawks from even getting a shot on goal for another several minutes, and it seemed as though the third period would go much like the second, minus the lucky and weird bounce from the Hawks’ initial goal.

Just under four minutes into the final frame, Patrick Kane scored one of the most ridiculous goals of his career. Words won’t do it justice, so here is the replay:

Unfortunately, Kris Versteeg was charged with a high sticking penalty, which fully opened the floodgates for the Isles and gave them that final burst of momentum that helped them seal the deal. Kyle Okposo scored the power play goal to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Lubomir Visnovsky would score the eventual game winner.

• The Hawks were outshot 41-25, yet only lost by one goal. If you’re not convinced by now that Darling is the Real Deal, I’m not sure you’ll ever be.

• The St Louis Blues regain the lead in the standings (for now), ahead of the Hawks by one point.

• Next game is on Sunday, December 14 at home against the Calgary Flames.

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