5 Quick Chicago Blackhawks Thoughts On Overtime Loss in Calgary

The Chicago Blackhawks closed out 2017 in a late night game in Calgary, and they at least left with a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames. Here are 5 Quick Thoughts on the contest from Calgary.

5. The New First Period Issues

For the better part of the month of December the Chicago Blackhawks were struggling in the second period of games after having very solid first periods. Well, since they arrived in Western Canada there has been a shift in the proceedings. In the last two games, the first period has been terrible with the defense looking like the puck is a hot potato and the Jeff Glass holding on for dear life. The Hawks may have played one 60 minute game this season, and it sure showed it’s ugly head on Sunday night giving up a goal in the final 2 seconds of the period after getting dominated for the first 19:58 of the first period.

4. Jordan Oesterle is a scoring machine

I really like Oesterle’s game because he gets pucks on net from the blue line, and in the last two games he’s been getting rewarded for the effort. He had to sit a long time before seeing action, and I was in the crowd saying waive Oesterle so we could get Vinnie Hinostroza up here. Now he’s scored in back to back games and is looking like a regular in the lineup for the foreseeable future.

3. Thank Jeff Glass For the Point

The Chicago Blackhawks got out shot by a lot in the first period, and it was Glass who kept them in the game making save after save. Then late in the third period he was all alone with Johnny Gaudreau and made the huge save to keep the game at 3-2. Glass worked his butt off to make it the NHL, and he sure is making it hard on Joel Quenneville to keep him out of the lineup while Corey Crawford gets healthy.

More from Blackhawks News

2. Richard Panik Will Never Score Again

Late in the third period, Mike Smith is down and out and totally out of position, and Richard Panik has the puck and a tap in, but he backhands it right into the side of the net. There are times where you are snake bitten, and then there are times where you need to find your game. Panik is totally lost on the ice right now which is such a departure from last season when he was solid game in and game out. He better figure things out very quickly or he’s going to be watching a lot of games from the pressbox.

1. Finally there is Fight in this Team

For the first time all year that I can remember, the Hawks got down big and fought back. I’m not going to lie when the score was 3-0 I almost started writing a recap about how bad this team is when facing a deficit. But and it’s a HUGE BUT they fought back tonight! They tied up a game that they trailed 3-0 to pick up a point which may be bigger than any win they have had this season. It’s the never say die attitude that makes teams great. This needs to be the momentum builder game to build on if you ask me.

Next: January Schedule Will Tell the Tale

What are your thoughts on the game tonight?

Home/Blackhawks News