Last Friday, the Blackhawks blew a 2-0 lead, in essence giving up 2 shorthanded goals on the same powerplay and eventually lost to Colorado in a shootout.
Tonight, while the pp went 0 for 2, at least they didn't give up a shortie & be a net minus on the evening, and Cam Barker tied the game early in the 3rd with an impressive individual rush. Barker skated end to end, picking up a loose puck along the right boards in his own zone, then tipped it past Scott Hannan, who at first looked like he wanted to pinch at the hawk blue line, then backed off, giving Barker an opening to pick up his own chip out & move down the right side on a 2 on 1. As he moved in toward Anderson he shifted to his backhand, then closing in on goal quickly moved back to his forehand in tight & fired it up high, short side as Anderson had gone down to play the backhand. It was a terrific display of skill that matched Kane's earlier effort, where #88 also had moved in on Anderson from the right side & found a sliver of room in the top corner with a terrific shot to tie the game at 1.
The game headed for yet another OT, the 3rd time in as many meetings between the two young, fast skating teams this season, and the home team came out on top again, as Patrick Sharp, who had missed on an opportunity to win Friday's shootout, scored the decisive goal on the hawks 3rd shot, making several dekes that got Anderson to go down with Sharp moving to his right, lifting it high over sprawling Anderson's glove.
The hawks had another strong 3rd period, outshooting the Avs 15-3 in coming back to tie, and their 2nd ranked PK was a perfect 4/4 on the night, with John Madden again doing yeomen work, though the hawks are still taking too many unnecessary, undisciplined penalties. (Unfortunately for Adam Burish, he isn't being missed in the slightest). The hawks also dominated again in the faceoff circles, winning almost 2 out of every 3 draws.
Colin Fraser had a return engagement with Matt Hendricks just over 2 minutes into the game, and then took on Cody McLeod late in the first, neither bout landing many blows. Marks to Fraser for showing some spunk, but he isn't going to make anyone forget his namesake, former hawk Curt Fraser's fighting ability anytime soon.
Huet made some key saves in facing 27 shots over 65 minutes, but also looked weak on the Avs first goal, again leaving room between himself & the post & allowing a shot taken by Avs defenseman Cumisky from behind the goal line to beat him for the game's opening goal (similar to Travis Moen's tieing goal in the dying seconds of the 2nd period of the Montreal game). He was also fortunate that the Avs hit the post on a couple of occasions - Matt Duchene late in the 3rd with the game tied and then Wojtek Wolski on the first attempt in the shootout. Wolski had taken a penalty late in OT which couldn't be fully served, yet was still allowed to take a shot in the shootout.
The hawks earned another win against an above .500 team, evening their record against the better teams to 4-4-1 on the season (with all wins coming at home - 3 in OT including the comeback from 5-0 down vs. Calgary, as well as Monday's win vs. LA). It was also the hawks' 8th home win on the season, most in the NHL. Next up is Toronto on Friday with San Jose closing out the week long homestand on Sunday. With Marian Hossa resuming contact drills in practice, his return could come during the hawks extended 6 game road trip late in the month.
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