Blackhawks 3, Islanders 2 – Recap

Scoring

1^st Period

13:28 CHI Anisimov (SH). Unassisted

2^nd Period

5:22 NYI Tavares. Assists: Boychuk, Cizikas

15:11 CHI Kane. Assists: Toews, Keith

3^rd Period

1:18 NYI Zidlicky. Assists: Nelson, Kulemin

OT Period

1:49 Kane (PP). Assists: Hossa, Keith

Penalties

1^st Period

8:33 NYI de Haan: 2 min. – Hooking against Panarin

11:59 CHI Bench: 2 min. – Too many men. Served by Panarin

2^nd Period

3:03 NYI Cizikas: 2 min. – Roughing against Seabrook

3^rd Period

10:41 CHI Toews: 2 min. – Interference against de Haan

OT Period

1:25 NYI Leddy: 2 min. – Slashing against Hossa

 

The defense was better in this one that it was against the Rangers, but the offense struggled at times. Q played around with the lines for a while and this seemed to get things going. This is probably the way to go moving forward. Turbo is certainly deserving of top 6 minutes, but Panarin and Kane make too much sense together to split up, and Anisimov makes more sense centering that line than Turbo would; Anisimov has more size and Turbo and Kane’s games are too similar. If I was Q, I’d be tempted to go:

86-19-65

72-15-88

39-11-81

29-16-28

Or something like that. Maybe flip Baun and Bickell or replace one of them with Tikhonov. Does that happen? My guess is no, but I really think it’s at least worth a look. That third line is still physical, but now it’s got plenty of offensive pop, too. Also, I hope Dano gets called up sooner rather than later. I don’t know how much longer I’d give Bickell to turn it around. Maybe put him with Toews and Hossa and see if that gets him going. If it doesn’t, nothing’s going to and you know it’s time to move forward.

Svedberg played for Rundblad tonight. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a lot better than Rundblad was. If I’m Q, Svedberg’s my sixth defenseman until Rozsival ‘s back. Maybe even then, depending on how Rozsival does. Gustav Forsling had better turn into something or else trading away Adam Clendening is going to look like a really dumb decision. I don’t care which way he shoots, he’s at least a better idea than Rundblad.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ John Tavares, C, NYI (1 G)

★★ Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (1 A)

★ Patrick Kane, RW, CHI (2 G (GWG))

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com