Blackhawks 3, Kings 0 – Recap

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: October 30, 2016

The Blackhawks got off to a great start and didn’t let up on an L.A. Kings team playing the back half of a back-to-back. The Hawks opened the scoring on Jonathan Toews‘ first goal of the year, a power play tally just under seven minutes in. The Hawks would spend six more minutes on the power play the rest of the period, but were unable to cash in. The second period would be a little more even play-wise, but the Hawks would still get the better of the action. The Blackhawks would expand their lead to two thirteen-and-a-half minutes in on Artem Anisimov‘s sixth goal of the year, set up beautifully by Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks would take the 2-0 lead into the third after killing off much of a Toews penalty. They would finish the kill to start the third. The Hawks stayed on the accelerator in the third, killing off another penalty in the process. Marian Hossa would give the Hawks some extra insurance with just over a minute to play with an empty net, power play tally where he cleaned it up after Toews hit the post.

A few things

The team did a great job staying out of the box. The best thing for the penalty kill is to not take stupid penalties.
The PK unit is really pulling it together; L.A. had a couple solid chances on the PP, but that was it.
Vinnie Hinostroza was back in the lineup, playing for Ryan Hartman. I wouldn’t sit Hartman. If you don’t want to take Rasmussen’s defense and faceoff ability out of the lineup, sit Tootoo. If you don’t want to take Tootoo’s…uh…whatever it is he brings out of the lineup, send Hinostroza back to Rockford and let him develop there – maybe not a bad idea. He’s got a lot of potential and plenty of physical skill – very good on his feet – but his decision-making with the puck still needs some work. He needs to play to truly develop, though. So if you don’t want to sit Tootoo (I mean, he hasn’t been a total zero, but if he’s still playing most nights when Andrew Desjardins returns, I’m not going to be too happy about it), send Hinostroza to Rockford, at least until the faceoff and PK issues are totally in the past.
Tyler Motte had a very impressive game. While he didn’t register a point, he created chances, displayed some great moves, and played solid defense.

My picks for 3 stars

★★★ Marian Hossa, RW, CHI (1 G, 1 A)

★★ Corey Crawford, G, CHI (32 SV, SO)

★ Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (1 G (GWG), 1 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com