Chicago Blackhawks (3-2-3) @ Minnesota Wild (5-0-1)

3 – 2 Loss

Last night, the Blackhawks were in Minnesota to face a team that has not lost a game in regulation this season. A team known to have stingy defense and world class goaltending . But the Wild was missing their leading scorer, Marian Gaborik, who is out with a lower body injury. Watching the game, you wouldn’t know they were missing any offensive punch. The Hawks had a difficult time with the defensive system coach Jacques Lemaire and the Wild play. Most teams do, there is a reason they are 5-0-1 in this early season.

Looking at the stats would be very deceiving in this game. Hawks out shot the Wild 36-18, but the saying “quality, not quantity” rang true in this game. Wild goaltender, Niklas Backstrom was not tested in this game. The shots were mainly from the perimeter and the Hawks could sustain little pressure on the Wild defense. The Hawks were able to get set up in the offensive zone on many occasion but failed to generate quality scoring chances. Another deceiving stat, the Wild only had 4 SOG in the 2^nd period. Problem being they scored on 2 of them. The Wild was making the most of their chances, creating most of their opportunities on the rush. Huet did not look sharp, letting in a very soft 2^nd goal through his legs.

A turning point in the game came when the Wild killed a 5-on-3 Chicago power play in the second. The Wild have yet to allow an opponent to score a power-play goal in 22 chances.

The Hawks had an off night and no one really looked good. Brian Campbell had an off game, though he did have a nice assist on Sharp’s goal in the first. The spin move that makes an appearance at least once a game, finally bit him. This one led to a turnover that was buried in the back of the net. Don’t get me wrong, I love that move. Soupy also took some risks with a few errand blind passes and coughed up the puck several times. Not to single Brian out, he wasn’t alone out there; it was a poor team effort.

The Hawks need to shake this one off and look forward to Friday Night’s game when they host the always tough Dallas Stars. Halloween Night at the UC, ghost, ghouls and hopefully some goal-scorers will be on hand.

Positives:

× Cam Barkers return to the Hawks. It’s good to see that they found a way to get him under the cap.

Negatives:

× This was not the best Hawks effort we have seen.

× Huet still has not shown us consistence we should expect from a top goaltender.

× Toews is still searching for his first goal of the season. Sometimes is seems like he is trying to hard, trying to pull of another magical Colorado goal. Other shifts he is throwing everything at the net. He has had some great opportunities in the last few games. I get the feeling once he gets on the board; they are going to come in droves.

Game Notes:

× Matt Walker and Craig Adams were healthy scratches.

MVB (Most Valuable Blackhawk):

× Duncan Keith – Duncan had a goal in that game and made some great defensive plays. He did only skate 25 minutes – what happened?

Next Matchup:

October 31^st, Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks

Record:

3-3-3 9 points

http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2008020123