Hawks Win A Close One Against LA On Circus Trip / Scott Fight (video)

Added on Nov 28, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks (13-11-2, 28pts) were able to pull off a close win on the road to the LA Kings (13-9-0, 26pts), and add on to LA’s woes. The Kings shot out of the gate like a cannon this season, and have since lost 6 of their last 7.

In Chicago, at the United Center, the circus comes to town every year, and the Hawks go on what they call the “circus trip.” The Circus fills the stadium, and the hawks go on a week plus run of away games. The Hawks were able to go 4-2-0 on this trip, but it was at least what they wanted when they left last week. This was the 25th time Chicago has played back-to-back road games against Kings and Ducks, and only the third time the Blackhawks have won both. It also happened March 9-11, 1994 and Feb. 4-6, 1996. “It was pretty good for us to get eight points out of it,” Kane said. “With a trip this long, sometimes it’s tough to keep going strong and stay upbeat like we were the last couple of games. We’re excited to go back home and play in front of our fans, but overall we’ve got to be happy with this trip.

Patrick Kane had a tight call that could have went either way when Tomas Kopecky made a blind backhanded pass toward the crease from the right corner, and the puck glanced off the oncoming Kane before caroming off the right post and across the goal line. The Ruling on the ice was that Kane didn’t intentionally hit the puck in with his hand-which meant it a good goal. He thought it would count for sure, but his coaches told him it was a close one. “I was fortunate that they did call it a goal,” Kane said. “I was pretty confident, but I don’t think the coaches were as confident as I was. The coaches were saying it was kind of 50-50, but I pretty much knew it was going to be a goal, because I didn’t really do anything wrong. I just kind of skated into the puck and it hit me in went in. So there was nothing I could have done for them to call it back. It wasn’t one of my prettiest goals, but I’ll take it, obviously. I’ve got to start going to the net more often. I think with my skill and talent close in, I think I can make some plays.”

Kane was also a part of goal with Patrick Sharp, and he said, “It’s a good play to get it into his hands these days, because he’s on fire.” The Hawks capitalized on a fanned one timer, and took it in for the points. Los Angeles defenseman Jack Johnson attempted a one-timer from the high slot after one of his teammates’ shots was blocked in front of the net, but Johnson fanned on the puck and the Blackhawks took off on a 2-on-1 rush against Drew Doughty as Johnson was caught up ice. Kane held the puck as long as he could after drawing Doughty toward him, then slipped the puck to Sharp, who had a wide-open net to shoot at and easily one-timed it past Jonathan Quick’s glove at 10:36 of the second period.

Sharp has 15 goals in his first 25 games. Last season, he didn’t get his 15th goal until his 45th game and finished with 25. “I like to think I’ve been a consistent goal scorer for the last few years, and now I’m getting opportunities,” said Sharp, who had a career-high 36 in 2007-08. “I’ve had confidence all season long – and even when I haven’t scored, I’ve still felt good out there, so I knew the goals were going to come. I don’t think anyone scored in every game, but I’m going to try.”

The Hawks face St. Louis (12-7-3, 27pts) on Tuesday at home, and the LA Kings face the Anaheim Ducks (11-11-3, 25pts) on Monday.

BONUS FIGHT FOOTAGE:

If you like bloody hockey fight, and UFC-esque slow motion camera work, then I have a video for you. Apparently Blackhawks John Scott is the wrong guy to throw hands with, as by my calculation, he is 13-0 in Hockey fights as a pro. Watch as he takes Kevin Westgarth behind the woodshed, and cut him to ribbons. I think Westgarth taps out to strikes if you watch closely enough, and apparently the term “thunderstruck” is announcer speak for complete ass kicking.