They looked good enough at moments, they were mostly outplayed, and in the end they fell short. Is this my way of describing the 2021 Chicago Blackhawks season or their final game of the season last night against the Dallas Stars? The answer is yes, both.
Chicago had no business winning their regular season finale last night, being out-shot 50-23 and looking the inferior team for most stretches of play. But they capitalized on what few chances they had and Collin Delia kept them alive for most of the 60+minute effort. Much like the regular season, the Blackhawks had no business being in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as long as they did this season, but it was intriguing to watch when they capitalized on their chances to keep alive in the playoff chase in the Central Division. But ultimately in the end, they just weren’t good enough.
• The speed in his game, man, you love to see that.
• Hagel’s ninth of the season and an assist in last night’s game solidified himself as finishing the season fifth in points for the Blackhawks.
• Hagel is one point behind Pius Suter in fourth-place on the team on scoring, which guarantees that the two rookies will finish the season in the top-five of team scoring. That’s the first time since the 2007-08 season where two rookies have finished in the top-five of team scoring.
• The two rookies to finish in the top-five in 2007-08: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
Now that’s how you end a season series!
The Chicago Blackhawks close their play on the road this season with a dramatic come from behind win over the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime tonight. They will no longer have to play the Hurricanes this season, finishing the year with a 3-5-1 record against them, snapping a three-game losing streak against the Hurricanes. Chicago also snaps a six-game losing streak overall. Even with the loss, the Hurricanes exit this game with a 13-game points steak (9-0-4) tying a franchise record. Good for them.
FINAL: #Blackhawks 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT)
Shot attempts: 71-54 CAR
When Adam Gaudette joined the Chicago Blackhawks at he NHL Trade Deadline, the sense was that he had a higher offensive upside than Matthew Highmore and room to grow his game, whereas Highmore had pretty much topped-out what he could be at the NHL level.
He was coming off the NHL’s COVID protocol list as the Vancouver Canucks dealt with the biggest outbreak any team in the league had seen this season. Rumors swirled around the Canucks that Gaudette was “patient zero” for the P.1 variant outbreak and that is what led to him being traded to the Blackhawks.
Even with the loss last night, the Chicago Blackhawks showed a lot of what you hope to see in the final two weeks of the season. They didn’t give up, they competed hard with a team that is going to make noise in the playoffs, and they allowed the young players on the team to have the spotlight. That’s all you can ask of a team that has paper-thin playoff hopes.
• But don’t tell Kirby Dach that…
Kirby Dach mentioned several times how this loss is problematic for the Blackhawks playoff push. I hate to break it to him, but….