Wings-Hawks Game Notes

Having been at the game last night, I didn’t get time to put notes together for a proper game recap until I went back to watch the game this afternoon.

A couple things I thought at the game were confirmed. One is that the Red Wings’ goals both came on lucky bounces. Detroit was completely unable to score without the puck going in off of a Chicago player.

Another is that the Blackhawks were able to get to the Detroit net without punishment, either from the Red Wings’ defenders or the officials.

At one point shortly after Tomas Holmstrom was called for goaltender interference, Patrick Kane cut through Dominik Hasek’s crease, bumping the Detroit goalie, with no call from the refs.

Later, the ‘Hawks would get on the board when several players were allowed to remain at the side of the crease as Hasek sprawled out, with Patrick Sharp eventually lifting the puck over him.

One thing I hadn’t realized was how awful the third-period slashing call on Andreas Lilja was. That was the call that gave the Blackhawks the power play on which they scored the game-winning goal. That’s a lot riding on a broken stick.

It’s early in the season, right now it’s important to think that it doesn’t matter. In April we might be able to look back at things like that (as well as the quick whistle in Chicago last week that cost Detroit a goal) and still say it doesn’t matter. If they do matter by then, I imagine a lot more games like this will have happened.