Postgame Notes: Red Wings @ Blackhawks

Just a few thoughts on the Red Wings’ 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks tonight.

First off, I’ll drop this here:

38. So close. https://t.co/b5LSFyO6BA

— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) January 11, 2017

And another tweet to note:

Reminder: The Blackhawks still using Chelsea Dagger as their goal song in 2017 is like if the Wings had used Blur’s “Song 2” until 2007. https://t.co/jRSjwGJE5C

— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) January 11, 2017

But as far as actual game thoughts go…

That was a really good second period by the Wings and a not-terrible third.  The first?  Not so good, but not bad enough that they couldn’t overcome it.

I like that they didn’t give up.  They never really dominated stretches of play but they kept grinding it out.  That’s what a team with a lack of talent needs to do.

That said, while there’s a lack of talent, part of that is also because of the lack of power plays for Detroit.  Look, the calls that were made against the Red Wings were pretty justifiable.  But the Blackhawks simply weren’t held to the same standard.

The Red Wings got called for chintzy hooks that Chicago got away with.  Justin Abdelkader gets a cross-check to the back of the neck from Richard Panik and there’s no call.  Then Abdelkader goes into the corner with Niklas Hjalmarsson in the closing seconds of regulation and comes out with a boarding penalty, which leads to the overtime power play on which the Blackhawks win the game.

I don’t know how the officials can justify it but they won’t have to publicly so…  Whatever?

Final note: No matter how many signs they put up, United Center is not the Madhouse on Madison.  Chicago Stadium was the Madhouse on Madison.  It’d be like calling Little Caesars Arena “The Big Red Barn” or something.