Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets Post Game

Blackhawks suffer worst lost of the season at the hands of Cristobal Huet

Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Terry Gilliam

 

Yes you read that headline correct, the Blackhawks would have been better off with Rockford Ice Hog's goalie, Corey Crawford, in net tonight after Huet allowed 7 goals on 27 shots. This was by far one of the worst defensive performances I've seen by the Chicago Blackhawks this year, Huet isn't the only one to blame even though he actually found a way to GIVE the Blue Jackets 2 goals all by himself. 

Huet was pulled in the second after allowing 5 goals, he was replaced by Annti Niemi who faced only 5 shots but allowed a bouncer which ricochet off skates and sticks like a pinball before slipping past him. Q-Stache, for whatever reason, put Huet back in goal in the 3rd period to face the music. Quenneville more than likely put Huet back in goal to try and rise his confidience level hoping for at least 1 good period out of the already 40 minute disaster. The game, however, got even more out of hand and to add insult to injury, Huet, while trying to "clear" the puck from behind the net, passed it directly to a Blue Jacket who had an easy pass towards the front of the net for a goal, TWICE!

Huet, couldn't track a puck to save his life, moved slower than molasses, skated post to post as if he were on sandpaper, and basically told Q-Stache through his performance tonight he didn't want to be goalie for the Blackhawks this post-season. I said it in the preview for the game and I'll say it again, I am a proud member of the facebook group; "For the love of God! Why isn't Antti Niemi the Blackhawk's starting goalie?" <--- and that is my final statement about the goalie situation.

Offense even looked like something out of the AHL today as well. While in the offensive zone, I swear, Hossa couldn't get a good pass along the blue line to anyone at any time. We weren't thinking, and I can't blame them, they didn't try to set up anything they just thought about being down 5,6, or 7 and only wanting to shoot no matter how bad of a shot it was. We MIGHT have got 3 shots on goal before Blue Jackets cleared it out and were on our end in no time. It was just a poorly played game by all parties, and I thought our loss to the Coyotoes was hopefully our rock bottom, boy was I wrong.

There is nothing much to take from this game except EVERYTHING needs work, improvement, and serious evaluation. We have 9 games left and can't be doing this roller coaster stuff at this time, keep Niemi in goal for the rest of the season, let him be the anchor and start building out. It is crunch time, and I really hope Q-stache will re-evaluate his statement to choose a starting goalie for the playoffs around the "5 games left" point.

It did however, bring a smile to my face to see Duncan Keith take the reigns at the end of our 3rd period PP and push the puck through the zone, grab his own rebound, and almost score. 

 

So did anything good come out of this? Well, the Blackhawks clinched a playoff berth with the Calagary Flames losing today, we actually scored during a power play, and....... that's about it. 

 

I'm sorry about all the negativity, I normally sleep on my blog for a night before posting to make sure I am thinking with a clear head that is not clouded with emotions, but this game hurts to much already and I know it's just going to be an even worse hangover tomorrow.