McKnight: Sharp, Hossa Power 'Hawks Past Blues
By Connor McKnight--
Comeback wins powered by Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp are quickly becoming the norm for the Blackhawks this year. In Monday night's thriller against the Blues, Hossa netted a pair--including a spectacular no-look, between the legs game tying goal with less than five minutes left--while Patrick Kane found Sharp all alone on staring at empty net. Kane hit Sharp, Sharp hit the back of the net, fans went crazy.
The Hawks didn't play badly for the first 50 minutes but they were out-worked. For the most part their 21 shots on goal in the first two periods were easily seen and easily handled by Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak. "We didn't create much in the first two periods of the game," Hossa said after the win. "In the third we started playing more simple, more grinding hockey and we never quit, which is nice."
Hossa did go on to mention that it is pretty tough to come from behind in every game. That's very true. Marty Turco let in a pair that he'd like to have back. The first came when David Perron slipped one past on a busted play. Perron may not even have known he put the puck on net. Still, Turco kept the Hawks in the game late in the third and early in overtime when the Blues put on some serious pressure and a volley of shots.
It's not the blueprint Joel Quenneville and the Hawks want to follow every night. In fact, Quenneville even seemed a little ticked in his post game presser but hey, if you're gonna win, why not make it exciting.
