Scott Darling stopped 25 shots for his first career shutout and Brad Richards scored the game’s only goal as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the New York Rangers 1-0. Cam Talbot made 30 saves, many of them difficult, in the loss, but it wasn’t enough as the Rangers failed to solve Darling throughout the game. The Rangers had one goal called back due to a quick whistle, but it’s tough to complain about those since they even out over the course of a season. Dan Boyle hit the crossbar as well, and luck wasn’t on New York’s side last night.
The game itself was exciting and very nerve wracking. It had the feel of a playoff game and potential Stanley Cup Final matchup. I’ll tell you this, if these two teams meet in June, it’ll be hockey at its finest. These two teams play the game the right way, with skill up and down the lineup, pushing the puck up the ice, grinding along the boards, and getting to high priced real estate. There won’t be many goals thanks to goaltending and defense, but it’ll be an exciting series.
On to the breakdown.
Hawks 1, Rangers 0
There are a few things to note on this goal. First, is that a lot of people blamed Matt Hunwick for following his man behind the net. This simply isn’t the case, or, it’s the wrong reason to blame Hunwick. In Alain Vigneault’s defensive zone scheme, the Rangers play man coverage when the puck is low. This includes –whether you like it or not– following your man behind the net. Conventional wisdom says not to do this, since you can’t score from behind the net, but Vigneault isn’t conventional.
Three issues here.
What we wind up with on this play is three breakdowns. First, Hunwick was beat to the front of the net by his man, which is the bigger issue than following him behind the net. This means Tanner Glass has to account for the pass, but he does so by completely backing off of Richards, giving him all day to shoot. Third, Jesper Fast is off screen watching it all develop, instead of making the appropriate read and noticing Glass needs to cover the pass.
You can argue that Hunwick shouldn’t have followed his man behind the net, and you’d make a solid argument. I agree here, I don’t believe you should follow your man behind the net, and perhaps that prevents the goal. We will never know though. It happens, and it burned the Rangers.
USAT/Fenwick Chart
Courtesy of war-on-ice
The Hawks were generating a lot of attempts right before the Richards goal, but the game was rather even for the most part. Just a very balanced, hard fought game.
Scoring Chances
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Much like the attempts chart above, scoring chances were basically even throughout, but tilted a bit for the Hawks leading up to their goal.
Individual SAT/Corsi
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Now this is the interesting part. Despite the relatively even numbers in quantity and quality of attempts, only three Rangers skaters finished in the positives for puck possession: Hunwick, Dominic Moore (who had his goal taken away) and Ryan McDonagh. Keith Yandle –who I’d like to see shoot the puck a few times– and Dan Girardi had the roughest games.
Shot Locations
Courtesy of war-on-ice
The Rangers did a decent job of limiting shot attempts from the slot, and actually outshot the Hawks from that area. They couldn’t solve Darling, and Richards found that hole in the coverage. That’s all the Hawks needed.
Shift Chart
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Vigneault shook up his entire lineup, pairing Yandle and Girardi together, which ended in complete disaster. That pairing for the Richards line as the second pairing. McDonagh/Staal got the top pair bidding, getting the Toews/Sharp line. For those, including myself, who wanted Girardi off the top pair, we got our wish.
Losses happen, and the Rangers weren’t going to win out for the rest of the season. The Hawks beat them, it’s really that simple. Both teams have played each other very well, and made for two very exciting 1-0 games. The Rangers don’t play again until Saturday, so I have a feeling this loss is going to sit and fester with the fans. It shouldn’t. It’s a regulation loss, their first in March. I know it’s been a while, but they happen.
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