NEWSLETTER
I don’t know what everyone was worried about? The Chicago Blackhawks are totally fine with all their injuries and illnesses and players in COVID protocol. It’s not a big deal. Who was worried….
If they lose the next 10 games in-a-row, you can't even be mad. This is nuts. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/wipcunt8CG
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) January 31, 2021
It looks bad, but somehow the Blackhawks were able to overcome a very weird weekend and cap off a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets last night. Patrick Kane, Mattias Janmark, and Philipp Kurashev were paired on a line together and each tallied two points on the night. Kevin Lankinen was stellar again in net and another rookie got on the scoresheet with a goal from Pius Suter. It’s all fine and sustainable, right?
Colliton: "Gritty effort from our group… Really happy with how we handled that challenge. Obviously we're missing a few guys, but there's no sympathy in the league, we've got to find a way anyway. Ton of credit to that group in there."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 1, 2021
• First and foremost, Kevin Lankinen is the Blackhawks starter. Full stop. He’s the guy. He’s made six starts in their last seven games and has come away with at least a point in five of those six starts with a 3-1-2 record. He hasn’t allowed more than two goals against him in his last five starts. has a .937 save percentage, and a 1.97 GAA.
Kevin Lankinen's save percentage is now .937, tied for 6th in the NHL. Yet he's unfazed.
"Every single game, every single period I'm out there, I feel more and more relaxed. I get more and more confidence. I don't like to judge my game by the numbers that much."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 1, 2021
• While he might not judge by numbers, I still will.
• Lankinen ranks, among goalies with at least four starts, second in save percentage (.937) and third in GAA (1.97). He also leads all rookie goaltenders in those categories as well.
• I know he’s not at the top of the list, but you have to think ten games into this NHL season, Lankinen has to start getting some recognition as a top rookie right now and could find himself in the hunt for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year if he keeps it up.
• Another few rookies making impacts for Chicago are Philipp Kurashev and Pius Suter. Both got on the scorehseet last night, incouding Suter’s rookie-leading fourth goal of the season.
Pius Suter now leads all NHL rookies in goals with his fourth. Philipp Kurashev is right behind him, tied for second with three. #Blackhawks
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) February 1, 2021
• Kurashev found himself playing the top center position on the first line with Patrick Kane and Mattias Janmark. The three of them had as good a first game together as one could hope for with each scoring two points on the night. Janmark looks like a real steal for the Blackhawks and could potentially play his way into stay with the Blackhawks and not becoming a trade piece.
Jeremey Colliton on Philipp Kurashev: "His patience and confidence with the puck has really helped that line." #Blackhawks
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 1, 2021
• I expected Kurashev to become a reliable NHL player, I didn’t see him getting off to this kind of start. Unfortunate that this opportunity is being afforded to him because of injuries and players on the COVID list, but he is making the most of it.
• Reese Johnson made his NHL debut last night, adding to the handful of players who have made their NHL debuts with the Blackhawks this season. He didn’t do too bad either. With the aforementioned injuries and illnesses, Johnson likely won’t be a one and done rookie this season.
Colliton on Reese Johnson, who had 7 hits in 10:56 in his NHL debut: "He hit everything that moved tonight."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 1, 2021
• We’re still getting used to the empty United Center. It’s just not the same.
Kevin Lankinen on playing in the empty UC:
"That's the part that definitely sucks. We're missing the fans, the noise, the loud building. I've heard how loud it can be here at the United Center with all the crazy fans. It's one of the hardest places to play for an away team."— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) February 1, 2021
• Even for the visitors, too.
Full Tortorella comments on the empty UC, after experiencing it Friday ->#CBJ pic.twitter.com/hkrbDAgLPn
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) February 1, 2021
• Last night around the NHL saw some ridiculousness. First, Joel Farabee notched a hat-trick for the Flyers which earned him a Gritty hat toss:
YOU DESERVE A HAT @FarabeeJoel pic.twitter.com/R4yFKNVFnR
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 1, 2021
• Not to be out-done, Michael Raffl decided to try on the hat and give it back to Gritty.
Raffl with Gritty’s hat 😂 #Flyers pic.twitter.com/tA4VQJKYkl
— 𝕄𝕒𝕩 (@maxmiller188) February 1, 2021
• Great stuff.
• I don’t have the time to get all the highlights, but Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were absolutely unstoppable last night.
https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1356111250439155712?s=20
• McDavaid and Draisaitl combined for 11 points on the night in an 8-5 win over the Senators. They are first and second in the NHL in points with McDavid’s 22 points leading Draisaitl’s 21. The Oilers are 5-6-0 this season…
