5 Thoughts: Chicago Blackhawks vs Washingon Capitals - Passing The Buck
The Chicago Blackhawks closed the door on the Washington Capitals tonight, thanks to Ryan Donato's 3rd-period goal.
1. The Blackhawks overcame the two-goal deficit as Ryan Donato, Ilya Mikheyev, and TJ Brodie kept the Hawks in the game.
However, before the 3rd period, the team let in two goals by the Washington Capitals early as Andrew Mangianpane undressed former teammate T.J. Brodie, to score a goal on Arvid Soderblom.
Defense Wins Cups
2. The defensive collapse for the night started early, and the missteps were glaring.
This goal came 2nd after Pierre Luc-Dubois showed glimpses of the brilliance we've seen during his time in Columbus. His time in Washington has helped rejuvenate a career thought dead on arrival in Los Angeles.
3. Frank Nazar looked confident on the ice tonight. He helped set up one play in front of the Capitals net which should've been a goal. However, Tyler Bertuzzi failed to finish the goal which has been all-too common for Bertuzzi this season.
Nazar and Bedard's chemistry is promising, and after his performance in the AHL Kyle Davidson keeps the center in the big league. He has a great future with the Blackhawks. Nazar was held scoreless, with a -1, 2 PIMs, 1 SOG, and 2 giveaways.
Tyler Bertuzzi
4. Tyler Bertuzzi was in Toronto last season and played with elite players such as Austin Matthews, and Mitch Marner.
This year he's played with Taylor Hall, Connor Bedard, and multiple forwards in the Blackhawks lineup.
Despite all the grit, he hasn't played with the effort that earned him 43 points( 21 G, 22 A) in Toronto.
While Foligno did his best to recruit him, he's not as advertised and if I'm GM Kyle Davidson I'm shipping him for assets and signing Kaapo Kakko.
Power-Play
5. Why did it seem like everyone was passing the buck? Was it a matter of nervousness or what? The Hawks failed to capitalize on three power-play opportunities gifted to them by the Capitals.
Everyone passed, and there were way too many instances of the Hawks failing to create pressure and hem the Capitals in their own zone as they should've.
The End
Fortunately, Ryan Donato and T.J. Brodie helped the Blackhawks come from behind to end Spencer Carberry and the Capitals rally tonight.
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