Friday, Feb. 11, 2011
Posted 10:23 p.m.Updated 11:26 p.m.
By Tracey Myers
CSNChicago.com
DALLAS - Jonathan Toews anger and frustration was palpable. And at this juncture, its hard to blame him.
WATCH: Toews reacts after loss
The Chicago Blackhawks were setting themselves up for a big victory against the Dallas Stars in Marty Turcos return to where it all began. They got out to a 3-0 lead by doing everything right.
And then it started to turn. Again.
The momentum, the lead and eventually the game went the other way. And while the Blackhawks held on to get one point, it seems a tough pill to swallow considering early they looked destined for two.
NHL
Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook scored in regulation, but the Stars started coming back in the second period and the Blackhawks couldnt wrestle control away again in a 4-3 shootout loss on Friday night. It was a bitter end to a great start, and Toews was frustrated at another squandered chance.
I dont have anything new to say to you guys, said Toews, who had two assists. Every time we lose its the same thing that happens. We dont change it. We have a good first period. Whether we come out with a lead or not in the first, we had good effort, getting pucks in there and skating.
"For some reason it goes away in the second period. Thats what you see there is us giving the other team a chance to come back and they make no mistakes. I dont understand whats going on.
Making things worse, the Blackhawks lost three forwards in the second period. Viktor Stalberg, Fernando Pisani and Ryan Johnson are all day-to-day with upper body injuries. Coach Joel Quenneville said theyll be re-evaluated on Saturday.
Pisani was hit by Stars defenseman Mark Fistric along the boards. Pisani fell back, the back of his head hitting the Stars bench railing. He got up after being down a few moments and skated off with some assistance.
The Blackhawks got a power play out of that hit, but yielded nothing from it.
We can go back and work our balls off on that power play, really show them up for hurting one of our players and we dont, Toews said. We were satisfied. It was a terrible power play and one thing led to another and they find a way to come back.
Instead, the Blackhawks, down three forwards, at least found a way to force overtime and earn a point.
Its one of those things where have a great first again and in the second we let them back in, said Seabrook, who had another potential goal ruled no goal on the ice and a review didnt reverse it. We dont finish them. Thats been the trouble weve had all year and it hurt us tonight.
READ: Hawks not trading Seabrook
Turco stopped 32 of 35 in regulation before all three of the Stars shootout attempts got past him.
You get beat, you get beat, and its tougher to swallow this time, Turco said. But not to get two points and the win was pretty disappointing.
Marty Turco heads off the ice in Dallas after the giving up goals to all three Stars shooters - all former teammates- in the shootout. (AP)
We have a big hill to climb, period, Turco said. The more often we play 60 minutes and play our game well be better off. If we can just get on a roll but itll take successive games and workmanlike effort to accomplish that.
The Blackhawks will have to regroup fast. Quenneville was looking at the positive out of this one: the Blackhawks getting a point when so many third-period slides have resulted in none. But time is running out, and the Blackhawks need more 60-minute outings and more two-point decisions.
We have to play the same way we do in the first throughout the game, Seabrook said. We feel we have a good game plan going into it, and its working. We just dont continue to play the rest of the game.
No goal
Seabrook was robbed on his 5-on-3 goal attempt by Kari Lehtonens glove save in the first period. The play went under review, and some replays showed that the glove, with the puck somewhere in it, crossed the goal line. But officials let the no-goal ruling stand.
In or out of the net, thats a judgment call, Seabrook said. If Im a ref on the ice Im probably calling it no goal as I see it.
Briefly
Marian Hossa did not play on Friday night. Quenneville said hes hopeful that the right wing can play Saturday night in Phoenix.
Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.