Box Score | War On Ice

Look, anything can happen in a single hockey game. The talent gap between even the worst and best teams in the NHL means that any team could beat any other on any given night. It's part of what makes this sport so much fun. Most of the time, however, things go about the way you'd think they would. Tonight, as the last place team in the league faced the one with the third-best record, and this was one of those instances that one could safely deem 'predictable'.

Just 2:33 into the game, Brandon Mashinter (who?) capitalized on a terrible turnover by the Leafs in the neutral zone and snapped an absolutely perfect shot over the shoulder of James Reimer to open the scoring for the Hawks.

The Leafs had a few chances to test Chicago goaltender Scott Darling, but ultimately didn't pose much of a thread through the first twenty minutes.

Then, at 11:39 of the first, the Hawks took a 2-0 lead on a power play goal from Jonathan Toews. The play saw Reimer make the initial save, bat away at a rebound puck fluttering in the air, and then have his defenders fail to clear away the puck, only to have Toews slam home a rebound through a huge traffic jam in the slot.

As the first period came to a close, the Leafs had to count themselves lucky that the score wasn't 3 or 4-0. The Hawks also hit the post once and then were absolutely robbed by Reimer on a sliding, cross-crease save on an Artemi Panarin shot.

In the second period, the Leafs' penalty kill continued its impeccable impression of a Shop Vac as the Hawks' Brent Seabrook blasted home Chicago's 3rd goal of the night just 1:55 into the game.

The Leafs weren't without a chance, as Nick Spaling had a totally empty cage to look at before Darling lunged across the crease, taking away what looked like a sure goal. Reimer's stop on Panarin would be the save of the night on most nights, but this was spectacular.

Panarin took a double minor penalty for high-sticking Morgan Rielly midway through the second, but the Leafs were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Considering that the Leafs' second power play unit consisted of Colin Greening, Mark Arcobello, and Brad Boyes, it wasn't terribly surprising.

By the end of the second period, the Leafs lead the Blackhawks in shots 26-21, but some of that could certainly be attributed to score effects. Moreover, the clear superiority of the Blackhawks in terms of elite talent meant that if the shot count was even close, the Hawks would be likely to make better on their chances.

Just 1:26 into the third period, Michael Grabner took a hooking penalty in the offensive zone and sent the Hawks to their fourth power play of the game. It was Patrick Kane who dished to Panarin streaking through the Leafs' zone, and Panarin buried it five-hole on Reimer. The Leafs penalty kill dropped to 1-for-4.

Things went from awful to... I don't know, what's worse than awful? Anyway, just second later, Kane picked up the puck in the neutral zone with Matt Hunwick pinching and absolutely took off alone against Reimer and buried a shot high to make it 5-0. Rielly chased, but never came close to catching Kane.

Next, it was Martin Marincin getting caught on a bad pinch and giving up another 2-on-1 that saw the Hawks hit the post on a play that gave Reimer no chance. Frank Corrado failed to intercept the cross-ice pass, and it was only luck that prevented the game from going to 6-0. Marincin was called for hooking on the play, and Byron Froese took a slashing call shortly thereafter to give the Hawks a 5-on-3 that would have lasted nearly two full minutes. Would have.

Teuvo Teravainen blasted home a one-timer to put the Hawks up 6-0 before Froese's penalty had ended and then just as Marincin's penalty was expiring the Hawks put home another to make it 7-0.

Arcobello managed to score for the Leafs as something of a reply to the 7-0 goal, but by this point, I was more or less done with this game.

Somewhat surprisingly, P.A. Parenteau scored on the power play for the Leafs just a couple minutes later, as he notched his second point on the night (he assisted on the Arcobello goal).

The rest of the third period played out rather uneventfully, with the Leafs leaving Chicago with tails tucked 'tween their legs.

Notes on individual players:

- Nazem Kadri played his first game after missing two due to an undisclosed injury. He managed to hit the post once in the game but ultimately couldn't do much to stem the bleeding tonight.

- Matt Hunwick and Morgan Rielly got thoroughly dominated tonight on the scoresheet and in terms of 5v5 Corsi +/-. I'd like to say that it was all Hunwick's fault, but Rielly made his share of missteps as well.

- P.A. Parenteau looks increasingly like a player who will yield a draft pick for the Leafs at the deadline. That's good news.

- Poor James Reimer. He doesn't deserve this.

- Colin Greening had a good game. In addition to being one of the Leafs' better players in terms of 5v5 Corsi +/-, he was noticeable in the offensive zone for using his size to protect the puck and his attempts to create scoring chances by dishing the puck into dangerous scoring areas. He may yet have some value, even if it isn't on the trade market.