Maybe the Blackhawks ate a bit too much turkey for Thanksgiving yesterday, because this afternoon they looked as if the tryptophan still hadn't worn off. A sluggish Chicago team lost today's match-up with the Anaheim Ducks, 1-0, knocking the Blackhawks record down to 10-5-6.
Cristobal Huet started at goal, filling in for the injured Nikolai Khabibulin. Huet played well, giving up just one goal in 21 shots. The problem for the Blackhawks was on the other end of the ice.
The team made 26 shots on goal but the Ducks' goaltender, Jonas Hiller, was a wall. He blocked six shots on the way to a shutout. The team looked especially lethargic in the first period. They could barely work their way into the net, and only took five shots. They seemingly woke up in the second, taking 15 shots on the Ducks. They were also more aggressive in the second, earning two penalties for fighting (Walker) and high sticking (Sopel).
The Blackhawks did come into this game beat up. In addition to Khabibulin, who is nursing a groin injury, Patrick Sharp played 18 minutes with an injured wrist, and Aaron Johnson was placed on injured reserve. They clearly missed Sharp's help on offense.
Today's loss was the first regulation loss for Chicago on the circus trip. It is their second loss in a row as they fell to San Jose in overtime on Wednesday. The Blackhawks will have a chance for revenge quickly as the Ducks will come the United Center this Wednesday.
