The Hawks had previously had a difficult time putting together a 60-minute effort before Monday, when they produced their most complete game of the season. The reward was a well-deserved two points.
Here are the observations of the evening.
Entering free agency, there was universal agreement that the Blackhawks were too easy to play against. They had too many East/West, perimeter-oriented skaters and not enough players who went North/South. The Hawks addressed those needs with a pair of trades for Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith and the signing of Ryan Carpenter. The results are showing. The Blackhawks had a 36-31 hit advantage against the Oilers and have outhit their opponents in all four games.
36-31 against Oilers36-29 against Jets31-29 against Sharks29-16 against Flyers
When forward Drake Caggiula was promoted to the top line with Jonathan Toews, he was tasked with providing energy and speed. He has delivered. In the two games he has played with Toews and Alex DeBrincat, he elevated the line’s performance. When the three are paired together, they carry a 52-percent possession rate. Without Caggiula, Toews and DeBrincat have a 36-percent possession rate. I’d like to see Caggiula get more ice time, as it seems good chances emerge when he's out there.
Goalie Corey Crawford was named the game’s No. 1 star, and he deserved the honor. He stopped 27 of 28 shots from the Oilers, many of which were prime scoring chances. I was concerned with how bad he had looked Monday and was critical of the decision to start him against Edmonton. Robin Lehner had a solid start in a loss to the Jets on Saturday and had been the better goalie. Instead, coach Jeremy Colliton went with Crawford, and it worked out.
As long as winger Alex Nylander is on the Hawks' roster, his performance will be a story story to me all season long. That's because the Hawks traded their top defensive prospect (at the time) in Henri Jokiharju to acquire him, and he needs to show he's worth the deal.
It’s been a mixed bag for Nylander so far. He scored the Blackhawks' first goal of the season in Prague, then laid an egg in a loss to the Sharks. Colliton scratched him against the Jets on Saturday, then Nylander returned to the lineup Monday, this time on the fourth line with Smith and Carpenter.
Despite only playing 8:20, Nylander scored the game-winning goal, benefiting from a turnover he caused at the Oilers' blue line. His offensive skill is undeniable. It has been his play in the other two zones that have been questioned. He was effective and working hard in all three zones Monday. I’d expect him in the lineup against the Blue Jackets on Friday unless rookie Kirby Dach is back from his rehab stint in Rockford. That’s something to keep an eye on as the week goes on.