The Chicago Blackhawks went into the 2021 season without a legitimate starting goaltender at the NHL level. They came out of the 2021 season … basically in the same position.
Kevin Lankinen emerged as a solid NHL-caliber goaltender in his rookie season, but he wasn’t able to keep his hot start to the season going all year long. Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia performed at the level you would have expected out of them, but neither fully took the reins as a long-term solution (as a starter or backup) for the organization. With all three goalies signed through the end of next season, it appears that the trio will again be called upon for one of them to fully take hold of the starter role next season.
They looked good enough at moments, they were mostly outplayed, and in the end they fell short. Is this my way of describing the 2021 Chicago Blackhawks season or their final game of the season last night against the Dallas Stars? The answer is yes, both.
Chicago had no business winning their regular season finale last night, being out-shot 50-23 and looking the inferior team for most stretches of play. But they capitalized on what few chances they had and Collin Delia kept them alive for most of the 60+minute effort. Much like the regular season, the Blackhawks had no business being in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as long as they did this season, but it was intriguing to watch when they capitalized on their chances to keep alive in the playoff chase in the Central Division. But ultimately in the end, they just weren’t good enough.
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The Chicago Blackhawks wrapped up their season Monday night with a 5-4 OT loss to the Dallas Stars. The game itself was emblematic of the Hawks problem all season long in that they just gave up way too many shots and couldn’t hold a lead. All season long the Hawks were consistently outshot and needed stellar goalie performances to stay afloat. In the season ender Colin Delia did all he could in net making 45 saves in a losing effort. While the Hawks did better than expected this season by finishing one game under .500 at 24-25-7 the team itself has a ways to go and it all starts at the top.
• The speed in his game, man, you love to see that.
• Hagel’s ninth of the season and an assist in last night’s game solidified himself as finishing the season fifth in points for the Blackhawks.
• Hagel is one point behind Pius Suter in fourth-place on the team on scoring, which guarantees that the two rookies will finish the season in the top-five of team scoring. That’s the first time since the 2007-08 season where two rookies have finished in the top-five of team scoring.
• The two rookies to finish in the top-five in 2007-08: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.