Post Game Post-its: Blackhawks 4, Red "Griffin" Wings 2

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

I wrote down some notes on Post-its that I wanted to write about...thus begins the first ever edition of Post Game Post-its.

First Period

• Tatar w/ Filp + Bert - In my game preview I wrote in the 'What to Watch for' category that Jordan Owens would be starting on the top line along Filppula and Bertuzzi.  Well, it turned out that Tomas Tatar got the nod instead.  I can't say I disagree with this decision.  Tatar has a bright future on this team.  
• Kopecky = basketball shorts - Anyone else notice the stupid way that Kopecky cuts the inside legs of his pants?  It looks like he's skating around with basketball shorts on.  This annoyed me.
• OsGOOD(?) - Ozzie played well tonight.  In fact, he looked a little bit like that goaltender we had back in 2008.  He made some big saves throughout the game.  If he can play again this preseason the way he did tonight, I think he deserves to start some games.
• Ericssucks - 1st goal - Man, things just seem to be going downhill for Big E.  He ended up a -2 on the night and I can't say he did much well out there.  Maybe it's because he's struggled lately so I'm watching his play more closely, but at this point, I would honestly rather see Kindl in there as the 6th man.  

Second Period

• Tatar to Bert to Smith - Real nice play entering the zone by these three.  Tatar passed to Bertuzzi who found a late Smith trailing the play. 
• 4v2 --> 3v1 --> No chance - Hawks had a 4-on-2 that turned into a 3-on-1 before Duncan Keith scored on a pass from Fernando Pisani.  This goal is on the defense.
• Emmerton PK (not the best shot) - I thought Cory Emmerton had a solid game.  His highlight came on the penalty kill where he took the puck into the Hawks' zone, weaved between two defenders, and had a nice scoring chance.  He didn't get the best shot off, but it was a very nice play.
• Filp goal! - Valterri Filppula had a pretty goal.  This was Val's game tonight.  He was the best player on the ice for the Wings...and he knew it.  Maybe it was just me, but I felt like he was playing with the kind of confidence out there that we haven't seen before.  I think he's ready for a breakout season.  It's time for Filp to shine.

Third Period

• Pyett to Owens (can't score) - Logan Pyett had a very nice pass to Owens down near the net.  Owens went from his backhand to his forehand, but couldn't finish.  It was a nice play.
• Kindl + Smith PK - I noticed a lot of Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith playing together in the third.  They had a really nice shift together on the penalty kill early in the period.  Every time I watched them together on the ice, I couldn't help but think "this could be the pairing of the future."  
• Bert on D 3rd goal - Bert covering Jack Skille when he scored the Hawks' third goal.  Not the ideal match-up.  With that said, I thought Bert played a decent game overall.  Didn't see any spin-o-ramas from him.
• Miller....nice shot - He's fighting for a spot on this team and I can't say I noticed him or heard his name much out there tonight.  He did score a goal though and that counts for something.  A nice shot from the top of the circle.  I'm still Team Miller.  Sorry Ritola.
• Owens/Emmerton/Mursak - these three played well together and forced the Hawks into a delay of game penalty.  
• Smith played correctly on Hossa goal - It was a 2-on-1 and Smith took away the pass.  It then came down to Hossa vs. Ozzie, and, well, Hossa won.
• No McCollum - I don't know if it was announced that Thomas McCollum would play in the third or not.  Maybe I just assumed he would?  Ozzie played the whole game though.  It wasn't until about 4 minutes left in the game that I even thought, "wasn't McCollum supposed to play?"

Brendan Smith

Smith had 23:28 minutes of ice time, which included 4:31 on the power play and 2:17 on the penalty kill.  He finished the night a +1 and had 1 shot (though he had a few more shots that ended up blocked, deflected, or he just missed the net).  He registered his first point of the preseason when he assisted on Filppula's goal.  Overall, I thought he looked much better tonight than he did last night.  First game jitters were gone, but he's still got some improvements to make.  I still think he'll spend the year in Grand Rapids, but there's no way he doesn't make this team in 2011-2012.

Let's Go Red Wings