Three Stars:

1. Corey Crawford (showed how valuable he is, only one in the game)

2. Artemi Panarin (showed how valuable he is)

3. Brandon Mashinter 1G (in truth)

I could tell after the refs called no goal on what was rightfully a goal that we were losing this game. I just expected a goal out of it. Nope.

I think the NHL is starting to have a problem with referees. It’s not yet at NFL levels thankfully, but it’s still a problem. And somehow it’s been directed at the best team in the league.

I’m not saying the NHL is biased, but the season would have a better story if the Capitals rebounded after a tough loss in the playoffs and got the President’s cup than if the Blackhawks got it after the Stanley Cup win. I don’t think we’ll see as many bad calls against the Blackhawks in the playoffs. Just saying.

Now, moving on from what should have been a hot start to the game.

Teuvo Teravainen confirmed my deepest suspicions that he is not in fact Artemi Panarin. Panarin is the Calder favorite for a reason. Teuvo doesn’t have those reasons. I think he didn’t even finish in the top 20 his rookie season. There is a clear difference between these two and losing Panarin last night was a setback we paid for. Expect the second line to come back hot when he gets in.

That’s not to say Teuvo’s a bad player, it’s just he belongs on the third line and not the second. And speaking of the third line, where did they go? They’ve disappeared. They should still be a good goal scoring unit, but they’ve instead been tasked with defense. In their defense, they’re not scored on very often.

Shaw-Toews-Hossa get a lot of chances. They don’t get a lot of goals. They’ve gotta start converting or Q needs to start worrying.

We’re gonna be arguing this no goal for a long time. Rasmussen wasn’t touching Martin Jones and if the NHL wants to say that we need more scoring maybe loosening the goalie interference rule, so in instances where – this is gonna get complicated – the goalie isn’t interfered with, maybe the goal is allowed. Rasmussen was not touching Martin Jones. Brandon Mashinter should have scored. That’s the weirdest part for me. I’m arguing that arguably the least talented Blackhawk should have scored.

Next up: Stars on Friday. Let’s embarrass them like we did last time. As Kirk Cousins would say, I liked that.

Article wise: expect the trade deadline piece within the next 48 hours. I’m beginning to feel like Yzerman.