CHICAGO | Sunday's downer finish against the Washington Capitals proves that on the list of sudden ailments enveloping the Blackhawks, the goalie is far from No. 1 in impact.
No one blamed Antti Niemi for coughing up a three-goal lead in the third period, just as Cristobal Huet was virtually excused from goat's duty when the Hawks gave up two goals in the final two minutes in Philadelphia on Saturday to lose 3-2.
A bend-and-break late-game defense and offensive impotence for extended periods logically ought to diffuse the controversy: Should the starter be Niemi or Huet?
But it won't.
Arguing over the demerits of a goalie with the playoffs uncomfortably near shows just how far the Hawks have risen in the sports-esteem of a still-championship-hungry sports town. The issue is not quite as white-hot as Bears quarterbacking, but it's now a respectable No. 2, on a par with any ninth-inning closer problems that crop up for the Cubs and White Sox. And remember the good ol' days when the lack of a decent center for the Bulls was a water-cooler topic?
The fan bloggers were hot going into Sunday's game worrying whether Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were burned out amassing Olympic medals. Coach Joel Quenneville attracted some barbs. But for a blessed day or two, Niemi and Huet got some rest. Only 'till the next four-goal yield in one period.
Too bad Niemi, mentioned by some as a possible playoff starter, wasn't available postgame to describe to get his take on his aspirations and why he was able to blank the high-scoring Caps for two periods with seemingly little effort.
A goalie's eye view of the crazy-quilt sequence in which the Caps tied the game in quick order would have shed insight on his craft. But within that bit of seemingly bad hockey was a near-heroic stand, how Niemi just about outlasted a 5-on-3 Caps advantage due to two Hawks -- Jordan Hendry and Colin Fraser -- simultaneously in the penalty box. He withstood the target practice until the moment the penalties expired, when Niklas Backstrom nailed the first of his two goals.
"They got a great power play and they got a late penalty, and all of a sudden it's a two-minute 5-on-3," Quenneville said. "We got through it right to the end, and they got a fortunate bounce off the end boards to make it 3-2.
"We're upset about the ensuing goal where they got a guy in the slot wide open to get the equalizer. They're two careless high sticks (penalties). It's a long time to kill, 5-on-3."
Quenneville knew he had potentially successful back-to-back goaltending efforts.
"I have a goaltender who's fine in both games," he said. "They gave us a chance to win."
He had no further complaints about Niemi or Huet. Quenneville's recipe for success: "Defensively, teams that check well, teams that play well in their own end, teams don't give up off the rush. We can be better in that area."
Sounds like Hawks goalies must keep as close of an eye on their own teammates as opponents bearing down on them with the puck.
This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at DGemsNet@aol.com.
