Yes, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1. Yes, the event was a success in many ways, from "Take Me Out To The Hockey Game" to the incredible crowd-assisted rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. And yes, the ice held up well - it was a fast-paced hockey game with plenty of goals.
You probably knew all that from the intense media coverage by ESPN, the Tribune, Sun Times, and WGN Radio. But here's something you probably haven't heard: The key turning point to this game happened before the puck even dropped.
The problem lied in Joel Quenneville's decision to give Cristobal Huet the nod between the pipes in this one. What was he thinking?
Huet has been one step behind Nikolai Khabibulin all season long, and he proved that again yesterday. He did not give the Hawks the best shot at winning; Khaby would have done that.
If you missed the stat sheet, Huet yielded six goals on 30 shots. Khabibulin came out of the bullpen in the third and pitched a shutout - allowing no goals on 13 shots.
There's no question about it - none - that Khaby should have been the starter. I know Coach Q likes to rotate them and Khaby got the start in the loss at Detroit, but it was just wrong for him to choose Cris in this pivotal game on the international stage.
This game could have really upped Chicago's morale as the team keeps at its playoff push in 2009. It could have led to more excitement and more people pulling for this team. Instead, the Hawks were embarassed, blowing a 3-1 lead after one on a series of weak decisions by Huet, which included horrible rebound control.
For those watching the game on television, like me, nothing was more terrible to see than Huet's horrifying grin while the 6th Red Wings goal was being reviewed (and ultimately was declared a good goal). WHY in the WORLD was he smiling?
With the exception of Pavel Datsyuk's brilliant goal, I blame Huet for the Hawks' collapse, and not the Wrigley Field curse. The coaching staff should also be ashamed for allowing him to start this game.
Other than that, I have no problems with this year's Winter Classic. It was a treat to watch.
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Craig Kanalley
Craig is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., home of the chicken wing, frigid winters, the Sabres and the Bills. He is a major league sports fan and most closely follows hockey. More
Comments
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!!! Huet really, really blew it, and I agree that Coach Q should not have had him in in the first place. At the very least, he should have been pulled once it was tied. That smile on Huet's face was despicable, but not as bad for me as the pee wee level, fateful hesitation to move left in order to save the third goal from going in (I think it was the third goal). Huet just froze, as if the best he could do was HOPE that the puck didn't get pushed in. I was somewhat of a Huet fan before I saw the lack of effort and sense of urgency yesterday.
Huet Blew it? A step behind Khabibulin all season long?? Where are your facts to back any of that up? Before yesterday's loss, Huet had a better save percentage and goals against. Yesterday's game was a complete and total team meltdown. Try as you may, you can not pin the loss on one player. You obviously don't watch the team or the game much. Are you a member of the media or can anyone write whatever they feel like writing?
Hey Dickie, I encourage you to read my "The Frenchman vs. The Russian" write-up from a few weeks ago - under the popular blog entries in the right hand column. All the facts you need are there. Huet has been sub-par from the start. Hopefully the team is trying to trade him or at least understand he is the team backup. He should not have started the Winter Classic, period.
I have an objection to "Datsyuk's brillant goal".
I could have gotten that shot on goal had I been left alone by a billionaire dman as he was.
Campbell did absolutely NOTHING to stop him.
Had he correctly taken the man, he would not have gotten off a shot, let alone be allowed to go in alone.
That was a terrible non-play by Campbell.
I see this goal as what precipitated the total collapse.
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