Emery Couldn’t Have Played Better, Carries Blackhawks

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -There is no doubt the Chicago Blackhawks deserved to lose in Calgary on Saturday night but Ray Emery didn’t. In the finest game I have seen Emery play, he carried his teammates and wouldn’t be denied. When the lights went out in the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Hawks were a 3-2 shootout winner.It probably had to do with fatigue, combined with taking their opponent lightly, but the Blackhawks could not have played sloppier if they tried.When Marian Hossa tied the score with three seconds to go in regulation, I tweeted, “Very good players can get away with doing the wrong thing all night if the other team is Calgary.” My feelings are still the same as the Hawks could not have picked a better opponent to face while having such an off night.

Over the years I have watched Emery play in Ottawa, Philadelphia, Anaheim, and now Chicago. It would be difficult to believe he has ever played a better game. Many times shots on goal don’t paint an accurate picture of the contest. In this case the shot totals of 47 for Calgary and 19 for Chicago is a perfect depiction of how bad the Hawks were outplayed.

To take it a step further, Calgary not only dominated but they have only themselves to blame. As good as Emery was the Flames missed a wide open net many times.

The Blackhawks were credited with 26 blocked shots and Calgary misfired 14 times, which would include hitting the post on a few occasions. The 47 shots against, combined with blocks and misses, means the Flames fired the puck 87 times. If not for stellar play by Emery and some uncanny luck the Hawks could have lost this game by close to double digits.

Read more: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/20945211/ray-emery-couldnt-play-better-carries-chicago-blackhawks-to-3-2-shootout-victory#ixzz2Jqp0TAB4