New goalie too hot for Blackhawks
There was little energy in the United Center on Sunday night, but don’t blame the fans.
They take their cue from the Blackhawks, and the Hawks were a step behind the Calgary Flames all game.
If it wasn’t for Marian Hossa’s power-play goal with 4:19 to play, the Hawks might have been staring at a regulation defeat instead of getting a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flames.
Kris Russell’s goal off Andrew Shaw’s shin pad at 1:32 of OT made a winner out of rookie goalie Reto Berra, who made 42 saves in his NHL debut.
“We didn’t get the second and third opportunities, but I thought his rebound control was very effective,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We probably could have had more bodies in front of him.”
Quenneville thought his team played just OK.
“The last three games were the way we had to play, but today we had a little drop-off in our game,” Quenneville said. “We did put pucks (on net), but we didn’t get rebounds and we didn’t get traffic.
“Still, it was a very deserving 2 points for them.”
The 44 shots by the Hawks was a season high. They had 18 in a scoreless first period.
“I was disappointed with the amount of shots that we didn’t score more goals,” said Patrick Kane, who tallied the Hawks’ first goal. “In the first period he (Berra) probably got a little bit of confidence. We had some point shots that maybe he didn’t see he was getting pads and his body on.
“He’s a good goaltender, but sometimes you’ve got to generate a little more.”
The Flames have been searching for a goalie ever since Miikka Kiprusoff retired.
“Very proud for Reto,” said Flames coach Bob Hartley, whose team is now 6-6-2. “He played tonight the same way as I’ve seen him play a full year in Switzerland. Obviously, it’s not the same caliber, but just the poise that he showed throughout the game. Never got rattled, was perfect control on every shot. The two shots that beat him were perfect shots.
“Well, we beat the L.A. Kings. We beat the Hawks. With some saves, we’re going to be in lots of games. Tonight it could have gone either way, but we found a way to go. But it all starts with your goaltending.”
Berra never got rattled playing in one of the most intimidating buildings in the league.
“During the national anthem, my hair stand up,” Berra said.
After a scoreless first period during which he faced 11 shots, Hawks goalie Corey Crawford was faced with stopping T.J. Giliardi on a penalty shot 4:06 into the second period.
Crawford didn’t have to do much as Giliardi fired wide from close range.
Berra couldn’t stop Kane at 6:25 of the second period as Kane weaved his way around and through the Calgary defense before scoring from inside the left circle.
The lead didn’t even last a minute as Calgary tied it on Mike Cammalleri’s tip-in from in front.
Curtis Glencross put Calgary ahead for the first time at 2:16 of the third period, but Hossa tied it just as a two-man advantage expired.
“We have to hand it to (Berra), coming in and playing his first game with us,” Glencross said. “Stood on his head, 40-some shots on goal. We stuck with it.”
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