THE VERDICT: New-Look Blackhawks Take Victory in Unique Home Opener

It seems like forever that the Blackhawks have led the National Hockey League in attendance, so let's just assume that what would have been their 529th consecutive sellout missed a rather good show at the United Center Friday night.
For a delayed home opener, this 4-1 conquest over the Detroit Red Wings will surely suffice, despite all the oddities so evident throughout an empty building that usually rocks. Tarps covered massive portions of the lower level, Jim Cornelison sang via a tape, and Brent Seabrook waved at nobody during pregame introductions because nobody was there.

However, in a very classy touch, essential front line pandemic heroes were honored by the organization before the Blackhawks responded with all the necessities in their first real home game since mid-March, after 13 straight dates elsewhere -- in Edmonton's Return to Play bubble, then the more recent excursion to Florida.

Goalie Kevin Lankinen, in his second NHL start, was better than he had to be. Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw not only scored, they scored on a power play that deserves to be witnessed up close. No spectator sport is better in person than hockey, and suddenly, the Blackhawks are must-see with the man advantage. They have registered a power-play goal in all of their five games, and own seven overall.
"Feels great, Friday night in Chicago, home opener," mused Lankinen. "A lot of history in this building. Only the fans were missing."
Regardless, there are aspects of the strange landscape and abbreviated 2021 schedule that are likeable, save for the fact it has been forced by untoward events in 2020. Condensed divisions because of the COVID-19 virus have reduced the number of games to 56, but the safety-first measure of back-to-backs is a winner.
Having the Red Wings here on a Friday night, and again on Sunday before noon saves fuel while energizing the rivalry. For the Blackhawks, no more St. Louis Blues, temporarily. Meanwhile, the division features last summer's Stanley Cup finalists, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars. That will change, but consecutive cracks against a common opponent might be a keeper. Captain Jonathan Toews has been touting that sort of system for a while, and he's not available to sample it.
For the second year in a row, the Blackhawks' roster has been revamped significantly, as in about half. And some of the players who are still here aren't here yet: Toews, Kirby Dach, Alex Nylander and Seabrook, all ailing.
Obviously, the most notable departure is Corey Crawford, who retired with two Stanley Cup rings. A sultan of selective amnesia, Crawford was ideal for his position. Like a relief pitcher, he instantly erased every blown save from memory.
Crawford leaves behind many admirers, among them Collin Delia, who now bids to succeed one of the most honored goalies in franchise history. Delia, Lankinen and Malcolm Subban toil behind a defense fortified by newcomers Nikita Zadorov and Ian Mitchell, the latter one of four Blackhawks to make their NHL debut on the Florida road trip.

At 6-foot-6, Zadorov is an imposing figure. As another Hawk addition, Mattias Janmark, noted, "he'll throw out huge hits at any point in the game…. you don't want to be on the wrong side of that."
A few Panthers who encountered Zadorov will second the notion. More than a few, actually. Try 11 Tuesday night.
The Blackhawks have employed several defensemen of that ilk. Chris Chelios, a Chicago native who is tons of fun in civilian life, gleefully deployed his alter-ego while on ice. A Hall of Famer, the ornery Chelios accumulated 2,891 penalty minutes. His career was a long one, but deduct about 48 hours of it, or two full days, for time spent doing penance. Under current rules, the Blackhawks' ambassador estimates he would sit for something more equivalent to two weeks.
During the 1970s, Jerry Korab arrived at the Stadium, elbows ready. His nickname was "King Kong", not solely for alliterative purposes. He could really fight. So could Behn Wilson, acquired from Philadelphia, where the "Broad Street Bullies" are still revered. The Flyers won consecutive Stanley Cups the old-fashioned way, through intimidation.
Dave Manson was a prince of a man, comfortable in his own skin and amenable to renting space in enemy heads. His nickname was "Charley." A first round draftee, Manson wore No. 3, as did the late and great Keith Magnuson, who lost his share of battles but never his spirit. He was a captain here, then a head coach, and he shares a banner at the United Center with Pierre Pilote.

As a rookie in 1969, Magnuson cued a franchises revival. He spent nary a day in the minors, having jumped to the NHL directly from the University of Denver. That's the alma mater of Mitchell, another bright light on the Blackhawks' present blue line. A secondr-ound draft choice in 2017, he opted to extend his stay in school as captain of a traditionally vibrant hockey program.
Just 22 on Monday, Mitchell is learning on the fly, usually beside Calvin de Haan in the early going, with an ample skill set -- soft hands, enviable IQ and, as head coach Jeremy Colliton praised, a take-charge mentality. Mitchell is not a big body like Zadorov, but he is expressive. Being vocal, says Mitchell, comes naturally. When Magnuson first showed up, teammates thought he was slightly daft. But his charisma was contagious.
Mitchell assisted on de Haan's second period blast that produced a 2-0 lead against goalie Thomas Greiss, who had kept the first period respectable with a couple highlight stops on Dominik Kubalik. Tommy Hawk, the Blackhawks' famous mascot, celebrated Mitchell's first NHL point all by his lonesome in the 200 level.
Lankinen, a star back home in Finland, lost his shutout in the third period. He stopped 30 pucks, and now would appear to be the early leader in the Blackhawks' goalkeeping competition among three aspirants. Very early. But at least it's not 2020 anymore, and the games have begun.