No revenge win for Blackhawks vs. Oilers

It was closer this time, but for the Blackhawks their 4-3 loss to the Oilers on Monday night at the United Center stung as much as their 9-2 drubbing back in November in Edmonton.

While the Hawks spoke of getting revenge, all they managed was a second loss to one of the teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

“Certainly winning the game was a priority,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “That’s how you get revenge, and we didn’t do that.”

Not only did the Hawks go 0-for-5 on the power play, they let the Oilers score twice during an extended five-minute power play that was the result of a controversial hit by Daniel Carcillo that changed the course of the game.

Leading 1-0, it all turned for the Hawks at 7:23 of the second period when Carcillo drew a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for a hit on Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert that is certain to be reviewed by the NHL for a possible suspension.

Carcillo shoved Gilbert into the end boards when the Edmonton defenseman was in a vulnerable position. Both players were injured on the play and didn’t return.

Carcillo appeared to hurt his left knee when Gilbert fell on him and had to be helped to the dressing room. The Hawks provided no details of his condition after the game.

By the time the power play was over it was 2-1 for the Oilers on goals by Ryan Smyth and Taylor Hall.

Quenneville didn’t disagree Carcillo deserved a penalty.

“I’m not going to argue the call,” Quenneville said. “He beat him with a counter hit. There wasn’t intent. Both guys went for the same type of a play and (Carcillo) beat him and had better position on the guy. It’s unfortunate what happened.”

Carcillo already has been suspended once this season for two games for checking Carolina’s Joni Pitkanen into the boards from behind. It was the fifth suspension of his career.

“It wasn’t even a hit, it was a counter hit. He went in tough,” Quenneville said. “It wasn’t a head shot.”

At least one of the Oilers looked at the play objectively.

“I think Carce was just trying to get in on the forecheck and, you know, when you’re going back that fast, just a little bump here and there can be pretty dangerous,” ex-Hawk Ben Eager said.

“Whenever you see a hit like that and it’s a five-minute penalty, you want to capitalize on it. We were able to score 2 goals, so it turned out to be a big point in the game.”

Oilers coach Tom Renney didn’t like the hit and hopes the league looks at it further.

“I think the hit speaks for itself, and the penalty does as well,” Renney said. “I think at least to this point it’s been addressed and I’m hoping that it’ll be looked into even further.”

The Hawks got the game back to 2-2 on Andrew Brunette’s goal at 12:39 of the second period, but a total team breakdown defensively preceded Andy Sutton’s go-ahead goal minutes later.

Rookie Jimmy Hayes’ first NHL goal with 3:49 to play was too little, too late.

“There’s no excuse to lose that game,” Patrick Kane said.

The Hawks’ power play is now 1-for-22.

“We’ll tweak it and look to do different things with different people,” Quenneville said.