Blackhawks: 2010-2011

[GoBucky 0]

Yeah, they just about blew it last night. For as much as people complain about Turco, Crawford has just as much of a tendency to turn into a sieve at times.

[boconnor811 0]

Yeah, they just about blew it last night. For as much as people complain about Turco, Crawford has just as much of a tendency to turn into a sieve at times.

Completely agree... How many shots went in from the point Tuesday night? Yeah, some were redirected but just by odd chance on a redirection some will catch a piece of the goalie:)

Crawford was getting a lot of praise before the last start on the radio etc, but it was apparently lost in the shuffle the low # of shots the Hawks were allowing opposing teams to take.

[GoBucky 0]

Completely agree... How many shots went in from the point Tuesday night? Yeah, some were redirected but just by odd chance on a redirection some will catch a piece of the goalie:)

Crawford was getting a lot of praise before the last start on the radio etc, but it was apparently lost in the shuffle the low # of shots the Hawks were allowing opposing teams to take.

So true, everyone always wants to blame the goalie when the team loses, but the rest of the Hawks could also do much better playing defense and not turning the puck over.

Hopefully Kaner and Tazer can keep scoring goals, because this team is going to need some goal support. They simply arent good enough on defense at this point in time to score 1 or 2 goals per game and still win.

[boconnor811 0]

Looks like the likelihood of a more consistent offense is unlikely now with Hoss and Kane both out. I hope Q gives Crawford a few starts in a row, Turco's play is really bothering me.

[GoBucky 0]

Yeah, things could get real ugly if Toews or someone else doesnt step up.

[boconnor811 0]

I think it was fairly visible the team needs to rethink their penalty kill strategy... IMO the forwards are way to low, and there is just too much time for opponents at the point to set something up. Hossa being out definitely hurts the penalty killing squad too.

[puckdropper27 0]

Turco looks like a guy who either would rather be a defensemen, or play with a players stick. I felt from day one that he was going to be a weak link in the twine. Crawford is hungry and has a lot to prove and it shows as he comes to play every night. Turco looks like a netminder who is collecting a check. He will stop the laser shot and then let the easy shot bounce off him and go in the net. Maybe a trip to the American league would give Turco the kick in the ass he needs to inspire his play for 60 minutes. As a Hawks fan since the 70's, it pains me to see the boys playing so hard, only to have a weak goal go in time after time.

[wrangler 157]

I think it was fairly visible the team needs to rethink their penalty kill strategy... IMO the forwards are way to low, and there is just too much time for opponents at the point to set something up. Hossa being out definitely hurts the penalty killing squad too.

They did the same thing last year. They like to cluster, and only come out toward a guy at the blue line when he has the puck. It's much less understandable when they do it 5-on-5, acting like it's PK.

Offense could use some work, too. Among other things, I hate to watch them push the puck back and forth around the boards to each other until somebody loses it, without getting a shot off.

[GoBucky 0]

Turco looks like a guy who either would rather be a defensemen, or play with a players stick. I felt from day one that he was going to be a weak link in the twine. Crawford is hungry and has a lot to prove and it shows as he comes to play every night. Turco looks like a netminder who is collecting a check. He will stop the laser shot and then let the easy shot bounce off him and go in the net. Maybe a trip to the American league would give Turco the kick in the ass he needs to inspire his play for 60 minutes. As a Hawks fan since the 70's, it pains me to see the boys playing so hard, only to have a weak goal go in time after time.

Crawford is quickly becoming the #1 goalie in Chicago. Turco just doesnt have it right now and its to the point where he is a liability to the team.

Turco has been exactly what we knew we would get with him: average play at best, nothing spectacular. IMO, if the Hawks are going to make the playoffs, they will need to ease Crawford into the role of the starting goaltender.

[Chadd 916]

Crawford is quickly becoming the #1 goalie in Chicago.

Some of us have been expecting that all along.

[GoBucky 0]

Some of us have been expecting that all along.

True, I recall you saying that earlier in the season. Turco started out doing OK but he's completely fallen apart. Im not sure if Crawford has stepped up his game or if Turco has just gotten so bad and is making Crawford look like he's improving.

[boconnor811 0]

True, I recall you saying that earlier in the season. Turco started out doing OK but he's completely fallen apart. Im not sure if Crawford has stepped up his game or if Turco has just gotten so bad and is making Crawford look like he's improving.

Definitely a combination of the two, if you take a good hard look at Crawford's stats most are in the lower third of the league even with the shared duty.

[wrangler 157]

Definitely a combination of the two, if you take a good hard look at Crawford's stats most are in the lower third of the league even with the shared duty.

Crawford's been doing quite well his last 8 or so games. Don't let the stats fool you. A lot of goals, especially in the last two games against the Avalanche, involved quick passes to the other side, with scores into the open side of the net. Goalies don't have a chance against that, and if the defensemen consistently leave those guys open, it'll run up any goalie's GAA. The skaters showed up last night, Crawford made a number of nice saves, many in traffic, and the Wings ( a very good team) got only one goal.

Turco, OTOH, started the season consistently allowing soft goals. I remember a couple examples when he didn't even hold his skate to the post when he was watching that side, and players just put it in between his skate and the post. He seems to lose focus at times, and rather than making great saves to keep his team in the game, makes mistakes that keep the opposing team in the game. And it doesn't help when he goes to the back boards to get a puck, and passes it up the side boards to an opposing player, as he too often does.

For at least two weeks, probably longer, I think the starting job has been Crawford's to lose. And he's not losing it.

[GoBucky 0]

Turco, OTOH, started the season consistently allowing soft goals. I remember a couple examples when he didn't even hold his skate to the post when he was watching that side, and players just put it in between his skate and the post. He seems to lose focus at times, and rather than making great saves to keep his team in the game, makes mistakes that keep the opposing team in the game. And it doesn't help when he goes to the back boards to get a puck, and passes it up the side boards to an opposing player, as he too often does.

Id definetly agree with that. Turco's mind seems to drift off into la-la land much of the time. I can remember a couple of the goals he gave up last week at Colorado where it didnt even seem like he saw the puck. I can understand losing the puck if theres a crowd in front of you, but when the ice is pretty much wide open and you still cant keep up with the puck, thats pretty pathetic.

Hopefully Crawford can maintain his current level of play or possibly even get even better. With the way the Hawks are playing defense right now, they are going to need a goalie who can stand on his head.