Chicago Blackhawks 2011-2012

[BlueJacketBadger 0]

It's nice to get a couple wins after the losing streak, but they were against teams on their own bad streaks. The Wild hasn't won a road game for quite a while, and has been playing poorly since their hot streak ended. Including tonight, they're 2-7-1 in their last 10, as are the Bluejackets.

Let's hope the Hawks can keep rolling against much better teams this weekend.

Yeah, the Hawks definetly need to be better if they are going to make another run for the Cup. The west is pretty much wide-open right now.

[Chadd 916]

Part of being a good team is beating bad teams. If you don't win those games, you aren't a good team.

[wrangler 157]

As we've seen this year and last, sometimes the Hawks don't do that. It's nice to see them show up and win games that they're supposed to win. I've had to watch too many where they didn't. Now to beat some good teams, and keep the streak going.

[wrangler 157]

Blackhawks looked pitiful in overtime today. When they had the puck, Detroit crunched them against the boards, or tangled them up, to slow them down and force turnovers. When Detroit had the puck, the Hawks played their typical saggy defense, allowing Detroit the perimeter to play in, so it was just a matter of time till Detroit scored. It didn't help that the Hawks abandoned the slot for the winning goal.

This has been going on too long for me to blame anyone but the coaches. They've got to learn to consistently be aggressive on defense and the forecheck. It was great in the 3d period, but they just quit in overtime. They could see that what Detroit was doing was working, and that what they were doing wasn't working, but they just stayed with it. I call that a learning disability. It's just annoying to see them give it away.

[goliath_2 0]

Blackhawks looked pitiful in overtime today. When they had the puck, Detroit crunched them against the boards, or tangled them up, to slow them down and force turnovers. When Detroit had the puck, the Hawks played their typical saggy defense, allowing Detroit the perimeter to play in, so it was just a matter of time till Detroit scored. It didn't help that the Hawks abandoned the slot for the winning goal.

This has been going on too long for me to blame anyone but the coaches. They've got to learn to consistently be aggressive on defense and the forecheck. It was great in the 3d period, but they just quit in overtime. They could see that what Detroit was doing was working, and that what they were doing wasn't working, but they just stayed with it. I call that a learning disability. It's just annoying to see them give it away.

I agree completely. I still don't understand why their PP is so poor. In the minutes before the double minor, they had complete control in the offensive zone and were moving the puck effectively. After about a minute of PP time, they completely fell to pieces: numerous missed passes, terrible regrouping in the defensive zone, and horrible dump-ins resulting in DET clearing the puck each time. Keith made numerous mistakes again and the entire team failed to show up for the first period and OT. It's frustrating because, at times, they're an excellent team. However the lack of consistency is baffling. Crow had a great game though...

[BlueJacketBadger 0]

Blackhawks looked pitiful in overtime today. When they had the puck, Detroit crunched them against the boards, or tangled them up, to slow them down and force turnovers. When Detroit had the puck, the Hawks played their typical saggy defense, allowing Detroit the perimeter to play in, so it was just a matter of time till Detroit scored. It didn't help that the Hawks abandoned the slot for the winning goal.

This has been going on too long for me to blame anyone but the coaches. They've got to learn to consistently be aggressive on defense and the forecheck. It was great in the 3d period, but they just quit in overtime. They could see that what Detroit was doing was working, and that what they were doing wasn't working, but they just stayed with it. I call that a learning disability. It's just annoying to see them give it away.

Honestly, I think the Hawks' defense just isnt very good. The players that they brought in to bring back some of the physical prescence that they had when they won the cup just havent come though.

[wrangler 157]

I agree completely. I still don't understand why their PP is so poor. In the minutes before the double minor, they had complete control in the offensive zone and were moving the puck effectively. After about a minute of PP time, they completely fell to pieces: numerous missed passes, terrible regrouping in the defensive zone, and horrible dump-ins resulting in DET clearing the puck each time. Keith made numerous mistakes again and the entire team failed to show up for the first period and OT. It's frustrating because, at times, they're an excellent team. However the lack of consistency is baffling. Crow had a great game though...

Crawford kept them in it, especially in the first period. We've seen the same thing going to PP many times before. They act confused, and the last guy back brings up the puck, so everyone else has to stop at the blue line and wait. They dump it, lose it, and it's hit back to their zone. Then they'll bring it forward, skate back in circles in their zone, killing the opponent's penalty for a while, etc. Once in a while they'll sustain pressure for a bit, like they did at the beginning of the double minor, then immediately forget what they did that worked. Keith makes some nice plays, and I probably enjoy simply watching him skate more than anyone else in the league. But he'll relax a bit, give the puck away, and he often has trouble working the blue line in the offensive zone and keeping the puck in.

Honestly, I think the Hawks' defense just isnt very good. The players that they brought in to bring back some of the physical prescence that they had when they won the cup just havent come though.

It's good when they hustle. Look at how much better the 3d period was than the 1st. But way too often they don't show up to play, and get way too casual about the game. Once in a while, and I can blame the players. When it's consistent, I have to blame the coaches, though I don't like to. As to being physical, anybody can do it. They don't need specialized players to simply get in the way of a puck carrier rushing down the ice, or to tie up sticks and bodies like all the Detroit guys did in the OT yesterday. And, don't forget, they've got Shaw and Hayes, who've got some size and real skill. They're playing well, almost to the extent of embarassing some of the regulars with their hustle and scoring, even though they're brand new to the big time.

[goliath_2 0]

Wow - way to bring it tonight, boys. Shaw and Stalberg are getting red-hot and Toews is on his way to earning the Hart. SJ is a strong team on a hot streak and the Hawks came ready to work tonight. Sure, there were a few mistakes, but it's great to see the guys playing to their potential. If not for a few iron strikes and Stalberg's no-goal, that could have been a bigger margin of victory.

What do you guys think of Bickell? He obviously wouldn't clear up much cap space, but I think he needs to be sent packing when Sharpie comes back. Hayes and Shaw are proving (so far) that they have what it takes to stay on the roster. He has a measly 9 points in 40 games and usually has no physical presence on the ice, whatsoever.

Oh, and how about Niemi's save on Kaner - WOW!

[BlueJacketBadger 0]

Bickell should be sent packing. He isnt worth his contract.

[wrangler 157]

The thing about Bickell is he can play some minutes for cheap. He does make some plays from time to time. Remember how he ran interference for Jimmy Hayes the other night, and Jimmy's shot went right over him and the defender that went down with him?

Carcillo's roster spot will become available as soon as he goes on injured reserve, so someone else will come up, providing one more option regarding who doesn't stay when Sharp returns. And there may even be a trade by then.

Niemi's save on Kane was nice. Kane shooting a bit higher and a bit more to the right would have been nicer.

[wrangler 157]

Nice turtle by Kaleta last night, when a rookie dropped the gloves on him, after questionable hits on a couple Blackhawks.

[Chadd 916]

The kids are looking really good. Shaw and Hayes have had good nights when I've seen them play. That could make someone expendable for a deadline deal.

[wrangler 157]

They've done well every night, skating, hustling, quickness, hands, you name it. I like them for a lot more than the scoring. The other night Shaw was 6 of 6 on faceoffs, for example.

[goliath_2 0]

God, these goaltending inconsistencies will make my hair turn white. That was a dreadful performance tonight. I miss Niemi. Also, two shots in the opening period?!

[BlueJacketBadger 0]

Niemi hasnt been all that great in San Jose either. IMO, a lot of it comes back to the Hawks' defense. Its been pretty pathetic too and against Nashville they were pretty soft. A team like the Preds is going to make you pay if your defense is soft.

About that mid-ice shot that Crawford let in, a skipping puck is a difficult shot for any goalie to stop and it was a fluke that it went in. On a couple of the other goals, where was the defense? They allowed the Preds to get an easy shot off of a rebond and to drive the net mostly uncontested.

IMO, its time to go back to Emery and make Crawford sit for a while. He needs to get his head in the game and right now he's just not there.

[wrangler 157]

Crawford didn't seem focused at times, and on the bouncer, didn't seem to be quite in front of it. And I hate to see goalies just lie down on their bellies when a skater comes in. That was strange; Crawford plays those quite differently, and much better, in shootouts. The goaltending for the Blackhawks definitely isnt the greatest this year, but the defense keeps hanging the goalies out there. The skaters were lazy, and out-hustled by Nashville, last night. Crawford seemed affected by the same malaise, no worse but no better than them.

[goliath_2 0]

Brendan Morrison, eh? Will he be a third line center? They certainly didn't give up much to get him. This may be good.

[wrangler 157]

He'll probably get a shot at the second line. They'll try whatever they've got, hoping to get someone who really clicks there. The question at this point seems to be whether he can stay healthy. I'm not familiar with him; I'm hoping he can play good defense, and win some faceoffs. If he can do that, and clicks offensively with Hoss and Sharp, it'll be a big help.

[goliath_2 0]

More possible trade news:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/John-Jaeckel/4-Weeks-Til-Deadline-What-To-Expect/128/41749

We need the blue line to put some bodies on people.

[goliath_2 0]

How embarrassing. Let's take bets on how many 2 on 1s they'll give up in SJ on Friday. I say 12. That was pathetic.

[wrangler 157]

I'm beginning to wonder if they give up the breaks because of the way they play defense. On defense, they often give up the perimeter, and cluster towards the net, shifting left and right with the puck. If they play against this type of defense in practice, the offense can get lazy about covering the blue line, and dropping forwards to cover positions vacated by pinching blue-liners, because the players on defense are not in position to make a break.

The problems with the defense, power play, and offense are too consistent at this point not to hold the coaches responsible.

[goliath_2 0]

Agreed. I think Q is gonna get the axe. Will Haviland take over? I'm also hearing rumors about Nabokov.

[wrangler 157]

I think changes in assistant coaches would be more likely than moving Q out so soon after a cup win, but the rest of the season, and the playoff performance, if any, will be part of any decision on the coaching staff.

I don't see Nabokov as an upgrade, so I doubt it.

[Chadd 916]

I would love to see Keith to Washington, Green to Nashville and Suter to Chicago. Benefits all three teams and Chicago gets a lot better in their own end. Washington gets a little better defensively and less time on the IR. Nashville gets someone that can generate offense on his own at times. The only down side for Chicago is that they get less exciting offensively, the plus side is that they get less exciting defensively. Plus, I miss seeing a Suter in red and white.

[goliath_2 0]

God help us.