Chicago Blackhawks 2013

[hunt3rsean 44]

I'm getting tired of hearing every day on Chicago TV how big a deal it is how many consecutive games that the Blackhawks have earned a point. It simply doesn't compare to the years when a team had to earn at least a four-period tie to gain a point. Nowadays, 3 periods will do it, and this year, a team plays only half the league, which leaves out some of the best teams.

The Blackhawks record is impressive enough, but it's not the stuff of legends.

It goes along with whoever wins the cup this year. . . .there will always be the asterisks next to it that states it happened during a shortened season. While it's a very cool thing because of the amount of parity in the league, but it's not quite the huge deal the media is making it to be. There will always be the comments of "they didn't play so and so" or "not all teams were to their top level due to the lock-out"...blah blah blah.

Sometimes I'm glad that I'm not in the Chicago media market. But most of the time it makes me sad.

[Chadd 916]

Better to have the cup and asterisk, than neither. And no, I'm not predicting anything. I'm just saying that people can be disparaging and critical, but they can never take away the win.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Whatever, I don't put an asterisk on NJ's 1995 win. I look at the regular season as nothing more than positioning for a playoff spot (isn't that all it is, in reality? All a shorter season does is lower the sample size to determine what the best 8 teams actually are) The playoffs are where a team displays whether they deserve the cup or not. A perfect 82-0-0 seasons means squat if you don't win the cup.

Full credit to any team that wins the cup, regardless of how long the regular season is.

[wrangler 157]

It's not only reducing the sample size, it's changing the quality of it.

And my comments were not about the Cup, but the record of consecutive games with a point.

[Chadd 916]

It's not only reducing the sample size, it's changing the quality of it.

And my comments were not about the Cup, but the record of consecutive games with a point.

Exactly, no east-west interaction is a huge change from the norm. I'm glad to see the goalies rotating as they normally would and them not doing anything because of the streak that might hurt them in the long run.

[wrangler 157]

It was nice to see the Blackhawks score so quickly with their first, but Q must have wanted to slow them down. He immediately replaced Saad with Carcillo.

It was great to see the officials step in front of Bollig when he went to start his usual pointless BS.

[hunt3rsean 44]

Do you think he wanted them to slow down or wanted to minimize the Blues running Hawks players? I didn't see a lot of the game until the 3rd period and listened to the first 2 periods via radio feed. It sounded like Q was switching back and forth between Saad/Carcillo depending on where the face-off ended up.

[Chadd 916]

Do you think he wanted them to slow down or wanted to minimize the Blues running Hawks players? I didn't see a lot of the game until the 3rd period and listened to the first 2 periods via radio feed. It sounded like Q was switching back and forth between Saad/Carcillo depending on where the face-off ended up.

Carcillo doesn't serve as a deterrent.

[hunt3rsean 44]

Not in a fighter sense...no he isn't. But in a cheap shot for cheap shot type sense....maybe? I don't know....Q just confuses me more than he doesn't. But I'm not a hockey coach either so I just make blind guy throwing darts in the dark guesses.

[wrangler 157]

According to what Q said in the post-game conference, he had planned to use Saad for "a couple shifts" on the first line before putting Carcillo up there. It appears that's what he did, for the most part.

It's unusual to see a player moved to the fourth line after being so effective on a scoring play. I was being sarcastic about Q intending to slow down the first line with Carcillo, but that's exactly what happened. It wasn't hard to see the difference in play in that line with the different guys.

[hunt3rsean 44]

It's unusual to see a player moved to the fourth line after being so effective on a scoring play. I was being sarcastic about Q intending to slow down the first line with Carcillo, but that's exactly what happened. It wasn't hard to see the difference in play in that line with the different guys.

Sarcastic comment or not. . .I bit because the way Q moves around Carcillo/Saad it's a legitimate comment. It's almost like he's trying to keep the 1st line roped in just enough so they aren't running 100% reigns free every night. I guess as long as they keep winning I can't argue much.

[wrangler 157]

Crawford has apparently recovered from his mysterious "upper-body injury" that caused him to leave last night's game after the first period. He has been cleared to play, and will back up Emery tonight.

Bolland skated today, and Q said "He's very close". Another recent report had Montador also getting close to playing.

[Chadd 916]

Crawford has apparently recovered from his mysterious "upper-body injury" that caused him to leave last night's game after the first period. He has been cleared to play, and will back up Emery tonight.

Bolland skated today, and Q said "He's very close". Another recent report had Montador also getting close to playing.

I really don't think Montador has a regular place in the lineup. Roszival is one of the more solid guys in his own end and and has a good shot and Leddy needs to play to continue to develop. Hopefully it was just dehydration or something similar for Crawford and not the potential concussion that many suspected.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Was just looking at the overall standings. Wow. The Hawks are SO far ahead of everyone, it's unreal.

I also noticed how good the Northeast is. Consider that my team (Toronto) is 7th overall in the NHL, yet still only 4th in the division. That's craziness.

[wrangler 157]

The Blackhawks are not that far ahead, when you consider that the Ducks are playing almost as well, and have a couple games in hand. Boston has 3 games in hand, and could get close, too.

Leddy's not going anywhere; only Rozy and Brookbank have sat this year, for the defense. If Montador gets any time, it'll be at the expense of those two.

Q said that last night's problem was not related to Crawford's previous injury.

I've almost given up hope that Q will be able to see how Carcillo has really hurt the play of the first line.

[Chadd 916]

I can understand wanting to have a guy like him on the roster. I don't agree, but I understand. I can't understand why you insist on putting him on the first line, especially when you have a guy that has shown flashes like Saad has shown.

[wrangler 157]

That's exactly how I look at it, too.

[Chadd 916]

Saw something last night that I wanted to mention, Shaw seems to be really good at one-timers and one touch redirections. He can get the puck off his stick and on net with remarkable quickness and accuracy.

[wrangler 157]

There were two good examples recently on feeds from Bickell.

I forgot to mention -- you'll appreciate my question to Melrose today on his chat:

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47237

[wrangler 157]

Blackhawks just managed to pull out the win in OT. They got casual again in the 3d, and Columbus was able to tie it up. Overall, there were a whole lot of chances on both sides, and the score could have been a lot higher.

I noticed that Saad was out with the first line in the closing minutes. Hey, Q, if it's a good idea then, it's a good idea all the time.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

woo!!!

[wrangler 157]

Yep, it was a wild ride.

[Chadd 916]

Blackhawks just managed to pull out the win in OT. They got casual again in the 3d, and Columbus was able to tie it up. Overall, there were a whole lot of chances on both sides, and the score could have been a lot higher.

I noticed that Saad was out with the first line in the closing minutes. Hey, Q, if it's a good idea then, it's a good idea all the time.

Frolik looked good with Saad and Hossa when Toews missed a shift too. Having Frolik center your fourth line is one hell of a luxury. Having him on the wing with Kruger in the middle is what makes this team so absurdly deep when everyone is healthy. I know you want to get Brookbank on the ice from time to time to keep him ready and Roszival healthy, but he has a lot of adventurous shifts.

[wrangler 157]

Frolik and Kruger have really stepped up this year.

[wrangler 157]

No idea how the shootout's going to work out, but the game against the Red Wings today looked like playoff hockey. Great game, too bad they have this shootout BS. I hate to see a game win awarded on a skills drill.