Blackhawks knocked out by Avs in eighth round
The Chicago Blackhawks gained a hard fought road point in an eight round shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Tonight, I stray from my usual game story format and offer my random thoughts and observations:
- A rivalry appears to brewing between the Hawks and Avs. I wouldn't expect Colorado to remain at the top of the Western Conference standings for the length of the season, but the great start to their year has provided the upstart Avalanche with a surge in confidence. The Blackhawks started the game strong redeeming themselves after last night's dissapointing effort against the Coyotes. Yet, even down 2-0, the Avalanche showed a resilient effort in gaining a 3-2 lead during the second period. Like the Hawks, the Avs possess some young talent with speed. Future battles between these two clubs looks to have some promise.
- Just like Cristobal Huet's performance in Phoenix, Antii Niemi got better as the game progressed. Niemi appeared to lack confidence in goal during the first half of the contest. He was caught deep in his net a few times and went down too early surrendering the Avalanche's shorthanded goal to David Jones at 7:43 of the second period. Niemi displayed better form in the third period and overtime by becoming more aggressive while cutting down the opposition's scoring angles.
- Dustin Byfuglien's addition to the point on the powerplay was a wash for head coach Joel Quennville. Buff's slap shot from the right side of the blueline beat Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson for a Hawks' powerplay goal to open the night's scoring at 6:27 of the first period. However, Buff looked terrible in attempting to corral Jones on the Avalanche's shorthanded goal. Who would have ever guessed that Byfuglien was actually a defenseman at one point in his career? You would have never known after that effort.
- The difference between being a great player and a very good player is the ability to finish on your scoring chances. Patrick Sharp is a very good player. With the current list of Blackhawks' injuries, Sharp is needed to finish plays and he has been unable to do so over the past two weeks. Combine the breakaway against the Coyotes with tonight's shootout chance and Sharp didn't even achieve a shot on goal on either opportunity. His goals will come, but right now Sharp is costing the Blackhawks points in the standings.
- Kudos to Colin Fraser for bringing his hard hat to the office. The Hawks needed some feistiness tonight and Fraser brought it getting into a scrap with the Avs Matt Hendricks seconds after his skates hit the ice.
- With Dave Bolland joining Jonathan Toews on the sidelines, the Hawks played without their top two centerman. Quenneville shook the lines up placing Kris Versteeg as a center for Patrick Kane. Both Versteeg and Kane repsonded with solid efforts adding two assists each. It was nice to see Kane break free from Byfuglien as a linemate and skate with a partner closer to his skill level. Kane had some great passes throughout and Versteeg's set-up of Duncan Keith from behind the net was a thing of beauty.
- I'm generally in favor of officials swallowing their whistles, however it got a little out of hand on both ends of the ice as the referees allowed all infractions after the start of the third period. It was anything goes in the late stages of the game as players were droppping all over the ice. Unfortunately, the Hawks appeared to get the short end of the stick. Plus, Brent Seabrook was lucky not to be reinjured after he was dropped by Milan Hejduk in the middle of the Hawks' defensive zone. If that wasn't interference, the definition should be erased from the rulebook.
- Do I have company in rooting for Andrew Ebbett to finally hit the scoresheet? Ebbett logged almost 16 minutes of ice time and played his strongest game since joining the Blackhawks. Before the shootout even started, I began to envision Ebbett scoring the gamewinner. Unfortunately, Quenneville never gave him the chance instead turning to Troy Brouwer and Byfuglien as his seventh and eighth shooters.
- Maybe I'm alone, but I'm thankful that the Blackhawks "Dad's Trip" is over. I'm sick of hearing about it five times an hour. It's a great gesture by the organization, but Pat Foley's been overboard with the marketing. I understand part of his responsibilities are to promote the Blackhawks organization, but enough is enough. I mean this with all due respect to my North Side friends, but it's a little too "Cubbie" for me.
7 Comments
iplagitr said:
Apparently the Hawks need a little more practice in creative shootout moves. Kane barely scored on an OK, but sluggish move, Versteeg missed on the same. Everyone else just looked amateurish. What's the deal? Are these pro hockey players or not? How come no one can score in the shootouts - or even put on a hint of a move to freeze the goalie before shooting? At least mix it up a little bit!
Mark Kiley said:
I liked Kane's move considering Anderson beat him during the shootout at the UC a couple of weeks ago. Kane needed to switch it up and he did just that.
Remember that Colorado's guys didn't look much better against Niemi. The Hawks' shootout lineup will look much different with Toews and Hossa as additions.
iplagitr said:
I agree the Colorado shooters were equally as lame as the Hawk shooters. That doesn't justify one goal out of 8 tries for the Hawks. Players are going to be injured all year, so you can't rely on a few key players every time. The "other guys" need to learn a few good moves if the Hawks expect to win any shootout games. These guys are getting paid millions. Work on it!
Dave Morris said:
Mark, I'm surprised you didn't mention Andrew Ladd's gutsy effort and game tying goal, especially his return to the ice after being struck in the face with an Avs skate.
Let's face it, this Hawks team is missing five roster players, if you count Bolland, who hasn't been healthy all year.
They can't take any shifts off, because other teams are just too good. The Avalanche are fast, physical, talented and well coached. Yet, the Hawks solved Anderson for three goals, and could have had more.
Your criticisms being valid, their effort last night after the mental lapses cost them, was worthy of praise.
There were good things, including Fraser's performance, and Kopecky finally doing what he had been hired to do, effectively.
Put Toews, Hossa, Eager, Burish and Bolland back into this lineup and you have a much different team.
Yeah, they've had a few bad games, but last night we saw signs that they are starting to pull it together.
And 8-5-1, 1st place in the Central--even with all the injuries--is far from a disaster.
November is going to be an even tougher month. If the Hawks can hang in, and hang tough, there are better times ahead.
Dave Morris said:
8-5-2. My bad. ;-)
Mark Kiley said:
Dave, I agree with your assessment that the Hawks overall play was good last night. I didn't think I was being too critical in my observations.
Like you, I also thought Ladd and Kopecky brought the effort along with Fraser. My bad for not including them in my observations.
The team needs to get healthy. You can see the mental strain wearing on guys like Sharp and Versteeg when they try to be too perfect on the offensive end.
Dave Morris said:
Mark, agreed...the load that Versteeg and Sharp are being asked to carry is beginning to show. Kane's been brilliant at times, but he can't do more than he's doing when opponents can key on him as they are right now.
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