Couldn't we just call this one a tie? While neither team deserved to lose, did either club deserve to win? The Phoenix Coyotes will certainly disagree as they celebrate a sixth straight victory with a 2-1 shootout defeat of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have now lost three straight games for the first time this season.
This game aroused more questions than answers.
First, how the hell is Adrian Aucoin your third shootout skater? And, better yet, how does Cristobal Huet allow the former Blackhawks captian to score the deciding goal? Some things are better left unanswered.
Speaking of Huet, is it just me or does the Hawks goalie appear uncomfortable in the crease even when he's having a good game? He played aggressive from the start and made some very nice stops among his 22 saves.
Still, didn't you think Huet should have stopped Radim Vrbata's wrist shot powerplay goal to knot the score 1-1 at 16:42 of the second period? Am I being too hard on the guy? (No need to answer the latter.)
Do we blame the coaching staff for the Too Many Men infraction that led to the Coyotes only regulation goal? Besides, doesn't Joel Quenneville deserve criticism for an initial lineup that had Patrick Sharp centering the third line and John Madden dropped to the fourth? Was Mad Dog's demotion a call from John McDonough reflecting the head honcho's dissapointment in the veteran's leadership skills? (Stay with me here. Some questions are for your consideration while others are mindless banter. You can judge which is which.)
How is it that Marian Hossa is more dangerous shorthanded than on the powerplay? Was the Hoss Man's shorthanded burst through the middle of the ice the best play of the game even though he didn't score?
How worried should we be of a Blackhawks powerplay that struggles to get shots?
Were Kris Versteeg's skates untied?
Will Patrick Kane ever score again during a shootout? How pretty was Jonathan Toews' shootout goal?
What if Colin Fraser was scratched for a second straight game? Would Tomas Kopecky have had to score to avoid the whitewash?
Are the Blackhawks a tired team? Can the Olympic break get here soon enough? Would it be selfish to ask Duncan Keith to fake an injury to get himself off the Team Canada roster? Can you think of anyone else who could use two weeks of rest more?
What happened to the energy created by the fourth line? Who was the last Blackhawks player to make a big hit? In times like these, how much does the club miss Adam Burish?
Why do the Detroit Red Wings still get "makeup calls" and the Blackhawks don't? When was the last time you saw a player sent to the box for diving?
How much money do you think Eddie Olczyk has riding on the Super Bowl? How much do you?
After allowing 23 shots to the Coyotes, will the Blackhawks shots allowed total this weekend be over or under the total points scored in the Super Bowl?
Are you still reading? Should I stop writing?
Is the current "bump in the road" an inevitability due to the condensed NHL schedule? Will it make the Hawks stronger in the end?
Do you still believe? If not, please explain.
Has the Chicago media "broken" one Blackhawks story this season? How invovled was Bowman Jr. in the Kovalchuk discussions? Do you fear the Devils more than before or do you hope they now have enough offense to down the red-hot Capitols?
Will Stan make a deal for a defenseman before or after the Olympics?
Who's gonna win the Super Bowl?
When will the Hawks win again?
14 Comments
Dean Youngblood said:
Hossa is a shorthanded expert.
It was one of them.
Very worried.
Yes, But in the locker room.
Yes, But Kane scored in the previous shoot-out.
Brilliant pretty.
Kopecky would have had a hat trick.
Not tired, just under motivated.
Yes.
Yes.
Toews.
Ran out.
Big Buf.
A lot.
I do not know.
First time.
$50,000.
$0.
Under.
Yes.
It is too late.
No way.
Of course it will.
Yep.
Bowman was not too interested.
I fear Capitols more.
During or after.
Who is playing?
Saturday.
Okay, Mark, Your turn.....
In the last several after game press conferences, Quenneville has said we need more traffic at the net and a simpler game. Why haven't they done it??
Mark Kiley said:
I'll turn your question around and suggest that Quenneville only uses his stock answer to mask other issues. As long as the media accepts Q's rerun responses he'll continue to give them.
That being said, the Hawks net traffic was improved against the Coyotes. However, guys are passing up shots with traffic in front in favor of an extra pass. Those missed shot chances are making Q's stache itch.
And, you're correct, Kane did score in his previous shootout attempt.
Dave Morris said:
Mark, you're analysing this one waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.
Maybe you should get outdoors and play some hockey this weekend.
And now, some answers to your burning questions.
The Yotes happen to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Q is working Bolland back into the lineup, hence the line shuffling. (Bolland had three hits BTW. Good sign.)
We know the Hawks are looking for a physical d-man to replace Walker or Wisniewski.
Huet played very, very well. It would have helped if his teammates had played as well as he did.
Relax, and enjoy your Saturday.
Mark Kiley said:
Morris, the post was my attempt at not analyzing another Hawks loss. It's a lot easier to ask questions instead of answer them.
Oh, and do you think indoor hockey on my Xbox will cure my winter Blues? It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too cold outside.
Dave Morris said:
Mark, too cold outside? You're talking to a Canadian.
See you at the rink.
BTW, your recap was very good. As always.
fattybeef said:
Kopecky plays they lose. Thank the heavens fraser was out there. WAY better player.
Huet looked good. Until the 3rd where he looked like a wambat on speed. To his credit he kept the puck out.
Why dont they just go back to playing the power play pretending its 5v5 like they were when it was successful? Instead of playing hanky panky with it.
This team dominated defensively. Positvely. I will take one goal against one of the better teams in the conference epsecially if they have over 15 shots. The D played a fantastic game for the most part, blocked a shit load of shots and I dont think making a significant change there will have any effect.
Someone call Steeger and tell him to stop drinking before the games. Looked abysmal. He couldnt even stand up let a lone pass or check. Has been the story the last few games. Buff was average but at least he didnt shit the puck away at critical moments and hit one or two guys with some force.
Dave Bolland looks sharp passing the puck when he has time, and the vision looks like its there. Needs to play another 2 or 3 games before he gets his legs under him and adjusts to game vs practice speed.
Hossa buries his break away or Soup hits the net instead of the post its a "good win" against a strong team.
I would rather hit this slump now than end of march. This is the perfect time to hit a wall. Go on break in a week, figure out life, hopefully no one gets hurt and you come back ready to kick ass again.
It seems the Hawks need 3 goals to win. They are 34 and 4 in games where they score 3 or more. Man if only they had ovechkin or crosby, a legit MVP not one that disapears... Perhaps throwing the kitchen and kids college funds at kovalchuk would not have been a bad idea.
This team lives and dies by goals scored and when theyre on a dry spell theyre not going to win. I dont care who you get as another defender. They still have the same average GK's that will let something squeak by.
The Hawks have the second lowest goals against number in the entire league and one of the best penalty kills. Does the defense really need to get better?
Mark Kiley said:
All burning questions aside, the defense played a solid game. As you imply, this loss is on the lack of offense. Along with Hossa's break and Campbell's post, there were many other shots that went high and wide. A few more shots on net might just do the trick.
Steve Dale said:
Fattybeef says it right...would rather hit a slump now. I didn't even follow some of your rambling. Truth is the greatest teams ever lose some games - it's a long season. And some of those losses come in a row. I may be mistaken, it's three their biggest streak of consecutive losses this season? I'm hardly panicking. You can fault whoever you like - I fault the nature of being a long season, and the fact that the players are only human, even with their extraordinary skills and young legs.
VegasHawksFan said:
Slump, fatigue, line juggling, another bad goal by Huet, etc. None of these I dismiss. But after reading Jaeckels post elsewhere, I have to agree it seems to me like the Hawks get beaten almost the same way every time they lose. The game the Hawks want to play is open, less physical and caters to skill. The game that every team without their talent wants to play is simple, physical and relentless for sixty minutes.
On any given night, a weak team can show up, execute a relentless game and win before going right back to reality like the Canes did when they beat the Hawks before laying down and spreading to become an ugly slump buster for the Oilers who lost the entire month of January. Like everything else, it's a factor but not an excuse for a team as good as the Hawks are. Vrbata, Lang, and Aucoin beat the Hawks last night and nothing makes that acceptable. Given the Hawks record and standings place, (let alone talent) there really isn't any team they play this month that is their equal, and yet, without conceding any belief I have of how good they are, I could easily see them lose every game before the break.
Doomsday is not here and I have no doubt they will remain a top three seed. The slump story works for now, but that won't cut it in March. If they crash the rest of the Feb schedule and wrap the car around the pole right before the break, that's fine as long as they can pull their shit together during the break.
TonyO said:
What is the League's Olympic policy? Can teams hold "official" organized practices? Can players workout independently in groups, a complete no-practice policy, etc.?
Jerry Kayne said:
Mike, voice of reason here. You may be taking your responsibility to us a little too seriously. As Morris says, lighten up Francis. Learn some Lamaze.
We live and die with the Hawks but it's their responsibility to play and win every game. They're paid professionals, but most of their brains haven't matured enough physically to drive a car. The coaches are supposed to keep them on track. I have that same issue as a parent of teenagers. And so do you. Just give us the facts and some opinion and we'll chime in with ours. This give-and-take is a lot of fun.
We all can find complaints with upper management down to the announcers, and I have my share for each individual.
This is a very fun blog and I thank you for doing it. But, relax and enjoy your weekend. I am. Until tonight. GAME ON AT 7 PM. Let's get a win boys!
PS. Will Buff ever skate al the way into someone and finish a check? Or catch a pass? Or change his name to Dustin Turnover-lin? I'll hang up and listen for my answer.
Dean Youngblood said:
I think you are right, this team is not mature enough.
But, Mark's rant is fair enough. The teams performance lately is a cause for concern. Defense or not, they are not going to win a lot of games with only 1 or 2 goals.
Hostile Hawk said:
While there might not be cause for concern, there is still a lot to be critiqued in this one.
Huet makes that save, and he is loved throughout the land again as the Hawks post a shutout against a powerful team, no worries are felt. When the puck hits your glove, it means you saw it and you were their, so you should have saved it. I would actually say that he looked better in net than he has in the past, but he still isn't exuding confidence.
Coach Q has got to stop this line juggling crap. We are too far in the season to still be so unsure about how lines should look and I felt that this fact had much to do with that loss. The way the lines had started were absolute crap. Why would you take Hossa and Sharp away from each other when they have been playing well together and why would you put Madden on the fourth line. I also didn't think Bolland was ready to be the second line center yet. Basically, the Yotes neutralized the Toews' line and let the confusion of the other lines burry themselves.
My biggest concern at the moment is Versteeg. What the hell has happened to him. My suspicions are that someone has been trying to get him to take less chances and play a better fundamental game, but his skills are in his crazy antics. Let him free.
Toews' shootout goal was such brilliance. He faked five-hole knowing that the goalie was waiting for it and made a perfect move after deceiving the goalie. I was wondering if this was going to be the time he didn't go five-hole and so was the goalie.
SharpKane said:
Hoss and Sharp were playing well together. However, Hossa is still not producing at his potential. He is a beast, but he has not been a 40 goal scorer. Come playoff time, Bolland needs to be our second line center, so why not start now.
Versteeg is too squirrely, he has peaked and isn't going to get any better, sorry. He just doesn't have the vision or control. It's always "oh shit" with him whenever he touches the puck.
Point being, let's juggle the lines, due to the recent hiccups of the last three weeks or so, a President's Trophy season is not really manageable. So, why not let Q play Dr. Kevorkian with the lines.
Listen to yourselves, we all know that we aren't producing nearly as much offense as we should. Kane - Toews - Brouwer??? Hossa - Sharp - Ladd??? Those lines were clicking a bit, but let's be honest, we have yet to see the full potential.
Remember the first day Hoss man took back to the ice? I think it resulted in something to the tune of 7-2, in the Shark Tank. THAT is what we should be seeing, day in, day out.
Keep juggling Q, it's really only fun once you can move up to sharp objects, right?
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