You win as a team, you lose as a team. Fact is this team have played better hockey in the last 2 months then they might have all season long.
I do think having Toews out has helped this team. When this team was in their losing streak Toews was on fire and it seemed everyone was content to let him carry the load. When he went out it forced everyone to look in the mirror and be accountable for themselves. Since he has gone out everyone has stepped up and starting to carry more of the load and being more accountable. Now hopefully, and I think likely, when Toews comes back this team continues to play this way and doesn't fall back into the old habits.
Sometimes a team has to go through some rough patches to find themselves the losing streak followed by losing their Captain just might have been the shakeup this team needed.
That being said, a few things recently have bothered me, 11 goals in 3 games is concerning, hopefully it's just because Keith is out but this team hasn't been as strong defensively as I would like. Also the knack for giving up leads and giving up goals immediately after scoring has to be corrected especially in the play-offs when momentum is so key.
Last edited by Sir Psycho T: 04-02-2012 at 04:57 AM.
Playing way too many minutes. He'll be much better next game after Keith is back and he doesn't have to play 31 minutes a game.
Or he's not playing sheltered minutes anymore and is getting exposed against better players. Also, he's averaged ~27 minutes a game the past 5 games with 0 points. And yea, that's a lot of minutes, but he's not playing 30+ like a lot of people keep saying.
Amazing record in March considering the continued failure of the Hawks' PP to get anything going. Hopefully the PP starts to click in the playoffs or the Hawks will be in trouble.
Or he's not playing sheltered minutes anymore and is getting exposed against better players. Also, he's averaged ~27 minutes a game the past 5 games with 0 points. And yea, that's a lot of minutes, but he's not playing 30+ like a lot of people keep saying.
He's still probably the Hawks' best shooter from the point, though.
You win as a team, you lose as a team. Fact is this team have played better hockey in the last 2 months then they might have all season long.
I do think having Toews out has helped this team. When this team was in their losing streak Toews was on fire and it seemed everyone was content to let him carry the load. When he went out it forced everyone to look in the mirror and be accountable for themselves. Since he has gone out everyone has stepped up and starting to carry more of the load and being more accountable. Now hopefully, and I think likely, when Toews comes back this team continues to play this way and doesn't fall back into the old habits.
Sometimes a team has to go through some rough patches to find themselves the losing streak followed by losing their Captain just might have been the shakeup this team needed.
That being said, a few things recently have bothered me, 11 goals in 3 games is concerning, hopefully it's just because Keith is out but this team hasn't been as strong defensively as I would like. Also the knack for giving up leads and giving up goals immediately after scoring has to be corrected especially in the play-offs when momentum is so key.
Good post and for the most part I agree, however, I think similar to back in early December, our record in March is somewhat deceptive. In several games the opposition for one reason or another did not have great outings, resulting in some unexpected success for us. That said, the team did show signs of being a real team without Toews to carry them on his shoulders. Kudos to players like Kane, VS, Seabs, JO and Sharpie especially for some good hockey in March. There were other players who stepped up as well. Shaw has had a resurgence lately and Bolland, Bickel, Bollig, Hammer have all contributed in their own ways. Hossa has had his moments playing with Kane, but he has been better, but he is not a concern with the playoffs approaching.
Of course the sorest spots remain the weak PP, inconsistent goialtending and lack of physicality in the back end. Hopefully the improved team game and puck possession will overcome any shortcomings with the playoffs looming, and of course the return of Toews and and a well rested Keith.
Does anyone else think/hope this game this Thursday is going to be a blowout with everybody back?
For some reason I'm getting the same vibe as when Hossa debuted a couple years back against SJ where the Sharks hadn't lost at home in regulation and then we went on to beat them 7-2.
Or he's not playing sheltered minutes anymore and is getting exposed against better players. Also, he's averaged ~27 minutes a game the past 5 games with 0 points. And yea, that's a lot of minutes, but he's not playing 30+ like a lot of people keep saying.
Oduya is not a first-pairing defenseman. Pointing out that he has had trouble against the opponent's top tier offensive players is pretty pointless, because he's not going to be taking a regular shift against those players once Keith gets back from his stupidity-fueled suspension.
"Sheltered" has a negative connotation that is unfair to Oduya here. He isn't a #1 or #2 defenseman but was being forced to try and fill that role anyway with Keith out. He did what he could, and the Hawks were reasonably sucessful in that time frame considering the magnitude of the guys missing from the lineup. That's all there is to it.
Oduya is not a first-pairing defenseman. Pointing out that he has had trouble against the opponent's top tier offensive players is pretty pointless, because he's not going to be taking a regular shift against those players once Keith gets back from his stupidity-fueled suspension.
"Sheltered" has a negative connotation that is unfair to Oduya here. He isn't a #1 or #2 defenseman but was being forced to try and fill that role anyway with Keith out. He did what he could, and the Hawks were reasonably sucessful in that time frame considering the magnitude of the guys missing from the lineup. That's all there is to it.
I notice a lot of posters tend to do this. Players who are forced to play to expectations above their paygrade (e.g. Stalberg) and get up in arms when they don't perform. Stalberg and Oduya aren't top players in their positions by any means but they're getting hate for a decision Quenneville is making. They're just doing what they can with the opportunity they're given.
I notice a lot of posters tend to do this. Players who are forced to play to expectations above their paygrade (e.g. Stalberg) and get up in arms when they don't perform. Stalberg and Oduya aren't top players in their positions by any means but they're getting hate for a decision Quenneville is making. They're just doing what they can with the opportunity they're given.
Yep. And one of those guys (Stalberg) is currently performing like an above-average top-6 winger, and yet people still whine
Oduya was adequate. He played as well as he possibly could have. Just tell Keith not to be so dumb and Oduya will be able to play a role he's best in: a second pairing defenseman.
I'm tellin' you, reading this board, this team is apparently never playing well as a whole. You'd never imagine they've been as successful as they have been without Toews by just reading posts here.
Yep. And one of those guys (Stalberg) is currently performing like an above-average top-6 winger, and yet people still whine
Oduya was adequate. He played as well as he possibly could have. Just tell Keith not to be so dumb and Oduya will be able to play a role he's best in: a second pairing defenseman.
I'm tellin' you, reading this board, this team is apparently never playing well as a whole. You'd never imagine they've been as successful as they have been without Toews by just reading posts here.
who whines about Stalberg? we are all happy that he performs well. Some have doubts about his next contract, that's all
Hawks move up to 8th in TSN’s power rankings, with the following comment:
Winning the puck possession battle goes a long way and, even without C Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks have done well in that respect lately, outshooting opponents by an average of 10.3 shots per game over the last 10 games, the last five of which were also played without D Duncan Keith.
who is better than us in the Western Conf. right now? Guess Vancouver and the Preds, but the Blues are not better than us
I think you've seen enough of NHL hockey to realize that regular season hockey and playoff hockey can be like night and day. Just because Hawks beat Blue recently doesn't mean anything. Blues style boring as it may be is condusive to playoff hockey and they will be tough to beat for any team. In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
I think you've seen enough of NHL hockey to realize that regular season hockey and playoff hockey can be like night and day. Just because Hawks beat Blue recently doesn't mean anything. Blues style boring as it may be is condusive to playoff hockey and they will be tough to beat for any team. In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
Your post is fair, but we should look at the other side of things as well. Who do the Blues turn to when they need a goal to tie things up?
I see the Blues bowing out in the 2nd round against a high-caliber team (which they will not face in the first round) because they simply won't be able to score when they need to.
Just my opinion, of course. They have the goaltending and defense to go far, but I don't think it will be enough.
I think you've seen enough of NHL hockey to realize that regular season hockey and playoff hockey can be like night and day. Just because Hawks beat Blue recently doesn't mean anything. Blues style boring as it may be is condusive to playoff hockey and they will be tough to beat for any team. In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
Experience is also a huge asset that the Hawks have over many teams in the west. Chicago's core has gone the distance and won. As for your obsession with the Hawks being "soft", that seems to have been addressed to a certain extend with Shaw, Hayes, Bickell (finally caring) etc... They are not going to physically intimidate teams, but there is more than enough grit on this team to withstand a physical team and to give it back.
I think you've seen enough of NHL hockey to realize that regular season hockey and playoff hockey can be like night and day. Just because Hawks beat Blue recently doesn't mean anything. Blues style boring as it may be is condusive to playoff hockey and they will be tough to beat for any team. In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
It might as well be a completely different season for all "regular season matchup" matters, really.
However there is one thing that does matter - teams that tend to play a "playoff style" in the regular season have no extra gear to switch to to playoffs. This doesn't 100% correlate to them getting upset or anything like that, but it does make me respect the threats from teams that operate in this manner - St. Louis, Nashville come immediately to mind - less than teams that don't.
/of course, this still beats teams that are incapable of actually switching to a playoff mode, right Washington?
In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
The Hawks have been considered one of the "softest" teams in the league for the past 4 years and it hasn't stopped them from succeeding in the playoffs. If the Hawks rise to their potential in the playoffs then they can and will beat any team they encounter. If they don't they will lose. To me this post season is gut check time for the players and coaching staff. This team has the talent and the experience to win the cup this year.
I think you've seen enough of NHL hockey to realize that regular season hockey and playoff hockey can be like night and day. Just because Hawks beat Blue recently doesn't mean anything. Blues style boring as it may be is condusive to playoff hockey and they will be tough to beat for any team. In fact any opponent we meet in the first 2 rounds will be a big challenge for a team as soft as the Hawks are.
I don't think the Blues are as good as their record
I don't think the Blues can step it up
I don't think the Blues have those go to guys you need
I don't think the Blues have the experience you need to win in the POs
All they have is goaltending and a good effort.
Hawks don't play soft in the POs. Hawks have the experience. Hawks can step up more. Hawks have those guys that players will look at when they need to be "inspired" and those go to guys that score when the team needs it most.
In this case, I value the Blues team really different than you do.
It might as well be a completely different season for all "regular season matchup" matters, really.
However there is one thing that does matter - teams that tend to play a "playoff style" in the regular season have no extra gear to switch to to playoffs. This doesn't 100% correlate to them getting upset or anything like that, but it does make me respect the threats from teams that operate in this manner - St. Louis, Nashville come immediately to mind - less than teams that don't.
/of course, this still beats teams that are incapable of actually switching to a playoff mode, right Washington?
While I agree, I do have a lot of respect for Hitch and his presence alone makes the Blues contenders, especially with their stingy defence and quality goaltending.
That said, Blues looked a bit tired the last time we met them. Perhaps they will burn out when the wick needs to be turned up in the playoffs. I hope so…. Can’t stand teams that play for 1 – 0 wins all the time.
The Hawks have been considered one of the "softest" teams in the league for the past 4 years and it hasn't stopped them from succeeding in the playoffs. If the Hawks rise to their potential in the playoffs then they can and will beat any team they encounter. If they don't they will lose. To me this post season is gut check time for the players and coaching staff. This team has the talent and the experience to win the cup this year.
This is quite true, however it seems to me that every contending team in the West, except possibly Detroit, have tended to add muscle and grit to their line ups in those 4 years you speak of. Hawks were arguably softer last year than this, and Canucks outmuscled us in the first round, and though it went to 7 games, they had a decided edge in the play as a result. Stan shored it up a bit in the off season, but Carcillo is now out, and we could certainly use him. Monty as well may not play. Shaw will help and Jayes if he plays but it is the back end I worry about.
The reason our cup team was so good is because we could beat people with brawn or with skill. We don't have the personnel for that. Play our transition game, dominate puck possession, get half way decent goaltending, and we'll have a nice run.
I don't think the Blues are as good as their record
I don't think the Blues can step it up
I don't think the Blues have those go to guys you need
I don't think the Blues have the experience you need to win in the POs
All they have is goaltending and a good effort.
Hawks don't play soft in the POs. Hawks have the experience. Hawks can step up more. Hawks have those guys that players will look at when they need to be "inspired" and those go to guys that score when the team needs it most.
In this case, I value the Blues team really different than you do.
Obviously you do because you also predicted the Blues would be fighting for the last playoff spot, but that didnt work out too well for you.
