Avs Big Third Period Buries Blackhawks
A 5-on-3 advantage in the third period opened the door for the visiting Colorado Avalanche to break a tie game, and the following minutes would blow the Blackhawks away.
Through the first 40 minutes the Blackhawks trend of starting slowly but coming on in the middle frame held up once again. Tyson Barrie, who has absolutely killed the Hawks over the last couple years, gave Colorado a 1-0 lead in the first period, but Kris Versteeg tied the game in the second (after losing part of a front tooth on his prior shift).
Unfortunately, the wheels came flying off in the middle of the third period.
At 10:44 into the third, both Patrick Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson were called for separate interference penalties, giving the Avs a 5-on-3 for two full minutes. Gabriel Landeskog scored 21 seconds into the two-man advantage, allowing Hjalmarsson out of the box. Barrie scored again 24 seconds later to push the lead to 3-1 and effectively end the night for the Blackhawks.
Chicago’s penalty kill, which had allowed only one power play goal in their previous nine games, allowed two on Friday night. Colorado had scored on only one of their previous 39 power plays entering the game; the Avs had only four power play goals in the 2015 calendar year before scoring twice against the Blackhawks.
Brad Stuart scored one of the ugliest goals allowed by Crawford in his NHL career a few minutes later. He just dumped the puck on net and Crawford let it bounce over his stick and into the net. The lazy play gave Colorado a three-goal lead with a little more than five minutes left in regulation.
Crawford made 26 saves in the loss, while Semyon Varlamov extended his dominance of the Hawks with a 27-save win.
For the first time this year, Patrick Kane has been held pointless for three consecutive games. Brad Richards and Michal Rozsival picked up the assists on Versteeg’s goal.
Rookie forward Ryan Hartman skated only 8:31 again, but was credited with three hits and one shot on net. He spent some time on a line with Marcus Kruger and Sharp in the second period.
Sharp started the game on the “fourth line” again, but that again proved to be only cosmetic. He skated 15:26 in the game and was credited with two hits and five shots on net in addition to his two penalty minutes.
Defenseman Kyle Cumiskey skated more than 15 minutes in the game and was credited with a team-high two blocked shots in the game. It wasn’t a good night for the Blackhawks’ defensemen; Duncan Keith turned the puck over a number of times and a Brent Seabrook turnover led directly to Barrie’s goal in the first period. In fact, Rozsival may have had the best night among Hawks defensemen.
The Hawks are back on the United Center ice at 2:30 CT on Sunday as the struggling Boston Bruins come to town.
PLEASE trade Seabrook!
It looked like Seabrook was drunk tonight. He turned it over on the first Avs goal. Then he couldn’t catch a pass to keep the puck in the o-zone twice on the same PP. Then he did nothing to check Landeskog from standing right in front of the net to chip in the GWG. After a pretty good season so far, Seabrook was awful tonight.
The only player who could give Seabrook a run for game with the worst stink was Crawford. Both of Barrie’s goals should have been stopped and then to mentally check out of the game before the horn sounds is unfogiveable. The fact that the 4th goal didn’t matter in the outcome of the game is beside the point – it showed a lack of focus like he already menatally checked out of the game.
The Avs had 26 blocked shots, the Hawks had 7 – that says a lot. First it says that the Hawks don’t get their shot off quickly enough so the opposing player has enough time to get in front of it, but that is always the case. Keith has made an art form of big windup and shooting right into opposing player. But, more important is what it says about which team plays with desparation and sells out for the win and which team doesn’t – and that is the thing that’s hard to stomach.
There is something wrong with this team. I don’t know what it is but I can tell you it bothers me to see so many commercials with Hawks players in them. Maybe many of the Hawks players think they made it and simply don’t have the hunger deep in their belly anymore. I used to think the Hawks were the best team in the league – that the Hawks best game was better than any other team’s best game. And I used to think the Hawks could and probably would beat any team in a 7-game series. I don’t think I can tell myself that anymore. All good runs in sports eventually come to an end. Maybe we’re witnessing the gradual decline a little sooner than we hoped it would be.
ER, well said!
I’m beginning to think the change the team needs is a productive third line. All game Pat and Eddie were mentioning player after player who is scoreless/pointless. Team can not rely on Qblender or 20-19-81 and 23-91-88 lines for points. The D needs an improvement but a productive third line. Tough decision at trade deadline.
ER- welcome to the “dark side”… thx for telling it like it is… Hawks- just ain’t as good as they used to be, and other teams are better… they still have quality/skilled players, but the 3rd and 4th lines are doing nothing, and have been for most of the year…
the stat on blocked shots- Is very telling of one team not being able to outskate/quick/shake off the checks of the other, in this game, and against this team…
Hawks almost always outshoot (possess them)… but they “break out and exploit Hawks TO’s” and score!!!
This trend started at the middle of last year- I have wrote about the “missing transition/ Odd-mans from the Hawks game” – several times…
MMX- what tough trade decision??? The Hawks would be much better off being sellers here… they are going nowhere… Like I wrote earlier in last article… The Hawks D – has been very good … they can still win one or two series… But their D men will have to be perfect-no TO’s ( how did that pan out tonite???) Cuz this team cannot score and dominate Offensively anymore… no transition game, no dirty goals, no scoring from bottom lines, and a shitty PP!!!
How do you like your Crow now???
Time to trade for a top 4 defenseman. If Q is going to pair Keith with Rosy and Nik with oduya, then let’s get Seabrook a legitimate left handed partner.
The Hockey News just arrived in my mailbox on wednesday and it claims the Hawks have the best defensive in the league. Of course siting Keith Seabrook hjalmarsson and oduya.
Fair enough but with the splitsville stuff Seabrook is playing with a number 7, Keith is playing with a number 6, Nik is playing with a number 4 or 5 (oduya).
Time to add a legitimate guy who can play 2nd pairing and penalty kill minutes
Some of you might not find this very palatable, but the Hawks are going to have to become sellers if Bowman is going to turn this thing around for NEXT YEAR! The Hawks just are not as good as many of you think…the Hawks aren’t a bad team, but they’re not great, and they need to take advantage of this understanding before the trade deadline comes and goes.
With the salary that they Hawks gave Crawford (a decent to good goalie) there just isn’t going to be much room moving forward, but players like Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya and Bryan Bickell are luxuries the Hawks can no longer afford. By definition this team will have to get younger (whether the coach likes it or not), but Bowman cannot simply take prospects in return. He needs young players that show a lot of potential in return with salaries that can be controlled for a few years.
As the last poster said, the Hawks have slid and the rest of the league has caught up…and unless Bowman fixes the salary cap issue, we are only going to slide further. With 2/3rds of the season gone, 4 players have accounted for 48% of the team’s scoring (with 3 of those players all on one line). Patrick Kane is doubling shifting lines and the PP as well.
What a lot of you don’t seem to understand is that for the Hawks to be a “good” defensive team and protect their goaltender, they have to play a Joel Queeneville coached game…lunch box mentality…up and down the wing with forwards racing back to check, nothing fancy. Defencemen more and more are simply just trying to clear the zone, let alone looking to pass. This makes the Hawk’s scoring chances decrease and with only 4 players scoring that means very few goals. How long has it been since the Hawks have consistently scored goals? Last year? The Defence in Chicago is so bad, that clearing the zone is all that matters, and they are hit and miss on this…they don’t take the body (as a group), they aren’t passing well (except to the other team), they don’t get shots on net, and they are struggling clearing the zone. Both Bowman and Q are responsible for a bad group of DMen…anyone could see Seabrook’s drop off in play since all those concussions, Oduya’s collapse at the end of last season (and breaking his foot) and Rozy’s problems all last year. David Runblad and Kyle Cumiskey are the best the Hawks can do? Wow!
Right now the Hawks aren’t going ANYWHERE. There isn’t some magical switch that they can just turn on and off. This home stand should have resulted in NO LOSSES and a bunch of points…we all be lucky to be .500 at the end of it. Come playoffs, teams are just going to slowly dump in all those juicy pucks into our end and punish our small, weak Defence. Look at all the mistakes that Duncan Keith made tonight constantly having to skate big minutes! We have no depth scoring, we don’t take the body, we have decent goaltending and an old, weak D corp! Its time to sell!
There are a bunch of teams that think they can win it all…there are a bunch of teams that don’t want to call it quits on making the playoffs…the Hawks have a chance to get some GOOD, young NHL talent right now in return for players that are facing the drop off side of their careers and carry big price tags! Unless the Hawks could bring in 2 solid Defencemen to stabilize this mess, they don’t have a chance come playoff time, and they don’t have the money to make those 2 trades! Selling is Bowmna’s only chance of correcting his mistakes before this thing gets worse next year. But this would be admitting mistakes and very few in the Hawks organization are good at doing this, except Jonathan Toews and he doesn’t make any!
Babe,
I got you babe.
I got you babe.
In my opinion, the usual OVER-reaction after a loss.
But, in my opinion, another bullshit team effort. After the first 8 or 9 minutes, the effort slipped/got sporadic…even their “Best” players were making (careless) mistakes.
I don’t have a solution to offer, but I don’t believe (many) other teams are better, or “the Hawks have slid and the rest of the league has caught up…”, but the Hawks didn’t. “the 3rd and 4th lines are doing nothing, and have been for most of the year…” – aren’t these basically the same players who were fairly effective last year? “not being able to outskate/quick/shake off the checks” – could this be *effort* as opposed to talent? And, I don’t know if it has anything to do with “so many commercials with Hawks players”, but TOO many games, in my opinion, the TEAM effort is just not there…it SUCKS.
As far as, “much better off being sellers here…” and “become sellers if Bowman is going to turn this thing around for NEXT YEAR!” — that strategy is for teams with no shot at post season play. A significant part of being “professional” (which includes charging fans a LOT of $$$ – the business) is to not give up on a season while in 8th place overall, with 23 games to play. If a team makes that choice, what does it say to the paying customers?
“How do you like your Crow now???” Just fine…that goal was terrible at any level, but the game was out of reach at that point – the way the TEAM was playing (see “another bullshit team effort”, above).
Boston (another recent Cup winner not winning every game) Sunday – GO HAWKS!!
Did the sky fall tonight? First game without a point in the last 7 outings. Step back off the ledge a little. Plenty of time to figure out what’s wrong. They’ll be playing their best hockey come April/May
Were going to add a Dman at deadline (and maybe a FW) not sell. We wont be able to keep everyone in summer and that will happen at draft, but we wont be selling anything until 19 and 88 are 40yrs old.
Still waiting for the “Q has lost the team” and “Crow sucks” references….
I’m waiting for the usual “Crow Defenders”. Not hearing much from them this morning.
Dickie D- Re: 3rd/4th liners… being same as last year… YES- these are the same guys…
BUT- they all had pretty good years last year… and are not having good year – now-
THAT is why they are 3rd/4th liners… IF they were consistently good- They would be playing on top 6 and/or making $3M-$5M elsewhere by now… (See Frolik/Bolland).
Yes- they are the same guys- who were 1 “lucky” bounce from SC…
except- 81/10 are on the wrong side of “Peak”… and producing less…
28/65/16/38 are not $3M-$5M luxuries skating on lower lines-and most likely never will be- (29 is $4M–but NO luxury)…2/27/32 playing worse….
My Point- the Kings would turn it on whenever they were down 2 goals- and Bitch slap the Hawks!!!
Sure- It could be “Effort”… But if it is… what does that say about Player- Like everyone who defends 29, for not showing up in season- “but he truns it on for PO’s”…
please!!!
Look- Q is a great coach (who can make Mistakes/and does) same can be said w/ SB…
SB- made a mistake by not keeping 67 one more year… another BIG mistake was NOT giving Hayes some time (Q too) to show more – and play on top 6 in more offense/net role… In SB’s Defense- I am sure he was banking on a bigger Cap for Next year when Hayes was sent but the kid paired w/ Signing 29 for One good PO’s for $4M- is why I call him Handcuffs- cuz 29 has Handcuffed This team.
I think all that needs to be said was that game sucked
Hogs lost 3-2 in Cleveland last night on a goal with 30 seconds left. Lake Erie was given a cheapie power play with less than 2 mins. to go and sure enough they scored the winner. Darling blew a gasket after the goal because he got jostled the whole play and no interference call – they called a lot less on Matt Carey (goaltender interference) earlier. He (Darling) got 2 min. unsportsmanlike for his trouble but he sure got the two minutes worth according to a buddy of mine who was at the game out there.
Same two teams at it again tonight.
As for the Blackhawks game which I watched, no excuses for that effort but yeah thanks for that 5 on 3 call, another example of typical consistent NHL officiating. Bonehead play by Crawford on the 4th goal, at least he admitted as such after the game.
Wow so this “Rock Bottom” home ice is a joke has been for years! This game is symbolic of a lot of patterns we see. People who observe the Hawks vs a Slow and aging Wings team and say “hey great game” are blind or even a shoot out with Pens. The future is speed, and quicker offensive transitions, three men skating head down to the net, and bigger bodies in the corners that play both the body and the puck and BIG Body in front of the net. Hawks play a slow, control skill game, looking for 40 foot pass not 10 feet and out and go! Still no big bodies in front of the net consistently is the issue no real rebounds vs an average goal tenders like Varlamov make him look like Tony O! Varlamov is big and square and technically solid which is great but while the Hawks had 28 shots on net, most ALL the shots are right in his chest, no real traffic, and no rebounds. It also occurs to me that many fans confuses SHOTS ON GOAL and CHANCES with REAL PRODUCTION. Hawks have a lot of guys who can get the puck AT the net but not TO the net! have KANE is the only pure shooter, accurate and skilled inside, Toews is okay when he wants to be a net presense. Teams will let HAWKS pass on the perimeter and take 20 – 30 foot slap shot (55% wide of the net ) the games in fact ALL GAMES are won 10 feet and inside the dots. Hawks float on that safe perimeter all day and teams love it, easy to defend. The powerplay is so stationary except for KANE and he is one problem, other goons just watch him, LIKE BULLS suck when they stand around and watch ROSE. Same thing, not good, but lame fans love it when once in while he scores, no movement at all on both lines on powerplay, lame lame! Hawks in trouble, they have been on the edge of being com·a·tose! Yes once a month Seabrook looks and plays drunk but he is so far from the problem. Hawks as I rant are built on defense and players who play hard both ways, These are players who play hard but are not drafted for speed and strength, SIZE makes up for a lot of weakness. Hawks play so far from the net to avoid “contact” pretty simple, so they get called a skill team and people like that but the league is built on speed, Sharp and Hossa can catch a aging WINGS forward but not the young AVS. This can all be fixed with more net presence and not setteling for 25 foot slap shots with little or no traffic. One last observation our D-man can play great on offense but seems they are confused as to how to JOIN A RUSH? They should not be leading it as they are forced to do, they need to step up and fill the lanes about 15 feet out and score, when they skate it in we suck, even Nick Leddy has it down now in ny! knows exactly when to fill in on the rush so the opponents d-men drift to his side to cover him, opens the ice and center and forwards more open ice, basic grade school hockey . . .
There is some really irrational thinking about becoming sellars-a. with two players making 21 million for many years to come they will take a crack at it this year-(flaws and all) b. you can’t trade aging assets to teams in this cap world-good team don’t have the room or don’t want to mess with what they have and teams at the bottom end want to do it the right way and won’t give up their future.
Yes they will get rid of one or two fixtures in the off season because they have to-not because some want them to right now. Like always they will do a small tweek in the next week.
The wheels have come off and the Western Conference is adapting on how to play the Hawks. That and of the 7 seasons Q has been here, this current roster is the weakest and most thin. Sharp has fallen off to virtual nothingness. The Richards addition has not worked. Too many role players at forward who can’t even deliver on what each of rheir primary roles are. Up until a couple weeks ago, a Hossa who wasn’t doing a whole lot offensively being paired with Toews and Saad. And most glaring of all, a defensive unit that is terribly weak once you get past Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson.
From my perch at rhe UC the regulars are generally concluding that this team isn’t good enough and that the stars are starting to acknowledge that, and accordingly a defeatist attitude is setting in.
A lot of work to do this offseason. Clearly there is going to be a crisis with the cap, but more importantly there need to be substantive changes to the identity of this team on the ice around Toews, Kane, Saad, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Crawford.
Crow was okay, not his lose, I really think he does get frustrated when the Hawks play like they have for a few weeks now, it even shows in his body positioning and plays as well as those in front of him, so that is the only down side to CROW he plays to the game that is why vs KINGS last year he was pretty damn good. We wont recognize the HAWKS next year if they don’t make it to the Conference Finals. Morin and Hayes and Frolic where three guys who had the size and speed I like we could use that now. The NHL is such a fast game, most GM’s look for players who don’t hold the puck but move the puck in less than 3 seconds, Hawks do a lot of skating around in circles. Runblad should be up but we really just need a 4th d-man side kick for HAMMER having two soild d lines would make a difference, a big dude, hitter, clear the crease, rub players out physical no offensive skills needed! If we have 4 soild d men that 3 line can be d by committtteeeee!
Mook- Are you my not-so-evil twin???
To Add- “Scoring Chances” are flawed too… by definition- a break-away 5′ shot is equal to a shooter from 5′ feet shooting while being cross-checked/wrapped up by D man…
so while I argued all last year about Scoring chances vs. SOG (My example-explains how SC’s are flawed too) – (really shows vs. Avs- Hawks consistently “out chance”, Out shoot, but the Avs score the goals cuz more time/space to make/Execute their fewer SC’s) … and SC is “better” than SOG… You always have to include the “Eye-test”… and My Eyes tell me the Hawks are just good!!!
To your point/and mine from several posts/blogs ago- Hawks Prospects… Have Lots of “finesse” passers w/ decent speed (Hino,Schmaltz, Motte, Ross, TT)… But Where/who are the Prospects who can put it in net (and win a board/net battle) cuz like you said the Players are getting bigger/faster (remember when NBA guards were smaller than forwards)– These guys will not only need speed- But some SIZE!!! Nobody in Rock,,, perhaps Hayden/Olofsson (who impressed me in rookie camp) – are years away!!!
n96- the small tweak will be worthless…
the irrational thinking has occurred – 30% of payroll for 2 players= Pens2.0
Unless the Cap goes up about $8-$10 within next two years (or two rabbits are pulled out of the 15/16 Drafts)… Hawks will not be serious SC contenders for a while.
RFT- I think the off-season might be more exciting than this playoff run
Hawks do indeed need to find some size. And correct that there is nothing inspiring at Rockford at forward in this regard.
Wall longer term the Hawks could consider going cheap on a goalie and hoping the younger talent comes through i.e T2.
I am noticing a pattern with the Hawks. They play very well against the best teams and can’t seem to get up for the average/poor teams. I believe this motivational problem will correct itself when the playoffs arrive. That being said, I am concerned about the lack of production from lines 3 &4. Hartman works hard and has some grit on the boards but does not look real skilled to me. He seems to fall into the same category as 65,28 & 16. Hard workers that can’t finish. 29 is lazy and can’t finish. 91 is struggling to keep up with the pace. 10 being saddled with very pedestrian players has thrown him off his game. I would bring 86 back up because at least he has the potential to offer some offensive explosiveness. I would also bring Runblad back up because his offensive upside is much better than Cumiskey. I still think the Hawks will be a tough team in the playoffs but they must get production from somebody other than 23,19,81,20 and 88.
I guess- I am “crazy/outside” opinion again… but I think Cumiskey has looked OK…
I see his value is beating the Opposition to the Puck- and eliminating the “pressure/forecheck” by doing so… But Like Leddy- 26 will not win many board battles-
So if/when Hawks are hemmed in… his value quickly -is quickly lost… but I think he has been decent/good… and has a better 4-like stick on the boards
Wall, all the love? Frolik, 2012-13 Hawks: 45GP 3G 7A 10PT +5 8PM – those numbers prorated over an full season are not earth-shaking. With the Jets: 60GP 11G 18A 29PT +2 14PM – in a much larger role than he would have in Chicago – respectable, but still not good enough to push Sharp or Versteeg out of the Top 6 if he were still here. (Bolland is extremely OVERpaid for his production…injuries taken into consideration = nowhere near they guy he was in 2010.)
Last season, Ben Smith’s 75GP 14G 12A 26PT +3 2PM confirmed Bowman made the correct choice on Frolik (cost considered). Unfortunately, the offense in justnot happening this season, however the effort and effectiveness on the PK are top shelf.
Jim and Kevin Hayes are both having pretty good years. It’s subjective – in my opinion, Jimmy didn’t skate well enough to push anyone out of the Top 6 in Chicago. Kevin didn’t want to try to work his way into Chicago. It seems to me, Versteeg is a fair value return from FL, and we’ll see what the 2nd rnd pick brings in the upcoming (alleged deep) draft.
I agree Cumiskey has looked ok but he’s really small and it’s a valid point he won’t win many board battles – which there are plenty of in the playoffs.
As mentioned I did not see the Rockford game last night (it was in Cleveland) but a guy I know well was there and specifically watched Terevainen. Invisible was the word he used and the Hogs total shots were in the teens, something like 16 for the game. Plus they have Terevainen on the wing now – he’s played both RW and LW. I don’t know why but that’s what they’re doing.
Hof- Re: TT… no question skilled… but not seeing the growth yet…
If He doesn’t pan out- will obviously set the Hawks further back!!! ouch!!!
Teuvo isn’t going to fix what this team needs, now or next season. I see a skilled but diminutive player who is ridiculously overrated and just about the lousiest fit for the Blackhawks that can be imagined. He’s got to be moved in a trade before his trade value tanks. By the offseason.
Hawks have to hope for a couple of things in rhe offseason. One, that they can count on Johns to nail down a defenseman slot. Two, that they can trade Sharp for a good young LW with some physicality or another blueliner. Three, that they can have Nordstrom and Danault step into role player roles while the Hawks part ways with the existing not productive enough role players who are going to be too pricey to fit within the cap. Four, to SOMEHOW find a way to retain Seabrook while also having enough room to get Saad inked.
Sharp, Oduya, Rosival, Richards, Erixon are gone for sure. I would think Kruger is too because of the cap, which will hurt. And I’d say Shaw, Smith and Carcillo are likely gone as well. Bickell won’t be moveable. Versteeg is a wildcard.
DD- yes Bolland is overpaid (injuries)… 67- yes I loved him for the $2.2ish the Hawks could have had him for last year… and Yes 67- didn’t put up big #’s for Hawks skating on 4th line… But The Point- Is they were luxuries/and skated on 4th line for SC team…
Hawks don’t have them or the money to Pay for luxuries anymore…
never said 67 should be skating top 6 w/ Hawks- Don’t know were you are making that assumption… BUT 28 is hardly= to 67… NOT close… 67 has scored 20g’s a couple of times… Smith- most likely- never will…
Re: JHayes… and Bickell does skate well (or for that matter tries- everynite- for $4M)
If SB- Knew the cap was going to be this low next year … a few years ago- I bet one of 29/50 – well- SB would have let one walk…
Wall – “never said 67 should be skating top 6…67 has scored 20g’s a couple of times…” he was Top 6 when he scored 20 goals / my inference was to his more significant role in Winnipeg vs. 4th line in Chicago. By the numbers, last season, Ben Smith more tha adequately replaced Frolik. Frolik outscored him, but in that expanded (compared to the 4th line/PK in Chicago) role.
wall- the award for most-pessimistic-hawks-suck-after-a-loss is unanimously given to you. Relax, they may not win the cup, as it is very hard to do, but they are still contenders. Playoffs are a different animal, I still think we are a tough out that nobody wants to play. If you do not think that, you are just too deep in you hating to understand anything. The hawks should be sellers???? Seriously just stop. Whether or not this season ends up in a cup (which I agree it will probably not the same it will for other “great” teams) this is not a season to throw away. Give it a run and address some issues in the summer.
Wall – Bickell was rewarded for his playoff performance, right? I have to guess that Bowman believed the contract would be motivation to play that way (“Playoff Bick”) most of the games during the regular season. Bickell hasn’t.
Its funny to me how quickly people become unappreciative. If this was 10 years ago, people would be STOKED about being a playoff team and fighting for a home series in round 1. Now bc the hawks aren’t a 1 seed everyone is ready to sell off the whole team. I personally am very excited about the fact that we have a group that is a playoff lock year after year and has a knack for getting big wins. Go Hawks and I will reserve judgment until the real games are over, and after that will still be happily cheering on this group that has provided me with some of my best sports memories of my life. No beef with the chief here.
Why is it that Bickell gets a pass because he is a”playoff performer” but Crow doesnt get the same pass? He surely is a playoff performer who has WON series for us and a cup.
It’s nice that a good nights sleep replenishes my kool aid mug. Gone is the need for my wife to hide sharp objects and back is the smile in this Hawk fan’s heart. The game last night wasn’t as bad as the taste in my mouth right after the game. For 50 minutes the Hawks played well enough to win, even with the impotent PP, the giveaways, the over-passing and under-shooting. Add to that the Avs goalie who plays out of his mind against the Hawks and 1-1 half way through the 3rd isn’t cause to have a cup of hemlock tea. The game turned on an iffy interference call on Hjalmarsson compounded by a call the refs had to make when Sharp knock ROR over. They were locked into the soft call on Hjalmarsson so the 5 on 3 had to be called. Now, maybe the refs could have done what is done so often and evened it up by calling a phantom call against the Avs but the Avs scored so quickly they didn’t have time.
So Seabrook and Crawford and a lot of other players didn’t play their best last night – that happens to all players. Am I still concerned the Hawks are not good enough to win the Cup this season? Absolutely. BUT, I’m not willing to count them out yet. I’m just not. I’ve still got kool aid left.
If you don’t count the short season, Crawford is on pace for a career year fwiw.
That was just a bad game. Good first period but really eh otherwise. If they’re going to dog it on occasion, I would not be opposed to Hossa and Richards and Rozy getting random injury sit out a game here or there days. Get that Popovich factor going.
Scottie P- I don’t think I said Hawks Suck… Hawks are good, But not great is/was my message. imo- they will not go far in SC run… too many guys making too much money- and lower paid guys not playing at levels above their pay scales… I am consistently pessimistic- yes- Not much to bitch about when they thump Yotes 6-1…
DickieD- Frolik is just better than Smith- I am not mentioning 67 because he is suddenly scoring more for Jets… I am mentioning 67- because he is/was an Underpaid Player in NHL… and able to play many roles… a great asset!!! In most leagues/sports- eventually guys are “Overpaid”/underachievers… when you have too many- you lose!!! 29-imo is one of these guys!!!
Furthermore-67 was a great hunter of the puck!!! for a team who wants possession- you need guys like him- don’t care if he isn’t scoring… To win in the Cap world– teams will need overachieving/producing players who aren’t paid their true value… Yet
The Hawks are in trouble and need major work in rhe offseason. Bowman went for it this season and unfortunately it’s not working out. Simply making the playoffs isn’t the standard anymore to those of you who want to give us revisionist history of what it was like 10 years ago. I’ve been a fan for nearly 40 years and don’t care what the standard for a golf clap was 10 years ago. Fact is the current standard is much higher.
Hawks have a crap ton of work to do in the offseason. And honestly, like I said earlier this is the weakest roster Quenneville has been saddled with in his 7 years here. If we want to bury heads in sand and insist that this team nearly needs to flick s switch and all is well? Don’t count me in that group.
“…this is the weakest roster Quenneville has been saddled with in his 7 years here” – REALLY?!?!
How ’bout 2011-12 which included Brunette, Montador, O’Donnell, Lepisto, Olson, Scott, Morrison, and Olesz….
I don’t know about “flick a switch and all is well”, but I believe the talent is here IF these lazy assholes would just show up to play 60 minutes consistently. I read Toews say “No excuses” after the bullshit effort against Colorado — I hope he/they mean it and prove it.