Blackhawks Fall To Rangers 4-1
The Blackhawks lost a second preseason game in as many days, dropping a home decision to the defending Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers on Friday night.
Among the NHL regulars on the night, Jonathan Toews and Brad Richards were terrible at the dot (won nine of 32 combined faceoffs). Toews was credited with two hits and one blocked shot, but was minus-two and served a minor penalty in the game. Richards was credited with three shots on net.
Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith were the only Hawks players to skate more than 20 minutes; Niklas Hjalmarsson played exactly 19:00 in the game.
When short-handed (which the Hawks were on three occasions Friday), coach Joel Quenneville sent out Brandon Saad with Dennis Rasmussen to begin each penalty kill. Saad led all Blackhawks skaters with 2:37 of PK ice time on Friday night; Rasmussen spent 2:30 on the ice while at a disadvantage.
Rasmussen had another good night, scoring the Hawks’ one goal of the night. When the second period opened, Quenneville moved Phillip Danault off the fourth line and up to a line with Rasmussen and Jeremy Morin, and that line was very good throughout the final 40 minutes.
Danault started the game between a couple pylons in Pierre-Cedric Lebrie and Cody Bass. Both of them fought in the game, and Lebrie took a terrible holding penalty late in the third period to assure him of a bus ticket to Rockford at some point in the not-too-distant future. When Danault bumped up to the third line, Matt Carey suffered through a number of shifts with Lebrie and Bass.
Danault was the Hawks’ best player at the dot on Friday night, winning five of seven draws.
Carey played another strong game in spite of his linemates over the final two periods, especially on penalty kill duty; his game has been similar in many ways to Ben Smith. He finished the night with two blocked shots, one hit and one takeaway, and played very well on penalty kill duty in the third period.
On the blue line, Stephen Johns made his Blackhawks’ debut and did not disappoint. He appeared to be comfortable, opening the game with Duncan Keith but spending time with Cam Barker and Brent Seabrook as well. He led the Hawks with four blocked shots, and was also credited with two hits and one takeaway. Johns also made a nice play to break up a breakaway opportunity, displaying both speed and the ability to separate an NHL player from the puck in space.
Klas Dahlbeck spent the night next to Hjalmarsson and was also impressive. He blocked a couple shots and moved the puck well. Both of the Hawks’ young defensemen looked ready for the NHL on Friday night.
The Blackhawks power play continues to suck, wasting three advantages against the Rangers.
In net, Corey Crawford went the distance and allowed all four goals on 29 New York shots.
Johns also had a really good shift with Dahlbeck in the 2nd period when they were with 10-19-81, and put together the best cycle of the game for the Hawks to that point, and Olczyk & Foley commented on it. I thought Dahlbeck & Johns were ready from what I saw at the end of last year, but now I am even more convinced. Danault looks good as well, in my opinion he is putting himself in a spot to be one of the first guys on call when injury replacements are needed during the year. He looks ready to contribute, and will definitely need a spot next year.
Lastly, please god let Q & Stan finally come to their senses and stop trying to force a square peg into a round hole by requiring an “enforcer” type (read crappy player) to make the team…it only makes the team weaker, gives Q less options, and forces the Blackhawks to compete with a short-handed team… and their is no reason for it!! Hawks have a ton of depth, the best players should play, period. That give the Hawks the best chance to win, not trying to outfit the team according to stupid stereotypes.
I love Stan, and Q is a great coach, but I just can’t get on board with choosing a worse player to make the team over a better player strictly because they can fight (or take a beating) better. The Hawks have proved over and over again that they are at their best when they roll 4 lines. Just do it.
Another UGLY display of Hockey by the Hawks… thankfully it is ONLY pre-seasaon…
I hope the Hawks are playing Possum!!! Hopefully the Hawks are training the guys so hard – is the reason they all are skating like John Scott!!!
RasMOOSEn- should make the Hawks!!! If Q skates one of the Hanson’s ( 22, 36, Mashitter) this year instead… I might be done!!!
Keep 27, 8… trade CC’s contract??? Might be the ticket to Cup!!!
Hawks were slow to every puck– excluding Moose and Danault.
Johns- made some nice plays… but also made some mistakes!!!
Excellent review on the game and the players Tab, you are in mid season form…
Great comments HN4 and Wall…nice to see you back HN4!
No one needs to worry about a preseason game vs. the Rangers…the worst Hawks were our star players (and the goons), and you know that’s not going to continue. As Wall pointed out in CC’s first start, he looks a little slow/awkward moving from side to side. I am not sure if CC had an injury at the end of last season and needed to rehab, but there’s something there that he needs to work out…and that 4th goal was another Crawford softie…thank goodness its only preseason. Q originally said that CC was only going to get 2 preseason starts, but after last night, he will get one more full game.
Toews and Keith…wow, they both mailed that one in…
How about Phillip Danault? I am so happy for this young man, he’s worked so hard to become what the Hawks asked him to be and he’s doing such a great job…he’s off to lead Rockford starting tomorrow, but he will be back, and will be a starter for us next year.
Johns? Another very good game…again, much better stick positioning and allowing his stick and reach to do more of the work for him, which is allowing him to maintain good body position. Its the right call to send him to Rockford for now, but I definitely see him getting called up during this season and sticking…IMO, he’s the real deal folks, we have just added a big, strong, mobile DMan who is YOUNG!
Dahlbeck? I assured everyone at the end of last season that he was ready, and he has shown the Hawks this…2 very solid games from him, not wanting to make mistakes and get the puck out of the zone. He’s keeping things VERY simple right now, but as he gains more confidence in the NHL he will surprise some of you with his skill. Also, he’s got a great shot from the point! I think he’s here to stay…another young, big, strong DMan!
Morin? Our best forward along with Moose and Danault, which was an awesome line BTW. I hope EVERYONE noticed how good Morin was in the DEFENSIVE zone as well. Great coverage of the points, physical along the boards, great wheels…just perhaps a little too fancy in the offensive zone, but he’s going to have a very good season! Another young, fast, strong, and skilled forward added to the mix!
MOOSE? Needs to start the year in Rockford…don’t rush him…although he’s older, he’s got tons of hockey in him…you can see he still needs to understand how to use his body on this smaller ice surface, and that will take some time in Rockford. He and Nordstrom will really help to make Rockford a good and responsible team. I can see Moose getting called up this year and sticking, as he has great hockey smarts, a big body, and a willingness to fight for the puck…IMO, he’s been a great find by Bowman!
Matt Carey? As I said last week, he needs a year in Rockford to work on his 2 way game, and build up his body strength, but he’s a player and has a great shot and good wheels. I can see him helping the Hawks next year as well. Another nice find by Bowman.
The Goon Squad? Wow…just awful…and Cody Bass personifies the dangers of trying to play a goon in this day and age. He can’t check anyone without taking a penalty, when he fights (for no reason) he loses and takes the wind out of our own sails by getting beat up. LaBrie and Mashinter are no different. Terrible NHL hockey players. Mash can go back and help the Hogs, but Bass needs to get punted and soon!
I don’t know where all the John’s love comes from. He is slower than advertised, showed no physical ability to move guys from the net and has a slower point shot than Keith’s. This feels like Leblanc all over again. Compared to Seabrook’s movement (which many here have criticized), John’s is Brent Sopel
Not sure what game you watched hawk facts, but Johns showed good speed to recover, and a quick thought process to move the puck quickly…the rest of his game will come in time as he gains confidence playing in the NHL. Making knee jerk reactions after one preseason game is probably not the best way to observe hockey…
Guess I will have to have a long distance love affair with Danault and Johns this year. Hope they both go down and work on whatever it takes to get back to Chicago. I think we will need those big boys to match up with LA, Anaheim and St.Louis. I would rather have big guys that can play than slugs that can’t.