Blackhawks Waste Third Period Rally, Preds Pull Even in Standings
When the Blackhawks took the ice to start their Sunday evening game against the Nashville Predators, they already knew the Columbus Blue Jackets had suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Red Wings. Sadly, the Florida Panthers lost Aaron Ekblad to what appears to be a significant leg injury on Sunday afternoon as well. So there was an opportunity for the Hawks to make generate some movement and momentum in the standings.
However, the Hawks were coming off a lackluster performance against the Predators on Saturday evening. Coach Jeremy Colliton wouldn’t reveal any lineup changes until just before taking the ice but Malcolm Subban got the call in net. Dylan Strome was not with the team because he was becoming a father, but Kirby Dach would skate in his second game of the season after putting in more than 20 minutes on the ice in his 2021 debut.
Colliton was clear that he needed to see better effort from his skaters on Sunday night. How would they respond?
With two shots on goal in the opening ten minutes of the game.
Subban was okay in the first period. He allowed zero goals on shots that weren’t redirected off a teammates’ skate.
At 4:43 into the game Viktor Arvidsson banked a shot off Calvin de Haan’s skate that redirected into Subban and into the corner of the net to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.
With 90 seconds left in the period, Mattias Ekholm spun and fired a shot at the net. de Haan was tied up in front of the net with Calle Jarnkrok and the puck hit one of their skates and went into the net. The goal was reviewed and allowed to stand. A tough first period for de Haan’s feet and Subban’s save percentage.
The teams were both credited with eight shots on net in the first period. Chicago was down two, however.
Chicago had one power play in the first period that was incredibly pedestrian. Their advantage in the second period was mediocre as well. After 40 minutes of hockey, the Blackhawks still hadn’t beaten Pekka Rinne. Nashville had a 20-19 shot advantage but many of the Blackhawks’ chances were one-and-done. The passing over the first two periods left a lot to be desired again as well.
Colliton was riding Dach hard again as well. He was at almost 15 minutes of ice time through two periods after a heavy workload on Saturday.
The third period started as softly as the first two played out. Chicago got a third powerplay four minutes into the period, however. That alleged advantage went as well as the first two and they skated on chasing two.
Subban kept making good saves and finally, at long last, the offense woke up.
Alex DeBrincat finally got the Hawks on the board at 7:35 with a snipe from the short side. After a couple nice saves from Subban, the Hawks went the other way. A bouncing puck found DeBrincat and he ripped the shot home to cut the lead in half.
Patrick Kane and Pius Suter were credited with the assists on DeBrincat’s 17th of the year.
On his next shift – less than two minutes later – DeBrincat made a strong power move to the front of the net and tied the game.
Suter was credited with his second assist of the night on DeBrincat’s 18th of the year.
Unfortunately the lead didn’t last very long. Dach tried to get the puck out of the zone passing toward the middle of the ice (which didn’t work out well on Saturday night) and it failed (just like Saturday night). A couple passes later Roman Josi gave Nashville a 3-2 lead almost exactly four minutes after DeBrincat had tied the game.
The Blackhawks pulled Subban with one minute left in regulation but couldn’t get organized enough to get a solid attack formed. They wasted almost 30 seconds trying to get the puck into the zone before Nashville iced the puck.
Kane got a shot on net in the final second but Rinne made the stop. There would be a final faceoff with 0.7 on the clock but the Hawks didn’t have enough time to tie the game.
A solid effort from Subban was wasted.
Subban stopped 26 of 29 in the loss. After the two tough goals off skates in the first he kept his team in the game long enough to climb back to a tie score, but the Hawks turned the puck over one time too many and it cost them. Again.
Dach was second among Hawks forwards with 21:17 of ice time. He was minus-three in the game with one shot on net, two blocked shots, one hit and one takeaway. Dach won seven of 16 faceoffs in the loss.
Kane skated a forward-high 24:45 and finished tied with Suter, DeBrincat and Duncan Keith with a team-leading three shots on net.
Keith led the Hawks with four blocked shots in 24:21.
It will be interesting to see if posters roast Dach over his TO the way they roasted Kampf last night. Experience is not an issue on this. Anybody knows you don’t throw the puck to the center of the ice like that, especially when the boards are open to the right, as they were for Dach. A really discouraging, disheartening turnover. Can’t chalk that up to “the kids are learning.” You chalk it up to a major brain cramp.
It is amazing how different things can be from one year to the next. DeBrincat had about 6 inches to hit on his first goal and he hit it, even with a bouncing puck. Last year, there is no way that goes in.
Suter had a really good game. It’s a shame that his attempt to give the Hawks the lead didn’t go in but it was a good save by Rinne.
Some really rugged puck luck for the Hawks tonight off of skates. But they would probably have gotten at least one point without the middle of the ice TO in the third.
Subban was good. Maybe he should have had the post sealed on the first goal but it was still fluky. Nothing he could do on the third goal. The Preds passed the puck beautifully and that shot was really quick from close in.
The Hawks need a bounce back Tuesday. This one probably stings a lot. I know it does as a viewer.
The Hawks got what they deserved – you can’t play hard for 1 period and expect to win in the NHL never mind win a playoff spot
Their puck management is beyond horrendous – they can’t handle the slightest pressure without panicking and giving the puck away
Last night Soderberg Kampf and DeHaan – tonight Subban Beaudin and Dach
And those are just the ones that resulted in goals among so many more
I had said tonight was a statement game – well the statement was ‘We are the team that keeps on giving’
This is not on JC this is on the players to make better plays
Everyone including Zadorov was expecting Dach to go up the boards to Hagel – Z was not ready to accept a pass – his stick was waist high yet that’s where Dach went
Despite the tough loss some positives- they finally played hard for one period vs NSH (maybe two if you count Saturday nights third) and the line adjustments from JC seemed to work – Dach with Kub and Hagel
Sofa with Kurashev and Janmark
I guess JC had finally decided that Kampf and his zero goals are best suited to the 4th line
Subban was very good except for the giveaway on them first goal
Needed to bring more early on, thought they were gonna hang around and pull it out for a few minutes. Pretty obvious how Preds challenge all over the ice, especially Blackhawks players at the blueline on entries, causing them to regroup, dump and chase without alot of success or cause a turnover. While Blackhawks don’t engage or challenge at blueline but back off and try to clog the lanes. Nashville very good at cycling and moving puck, making the Blackhawks defenders scramble and create room around the net for their forwards, biggest difference in game to me. Work to do to stay with Preds in race for 4th, see how they respond Tuesday against a tough Canes squad.
Here’s why this loss could be the best thing to ever happen to the Hawks. So far, in March, the Hawks are 4-8-1. However, if Barkov was healthy, the Hawks could very easily be 2-10-1. They have 20 games left in the season, but only 4 games left against Columbus and Detroit, and even those games wouldn’t be automatic wins. We’ve shown that we can play well against every team in this division, but we can’t do it every night, and in a lot of games, we’ve shown we can’t do it for a full 60 minutes either. This season’s success so far was kind of built upon a house of cards. A top two pp, Lankinen or Subban standing on their heads a lot of nights, and relentless forechecking and backchecking by each line for 60 min. When all three elements are in place, the Hawks will usually find themselves in games late. But, when even one element regresses, the team isn’t good enough to win. When all three elements regress, you have the March that the Hawks had. And I’m alright with that. I’m o.k. with this team dropping back into the lottery. In all honesty, I think it may happen regardless of me being o.k. with it lol. So I’m not going to worry about the Hawks record over the next 20 games. If they happen to make the playoffs, then that’s great. But I have a feeling that this regression to the mean is real, and if I’m right, then the Hawks may end up finishing sixth or seventh in the division by the end of the season. And honestly, that may be the best thing to happen to this franchise over the next five years. A Power or Beniers could help this team much more than four losses to Tampa. And in terms of the argument that playoff experience is important, I’ll play devil’s advocate for a moment and argue that this entire season already provides a lot of those elements. We’re playing the same teams over and over again, sometimes 3-4 times in a small stretch. All of our rookie Hawks are already getting plenty of ”playoff type” experience simply by virtue of playing nhl hockey this year with this rearranged schedule. So which would you rather have? An additional 8 days of hockey, or the following blueline in two and a half years:
Power-Boqvist
Zadorov-Murphy
Vlasic-Mitchell
Beaudin
Regula
Not one to rip on Collitpn usually but at the 2:40 mark in the game we were seemingly hemmed in their zone. Why no pull Subban then, would have given us an extra minute on the advantage
I think the Darryl Sutter presser from 2 nights ago would cover this team. “WE HAVE SOME DOPEY PLAYERS”.ROBS and SLAYER,I completely agree with both of you. The Dach turnover was terrible on every level and it was brushed aside and not addressed at the presser. Dach,s play tonight was not good. I know there will be a myriad of reasons but it was not good at all. This COVID Division and schedule setup has simulated playoff series type of hockey so there really is no benefit to this outmanned and overwhelmed team to get horsed in the playoffs by the Bolts or Canes. This team does not adjust their play on the fly or even in between periods. I have disliked the Hawks breakout schemes from the beginning. Their reliance on the long stretch pass as their forwards fly the zone make them ripe for a hard forechecking team and creates too great of a gap between defensemen and forwards. That is why the D Men can’t make any rushes up the ice. The forwards are standing stationary at the opposing blue line and are not prepared to drop back and be that 3rd man high. They play a man on man coverage system with small finesse forwards that do not win puck battles. They do not take the body except for maybe 2 and half of their D men. The forwards take the easy way out and do not drive the net,except for DeBrincat tonight who finally got disgusted and took it to the net for a highlight reel goal. This team as constructed is a bunch of mismatched puzzle pieces that play as individuals save maybe Kane,D Cat,and Hagel. There is a ton of work to be done here and that is not relegated to personnel. I think Colliton may be a good developmental coach at the AHL level or even college. The NHL bench and building the structure of how a team plays is not his strength. I would say that maybe a strong assistant coach would help but Crawford has been there and it has not changed much. Back to work Stan. You need some hardcore ditch diggers and a disciplinarian to implement a structured system with accountability.
I had to miss most of the game tonight – turned it on in the 3rd just in time to see DCat’s first goal, soon to be followed by his second goal, soon to be followed by Dach’s give away and Josi’s GWG. Sounds like if I had to miss a game – this game was a good one to miss.
Oh well.
what is extremely aggravating to me is dach seeing goals given up on turnover passes in the middle last night and then doing the same thing tonight. young players should be learning from all mistakes on the ice. not just their own.
kane leading toi among forwards and dach second. four minutes more toi than suter, two more than de brincat, eight more than hagel, and six more than kubalik. a lot of ice time for a kid who just played his first game the night before after being out three months.
Bottom line seems to be when the Blackhawks play like thet want to win, they can be competitive in games or stretches of games. When they play like they hope they can win, they looked overmatched. Sure their not a top tier team yet but they have shown alot more this year than was expected of them, tearing it down again is a bit of overreaction. Learning from mistakes is something that needs to happen though, seems like for the most part they have done that this year.
What a downer! Kane, Suter, and DeBrincat got us all excited about coming back to win the game, and Dach goes ahead and bone-heads it up. Now, it’s not all his fault, he’s not game ready. He’s still in his exhibition season. But, that cost us big time. Why was Strome not in the lineup? Did Tim W. get him benched?
DeBrincat (9)
Suter (8)
Kane (8)
Subban (8)
Zadarov (8)
Janmark (7)
Murphy (7)
Boqvist (7)
DeHaan (5)
Have now lost 7 of last 10.
Getting outworked and pushed around most of those losses.
The Great and Powerful Oz has built a team with no size, and Prince Charles has instilled no team toughness from behind the bench, opting instead to embarrass himself and his organization by telling his team to not retaliate or take umbrage while his star players get hammered.
Now to those who think I want to see line brawls from 30 years ago?
You completely miss the point and probably never laced up a pair and headed into the corners to win a loose puck against a tough defenseman.
Yet you pontificate for paragraphs on end about the game being better now than then.
Well of course it is, you idiot!
That is a lame excuse for watching your hockey team get pushed all over the ice.
The end of Nashville game last night was classic example:
Scum at side of NSH net resulted in the scum ending up OUTSIDE the face off dot……..no into the corner, not to the front of net…… OUTSIDE the face off dot.
Just think about that the next time you feel the need to tell me how much better the game is now vs then.
Chances are you weren’t there then, and have no knowledge of hockey history, or else you would not have said that.
See you after game 40.
@Tommy Ivan. 2nd paragraph answers your question. Dach deserves a break from fans here, its only his second game, he will get better. Its time for StanBo to decide who’s staying and who’s going. My first choice to go is whoever is coaching the defense(Brookbank??).
Strome was attending the birth of his child – that’s why he was not playing
I’m not happy with the game obviously but I agree Ian that there has been much more progress this year than we thought would happen
The fact that they are even in the playoff conversation is a surprise so I don’t share the view that all is broken – the most concerning thing is that they spent the first two periods standing around and watching NSH and playing like it was a pre-season game – not emotionally engaged enough or focused
They didn’t rise to the challenge until it was too late and maybe NSH took the foot off the gas a bit – who could blame them after mostly dominating the Hawks for the previous 5 periods
There might have been a bit of a lull in the team mentality because of getting Dach back – thinking that it was now going to be easier to win games – well no one player can make that sort of difference to an NHL team
We’ll see where they go from here – a higher draft pick or the playoffs – either result is good in a season where they’ve already exceeded expectations
Again only saw the last period. An easy give away an easy goal against. Probably gonna practice clearing the puck off the side glass for two hours or more. Wasn’t it Chelios that tried to flip it up to the old score board at The Old Barn to clear a puck if there was trouble? Practice everyone swinging a 60° Vokey. Might be frowned upon at home with that new score board.
Feel sorry for Ekblad. Did look ugly. Asked before but would Q be interested in veteran DMan with 3 Cup experiences? Also would a veteran with 3 Cup experiences be interested in a 4th run at the cup with an old friend he experienced those Cups with? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Focusing on the positives-Suter could be a top nine and I think Boqvist will be a top 4-both of those help. Debrincat is proving he should be an ‘A’ and is a dangerous player who seems much stronger this year. Kane is Kane.
Also I was reading an older Hockey news magazine and it had Chicago 31st (*last) in goalie depth and it barely mentioned Lankinen-he was their third goalie. You add in Hagel-he is very impressive and a complete surprise to play with this level of confidence and ability. Kubalik can shoot the puck and needs the right compliment of players.
Yes Dach had a bad turnover, par for the course lately, especially the last two game against Nashville. But he will he a big part of the top 6. And I believe a leader.
Lots of holes, but they are fighting for a playoff spot this year, was that the realistic expectation? Especially without two of the top centers on the team out.
A #1 d-man, not sure that is what they have in the system, so it might be an addition, a good power forward who is tough as nails and added goalie depth and some work on gaining entry on the power-play–it’s been hard to watch lately.
this team has no sack, starts with bowman and lame duck JC. team knows these are playoff games, no energy, no will. Dach will become nothing just like kakko and hughes; 5 years and will be down on lower wacker with turdisky.
It is what it is. No need for everyone to get their panties in a bunch about a turnover, or whatever spilled milk occurred.
So much for Tab’s statement last week that there is no one putting pressure on the Blackhawks for the final playoff spot. Dallas is the team to watch. They are one of four teams in the division with a positive goal differential (TBL, FLA, CAR, DAL). My preseason prediction was 20-30-6. Anything above that is a bonus.
DeBrincat is always a joy to watch. A pure goal scorer and finisher. I’m beginning to warm up to Zadorov – “it’s just hockey”.
Slayer7- well said. Me hopes the same- fall to better pick/picks
Trade/eat cap to get some more potential pieces.
PP – looked pretty helpless. Regression to mean + Good D scheme/Preds
Tommy,No way brother. I thoroughly enjoy watching Strome float around the ice with that electric powerful stride. I am told he has great numbers and is young so I shouldn’t be so critical. I’m working on that. IAN,I am curious,what did the Hawks and their coaching staff learn from Saturday to Sunday nights game? Those games looked identical to me with no adjustments by the coaching staff and a very similar level of lethargic and soft play by the young and old Hawks.
I missed seeing the 1st and 2nd periods and the opening of the 3rd, but from the comments it sounds like they didn’t play any better any better than the previous game which is pretty disappointing. If that was a statement game – the statement they made isn’t the one we were hoping for. The good news is we’ve seen they can play better and they will again before this season ends, whether it will be enough to reclaim a playoff spot is questionable but that’s OK. This is a “let the chips fall where they will” season and even though I feel disappointed after losing to a hated rival, the big picture is still looking good and I’m happy to hang my hat on that.
Tim we all want answers right now but fact it is, it’s a process that isn’t accomplished by judging every game and making knee jerk reactions after losses. Hard to come down on anybody when everybody is guilty of bad turnovers not just a few. Making bad passes or playing hot potato with puck, not playing right way is what i meant by playing like they hope they can win. When they play smart with lots of energy they’re competitive.
Frustration and adversity are a part of growing as a team. Who will be around in a couple of years, what kind of roster will it be time will tell. Whether you thunk hockey was better 30 years ago or not is pointless, everything changes over time and you accept it whether or not you like it or how frustraing it is. It takes time but yes still lots of questions about roster yet and new faces to come, stay the course glass is half full not half empty.
Well said Ian.
Eh, there will always be a few who can’t see the forest cuz the damn trees are in the way. Can’t worry about them – they’re “happiest” when they’re miserable. Such is the smorgasbord of life. :-)
And then there are the Pollyanna types, like me, who look for silver linings and have even been known to invent one every now and then when one can’t be found.
Both extremes are probably annoying to the majority in the middle – but we’re all Hawks fans, brothers and sisters in arms, so to speak – kind of like a family where you don’t always like everyone but they’re part of the damn family so you deal with it.
Things could be a whole lot worse in our hockey world – ask a Florida Panther fan.
hammer
re: dach
there are mistakes of youth and there are ignorant mistakes. dach’s assist on the third nashville goal is the latter. i wouldn’t suggest benching him the rest of the game, especially in a game they had to win, but he needs a good talking to today about what are mistakes of youth and what is ignorance. a high school hockey player knows not to make that pass.
slayer
regarding: your comment before the game yesterday about the quality of the defensive partners for mitchell, beaudin, and boqvist.
i think it is a very good point. would be nice if they were playing with 1-2 quality partners. i question your calling their partners 3-4, however. the ultimate goal is still to win the cup and in that regard i always default to “could the player have played for any of the cup winning teams?” with that as the standard i guess keith would still be regarded as a 3 and certainly a 4. i wouldn’t take him over hjalmarsson, but would over oduya. but, for me, de hann, zadorov, and murphy are 5-6 with the cup competing standard. good ones to be certain, but not second pairing d-men on cup winning teams.
ebony
good point about the pollyanna’s, the naysayers, and the sane people in the middle. would like to throw in how the blue jacket fans are feeling after their last two games in detroit.
I think that if we loose one more game then the Hawks should trade Dcat , Strome , Dach ,Kane and Murphy for draft pick so we can Start the rebuild next year. Maybe also move Lankinen ,Hagel ,Boqvist And Suter for bigger guys …let say those 4 players for Lucic and a 6 round pick .
Hahaha….
Love my young Hawks making mistakes and learning every game.
Face it folks – we have a bunch of people who like attention here. They press buttons because they can hide behind their keyboards and not be held accountable for saying crazy things.
For those who play Craps – they are the guys on the DON’T pass line. Very quietly they get pounded while the rollers are making their point or hitting on the come out. But as soon as the table turns the other way – boy do they get noisy!! And they are proud to be the irritant.
Meanwhile, the rest of us understand that this was going to be a lost year. The more questions answered, the better. And we are getting some answers, though they may not all be good news.
Dach’s mistake wasn’t from ignorance – he knows better. It was a poor decision with a worse result (usually called a learning moment). I’m sure he will see it on tape and slump down in his chair.
Go ahead and cast the stones all of you on the Don’t Pass Line. I’ve seen your glass houses, and the windows look like Swiss cheese.
The comments today do not necessarily mean that somebody is a constant naysayer or a constant Pollyanna. They do reflect that fans are sick of the same mental mistakes.
We continually see defensemen chasing players behind the net leaving snipers open in the slot. There seems to be argument as to whether these are mistakes or “the system.” Either way, it’s aggravating. We continue to see passes in to the middle of the ice in the defensive zone. We know what these are. They are egregious errors.
Last night’s game where the Hawks got back in it and then threw it away with an obvious mistake while not under duress was really frustrating. If you are losing 3 to 1 and throw a pass to the center of the ice that makes it 4 to 1, it’s aggravating, but not like last night’s.
Dach got a lot of praise for his first game back, but I remember his drag move in that game. A year and 1/2 ago, he was using that move every time he rushed the net. Foley even said one time after it didn’t work again, “You’re in the NHL now kid. That might have worked in juniors, but not here.” He is poised and big and skilled so it will be fun to watch him develop. He has the potential to change everything when he is on the ice. He can win board battles, strip pucks, pass and shoot. His face-offs are better since he got back as well. Fingers are crossed that he becomes everything he can. Best guess is that he will.
The upside to the Hawks downturn is that if continues and securing 4th place looks unlikely, Stan should no qualms about “selling” at the trade deadline in two weeks.
It’s been a surprising run, but Soderberg, Wallmark, deHaan and perhaps Strome should all be on the move.
I hope Janmark is back and agrees to an extension the day after the expansion draft.
This past weekend revealed a Hawks team that seemed unwilling to raise the necessary effort to compete with Nashville. In my opinion this was not acceptable in any way, shape, or form. The Hawks were lucky there were no fans in the stands because had the UC been full, the boos would have cascaded down on the ice. I give the Preds full marks for the determination and workmanlike attitude they brought Saturday and again yesterday. The Hawks would have had trouble beating ANY team with the collective sorry ass effort we witnessed. Of course not all of it was bad. There were a few bright spots, but not many. The Hawks own zone coverage just fell apart leaving waves of open Preds with wide open top quality scoring chances in BOTH games. Lankinen and Subban were basically hung out to dry. Both of those games could have been Nashville blowouts by 4-6 goals considering the quality scoring chances they were handed on a platter. It was hard to watch. It’s hard to mention, but has anyone seen the great hockey player Duncan Keith we have watched for so many years? His decline has been sadly precipitous and noticeable.
Almost zero pushback to the physical game Preds were more than happy to bring against a Hawks team over the weekend that reverted back to the no check hockey we witness all too often.
It won’t get any easier with Canes coming to town. If this Hawks team wants to make the playoffs they must bear down and play harder up and down the roster. I like that Dach is back and skating well. Pity that ill advised down the middle pass of his to clear the zone ended up in the back of the net.
Sorry to complain, but that was some rough viewing the past 2 days.
Let’s Go Hawks!
If I could have one thing corrected – it would be the forwards making themselves available for passes within the d-zone rather than flying the zone hoping to receive a stretch pass. They were better at doing that earlier in the season when the forwards made a conscious effort to be part of the d-zone defense rather than transitioning to offense before the puck is safely out of the zone. There’s a line between using the stretch pass as a weapon when the opportunity presents itself and relying on it as a d-zone exit strategy. The Hawks are doing too much of the latter lately and the opponent expects it and pounces.
What’s with all the name calling and sniping?
This is a forum for people to post opinions and comments, like them or not.
Is it really necessary or helpful to categorize people Naysayers or Pollyanna’s? Are people really not sane because they have a different opinion?
Why is Keith getting more than 8-10 minutes per game? ONLY makes lame shots on net to get his Corsi rating higher.. So obvious…
can’t skate no mo.
lmao
Craig I agree with you about Janmark-I’ve changed my mind. You can argue who the best skater on the team is (Kane, Dach, D-Cat, Hagel-different styles) but he is the fastest skater on the Hawks, and that has value in today’s NHL.
(The list above doesn’t have many defenseman)
Silent-as I often do agree with your perspective.
Ian, Very well said. I think the main problem that I have is that this team has not even taken that 1st step. Why are they still trying to play pond hockey with no checking and forwards flying the zone? It’s 1 step forward and 2 steps back for this team. I can handle a young team learning if there is progression but I just see no structure with this team. It’s a bunch of young guys individually trying out. If that’s the case so be it. Let’s get a system in place that fits the personnel and start the process.
Craig think under the radar option for tdl is Subban for a team low on goalie depth, Leafs until Andersen back or something along that line.
Sounds like biggest issue could be if there’s return there, saying buyers market this year and Bowman said he won’t trade them just to make a trade.
No reason for Subban to play anymore. I’ve seen enough.
TimW there is plenty of big bodies in the system, when they sort out the skill players they are keeping that will be ready to step in and play a more physical game when needed. Getting a younger skilled core should be first priority as they need most development obviously. Taking time to get it right on who they want means growing pains. Just need patience until all pieces are put together.
This year reminds me a little of the team when Keith and Seabrook came up in 2005, and then came Patrick Sharp, and Toews and Kane. I remember being frustrated with that team, too. They were young, they made mistakes, and they learned. And by 2010, those mistakes all seemed pretty small in the rearview mirror. I think this team will grow in the same way, and hopefully with a little luck will achieve the same results. The only caveat, in my mind, is the current coaching staff. Q was better positioned back then to guide that team. Not so sure about JC and his group now.
AB 56 in 2005 Trent Yawney was coach then Savard before Q was hired. Lots of time to address changes there too if needed.
The 5 that were sent to Rfd. are back on taxi squad and calluos back in Rfd. With Dach activated Nhl roster at 23 max allowed. Any moves to roster need a corresponding move now.
Lack Luster sort of covers it.
From the couch
1- the intensity of the fore check has declined. This blog knows the game, but in the past they had two guys in pinching, aggressively and a third man floating between the dots in the center of the ice, drifting to where the play leans. Defense me at the point of inside the blue line. Grade School hockey. NOW they have one guy going in, weakly, and then very late if any support. When your on the couch and you can see 4 Black Hawks on the screen in the corner you know that is a strong fore check.
2- Bigger teams with a few really BIG d-,men like Pred’s have they don’t get knocked off the puck easily. Same with Panthers. Those guys who like Boqvist can see how easy it is for his 170 pound body to be moved. Murphy is the perfect example of a man who, uses his body, stick and size to at time just sit on the puck.
3- Hawks challenged with 5 on 5. While the effort on all four lines is okay, Hawks are relying on players who can fool you in thinking there scorers but they’re not. You need about 5 of those guys, but they need a guy on each line that can score. To ask Carpentar to bust his ass and expect him to score 25 goals a season ain’t gonna happen. sooooooo over time like lame Corsi stats and analogies. . . the averages will play out and offensive production will drop. But since these forwards are defensive minded the scores will be tight, which we’ve been seeing. Catch 22 Add in some above average goal tending and you get . . .what we got. Not bad, but terribly and literally middle of the road.
oppsy one more observation – CAT took the puck to net twice. Hawks seem to be allergic to driving to the net. A guy like Strome should be busting to the net every play way tooooo many players rehearsing for the Ice Capades. Drive to the net, CAT scored because Pred’s where in shock.
Go hawks
Wonder if Bowman tries to sign Mike Hardman, a free agent forward out of BU. Power forward potential, good size and may bring some decent offense.
Didnt see game/highlitghs yet and didnt read posts yet.
This is exactly what we want like others said last thread we ve already accomplished more then we were looking for this season in the 1st half of this division season. So we can just let the younger players get meaningfull games experience and do what Wrap said play hard and learn.
We went 0-2 0-2 2-0 0-2 for a 2-6 that is good for us/posivitves getting meaningful games experience and a good chance % at a top 8-12 pick.
Were -3 games over .500 and NAS is +5 games over .500 where DAL and CLB are 0/even over several games/there just spinning there tires in the mud/going nowhere. So for now it looks like NAS is the experienceed veterain team not DAAL or us/hey we have half a roster of greyhorn rookies/not even greenhorns yet so thats fine and dnady.
Sources tell me undrafted Free Agent Mike Hardman is leaving Boston College and close to signing a free agent contract with the @NHLBlackhawks. Should sign tomorrow..6’3” 190. Just turned 22 years old. 10-9-19 in 24 games this season. Will be in Chicago this week. #CawlidgeHawkey https://t.co/dmQY2F0SDl
Ian,I would like to see those big bodies grow with the team. It is nice to see players like Hardman sign with the Hawks is spite of Colliton,s adversity to play any of those types of players over 6 minutes a game. Sure hope he changes his philosophy on that. If we had a bunch of big stiffs that just ran around and picked fights,I could understand it. We don’t,these bigger and physical guys in the system can play. Given what has happened in some of these games,why not just for the hell of it,bring up 3 or 4 of these physical forwards and have 1 on each line and see how things look? I have a feeling we would all be pleasantly surprised.
Keith was not very good at all early in the game. I will go on the record that I do very much like Pat and Eddie. But they need to spread to glory and the criticism around equally. They didn’t ride Dach too hard, but did point out his mistake. They don’t point out Keith’s shortcomings too much. I don’t like to comment against Keith because he is an Iron Man and has been for this team. However, the mistakes need to be called out evenly.
And, even with my enjoyment of Pat and Eddie over the years, we need Pat to actually spend more time calling the game. I don’t want other teams’ announcers. I don’t like them. I’ve listened to them and wouldn’t trade up for any of them. But I want Pat to call more hockey and talk less about his love for Eddie or elaborate on stats or talk about off-ice stuff. We’d be better served with more calls on what is taking place on the ice.
Loved seeing DeBrincat take that goal right to the net. The Nashville defensive scheme seems year after year to keep the Blackhawks on the perimeter. That power move by DeBrincat was fantastic.
The team needs to keep working hard. Board battles and face-offs are tough lately, and at key times. Hagel continues to be a ball of fire!
Go Blackhawks!
Ian. Totally agree with you on Subban. Should have some value 2 weeks from today.
Colorado just traded for Buffalo’s number 3 goalie last week for depth purposes and Jonas Johansson is flat out awful.
wijg
i was going to respond to those you speak of, but not worth the time. those who prop themselves up by criticizing others, well… their issues not mine. i just take the fun out of sharing opinions with those who understand it is a site for all…. not just for those who agree with you.
Michal Teply 6’3” 190
MacKenzie Entwistle 6’4” 185
Josiah Slavin 6’3” 190
Cam Morrison 6’3” 190
Mike Hardman 6’2” 190
Looks like the Hawks are aware that they lack some size throughout the forward group..seems like they’re trying to make a concentrated effort to swing the pendulum a bit by signing a couple lottery tickets..now, will any of the above produce enough to gain a bottom six role with the Hawks? Not sure, but if even one or two do, it will go a long way towards adding some steak to our sizzle so to speak lol..
It happens this draft with the 2nd or 3rd pick. Maybe get lucky and get one the five good Defensemen at 8-12th pick otherwise its ufa for the top pair Defensemen just like Pie Krug.
SLAYERSE7EN
March 28, 2021 at 4:40 pm
What the Hawks really need to do is figure out where and how a number 1 defenseman can be drafted/traded for/acquired, etc. Once that player is in place, everyone else will slot down and our blueline will be that much stronger.
Funny dude funny.
TIM W.
March 29, 2021 at 8:15 am
Tommy,No way brother. I thoroughly enjoy watching Strome float around the ice with that electric powerful stride. I am told he has great numbers and is young so I shouldn’t be so critical. I’m working on that. IAN,I am curious,what did the Hawks and their coaching staff learn from Saturday to Sunday nights game? Those games looked identical to me with no adjustments by the coaching staff and a very similar level of lethargic and soft play by the young and old Hawks.
Slayer throw in Johnson, Barrett, Chalupa and Slaggert all over 6 ft. bring good size and grit along with Altybarmakyan just under 6ft, plus Reichel 6 fter with an edge who we could see next year. We know about Vlassic, Regula on blueline with Moberg and 3 D drafted last fall Krutil and Philips 6’3″ and Creiver 6’8″”. Lots of size to choose from before long.
Slayer/Ian – first thing I checked when I saw this Hardman signing was his size not only because I’m interested but also because it’s been clear that Stan has been drafting/signing more size and this fits the pattern
Wrap,maybe he should send a memo down to his bench coach that he would like to see some of his acquired size and physicality on NHL ice once in awhile. 6 minutes a game every 2 weeks ain’t getting it done.
You know what Coach appreciates a little size and sandpaper,Gerard Gallant. I wonder if he would take a phone call from Stan. Na,thats a pipe dream. He will be off the market long before Stan realizes that he may need a coach. Of course he could bring him in as an advisor to start out with. Kind of like the way Coach Q was brought into the organization. All of a sudden,abra cadabra, and by game 3 next season we have Coach Gallant and his staff behind the bench. Its nice when a plan comes together!
Patience Tim – players with size will get their opportunities when they’re ready and not just because they have size
By this time next year I expect we’ll see some bigger players in the Hawk line up
Slayer7– Altybarmakyan- stronger (thicker) than all those tall “skinny” guys
just sayin
if the “stouter” prospects play like strome instead of hagel their size won’t help.
Hawks29 love to clone Hagels heart to pass around. That’s the thing all big players don’t play a physical game and all small players don’t play a soft game either. That’s why i’m pleased to see they are loading up that part of the pipeline now.
ian
open to anything that makes the hawks a winner. we have had many favorites over the years. they come and go. i am just happy they have acknowledged they need a rebuild and are making decisions to support that philosophy. as with anything else there will be good and bad ones. PLEASE…PLEASE…. no more stupid contracts. some of the best deals in life are ones you walk away from.
Yea more of the size and nasty players were just on different yrs draft/sign/ready wise. They are coming.
Might work well that the Defensemen were in 1 or 2 yrs before the FW that way they get to 200 games faster and the timing of when most are starting there good yrs near each other.
Cant wait to see a group of players like Hagel and Barratt and others playing there way when were deep in every spot. Going to Hanson brothers like for energy an relentlessness and clean.