Capitals Spoil Kirby Dach’s Debut, Beat Hawks 5-3
There was an anticipation at the United Center on Sunday night that had been lacking for a couple years. Kirby Dach, the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut.
And he started the game centering a line with Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome. Against the Ovechkin line for the Caps.
Pretty heavy stuff for the youngest player to make his NHL debut for the Blackhawks since Kane more than a decade ago.
It’s worth noting that Dach won the opening faceoff of the game.
The only goal in the first period belonged to T.J. Oshie, who scored a power play goal while Andrew Shaw was in the box in the middle of the period. Chicago had a 14-12 shot advantage after 20 minutes but trailed on the scoreboard.
At the end of the first period noted goon Radko Gudas jumped Conner Murphy. Murphy picked up a minor penalty but Gudas picked up a double-minor for his efforts.
Chicago did nothing on the power play, their second failed advantage of the night.
The Blackhawks’ fourth line of Ryan Carpenter, Alex Nylander and Drake Cagguila was tremendous all night. Eight minutes into the second Carpenter put a shot on net. Nylander grabbed the loose puck and made a terrific pass to Cagguila who put home the tying goal.
One minute after the Cagguila goal Chandler Stephenson hit Dach in the face and picked up four minutes of penalty time. This would be the turning point of the game. Nic Dowd scored short-handed less than 30 seconds into the extended advantage to give the Caps a 2-1 lead. The Blackhawks didn’t score over the final 90 seconds of the power play.
The Blackhawks out-shot the Capitals 15-9 in the second period. Chicago had an eight-shot advantage after 40 minutes but trailed on the scoreboard again as they went to the room for a conversation.
Alex Ovechkin scored at 3:52 into the third to give Washington a two-goal lead. Chicago needed some pushback and they put together a strong effort after the Ovechkin goal.
Dominik Kubalik had a strong night offensively and cut the lead to one at 6:05 into the third.
Kane tied the game at 9:58 off another dish from Nylander.
Ten minutes into the third the Blackhawks had evened the score. Unfortunately the Caps had more offense in the second half of the third.
Tom Wilson scored at 11:47 and Lars Eller added one into the empty net with 50 seconds left in regulation to make the final score 5-3.
For Dach it was a big first night in the NHL. He was on the ice for Ovechkin’s goal and finished the night minus-one. He had one blocked shot and showed the ability to use his size to get and control the puck at times. Dach skated 13:41 in the game and won just the one faceoff – his first in the NHL – in five faceoff chances.
The Strome-Dach-Kane line was on the ice together for 12:27, the most of any combination in the game for Chicago. They generated only two shots on net but Washington got only four on net while that trio was on the ice.
Kubalik led the team with ten shots on net in the game. He was also credited with two hits and one takeaway in 14:15. David Kampf won six of 13 faceoffs with two shots on net and Brandon Saad put five shots on net as the third line continued to look good. The Kubalik-Kampf-Saad line was on the ice for 16 shots for and only five against.
The fourth line was the best on the ice for Chicago. Carpenter had one assist and finished plus-two in 12:40. He won ten of 12 faceoffs and was credited with two hits and one takeaway. Nylander had two assists and three takeaways in 13:12. And Cagguila added one hit to his second goal of the season.
Chicago’s blue line failed to produce a point in the loss. Calvin de Haan led the way with three blocked shots while Murphy had a team-leading four hits.
Corey Crawford allowed four goals against 29 shots. He made some good saves and didn’t face the volume of shots that he has recently.
Braden Holtby reminded us why he’s a Stanley Cup winner. He stopped 41 of 44 in the win.
The Blackhawks power play was 0-5 in the game.
Can’t kill penalties Can’t score on the power play. Give up a shortie. Leave guys wide open in front. Another non playoff season ahead.
2-3-1, two more home games left this week. Teams in the West piling up points slowly but surely.
The coach keeps talking about “cleaning some things up”. We heard the same thing last season.
The house is still dirty.
Special teams atrocious, good point Hossa.
Best night for 5 on 5 this year, hits showed that too, around 24 instead of 30 to 40 we’ve been seeing. Caps with 38 says they were playing without puck alot.
Special teams embarassing especially pp. The 3rd and 4th lines getting it done, need top 2 lines to pick it up. Maybe Dach will help, Nylander probably get some more time there, after strong game. Kampf line still their best line by a bit. Dach played a smart game, didn’t try to do too much, mistakes didn’t cost team, see what next couple of games bring.
I think it was more a half decent effort against a better team. 5 on 5 they held held their own for the most part.
They do have trouble with the fore-check but so did the Capitals.
What has become evident is that Perlini & Koekkoek aren’t parts of this team that the coaches or front office see as regular parts of the game roster. So sell them before wasting more cap space on them going forward. I’ve seen enough that Dach is a better NHL player today than Perlini and poor Perlini’s ceiling isn’t nearly as high as Nylander so the sex appeal is going to get Nylander more reps. Smith is also still here so if Dach is going to stick in the NHL someone has to go.
Special teams was the difference in this one. Washington with a strong power play and aggressive penalty kill leading to a shorthanded goal. The Hawks listless, sloppy and hopeless on the powerplay. Weak on the puck in their own zone on the penalty kill. Duncan Keith had a bad game, more than a couple turnovers in his own end.
Beside that I thought the Hawks put forth a strong effort. They were the better team at even strength. Washington capitalized on almost all of their grade A chances which is what makes for a great team.
I thought Toews had some real jump this game. Unfortunately the rest of his line wasn’t so hot.
The Kane line was a defensive liability, and didn’t generate a whole hell of a lot offensively. As mentioned by Tab our 3rd and 4th lines were remarkable.
Not to make excuses but that non call on Washington’s 4th goal was a pretty big back breaker. Blatant trip out front of the net right before the goal, refs turn a blind eye.
But in all honesty the powerplay was what lost it for us. Crawford can’t be faulted for much. That said he was outplayed by Holtby.
I’m happy with the effort, but incredibly unhappy with the result. you’re not going to win many games against a club of this caliber going 0 for 5 on the PP and giving up a shortie, that’s for sure.
Yes, there are things to clean up, but they did put up 44 shots against 29. It appears that the NHL is mimicking the NBA and legalizing picks. That was blatant interference against Seabrook on the 4th goal and there was a very similar play recently in another game, also against Seabrook. Eddie pointed out the Toews left his man who scored the goal on that play.
The Hawks showed heart coming back. The PP in the first period didn’t score but wasn’t horrific. The 4 minute dumpster fire in the second period was abysmal. It would have been terrible even without the shorty. There was some booing at the UC during that disaster.
The third and fourth lines are playing great. I would leave Saad, Kampf and Kubalik together. If it makes people feel better, they can call them the third line. I call them the best line.
There is cause for concern with Toews. He is not noticeable offensively.
In short, the Hawks just are not good enough to hang with a team like Washington. Games in hand, but they have to win those games.
Crawford should the backup from now on. With Lehner the Hawks would have won this early. They completely outplayed the Caps. Holtby just played like an elite goaltender. Crawford played like a below average one.
Dcat isn’t the right guy to play with 19. I think Cagguila is a better option. Dcat is an elite shooter – he needs to be like Ovi and let it fly whenever he can. He looks for the pass too much IMO. The first PP was very solid and we will never know if Dcat buries the shot when his stick broke. Seemed like the shortie really stunned them and the PP sucked the rest of the way. Better overall effort and continue to be impressed by Kubalik.
@GOLDENRUG the Hawks more than hang with the Capitals. They were better, objectively. They massively outshot them and had more high danger chances. With better goaltending this game was winnable.
Duncan Kieth seems to be turning into a turnover machine. His game is really in decline, hope he can turn it around fast.
Overall a good effort as others have mentioned but special teams killed them plus some shoddy play primarily from veterans
WSH PP goal was totally on Toews (who had complete control of the puck and was too cute trying to get it out and of course didn’t) and Keith who was foiled on his classic turn back play in the corner
Winning goal by Wilson was on both Toews (who left his man Wilson in front to go puck watching on the other side of the net) and Seabs who I’m sorry but has to be stronger on his skates than to get tipped over like he’s falling out of a nightclub at 3 am by what seemed to me to be incidental contact
Dach looked OK in his debut – looked responsible defensively but didn’t seem to have a lot of touches in the O zone – he’ll get better over presumably the next 8 games but for a first NHL game (other than getting caught watching Ovi smoke one) he wasn’t out of his depth
First two lines and PP need a make over – get DCat and Strome back together – they’re both struggling without each other and Toews is almost invisible offensively although he won some key draws
77-19-88
12-17-65
Maybe put Shaw on PP1 to win some pucks instead of Strome who can play on PP2 instead of either 2 or 7
Nylander with a very strong game – I’m liking his development
or maybe Kubalik rather than Strome on PP1 to win pucks and be in front of the net
Wrap agree a pp shakeupike your saying is needed, kinda mentioned similar to that the other day.
I think on Ovechkin goal the winger on back side is responsible for one timers and the Center acts as another D in low slot area, if it is covered right. So not positive but think Kane should have given support there. If you watch Saad and Kubalik they always collapse in from point to help in that area and Kampf is always around the net helping defense.
As said those type of games they should win mostly, so looks to be improving.
Every top team has their top two players playing together except the HAWKS? Why?
Enough of this trying to balance lines. You need Toews and Kane to get going and playin together is the only option. Saad is stuck mucking the entiore game which is fine but Kampf has no offensive IQ.
Dach should start as the 3rd line centre. We got rid of AA to give him the job. Don’t care for Kampf…He can play 4th line or head to Rockford if they want to really give Dach a look.
20 19 88
12 17 8
65 77 92
11 22 91
Hull just moved an AHL player up to the second line!
Nylander despite getting limited minutes is producing. He seems to have gotten the message he and Perlini were both sent.
Nylander should be producing for an 8th overall pick.
Hull65 Kampf couldn’t score if the net was empty but the line is playing well.
Great to see Nylander getting results. Even in the Columbus game he was hustling all over the ice. Keep in mind it was Colliton who soured on Jokiharju and pretty much banished him to Rockford and then out the door. It looks like that might wind up being an even trade.
As for Perlini, I was told by somebody in the know, back in September that Perlini would not be on the Hawks this year and was pretty much gone. Then he stuck as the 13th forward. I suggested the Hawks trade him for roughly a 4th round pick. I was told, they had tried all summer to trade him and nobody wanted him.
Again, this smacks of Colliton. He does not like Perlini and his laid back attitude.
Last week he was a practice player and practiced twice in Zack Smith’s spot. But now with Dach called up and playing, he is the 14th forward. My guess is he winds up on the waiver wire and gets claimed by a team like New Jersey.
MS SVEN, yea thats what I thought. Like Tab put up we need to go with something like this for games 6-10. We outplayed them by a bit, with that shitty PP. Whats good is we outplayed them without much from top 6. Get the lines better and take out that crap 4 min PP stuff and were on our way.
65 19 88
12 17 77
20 64 8
92 22 91
With a full roster now we do not need players like 11 and KoKo. During the last 2 yrs those guys were needed. Once 77 and 27 are established thats good playes fast speed and two more guys can go then to.
Nylander and Dach are able to be good players this yr that wasnt expected when we were in summer. Who would of thought that. Games and time these guys get better.
Keep locking Nylander in that training room with highlights of him playing d, intercepting pucks and those ending up in the opponents net. That’s what it’s going to take for him to stick and prosper. Good development from just about everyone. If I never see Keith on the PP again it will be too soon, for the love of Pete, get him off the PP. Trade, Gus, Perlini and Coocoo. For whatever you can get with an eye towards solidifying the roster for 2021
20-19-8
92-77-88
12-17-65
64-22-91
Notes from the game
1. Keith was horrible, First goal all him can’t clear a puck on the board, had two steps on the guy…WTF
2. Seabrook gets bumped into and falls down. I understand that should have been a penalty but come on be a little stronger on your skates.
3. Toews what are you doing out there -3, no points? You have one assist and one lucky goal so far this season. WTF
4. Crawford didn’t have a great night
5. Dach is NHL ready, better than Perlini
6. Kabulik keep it going bud, what a goal.
7. Nylander also keep it going, what a pass.
When Keith, Seabrook and Toews look dismal defensively we will not win games. There was no chance at any point we were going to keep the Capitals to two goals or less the way 3 out 4 of the core of this team played. Calling out the leadership on this team and why they didn’t show up tonight??? Colliton not sure what you do about this, limit minutes I don’t know but the top line since the beginning of the season has been 20,64,8. I’m not sure why we would put Saad or Kabulik with Toews… Toews is currently 140th in the league, and technically he has 1 point not 2.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20192020&seasonTo=20192020&gameType=2&position=C&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,gamesPlayed
12 19 88
20 17 8
92 77 91
64 22 65
I would love to see these lines.
65 19 88
12 17 92
20 77 8
64 22 91
I think these lines provide the most chemistry and grit, short shifts where we could roll 4 lines and maintain pressure and a balanced attack.
Like Mo’s lines. Would switch 77 65. Still worried if the game gets chippy.
PP lines:
88 19 65 77 56
12 17 8 92 believe it or not 7
Where a player is drafted means nothing immediately after the draft. Every player has question marks. Every player no matter how highly touted could fail. The amount invested in a player should mean little as far as development and what you expect. You can hope they produce. But if you put too much emphasis on draft equity, you end up with Mitch Trubisky.
Everyone wanted Stan fired for the Nylander trade. That doesn’t seem nearly as bad now. Jokiharju also had his shortcomings and Stan and Colliton weren’t alone in their concern of his shortfalls. Give Nylander credit where credit is due. The one thing everyone had questions about was his effort. That is a hard thing for a prospect to fix. Just try harder is easier said than done. Perhaps there’s underlying reasons why it appears he isn’t trying harder. Maybe he doesn’t think the game as well as perceived. Compete level is the same thing that plagues Perlini. Frankly it plagues most players considered power forwards as well. In Nylanders case last year he was coming off injury, so maybe that could have also contributed.
I agree with Craig. Perlini’s ho hum lackadaisical attitude is the main reason why he’s not in the lineup. Nylander had the same issue, but you see how he responded. Perlini just seems resigned to his fate. No fire. No desperation. Really an embodiment of the last thing this team needs more of.
“Everyone wanted Stan fired for the Nylander trade. That doesn’t seem nearly as bad now.”
No, lots of people are still upset about that trade.
“Nylander should be producing for an 8th overall pick.”
Jack Skille would like a word….
Kane & Able, like the 20 77 8 line you have that could be stout.
There are some things to like-Kulabik’s play and the possible role of Nylander. Shaw adds a needed dimension. (I think Dach is 18 and needs time and some extra strength-he will be a good to very good NHL player, but perhaps not this year) I like the grit in the bottom 6, and the veteran support of DeHaan and Maatta.
But the worrisome part is that this team is in a tough division and are they really a force in the NHL at this point? Seabrook has been on the decline for a few years and is a 6/7 and limited in any help he can give and has been mentioned Keith has gone from elite to very good and is now-at 36 at best a satisfactory 3/4 guy.
They have some nice new parts and 19/88 and two good goalies (Crawford 35 soon). Next year could be good but they don’t have a #1 or #2 d-man so realistically…is it all going to come together at the right time?
I don’t agree with the statement less hits means more puck possession. I saw a lot of fly by poke checks again. Before the last half of the third there was no O zone pressure. pp was pathetic. Too much standing around looking for the perfect pass, and no board battles were won. Strome should be off the PP. no way he should have played 20 minutes last nite. He was non existent
“I don’t agree with the statement less hits means more puck possession.”
I can’t help this. Anybody?
I think Dach stays but presumably he’ll get some more games to make his case
JC said he liked his centres better last night with Dach in the middle – what does that say about both Dach and Strome?
Interesting
Well Dunks and Seabs wernt going to be relied on for carring the team like those other yrs. They still can be part of the 6 NHL quality defensemen though. So yea were prob one top pair defensemen from having a good group overall. 5 44 6 can be good 2-5 types. 27 is a huge part being a 2 or 3 so if thats what we need, we should add a #1 in summer when there are enough of them available and then make salary cap work.
Wouldnt getting a #1 and trading one of the 2-5 guys with extra be worth it.
Same thing for 19 88 they still need to be very good but shouldnt have to carry the team like those yrs. We need the young blue chip players to be studs once established and guys like 12 17 20 need to be as good as they really are. Be a deeper roster to go with 2 7 19 88 so they arnt having to carry just be a part and big parts.
What is good for us is none of the top teams are stacked like yrs 2008-2015 with the league being watered down now. So that helps us load up enough to be good enough. None of the teams that have won since 2015 were as good as any team that won every yr from 2008-2015.
The timing is the young wave and more summer adds. We added or got back to full roster this summer. So this summer is the #1 defensemen add, give to get that, and not keep maybe two 4m guys and have 77 and 27 in.
Really this make us that good again.
4m guy out 77 in
4m guy out 27 in
56 out and extra #1 defensemen in
finetune anything else
Then the timing is spot on.
This was a fun game to watch for 60 minutes. It was close only because Hawks special teams didn’t get it done, and Holtby was very, very good. Holtby bested Crow last night, but I don’t blame Corey for this loss.
The ledger at the end of the night had some good stuff and not so good stuff. New kid Dach looked fine out there albeit with some jitters in the 1st period. He seems to have good hockey sense, has quick hands, and his skating ability looks like it has upside. Kubalik continues to impress on many levels. Nylander did some good things overall and clearly has some offensive talent. If he is to stick he just has to play hard every shift and not float. Shaw was a great add for this team. Third and 4th lines I am liking.
Five on Five play by Hawks was quite good I thought last night. I liked Toews and Keith coming in during 3rd period fracas to defend team mate. Weird, no penalties
D Cat seems to be fighting the puck and pressing. Hawks d zone coverage remains a problem with too many opposing players getting crazy good grade A looks. Hawks power play obviously needs to get better. opposing teams continue to play heavy puck pressure and Hawks have no answers. Not acceptable. Pity that Seabrook was part of a pick play/interference for the go ahead goal. That one should have been called yet, if Hawks power play was just decent they would have won that game. Sad to watch Seabs and Duncan in decline
Happy to see Hawks competitive against a good team, yet it still shows up in the loss column. This Hawks team is a work on progress that needs to play their asses off every game to succeed.
New mammoth UC scoreboard is taking time to get used to with how it is set up and where to look for info quickly. While smartphone ticket entrance works pretty well, new this year is show your phone yet again entering concourses and/ or again at seating area. It just gets redundant and there are backups as the poor UC employees have to scan the phones yet again which takes way more time than a simple visual.
LV tomorrow is another big test. Hawks better be ready to rumble as Knights have kind of owned them by my memory.
Let’s Go Hawks!
Wrap, thats interesting and I was just thinking about 17 at RW LW other day whens going over many of lines I have read and thought of myself.
I was at how do you do, 12 17 together and 19 88 on different lines.
12 19 17
65 77 88
I do like the lines people posted in last 24 hrs though, lots of good ideas.
65 19 88
12 77 17
20 64 8 or
20 77 8
I can see 20 19 8 rolling north south very well. You do that and maybe this
20 19 8
12 77 88
20 17 65
Just keep working on it.
Vegas has won most of the games because they only played us last two yrs. If they played us last 7 yrs we would be up 5-2 in stead of 0-2.
Keith needs.to be removed from the PK, he was to blame on the PP goal, Nylander looked strong and in all honesty, I need more games from Dach to make a decision, this first game to me was not impressive, he looked lost, tentative and skated in circles….so one game is not enough to say yay or nay on him. It’s good they have a stretch of alot of games coming. Agree with Tab, trade Perlini and Kookookatcho, and get a trade partner for Gus too, he has looked horrible this far.
“I don’t agree with the statement less hits means more puck possession”
In hockey, the only player you can hit without it being a penalty is the puck carrier. If your team has the puck for all 60 minutes, your team will wind up with zero hits. Therefore the more you have the puck, the less opportunity to hit the opposing team simply because you can’t. That would be interference.
Shall I explain icing too?
Get a partner for Gus? Gus is the bigger problem. He is the epitome of risk reward. When hes on the ice for the PP. 50% chance the puck is going in the net. Just don’t know which net.
I think the complaint about the “possession does not equal less” hits was with how the Hawks defend and check. I think the complaint isn’t about the fact that if you possess the puck more you statistically have less hits, but rather that when the Hawks have the opportunity to make a hit, they chose to try and poke check rather than play the body and make a hit. And thus, when given an opportunity to lay a hit on the opposition, the Hawks elect not to do so. And THAT is why the Hawks hit numbers are low.
Does that make sense? I could be wrong, but that is how I read the original post by Bobby9… It was phrased a little awkwardly, but I think that was his point….
Thanks Miroslav. Exactly my point. Don’t poke check and keep skating pass him. Take the body
Funny how Seabs gets called for that contact when the guy and him touch in game before, then this game gets picked and that guy doesnt. What.
Makes perfect sense, both comments. We do not hit as much as we can last few yrs. Now we do more with the Hansons.
65 15 91
Can the Hawks send Seabrook to power skating school or sit him until he gets in shape and stronger on his skates.Neal from Edmonton lightly nudged him Monday night for a late goal and last night little Hagelin pushed him off balance for another goal.Somebody get TOEWS some red meat.I think he is back on the Green Plant diet again.
Okay you stats addicts – here’s one to research. How many hits does the top 2 lines (Toews, Dcat, Shaw, Strome, Kane and you pick the last one) have versus any other 6 forwards on the Hawks? The last time I saw Kane throw a hit was against Gudas last year (and he really delivered that one with Gudas landing on his prettier side), and Gudas chased him through the next commercial to get even. I was surprised Gudas wasn’t still chasing him last night!
You can use most any stat to fit a need. Just because a team is hitting doesn’t mean they aren’t controlling the puck, and vice versa. The eye test tells a lot. We have more hitters this year, thus more hits. But we have plenty of avoiders too. Not saying either is my preferred style as each player has to play to their strength.
We don’t go anywhere this year without a top D pairing, or if our 3rd line is our best line most every night. Despite the constant chatter of being DEEP, we seem to be pretty shallow with skilled scorers.
Time to give the 3rd line 22 minutes of play for a game. And blow up the power play and start with the 3rd line for PP1. I thought Colliton was smarter than to have Keith playing on PP2. I was wrong. PP1 is too cute and doesn’t want to work hard enough. Oh – and put another lefty on PP1 so we have no chances to make any plays. That can only help. Changing the positioning 180 degrees made a big difference!! Putting the only guy with a one-timer in the middle (that would be Dcat) with a lefty feeding him from the left wall is going to work – let me think here – about………… NEVER. Who the HELL is running our PP??????????????????????? I shook my head so hard at that travesty of a power play last night that my neck won’t move today.
I feel better. Thanks!!
Chicago is 3rd in hits per game at 31.3. Behind only Pittsburgh and Ottawa.
The gold standard for Hawks fans is 09/10. The Hawks were 25th averaging 18.9 hits per game.
In 12/13 they were dead last with 17.5 hits per game
In 2014/2015 they were 29th with 16.5 hits per game
So much for that narrative.
The 5 top 6 players in Shaw, Toews, Debrincat, Kane, and Strome average 6.7 hits per game collectively.
The rest of the Hawks regular Forward (7 players)group of Saad, Kampf, Kubalik, Caggiula, Smith, Carpenter, and Nylander collectively average 11.3 hits per game. Vast majority of the latter come from Caggiula at 3,2 and Kubalik at 2.8.
Throw Caggiula in the top 6 as he’s played there and your top 6 averages 9.9 hits per game and your bottom 6 average 8.1 hits per game.
The one that has jumped out is Kane has 1 more hit than Toews right now.
Toews averages 1 hit per game since 09/10. Kane has averaged .7…which is exactly where he’s at this year.
Rusty, those teams were fast and hungry for the puck. They won the board battles unlike this team so far. Hossa never hit anyone but he won most puck battles.
When you lose an argument over facts, it’s always best to completely dismiss said facts with something subjective. Was Eager fast? Was Byfuglien fast? Ladd? John Madden? They were talented and filled a role. Hossa probably will be a Hall of famer. He did everything well. I wouldn’t call him a burner. It’s a travesty the Selke has become most point production for a defensively sound centerman. If you add a player of Hossa’s caliber to the top 6, that fixes a lot of problems both offensively and defensively.
It would be interesting to see a preseason combine year over year. To see if a team is actually faster or slower. Things like that can be thrown around but you can’t back them up with anything concrete. Is Seabrook slow? Is he any slower than he was? Let’s check his preseason shuttle time.
Rusty I think the poster was saying that Gus should go and was agreeing with you-he said a ‘trade partner’.
It would be nice to get someone more reliable and strong on the power play, the problem is that doesn’t exist in Hawk land. It may one day but not now.
There is no balance on the power play. I will also argue the design is piss-poor for the players we have on the power play. Can we try something new like not standing still? Create a lane by skating with the puck or moving after passing the puck, or GOD HELP ME – do both!
And the 2nd unit is apparently intended to play defense, not offense.
We aren’t serious about our power play, and the league appreciates that. But not our goalies.
Toews appears completely disengaged with the game right now. I hope he is injured, because if he isn’t, then he is in for a REALLY long season.
Thanks for the stats Rusty.
Rusty of those players you mentioned , they were tough on the puck. Something today’s team has not shown yet. Only Hossa was on the 2015 team which was great in transition which again this team has not shown yet
On the short-handed 2-on-1 goal, Gus’s job was to try to angle the puck carrier away from the net as best he can but primarily to take away the potential shooter coming down the right side who was in a better shooting position. Instead, like all bad defenders, he makes the hero play to try and knock away the puck and from there (given these guys skill) level it was a pretty easy goal for them.
Yes, it all started with the broken stick and Kane bobbling a pass, but it was typical Gus defending – weak and undisciplined. Should have sold high on him as most everyone said.
Joki with a couple of helpers on Saturday (oh yeah, I almost forgot, JC didn’t like him).
When I say deep I mean roster wise, having a full roster again of NHL FW and Defensemen. Not that were quality deep.
With 77 and 27 that will get us right there and like people say we need another top pair Defensemen, then were more quality deep.
Goalie cant be any quality deeper then we are now.
Its just the first time since 2015 or 2016 we had 6 NHL defensemen so that exciting to actually be able to play and have a full roster. The last 2 yrs we ve been playing short handed, like 2011.
Yea I think only one maybe two of the 7 dynasty yrs, cant count 2011 against us, did we have a top 5 PP. We were good but not top or bottom, I guessing around 10-12 ish area. We did always have a top 5 area PK on those yrs. That is getting back to normal somewhat. Finally with a full roster, that has seen the light again.
I think this team does have players that are tough on the puck or at least can be. The whole 3rd line is. Carpenter, Shaw, and Caggiula are. Debrincat can be. Toews should be. As far as forwards are concerned, the bottom 6 are probably doing more than most thought. The top 6, well they’re a Marian Hossa caliber player away from being good. But so are a lot of teams. If you had a top 6 scoring winger that could do what Hossa did defensively, that solves a lot of problems on the PK…but so would getting rid of Gustafsson.
6 games in and Alex Nylander is your number 2 scorer. That’s a problem.
92-19-77
12-17-88
20-64-8
91-22-65
Do not know how these guys are playing but a package of Gus Perlini and either Boq or Beau get you a Nurse or Jones. Maybe less for a Fowler or Manson. Ceci will be unrestricted next year.
Let’s not forget that when Seattle takes Seabrook we will have to give them either Boq or Beau or something similar.
Apologies. Misread the Gus part. Well, not so much misread as just reading what I wanted and skipping words. I don’t think there’s a trade partner to be found for Gus. If he’s not producing, he’s just a liability.
Nothing against Buckaroo, Mitchell going very good again and Vlassic should be good to. Micthell and BoQ should be ready to step right in
Whether any of them are a to pair, going to be a yr 2 yr, so I say trade those players you guys want to and what ever it takes to get one of the #1 Defensemen this summer and then make the salary cap work. We have some really good blue chip Defensemen coming these 2 yrs.
Even with that many good blue chip Defensemen coming, we have to have a top pair Defensemen then do it. This summer make that happen. Black and White.
Where chia pet when you need him. Hes always up for a Manning trade.
Did you know that Brandon Manning has as many goals as out captain? And he actually shot his in the net.
I think Brandon is probably happier where in Edmonton than being in Chicago. Much better chance of being in the playoffs this year.
Toews started slow last year as well. We’re only 6 games in, so I’m willing to wait a bit on that. How long it will take to solidify the top line will have a lot to do with his numbers moving forward. I’m all for putting Kane back with him along with someone who can win corner and board battles, perhaps Caggiula. Really makes you appreciate Hossa and what he did for this team so much more.
Nothing against Manning. I would rather have Tazer and Haan then Forsling and Manning. EDM prob makes playoffs in that division, not so sure about central.
I like getting roster ready to win the Cup not just make playoffs. 21 season and on.
I though we would be better then this. We still have that young wave coming with 2 top 5 draft players. 19 88 should be good for more then 3 more yrs. 2 and 7 I have no idea.
19 must be playing hurt he doesnt ever not care play hard. 19 88 12 17 20 are good players so we have to figure out what to do. The bottom 6 looks good? so were not as far off as people think. Add this #1 Defensemen people talk about and we should be very good going forward.
Not sure what to do. We have lots of good players and good players coming very soon. So its show me time this yr and 21 season. Then adjustments to roster if not doing as good as we should. What do you think we should do to get roster quality deep.
We still will have to make adjustments along the way, roster wise, and other wise. I am looking at games 10-20, because 6-10 which I normally wait to the sch is crap. Games 10-20 do it for me. If we havnt got it together by then then sure.
What confuses the heck out of me is, we were suppose to come out on fire this yr with deep roster and having the right role players we didnt last 2 yrs.
We sucked in preseason, when your suppose to look good in half of the scrimmages and suck in half. We didnt do that. Then the sch is as crap as ever could be and were doing the same in these 6 games, 2 bad games, then a 2-0-1 part that was good then a game we outplay other team but have the problems we have, right now, for now.
Really, record wise, we have played good after first 2 games that we didnt have 5 and 44.
So how do we fix what we need to fix to be a playoff team this yr and a top team in a yr
For those commenting they don’t understand less hits mean more puck possession. Just read the through comments on last nights game, how posters were saying the Bkackhawks were outplaying Caps 5 on 5 and hit numbers were down to mid 20s. Now read comments from other games where the posts tell the story of Blackhawks struggling, not generating any offensive push etc, and hit numbers in those games up in high 30s. Really it’s a fairly obvious, check it out if you doubt it.
Am I the only one who thinks Dach is not ready?
He seemed to be a bit lost out there and no chemistry with Kane (who was clearly a bit frustrated with his babysitting role).
He has all the tools to be great player for many years, just see no goal to rush him.
Give him a couple more games and sent him to juniors, hawks need to fight every game to not have a short season again.
Ian, they could also look at the game flow chart Tab provided.
Moonshiner, been saying for weeks Each should be sent back. He didn’t look lost to me. Save for the Ovechkin goal. But there’s definitely elements of his game he can work on.
It’s hard to tell after an injury and really one meaningful game. But I’m with you on the caution side and that he isn’t the savior at this point. His tall, slender frame is a target, especially when players know he is a 3rd pick. (But he wants to stick so who knows)
Three tough games coming up and only a point or two in them might be a bit of a reality check for the season.
Current coach reminds me of bears old coach tresman …. at least we had a good week in practice.
Dach should stay up the rest of the season. He’s going to learn more working to earn minutes on a roster w 19 than he ever will crushing teenagers in junior. There’s absolutely a there there with him; let’s not forget he sat out for what? a month? after the hit in the rookie tournament and came back for 3 quick games w/ Rockford before joining the NHL club. I liked most of what I saw from him. re: him getting lost on the Ovi goal – isn’t that why Ovechkin has entered the conversation around best goal scorers in the history of the game? LOTS of people somehow lose Ovi on the ice and it ends up in the net.
Agree Tab
Ask yourself this question regarding Dach
Will he be a further ahead as a player at the start the the 20-21 season for having spent a year in the NHL already or another year in junior?
I want to see him in some more NHL games but my first impression after 1 game is that he’ll be further ahead after a year in the NHL – I think his progression with a year in the NHL will be significant, more so than in junior however let’s give it a few more games
Tab and Wrap agree, don’t see a 4th year of junior as being significant in Dachs development. He looks ready to progress at next level. He can still be sent Juniors after 9 games anyways if he ends up strughling too much, elc year at this point likely means very little.
For me the question of Dach always is will he benefit more from playing in the NHL now or one more year of Juniors? The answer has to be tempered with the knowledge that if Dach regresses or hits a wall or something, he can’t be sent to Rockford as was done with Schmaltz and others when they were going through their ups and downs their rookie year.
I think he held his own in his first game. So far, he looks to be one of the top 12 forwards on the team, and as such, should be in the lineup daily. The Hawks have the next eight games to determine if they would be better served using the ELC slide rule on him or not. If I were to guess what they decide, I would lean towards him being on the NHL roster all season.
Ever wonder why Dach did not spend the maximum allotted in Rockford? Word is Hossa is in town. Possibly mentoring big Dach????
Rfd played last Saturday, then next game is Friday and his 14 days be up. Then Blackhawks play back to back this Saturday and Sunday. So that probably factored into it too. This way he gets a regular games schedule and not be in 3 in a 3 days scenario after 6 off, to get another game in Rfd.
If concussion is a concern he shouldn’t play at all, if ready, sending him to juniors doesn’t prevent another one. He got the first one in a prospect tournament against junior aged players mostly. So if he’s ready to play, he’s ready to play where his skill says he fits. Shouldn’t impact decision of what level he plays at all.
Didnt see most of that game, I am with you guys on 77 staying and playing here. Hes good enough then theres nothing wrong with that. Hes more ready then not, so NHL is better then juniors like you said. What the point in that. Other guys sure and 27 Mitchell look to be real good and coming soon so were not as far off as people thing even though we have problems.
I am glad he is NHL ready.
The great David Branch once said that prospects have never been hurt by spending an extra year in junior and being over ripe. Players getting overwhelmed in the show too soon happens far too often. With that said, I don’t think Dach looked overwhelmed
Thats why I am glad he is NHL ready. I didnt see him play so am very stoaked to hear that. Yea and he hasnt played since before training camp. This is his 7 preseason games.
He played games in Rockford. What I saw of those games were very similar to his NHL game. Strong on the puck. Wins board battles. Goes to net. Sound defensive positioning. Never noticed his lack of speed. Awful at draws. He was taking draws today against Toews. And got schooled.
Wrap, your question is exactly what I thought at training camp and I thought he would be better then he was during that rookie games thing.
Rusty, sounds like RW LW makes sense unless someone else takes draws and they switch.
I agree , keep DACH but he should start as the 3rd line center. He played prospects with Nylander…Add Shaw. JC is stubborn and tonigt starting with the 4th line against Vegas was to prove a point? Really! Make some good lines.
And unfortunately, we don’t have Eager, Buff, Hossa, Bickell, Ladd…all be guys who were tough to play against and great skaters!.
20 19 88
12 17 11
65 77 92
91 64 8
Stop the nonsense. Coach is losing points early byb depleading his top players. Renuite 19 88 and 17 12!
My thoughts is they keep Dach around until Christmas and assess how he’s doing, what the prospects for playoffs are looking like. If everything positive he stays, if not, he’ll go back to juniors before 40 game mark and ufa year is attained.
Unless he regresses in next few games.
Lol. Still got Perlini in the top 6.
Hull, Carpenter is putting his case in for Selke. 63% at the dot. Physical and kills penalties. Yeah, let’s make him a scratch in favor of Perlini.