Hawks Win On Consecutive Nights, Clinch Playoff Berth
The price to bring Andrew Ladd back to Chicago as steep. But so far, he’s been worth it.
Ladd scored the game-winning goal with 2:27 left in regulation as the Blackhawks won for the second time in as many nights. Winnipeg’s former captain has scored six goals in 13 games since coming back to Chicago.
Chicago’s lineup had significant turnover after playing in Calgary on Friday night. Most noticeably absent from the lineup was Artem Anisimov, who is dealing with a lower body injury. Also sitting on Easter evening were Richard Panik, Michal Rozsival and Erik Gustafsson.
Trevor van Riemsdyk had an assist on both of the Blackhawks’ first two goals, scored by Tomas Fleischmann and Teuvo Teravainen. Christian Ehrhoff made a rare appearance in the Indian head and also collected an assist in the victory. Ehrhoff skated 15:11, blocked two shots and put two shots on net while seeing 79 seconds of power play time.
Viktor Svedberg was in action again and struggled, looking bad on both Vancouver goals. He finished the night minus-two in 12:58.
Also returning to the lineup were Dale Weise and Dennis Rasmussen. Weise was the only Hawks played to skate less than 10 minutes (9:57) and was credited with one hit and one blocked shot, but didn’t do much to earn more ice time. Rasmussen skated 10:44 and won five of six faceoffs with one blocked shot and one hit.
Andrew Shaw had a surprisingly dominant night at the dot, winning 11 of 12 with Anisimov out of the lineup.
Scott Darling was outstanding on Saturday night, and was strong again on Sunday. He made 26 saves against 28 shots in Vancouver.
The Hawks are in Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Steady as she goes. We donot care what the score is we just want to win.
Liked —
72/86/88 TT could have had three goals on that line… he actually cuts thru the middle of the ice – while 88 dangles
Darling
Did not like-
Weise, Thought Toews and Hoss… looked tired/bumbling
I would like to see
14/AA/12 or Moose until Anisimov gets back
TVR was MVP in that game so that’s a very positive direction. Kane was outstanding and single handily created all the conditions for the second goal even though TVR made a wonderful pass to TT. Great effort by Toews and Ladd to recapture the lead. Unlike last night this game did not involve luck but rather skill sets alone. Maybe it’s easier against a team like Vancouver at the moment but we did look pretty good out there.
Good test of our mettle with Minny. You would think the Blackhawks would be out to prove something in this one and beat them at least once. I know it’s not critical as we are “in” but this one is kind of personal.
Darling in great form. He throws a clunker once in a while but bounces back real quick. The whole D is looking better.
Playoff berth clinched thanks to dominant mid season run, last I checked we still have Kane and Toews, good luck rest of NHL.
Much better effort . Is Gus in doghouse ? Injured? Sved did look bad tonight. I like Erhoff’s game so far. Also like Flash a lot. Weise not so much so far. I hope he picks things up soon. Ladd has been spectacular .
Any news on Crow’s concussion ?
Similar to the 12 game winning streak, this mini 2 game winning “streak” is against the dregs of the league. Calgary and Vancouver both stink. But at least the Hawks got the 2 points as they did against Calgary.
Minnesota does not stink and have had the Hawks number all season. This will be a real test whereas the past two games shouldn’t have been. The team defense better be better than it was tonight or the Wild will put another embarrassing loss upside the Hawks head.
I’m happy for the 2 wins and 4 points, but not encouraged by their play except for the PK was better than it had been.
Nick in San Diego- “but I checked and we still have Kane and Toews, good luck rest of NHL”– luv it! That’s the spirit and the truth…I can just hear those turbines starting to wind up.
Chelsea Dagger- Crawford has a concussion? Yeesh, I had not heard that.
Its diff now, were not coming off a 12-0, take 2 hits, 4-1-1 stretch. We are due for bounces and breaks no matter who were playing after the last 10.
A few concerns. Toews seems a little banged up. Hossa may be showing his age. Panarin has never played this many games and may be gassed. Tonight, TT was not good on the PK. Troy Murray even said it.
Defensively, the top 3 are solid.the rooks are making room mistakes, and the old guys are being rotated to get rest.
Overall team D is lacking. Except for Fleischman, the forward acquisitions are not that impressive. It has me concerned.
I thought the top 3 looked terrible defensively. Shaw’s line was clearly the best on the ice all game. What the hell is up with Seabrook constantly giving up on plays in his own zone of a Hawk forward is anywhere nearby? Who cares if he plants a hard check after multiple SOGs. Stay on them.
Q needs to start managing Hoss’s minutes at this stage of his career. 3rd line minutes might actually help his game. Kane looked much better. Panarin looks like he’s hit a wall his compete and concentration levels are off. Give him some time off before the playoffs. Hawks played marginally better? Or is Vancouver marginally worse than Calgary?
My biggest concern is the captain. He just seems off. Ladd and Fleichman are producing, good to see. Great to have Krugs back….. 65-22-11!!!!
I agree that the big Swede looked better, despite being on for both goals-he seems to need to play lots to get better but that comes at a cost as he gets out of position/or slow to position too often–and this during the playoffs will really hurt.
7 needs a break more than any other Hawk-IMO. Keith has some special non-human genes/lung capacity and may not need it.
I believe Kane and Panarin will benefit most from the playoff excitement and not worrying about the race to awards. They need to grind it out, but they’ll be fine.
Still think it’s crucial for 19, 7 and 4 to have a break. Hopefully 50’s isn’t too long.
Yes, #7 does need a break. He has been paired with rookies all year. That has been an extra strain on him having to carry that inexperience. He has been covering for his partner all year. Ehrhoff has looked good when I have seen him play. That experience next to Seabs should ease the burden he has carried all season. Than again, for some reason, Q hasn’t been giving 55 minutes. If Ehrhoff’s play has been flawed, I am not seeing it. In comparison to TVR, Gus, Sveddy, I can’t see why Q is not giving 55 minutes. He can’t be any worse and he still needs time to assimilate into our system.
Super Sasquatch does it again vs. the worst team in the west maybe in the nhl. I thought the flames where sad. To say they are challenged is an understatement but a win these days is a win and a playoff “birth” although a painful birth is very welcome.
Super Sasquatch Darling will have a hard time vs the WILD. I see him getting “beat” it will be his first NHL game vs a good team who wont roll over and will push the Hawks to the Wall so to me . . . The Wild Game is when and where we can say Darling is Good, Average, or Just really a big dude? I wish him well but these type of 3 games is where real Goal tenders shine! We’ll see . . . it has always to me been his conditioning and this is the test for me.
Ladd is such the perfect fit for the Hawks. Perfect he is the Template! Love to see him back he’s got 3 more years of high level compete as Hoss is drifting, at 37 years old he is losing a lot on his shot as we saw again last night, Hoss’s legs oddly enough are still pretty good but his shot is just weak and dreadful.
3rd and 4th line again might be the best bottom 2 lines in the NHL and certainly the best bottom 2 lines the Hawks ever had! They are just getting warmed up! Weise, Flash, Shaw, Panik to me are the top 4 with Marcus and Tevo at center. Dezi has earned his spot but damn these four combine speed, stick skill and fore check hard and back check with speed, two way guys!. All these guys about the same age with Shaw the only YOUNG GUN really!
Anisimov might not be hurt he was scratched for good reason, not playing very well or just tired, he’s not hurt! TVR played well on the offensive end, nothing out of this world but he did step up on offense. Very happy to see Ehrnoff out there, love this guy, hope he gets more minutes, maybe not! I still like Viktor he has a lot to learn and a student and learns but if he can ever make it is not clear. Panarin has a big upside, but his downside in Playoff Hockey will be exposed. He is so soft on the forecheck and his mid-ice stick play is sloppy at best and turn over prone. His line need him to be physical period. Finish checks, is anyone watching him on the fore check? He will fly by, drift, reaching weakly behind the net, and turn early up ice, it’s not in him but he better get on it KINGS and BLUES and even WILD will wack him around some!
As I often share I watch the visitors telecast on nhl network from canda, for most games and love to watch our Captain after the game wait at the bench and callout players. Last night he cross checked Panarin about off his feet and gave him a smirk, and he gave Dezi a tug and pull of his jersey, pulled him close, spoke in his ear, smiled, and Dezi was not happy bur Dezi was not happy with his own performance. Anyway watch that exchange at the end by the bench, if you can. he tells an average fan who played well or did not. Some guys he lets pass by others he sends a message of positive and sometime negative.
72/86/88 needs to be given a few more games to “look at”- really like the new dimension of TT being a cutting/slashing option for one-timers… versus AA just standing in front of the net/traffic (no shot option)… + TT doesn’t have to carry/hold puck with 72/88 (TT isn’t strong enough anyhow).
that pushes Anisimov down to 3rd C… and Pair with Fletch/Panik or Fletch/Weise (Weise- isn’t doing it for me)… Fletch looks good with just about everyone so far…
I think AA- could be just as effective (or non-effective/as last seventeen games or so)
I really think the above is needed- Cuz 72/A
72/86/88 needs to be given a few more games to “look at”- really like the new dimension of TT being a cutting/slashing option for one-timers… versus AA just standing in front of the net/traffic (no shot option)… + TT doesn’t have to carry/hold puck with 72/88 (TT isn’t strong enough anyhow).
that pushes Anisimov down to 3rd C… and Pair with Fletch/Panik or Fletch/Weise (Weise- isn’t doing it for me)… Fletch looks good with just about everyone so far…
I think AA- could be just as effective (or non-effective/as last seventeen games or so)
I really think the above is needed- Cuz 72/AA/88 line has NOT been all that effective in last few weeks!
TNT in the middle of that line won’t last! Most any center can play between 88 + 72 and look good. Tevo will be more productive on a line with wingers like Flash and Shaw. While 88 + 72 allows TEVO to get rid of the puck faster, the forecheck gets even weaker with 88 + 72 allergic to most all physical play as with TNT. Tevos’ REAL VALUE is in his passing that elevate mid-tier players, way more and gets them the puck, flat and light to the ice. Critical tape to tape, easy peasy! Plus TEVO on that line since he’s not a big net front, now makes that line very very very perimeter fancy pants line, with no one strong enough to fill the middle, draw big bodies etc. No one to drive the net, Kane on occasion but not really!
Come playoffs Anisimov will be next to the bookends 88 + 72! Coach Q is just testing chemistry for power play with TNT.
Our Power Play is D.O.A. But they won CUPS with very bad power play efforts!
I thought Moose played well at center last night and agree on,Weise, but had only 9 minutes on the ice! Not good but he is a player that will make a BIG difference in playoffs! Now, even is a between period interview on hockey Night he seemed a little “off”
Mook- your right most Centers will look good w. 72/88… the BIG problems-
AA- hasn’t looked very good last 15 games or so…
And Bigger problem- the League has learned to defend the 2-man Globetrotter/shuffle… TT- has completely different-“look” with 72/88 (SHOOTER versus AA)- really – stop and think about how many SHOTS – AA has taken this year- Most of AA’s shots have come on Semi-break-aways… think about it…
You are playing with Best passer 88… and 72 (who is also great passer)… and AA -doesn’t shoot… one Knock on TT- he doesn’t shoot enough… guess what- he did last nite- cuz he was Spoon fed Grade A chances!!!
AA- the D knows where he will be… TT- moves without the Puck… different dynamic- and Harder to defend if Team’s are going to “double” Kane and “Wall” him off.
Lastly- agreed- that line can get thumped versus Bigger/forecheck line… BUT
they all ready do with AA
and I really like the “Deep-threat”… Both TT and 72 can just counter with the “Bomb” (like 72 threw cheating Kane- last nite)… if Team’s are gonna over attack them.
Noonan, thats what I think.
Booman, is it better to learn system in practices them games.
Wall, what were the lines we thought of that we could do (earlier in 1st 40)(for a time when we needed to) when people liked keeping the 2nd line together that had more balance. Those lines had AA on 3rd, do you remember.
I really like the line of 72/86/88. Teuvo is an excellent passer and putting him with two finishers will play into his major strength.
Morrison- you are right… and now that AA has hit wall… and TT likes to quick pass, instead of skate/carry the puck… I like 72/86/88 even more…
Big concern- is winning/exiting zone versus BIG/Good lines… But really- with AA on that line… they have NOT looked good exiting either… If you add the Home-run pass that both TT/72 are capable of… Maybe they can exploit some of those BIG lines attacking so hard.
AA- has had a great year… BUT- look at the stats- he is NOT getting the assists playing with 2 top 20 scorers!!! THAT is actually pretty hard to do (have that few assists- playing with scoring leaders)… + a lot of AA’s goals are NOT from 72/88 passes…
Time for a different look for that line! Besides TT getting golden chances… Panarin had a few too!!!
This article is not the quality we usually see from Tab. Mis-spelling in the first sentence…
The price to bring Andrew Ladd back to Chicago as steep.
Probably should have been “is steep”.
Also, the title of the article mentions a playoff clinch, but there was not a single word noted about it in the article. No sense in mentioning it if it will not be discussed. What seed are the hawks in, what is their potential? etc. Isn’t this around the time of year that we usually see some players getting a break? Does any of this have to do with why Panik and Rozi were not playing? There is plenty to be discussed here but it seems like perhaps a slow Sunday night sent us to bed early.
I had to look it up because the number was never clarified in this article although the first sentence starts off with it. This article is frustrating.
Andrew Ladd makes 4.5 million per year. Which is high but honestly… Not really. That is only 500k more than Bryan Bickel. OK that may have been a low blow there but Hossa and some other forwards are well more than doubling that salary. Not to mention that Saad needed nearly double that to stick around on a cup winning team like this one! Keep in mind that Ladd is a former captain of his whole team. Seems like a deal too good to pass up to me.
Kid-really?
(I’ll keep it short so I don’t make a mistake)
Wall . . . Your observations are over all correct. But Artem is tired and TNT is no comparison to Artem on any level. Skill set’s of both do not overlap at all. Like Comparing Shaw to Ladd. Can’t do it!
in a nutshell ( big nut) > Artem goes low post ( net front) he draws in, always, yes always 2 defensemen, they pinch down! Every time he goes low, watch, he opens up 10 feet of ice in front on the net a GAP, I can make that cross ice pass like that 88 + 72 do by dHABIT when Artem is down low opening that lane. Artme is hard to move! He has size unlike Shaw who any goalie can see around, With No Artem net front, as we notice no backdoor, no cross ice Harlem Globetrotter shin-nan-a gins happen. TNT can not EVER open up ice with his PRESENCE, ever, so it is pressure on TNT to create space the hard way skate, stick and speed. He has 2 out of 3. This is no cut on TNT love the kid, but ya need a Artem post up player to open that 10 feet, or teams will let those “fancy pants 88 + 72 ” skate them selfs-silly. Watch what the Kings will do, simple hockey.
TNT + 88 + 72 on a Power Play all for it, but 5 on 5 TNT does not have a great shot, it’s very quick but not great? TNT is just not good in traffic. Plus TNT wrist, hands are seem light at the DOT that is the one thing he’s struggling with that Artem is at least pretty good at the dot.
I really feel TNT value to the TEAM is making mid-tier lines PrimeTime than floating between two great players? But it is also good he has the skills and confidence to play very well with top tier players. So all in all, it’s good for him and the Hawks.
mook
The Hawks offense is designed around the stretch pass as we all know.
The Hawks have built a team around guys who can pass, even TVR can pass.
They don’t have anyone who really can’t make a good pass, Watch ROZY even!
Everyon up and down the line up can move the puck with the pass.
The Hawks rely on puck movement . . .THE PASS ( not player movement ) to win games, not speed not net front dominance not dump and chase or chip and chase, nor zones, nor an aggressive fore check. They pass hard and accurate they often lead the league in possession, they do NOT THROW THE PUCK AWAY. They will re-load or wait or hold before they make a lame pass.
Since they PASS a LOT . . . when teams, even average teams take away that long pass the Hawks will look Average. When teams float and clog up the neutral zone with TRAPS Hawks have trouble, but when they make quick decisions with the puck they look masterful!
Last night the Passing was very good and getting better.
But passing is the “Real Skill” in hockey. It is why the Hawks have 3 cups on 6 years. It also why and how they can look so BAD some nights, they don’t have a plan b! Throwing off a teams timing is often more easy than it sounds. As we have seen in the last 2 or 3 weeks!
Go Hawks . . .
For all those that constinatly bitch about TVR, last night was a good example of his skill set. He had a number of good passes. If he was on the Canucks he is likely their 1st pair. That Nucks teams is a pile of garbage!
Noonan – really?? You forgot to put a period at the end of your sentence. What is happening here people?
But seriously, Southside, I’m guilty of participating in the TVR bitch fest. I was thinking of that very thing as I watched his two beautiful assists last night. I actually told myself to be more patient. Not sure how long that will last…
TVR? Damn, Did you see Nikita Tryamkin for Canucks? WOW, That kid can play both ways, loved his game. Really closes space fast , makes you make fast choices and is physical just enough. I would love that kid on our blue line now!
TVR can crack the lineup, maybe a 5 or 6th d-man? Really does not have proven “offensive instincts” not a natural and also not a really natural defensemen? He has that reach, but if you watch the stick down low it’s often off center and open. Ya never know but sometime ya know, TVR is very average and you would think with a few Hall of Fame Defensemen to learn from everyday . . . ya know ya think maybe?
TVR is so easily stopped on the rush, i have not seen him skate past and thru pressure in 2 years, which is what scouts look for, ability to split defenders and stick handle, TVR horrible, takes very little for him to bail out. Bulk up!
Not a bad game by the Hawks 33 looked very good again. Kane held the second line together as 72 had another off night. Hossa continues to suck the life out of the top line. Hossa had several good looks and just can’t bury anything and he was the cause of that second goal not 43. I can’t watch Hossa flounder any longer on that top line and needs lesser minutes going forward. Maybe Hossa could play on the third line with Panik and TT and move Fleish with 19 and 16
Yup said that last week