Oilers Drill Blackhawks 5-2
Brandon Saad scored twice, the first of which was his 100th career point in the NHL, but he was the sum of the Blackhawks offense as the host Edmonton Oilers hammered the visitors 5-2.
Antti Raanta got the start for the first time since Dec. 23, and had a team in front of him that was playing their third game in four nights and got in from Minnesota early Friday morning. Those excuses aside, the Hawks continued to show a few frustrating trends in a loss to one of the league’s worst teams.
The Hawks only put 21 shots on net in the game, with six in the first and third periods, respectively and nine in the second. Only one line – the Saad-Toews-Hossa line – produced any offense; on Thursday night in Minnesota, the line of Kane-Richards-Bickell accounted for three of the four goals.
Teuvo Teravainen returned to the lineup and showed more confidence in the second and third periods while skating on a line with Patrick Sharp and Andrew Shaw. He made a few nice passes – one to Sharp, who whiffed on a one-timer, and one to Shaw who couldn’t tap the puck in close – and was credited with two blocked shots, one hit and one takeaway skating primarily as a wing. Teravainen won one of only two faceoffs in the loss, and failed to put a shot on net.
Joakim Nordstrom didn’t get on the ice in the third period; he was limited to nine shifts and 6:16 in the game. Marcus Kruger skated only 8:37 one night after a nasty hit from behind in Minnesota.
Richards was the best Hawks player at the dot, winning nine of 12, and was credited with two blocked shots. He was minus-three in the game, however, as were Kane, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith.
After scoring two goals against the Wild, Bryan Bickell was credited with a team-high eight hits on Friday night.
Friday night also marked only the second time all season that the Blackhawks allowed a power play goal for a second consecutive game. Unfortunately, the other occurrence also came in the last six games.
The Hawks will return for a nice four-game homestand at the United Center, where they’ll look to get the offense back on track with another crack at the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.
The Oilers finally fiqured out that its hard work in the NHL…and boy did they work hard and we didn’t. Nice set play Hossa off the pads to Saad, one of the few bright spots. I thought Raanta looked very weak, shaky, on that third goal. Edmonton simply out hustled us. First place overall could have been captured tonite. We might look back on this game if Nashville takes first and we have to face St. Louis in the first round….very dangerous…it is my firm belief that either the Blackhawks, St. Louis or Nashville wins the cup and first place is a huge advantage as one of the remaining two must be eliminated in the first…so no deep run for one of these teams and we sure as heck don’t want to face that prospect…
Watched TT real close…yah OK not too shabby, more confidence shown…he will score a goal any day now….soon…any daaaayy now…still waiting ….aaaaannnny daaaay now.
I like Carcillo…shakes things up and contributes in a timely matter if he’s allowed. Ilike that unknown “x” factor, the “oh-oh” that he brings…probably not part of Q’s defence, defence, defence. I’m concerned that teams have little reason to fear us and having a different weapon in the arsenal could be very effective. Oh well, lets go home and beat the tar out of Minny again.
Piss poor effort tonight. Maybe the 3 in 4 days thing caught up to them because they played like their energy was low.
Raanta was rusty – 2 goals that should have been stopped but the team in front of him didn’t help him much.
Saad driving to the net. That’s a good thing. Let’s have more of that.
TT should play with linemates that can play with an elite passer – because that’s what he is. Sharp whiffed on a beauty saucer tonight from TT but normally he gets a good shot off on that kind of set up. Q played him more in the 3rd when he saw he was making plays. It’s just too bad no one could finish one or two of those TT passes.
Only 21 shots on goal against the worst defensive team in the league, with only 6 coming in the 3rd period when the Hawks were down by a goal and should have been sending the house.
Oh well … 2-3 in 2015 while being outscored 13-16. At least it’s better than the first 5 games last year where the Hawks went 1-4 (and then 4-5 the rest of January for a 5-9 record in January 2014). Hopefully the rest of January 2015 will be better.
Some good things after the annual JAN speed bump.
Steeger injury is 4 wks, but will only miss 2 in terms of games.
Teravainen experience/adjust to speed of league.
Riemsdyk will be back during long road trip.
Would have better taste in mouth by winning the last game before each 5 and 7 day off break.
The Hawks lost, but I for one am pleased that Q played TT more. The Hawks should resist the temptation of saying he’s not ready and sending him to Rockford. TT should play now and let him grow into the league. The NHL grind can be managed with some healthy scratches so he can stay on a workout program. That way when the Hawks get to the playoffs and the games really matter he will be in the best position to contribute THIS YEAR. Stop worrying so much about the future and win the CUP this year. Hossa’s not getting any younger.
OMG, I wanted to tear my eyeballs out! That 2 on 0 breakaway at the end was just crazy. 2 on 1 OK, even 3 on 1, fine… But a goalie cannot really be expected to defend against two attackers all on his own can he? Seabs was noticeably hurt from the previous game, I agree, hawks defense looked totally worked over by the end.
The PP goal by Oil… literally 2 on 0 vs. Raant when Hawks were sitting on Blue line waiting… Rosey above circles… Hammer above Dots… awful!!!!
Yes- raanta lost the puck- bad– but equally bad- Keith fumbled the puck to allow it to happen…
Oil- finally skated like the Multiple 1st rounders they have… Perhaps something to what Eddie O comented on– new coach – shorter/faster practices at High speed…
I have always been impressed w/ Q’s practices… all High speed transition/skating/passing type of stuff… and over quick!!!
Oil were MUCH quicker…
I found myself in 2nd period asking if Sharp had even played!!!
then TT started making some great dishes… and I noticed 10
I would like to know what some of the veteran posters on this website think about the TT issue I raised above. Am I wrong on this? As a long time season ticket holder and fan who has never played hockey that is what I see, but I am open to the thoughts of others as I freely admit I could be wrong. I see how TT is managed as a crucial issue for the Hawks.
Keith is wearing down from the minutes, Oduya is on fumes. The third pair is in shambles. The all star break cannot come soon enough.
Stan – you gave away an all-star in Leddy, now go get someone who can play heavy minutes and push the pace. This year’s chances are firmly in your hands
Pete – yes, the objective is to win this year which it is every year, but even more so this year because some of the veteran players will be gone next season due to the salary cap.
And yes, if TT is going to be counted on to play in the playoffs then it’s better for him to have 40-some games of NHL experience under his belt rather than a handful of games after the roster expands after the TDL.
But here’s the dilemma – where does he play when Versteeg comes back? He’s not suited for a 4th line role and so where does he fit in the top-9. Considering he will not displace 19, 88, 81, 10, 20, 91, 23 – it comes down to is the team better with him in the lineup rather than either Bickell or Shaw. My answer to that question at this time is no because both Bickell and Shaw bring physicality that is in short supply on the Hawks. Even moving one of them to the 4th line in order to put TT on the 3rd line may not make the team better because TT needs to play with linemates that can finish play at the speed TT plays at.
Hopefully TT gets to play a bunch more games here and this kind of works itself out.
Hawks desperately need to acquire a veteran defenseman…OR, decide if Johns or Dahlbeck can come up here and be a legtimate blueline force without major growing pains. Simple as that. We have three defenseman right now….Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarrson. Oduya will be OK I believe.
I’ve got to believe Bowman is working on this right now. He has to. Trade some of the forward depth and get a veteran of some consequence in here who can stand people up at the blueline and who can be that desperately needed stay at home defenseman.
Nice dilemma to have Ebony…Shaw or Bickell could go fouth line, Sharp will go anywhere without complaining …Verteeg, Kane, Richards cannot be broken up, and our first line must stay intact. Its all a matter of effectivness and we have yet to see what TT brings. My big fear is facing St. Louis in the first round if we don’t capture the Central title. We then face the possibilty of the same fate as the Brazilian Soccer Team…I think its important to draw a wild card team instead in the first. Maybe worrying about the future too much…the Blackhawks are a formidable team and have the right stuff for sure. Last year and this year were/ and are our best prospects for a Cup win.
I agree Mining- This year may be our best chance to win it(as long as we are healthy come playoff time). The only team in the NHL that really scares me is St. Louis. It is imperative that we avoid them in the first round. I agree with your assessment of the TT situation Pete. More time in the minors will do him no good at this point. He needs to play with players that know how to finish his pinpoint passing and can play at his speed level. He is not going to get that in Rockford. I say keep him up, play him and put him on a strength program ( I bet he is already).
When Kane and Richards are the only guys in your zone facing an odd man rush you know something is terribly wrong. Team hasn’t played well since Crawford’s return. Teuvo got better as the game went on. Couple of miscommunications early with Sharp. Makes me wonder if he’s talking enough on the ice, or if its just getting used to the game/linemates. Regardless, his best game so far.
power play so bad
really bad goalie play
um T2 made some incredible plays
kneel before saad
Back end of a 2 travel BtoB is tough under any circumstance. However, I think the Hawks took the Oilers to lightly. The team simply did not commit to any kind of game plan. TT was actually a bright spot…..all things considered, IMO. His passing was accurate and his vision seems to be outstanding.
Hawks will be facing a team looking for revenge tomorrow. Their A game will be needed.
Go Hawks
Anybody gonna be at the game in Tampa Feb. 27?
Big Buff playing better than he ever has…carrying, motivating and inspiring the Jets. His physicality has been tremendous. What a bad move letting him go. Many teams seem to be returning to a much more physical game along with the speed and skill. Our guys are very good, maybe the best, but I’m thinking other teams have realized they are not afraid of us any more. Just an observation. Maybe I’m wrong.
Hawks will rebound tomorrow against minny hopefully, then they don’t play again until Friday, good chance for some much needed rest but wasn’t that what the Christmas break was all about ?
The hawks are tired narrative is getting, well, tired. These guys are at the top of their salary levels. I cannot understand the argument that keith and Seabrook are tired, along with Nik and oduya when the 5th and 6th defensemen – rosy and rundblad are playing 1o to 12 minutes a night, that is actually suffice. Theoretically the bottom pair should only be out there against the other teams 3rd or 4th line, hence the lesser minutes for 32 and 5.
Furthermore, in the playoffs, q only trusts the top 4 and rosy. Leddy used to get 5 minutes per game and zippo in the third period, so all this cavetching about the third pair is really senseless, because it will be the same 5 that Q has relied on for three years now.
Craig-what the heck does money have to do with tired or not-
This will be the 6th year of playing over 100 games a year-with travel and teams wanting to play you hard-it’s a grind.
players, even the ones in great shape hit a wall-it’s normal and mid season is especially tough. The specials ones (and teams) work through it-but most of us can only guess how taxing it would be.
Players hit walls figuratively and literally. It has been a very long run outside of the lockout year. You may not get 1 current player to admit it, but nearly every retired one,
in similar circumstances, will say it was a factor. Fatigue will not breed proficiency.
Matt Cooke is a d!ckhead
We have extra depth at FW (86/42/13/12) and since were not sure yet how 57 will be after he comes back at the deadline. We add a good D man at deadline that Q can trust on the defensive side more then 8.
Our guys really didn’t get a break at christmas/holidays with what happened (and the wks later the official report). Must have been more stressing then getting a rest/break. More hugs, etc with family/frinds then the normal holidays. This (playing ok and between ok and good at times) happens every year a couple times at some points in 82games. These two wk off breaks will be and hopefully break up this JAN bs as well.
NAS will take a bunch of hits at some point just like COL did. Just do not want them to win their last 10games in a row. We just need to stay within 5games of them until then. Another thing to watch for is if 2 of these 5 teams (MIN/DAL/COL/WIN/CAL) have a higher record then LOS, they are not in playoffs. (SAN and VAN would need to as well…) The Cambell conference is so much harder then the East.
Teuvo Teravainen- He has a few “challenges” no matter how much ice time he gets! One is obvious size but as I have repeated before (sorry) is he is very light on his skates. That is an issue for guy who needs to have the puck on is stick, he is very easy to move off the puck that is an issue and really easy to be lifted OFF his skates. Look at how hard Kruger WORKS EVERY DAY, that is the effort TT needs to put in, and it wont happen! TT need’s a strength coach like Ben Smith and St. Louis have down in Connecticut in the off season. Look the guy up amazing! TT also got YELLED at by HAMMER this week for making too quick of a pass? ODD but that is what makes the Hawks better, being patient with the puck but to me too patient at times. SO TT will never fit in, he makes the read faster than any HAWKS ever, and it’s the right read, but hawks tend to let the ice open up and look for seems and pause, TT is a great passer and his passing is flat, dead on tape to tape. He can play in the NHL not with the Hawks, He’d might even fit in with the OILERS! TT is also not that FAST as he looks, in FACT Hawks are not over all FAST, Quick in not FAST, look at how the Stars and Oielrs move up ice, they’re fast, and get behind slower hawks d men and that is why the last 6 games or so they are not playing as well as advertised. Speed kills . . . TT is a NHL player but not with this Hawks team, and especially is COACH Q is gonna move him around in that lame blender of the lines, TT will never get consistent. In fACT, all that blending of lines with the MOST TALENT IN THE NHL is horrible and amateur. The mixing of lines is why no one knows who should be in front of the net, cut to the net, and many offsides, TIMING and CONSITENCY is everything and that hurts the Hawks at times, a lot of time. Mixing up 6 or 7 all stars on any line will have a positive effect but thats an illusion and its a fools game.
Derek Sutton: Stay on sides, Youngblood.
Dean Youngblood: Pass the puck!
Derek Sutton: Don’t tell me when to pass the puck.
Dean Youngblood: You want me to slow down for ya?
Somebody (probably) covered this previously but, Teravainen should play with skilled line mates – he can make plays/pass.
Mining Man, “Big Buff…etc.” – Strange this comes up here/now. I believe Bowman made the correct choices after 2010 when some talent HAD to go. Would you rather have moved Sharp to keep Byfuglien? Seabrook? Also, rmember the reality – Buff slept-thru at least half of the regular season games. No dispute he was LARGE in winning the Cup…and too bad Ladd had to go, as well
Craig n, “The hawks are tired…These guys are at the top of their salary levels. I cannot understand the argument that keith and Seabrook are tired…” – what does salary have to do with fatigue? It shouldn’t be an excuse, but it is a fact – 3 games in 4 nights with travel, in the middle of a long season accounts for physical and mental fatigue. We’re talking about human beings, not a video game – it impacts all teams at times. I agree with you about Q and icetime, but he’s the coach (and his record earns him the “benefit of the doubt”).
A better effort tonight – GO HAWKS!!
Mike, its funny you mention Kruger when referencing TT. I remember Kruger having that same issue of getting knocked off his skates too easily when he was first called in from Djurgarden.
TT needs to line up next to Kane. Imagine what two great passers could do on the same line. Sharp is perhaps the best pure sniper on the team. A line of 10-86-88 would maximize all three player’s skills. I would love to see LA or St Louis trying to keep up with that line.
Mike the Mook- 9:59 post… Interesting perspective… And I can’t say I disagree with any of it ( but I hope TT learns to “hold” the puck a fraction longer,,, and rest of Boys “learn” the dude has x-ray vision and sees everything way before anyone… and He does put the puck on the tape- so be ready)…
also- spot on w/ how the other Hawks typically hold, wait, circle, delay… 88, 81,23 all like to Hold it… 19 will carry it (and others) while making the pass…
Re: TT getting stronger- don’t really think it’s all about strength… some technique will go along way ( 5, and 25 didn’t suddenly get stronger… they both improved staying on skates drastically- after joining Hawks)
TT- actually is decent on boards with that “Hammer/TvR” stick…
Completely agree w/ TT -Making right reads…faster then anyone…
I see/agree with your point- that Hawks like to be “patient”… Hard for 4 to yell at TT when he makes a perfect pass to Hawks best pure shooter, 3 on 2,,, but also see the other side of dropping it to 4…
The Hawks “aren’t FAST but quick” (and smart)… statement… I have been saying for last year and half… couldn’t agree more… That is why I think they will be lucky to make it out of 1st 2 rounds vs. Faster Div. foes
It will be interesting to see if TT/Hawks can adjust to each other…
Watched a few games of TT w/ Hogs,,, very similar to Oilers game… He was the most noticeable guy on ice… made some whirling no-look passes, right on the money (looked like Magic Johnson and Showtime),,, Never saw a guy make better on the money passes off the boards,,, yet- no one on the Hogs ever finished!!!
Dickie Dunn…was watching the Jets/LA game last night and last week Jets/Toronto game and Big Buff was a one man wrecking crew, team leader, played multiple positions ( versatile) and game show commentator and in between analysts commented endlessly on his contribution from hits to goals and leadership. I can’t find the quote but I know Stan Bowman stated letting him go “was a mistake” …he was fan favourite, played both defense and wing with interchangable ease and effectivness, dished out huge hits, crashed and hung out around the opposing goalie. A proven preformer, clutch player, and playoff guy who played the regular games the same way. There were many ways to keep him…Rosival and Bickell not here and Byfugelien here now…not gonna happen but that is what we have. its spilled milk…done and done now. Many paths, many scenarios so who knows how it could/should be. Lamenting , thats all.
Mining Man, Rozsival wasn’t on the 2010 team, and Bickell played in only 16 games (3G, 1A, 4PTS and 4 playoff games/1PT) – not a Cap hit savings at the time…his current contract came after the 2013 Cup. Byfuglien, Ladd, Campbell, Versteeg, and Brouwer were players in which other teams saw enough value that were willing to deal, as well as the amount of salary the Hawks needed shed. I understand your point, but Bowman had to move about half the team. Campbell was expensive, and I believe Buff, Ladd, and Versteeg got significant increases (Brouwer a year later?) — it really would have been (near-)impossible to keep them.
I won’t lament much – the Hawks are still a very good team. (The best when they’re playing *their game*)
After Bowman traded 51 and 22 it was 10 of the 20 dressed players that we couldn’t keep. Bicks cap hit then was .542, if we keeped 33 (5.2m) it would have been someone like 36 and 4 or 10 instead.
Keeping Hammer is the best thing we could ever done.
I remember people saying how it was a mistake at the time to match Doug Wilson’s offer sheet. I couldn’t have disagreed more then and now. It was down to Niemi and Hjalmarsson. Niemi wanted 500k more than the Hawks offered and let him walk. I believe Niemi signed for the amount the Hawks offered but in San Jose. Hjalmarsson is the biggest steal cap hit wise on the Hawks.
Teuvo isn’t bad on the boards. He seemed willing to use his body in defensive zone on the boards which kind of surprised me. Bickell last game was going after everyone. Nice change for him. That third line of Sharp, Teuvo, Shaw doesn’t bothere that much. Bickell Richards and Kane seemed pretty well paired as well…but that may have to do with Bickell showing up. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the same lineup.
The Hawks played 3 games in 4 days and traveled on 2 of the days………they looked a little sluggish against the young Oilers……..they’ll be fine.
ERNIE . . . Kruger works as hard as anyone in the NHL, Kruger is also small, he has the grit to get into the corners when in “reality” it is not fair to him to call on him at his size to give up his body the way he does every night and eh gets pounded and no one BACK HIM UP! So, the TT comparison is that TT is not going to work like Ben Smith, Shaw and Kruger . . . ever. TT is a euro-dude and believes in his skills that alone should keep him in the NHL and with the right team on the right line with speed the kid can do some damage. Hawks have built a team around DEFENSE and back checkers and that is why Crawford is sort of kind of over rated, he plays behind a solid and consistent D. Go Hawks!
MISTA OTIS, nailed it we do need a “large stay home defensive veteran” WHO CAN STAND PEOPLE UP AT THE LINE, we have many skilled stick and skate guys on d, we need some grit and what we call “Stand-up-ability” which is just run that bastard into the boards, rub him down and out! Sea-brook when he plays physical is a good example but that like once a month. Way too easy to get the puck into the Hawks zone. TVR with a little time and off season weight room and training could be that guy too, BUT you are right if we can trade for that d-guy GO FOR IT.