I was a little worried about the Winnipeg game, to tell you the truth. Usually after big events, the Hawks have been known to lay eggs. NOT just this year, but in the past, as well. The Mother-Son trip, Father-Son Trip, Presidential visit, raising the banner, etc...
But, this year, things are starting a little differently. Hawks won this year during the Raising of the Banner game. They didn't do too poorly on the Mom's trip....so, mom's can be proud of their boys. They continued this pattern after winning the day after visiting President Obama. What also appears really good with this team, is that they KNOW they haven't hit full stride yet. They'd jostled the lineup to find that Frolik replacement. They'd had a few lull moments in a few games...and that includes games they've either won or let the lead slip or given up games with seconds to go...and Khabibulin has looked...well, let's admit it, he's looked OLD and AWEFUL.
Despite these little setbacks, you can see there isn't any panic going on. They're retooling and restructuring that roster to find out who the best 23 are to move forward, and it may continue to shift throughout the year,...but there isn't a sense of not knowing who they are.
They are slowly moving themselves up toward the top of the leaderboard, and the goals are starting to come. The last few games,....4-1, 5-1, 6-5, 5-1, 5-6...(5 out of the last 7 games they've hit 4 or more goals).
Ben Smith and Jeremy Morin are playing the "who's the healthy scratch today" game. Both need time in the lineup, and both are playing well enough to stay here, but neither has shown that "extra" something to the coaching staff to show them they should be an everyday player. Good luck to both of them. I like both of these kids.
Brad Mills: Hawks must see something in him,...he's sticking around. I don't think he's awful, by any means, (IMO) just not Blackhawks ready.
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