Hawks have an unbelievable following everywhere they go and it was no exception in Los Angeles tonight when they faced off against the Kings.
Patrick Kane heard some saddening news just prior to taking the ice. His grandfather, whom he was close to, had just passed away. So, Patrick took the ice with a heavy heart. But, 62 seconds into the tilt he scored their only power play goal of the night to take an early 1-0 lead. 7 minutes later Patrick had patient hands on a 3-1 and fed a wide open Bryan Bickell, who one timed a slap shot, for his much needed 8th goal of the season. The Hawks gave up a PPG shortly afterward, but it was truly the play of the 2nd period that makes one wonder if there is a God above who made sure the Hawks had their way tonight. Badly outplayed, face-off's and HITS were ridiculously one sided toward L.A., yet the Hawks staved off 3 hit goal posts and split the 2nd period with one goal a piece. This score could have been 4-2 L.A. easily, but the posts were our friend tonight.
In the 3rd period, a totally different story. It was the Hawks who came out firing on all cylinders and the final goal by the Hawks was another Patrick Kane goal from an absolutely sweet pass that slowly crossed the crease to a wide open Kane for his 27th of the year. Other Hawks Goals: Marcus Kruger tipped in a Nick Leddy blast for his 6th, and Nick Leddy got one all on his own from a pass by Marian Hossa just as time expired on the PP.
The Hawks, Corey Crawford, allowed 3 goals on 34 shots, much of which were high quality chances.
The next game on this extremely difficult road trip is the league leading Anaheim Ducks followed by the Phoenix Coyotes. Then the Hawks will rest,…well, except the 10 Olympians. They will head to Sochi for their respective countries. (Any wagering on if Brent Seabrook becomes a last minute replacement?….Most likely not,…but he certainly deserves it).
Final score: L.A. 3 - Chi 5
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
As Bickell Brews
As Bryan Bickell is back to his old pre-2013 playoff habits, he is once again, a healthy scratch for the 3rd game.
What do the Hawks do with him? Do they bench him to get him good and hungry? Do, they play him again and send Pirri back down? Do they try trading him? What needs to be done?
As the Hawks attempt to figure this out, they are in the middle of the Murderers Row Road Tip. There are only 3 games left before the Olympics and only 4 left for the entire month (as they finish against NY Rangers on the 27th of February). I say, …let him brew for the entire month. Let him rethink his game and maybe we'll see a bit more fire out of him come March.
Remember when Bickell started out on the first line this year? Then he played the 3rd line because of his lack of production. As Joel Quenneville stated, "We need more"….enough said. More energy, more checking, more getting in front of the net, more offense. He's playing on 40% right now. NOT good enough for the immense pay raise he got. NOT nearly good enough. Hope this doesn't turn into the biggest mistake that Stan Bowman has done during his regime. Bickell, himself knows his play hasn't been any good, now he needs to step it up. Brew baby brew!!!! Then come back with a vengeance in March!
What do the Hawks do with him? Do they bench him to get him good and hungry? Do, they play him again and send Pirri back down? Do they try trading him? What needs to be done?
As the Hawks attempt to figure this out, they are in the middle of the Murderers Row Road Tip. There are only 3 games left before the Olympics and only 4 left for the entire month (as they finish against NY Rangers on the 27th of February). I say, …let him brew for the entire month. Let him rethink his game and maybe we'll see a bit more fire out of him come March.
Remember when Bickell started out on the first line this year? Then he played the 3rd line because of his lack of production. As Joel Quenneville stated, "We need more"….enough said. More energy, more checking, more getting in front of the net, more offense. He's playing on 40% right now. NOT good enough for the immense pay raise he got. NOT nearly good enough. Hope this doesn't turn into the biggest mistake that Stan Bowman has done during his regime. Bickell, himself knows his play hasn't been any good, now he needs to step it up. Brew baby brew!!!! Then come back with a vengeance in March!
Crawford Loses ANOTHER Shootout 2-1
First let's start off by saying Corey had a wonderful game. (He was the #2 star of the game). Stopping 38-39 shots. However, when it comes to shootouts…OMG does he suck this year. Is it a mental block or something? He has lost 10 games in either a shootout or in OT. WOW!!!!! Let me repeat that…WOW!!!
Other notes: Johnny Oduya actually played well tonight. Surprising.
Bryan Bickell sat out his 3rd straight game. Good…let him figure his game out on the bench. He needs to get really really hungry. I'd let him sit throughout all the games in February (not many due to the Olympics, but it should make him hungrier).
Hawks continue to drop points to Anaheim (today +1 due to regulation loss to Dallas), St. Louis, Colorado, and S.J. Hawks percentage points are falling to 5th.
Hawks next game is against the L.A. Kings Monday followed by Anaheim on Wednesday and finally Phoenix on Friday before a 20 day nap.
So far on this road trip the Hawks are 1-0-2.
Other notes: Johnny Oduya actually played well tonight. Surprising.
Bryan Bickell sat out his 3rd straight game. Good…let him figure his game out on the bench. He needs to get really really hungry. I'd let him sit throughout all the games in February (not many due to the Olympics, but it should make him hungrier).
Hawks continue to drop points to Anaheim (today +1 due to regulation loss to Dallas), St. Louis, Colorado, and S.J. Hawks percentage points are falling to 5th.
Hawks next game is against the L.A. Kings Monday followed by Anaheim on Wednesday and finally Phoenix on Friday before a 20 day nap.
So far on this road trip the Hawks are 1-0-2.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Should The Hawks Be Interested In Ryan Callahan?
Captain of America's largest franchise, RW Ryan Callahan is being shopped around the league for a trade. Guess the Rangers fear the most. Ryan Callahan wants to shop the market or he wants out of NY. The Hawks would be wise to go for this tallented RW if he can handle a $5m a year contract. With the cap space going up, the Hawks could trade LW Bryan Bickell and his $4m/per year contract and receive Callahan. Problem is Callahan is more than a rental and with that risk the Hawks should ask for more. Bickell would still have 3 years left.
How about: Callahan, 2014 2nd round, 2015 2nd Round, >>>> Hawks
Bickell, Jeremy Morin, + any of these: Oduya, 3rd Round 2014 & 2015>>>>> Rangers
That would give the Hawks a solid 3rd line. Callahan, Shaw and put Versteeg LW.
Although the likelihood of this trade happening is slim,.....it is an idea. They are shopping. Throw something out at them. The Hawks would have the hands up here for the Rangers HAVE to unload Callahan or they would get nothing back in return. At this moment, it appears that St. Louis and Columbus are the ones shopping. If the Hawks get wind of the fact that St. Louis is in the hunt, this could be when the Hawks jump.
In other words,...Hawks don't need the deal, so they don't have to mortgage the farm. Offer should consist of something favorable: MORIN, something of value: DRAFT PICKS,...and something in the Hawks favor: Unloading Oduya.
How about: Callahan, 2014 2nd round, 2015 2nd Round, >>>> Hawks
Bickell, Jeremy Morin, + any of these: Oduya, 3rd Round 2014 & 2015>>>>> Rangers
That would give the Hawks a solid 3rd line. Callahan, Shaw and put Versteeg LW.
Although the likelihood of this trade happening is slim,.....it is an idea. They are shopping. Throw something out at them. The Hawks would have the hands up here for the Rangers HAVE to unload Callahan or they would get nothing back in return. At this moment, it appears that St. Louis and Columbus are the ones shopping. If the Hawks get wind of the fact that St. Louis is in the hunt, this could be when the Hawks jump.
In other words,...Hawks don't need the deal, so they don't have to mortgage the farm. Offer should consist of something favorable: MORIN, something of value: DRAFT PICKS,...and something in the Hawks favor: Unloading Oduya.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Hawks Stars Show Up In Vancouver 5-2
Hawks finally win in regulation as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2.
It didn't look good from the start, however. As Vancouver scored just 16 seconds in the game. The Hawks ended the first period down 1-0. However, the second period also started off with a Kris Versteeg turn over and the Hawks couldn't get it out of the zone. Tom Sestito buried a shot from the slot from a nice feed from former Hawks prospect, Ryan Stanton to make it 2-0. THEN, the Hawks decided to play.
6:39 Hawks get a nice power play goal from Marian Hossa with a sweet feed from Kris Versteeg. (Nice way to amend your mistake Steeger!).
9:39 Brandon Saad gets credited with a goal from a Sheldon Brookbank snapshot at the top of the Key. Reason for this goal? Andrew Shaw taking away the eyes of Luongo and as Shaw and Saad's stick went flying toward the tip it was Saad who drove it past Roberto Luongo to tie the game.
10: 47 This may have been the prettiest goal. Sharp flies in off the left wing and finds Brent Seabrook deep on the Right boards who found the puck and immediately centered it and with a lucky bouncing puck it found Jonathan Toews who crashed the net to knock it past Luongo for the game winner.
14:11 Patrick Sharp with a bullet shot from the Left dot to make it 4-2. Nice feed from Tazer.
Empty netter at 19:22 (should also be a power play goal) since Brad Richardson got two minutes for slashing Handzus at 18:26. Tazer and Hossa fighting for the puck, but Hossa gets the puck and feeds a wide open Saad for his second goal of the night and his 17th of the year.
ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME BOYS!!!!! (Stop ONLY playing against the top ranked teams…play everybody this way not just the L.A's, S.J's, Anaheim's, Boston's…but everybody).
Hawks aren't at home until March. Now they go to Murderer's Row--- S.J., L.A., Anaheim and finish in Phoenix…..GULP! (last game at NY Rangers in February…but this game is Feb 27th…after Olympics).
It didn't look good from the start, however. As Vancouver scored just 16 seconds in the game. The Hawks ended the first period down 1-0. However, the second period also started off with a Kris Versteeg turn over and the Hawks couldn't get it out of the zone. Tom Sestito buried a shot from the slot from a nice feed from former Hawks prospect, Ryan Stanton to make it 2-0. THEN, the Hawks decided to play.
6:39 Hawks get a nice power play goal from Marian Hossa with a sweet feed from Kris Versteeg. (Nice way to amend your mistake Steeger!).
9:39 Brandon Saad gets credited with a goal from a Sheldon Brookbank snapshot at the top of the Key. Reason for this goal? Andrew Shaw taking away the eyes of Luongo and as Shaw and Saad's stick went flying toward the tip it was Saad who drove it past Roberto Luongo to tie the game.
10: 47 This may have been the prettiest goal. Sharp flies in off the left wing and finds Brent Seabrook deep on the Right boards who found the puck and immediately centered it and with a lucky bouncing puck it found Jonathan Toews who crashed the net to knock it past Luongo for the game winner.
14:11 Patrick Sharp with a bullet shot from the Left dot to make it 4-2. Nice feed from Tazer.
Empty netter at 19:22 (should also be a power play goal) since Brad Richardson got two minutes for slashing Handzus at 18:26. Tazer and Hossa fighting for the puck, but Hossa gets the puck and feeds a wide open Saad for his second goal of the night and his 17th of the year.
ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME BOYS!!!!! (Stop ONLY playing against the top ranked teams…play everybody this way not just the L.A's, S.J's, Anaheim's, Boston's…but everybody).
Hawks aren't at home until March. Now they go to Murderer's Row--- S.J., L.A., Anaheim and finish in Phoenix…..GULP! (last game at NY Rangers in February…but this game is Feb 27th…after Olympics).
Who Needs To Be Held Accountable
Last game in January.......and AGAIN, 16 seconds into the game and the Hawks are already behind. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
They used to score 4 and 5 goals a night. If that happens, it's only because their opponent is doing the same thing. There is a total lack of "drive" right now. Who's the cancer? Where is this dormant behavior coming from? The Hawks need to figure it out, and figure it out quickly. Cut out the cancerous cell and get healthy again.
So, who should be held accountable for this crappy play? Coach Quenneville? Absolutely. In many of his post conferences he talks about it as if it isn't a big thing. How, he likes the play of the guys and it's "just one of those things"..........LOSING is "just one of those things". Losing is as infectious as winning. It can hit a locker room faster than a fart can fill a room.
The Hawks are having to make it a habit of playing "catch up". This in most games they are able to do as you can see by the HUGE amount of OT and SO losses. However, they're dead by the beginning of OT. They're legs are done and psychologically, emotionally and most certainly...physically drained. Hence the lack of OT and SO wins. Can you at all remember WHEN the Hawks have won a game in OT? Whew...too long for me to remember. I'd have to look up. But, I don't think they've done so this year.
As the Hawks start the 2nd period down 1-0 against a very good Roberto Luongo....watch as the Hawks try to figure out HOW to score on Vancouver and the energy that is being dispersed throughout the last 2 periods. They need this Olympic break to get refocused and to get their physically beaten bodies a rest. TOO bad that 10 of them are heading to Sochi. But, thankful that our goaltenders are staying at home.
They used to score 4 and 5 goals a night. If that happens, it's only because their opponent is doing the same thing. There is a total lack of "drive" right now. Who's the cancer? Where is this dormant behavior coming from? The Hawks need to figure it out, and figure it out quickly. Cut out the cancerous cell and get healthy again.
So, who should be held accountable for this crappy play? Coach Quenneville? Absolutely. In many of his post conferences he talks about it as if it isn't a big thing. How, he likes the play of the guys and it's "just one of those things"..........LOSING is "just one of those things". Losing is as infectious as winning. It can hit a locker room faster than a fart can fill a room.
The Hawks are having to make it a habit of playing "catch up". This in most games they are able to do as you can see by the HUGE amount of OT and SO losses. However, they're dead by the beginning of OT. They're legs are done and psychologically, emotionally and most certainly...physically drained. Hence the lack of OT and SO wins. Can you at all remember WHEN the Hawks have won a game in OT? Whew...too long for me to remember. I'd have to look up. But, I don't think they've done so this year.
As the Hawks start the 2nd period down 1-0 against a very good Roberto Luongo....watch as the Hawks try to figure out HOW to score on Vancouver and the energy that is being dispersed throughout the last 2 periods. They need this Olympic break to get refocused and to get their physically beaten bodies a rest. TOO bad that 10 of them are heading to Sochi. But, thankful that our goaltenders are staying at home.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Raanta Gets Pulled
Wow.....This is the worst month that I can recall since that 9 game slide a few years back when I called for Quenneville's head on a platter.
As the game enters the third period, Corey Crawford's presence and 2 goals (1 by Ben Smith and 1 by Marian Hossa pulled the Hawks even. The Hawks are struggling against everyone. Good team, mediocre team,...it doesn't matter. The Hawks are literally giving the puck away. Their puck management skills is so terrible. They are playing loose with the puck. They aren't thinking. Maybe the Hawks can play inspired and finish off strong. Last article I wrote, the Hawks must have thought they won and stopped playing after 40 and lost 3-1 to a mediocre Winnipeg (who happens to be playing hot under their new coach). Brandon Pirri hasn't seen the score sheet...yet. Still a period to go. I'm pulling for a Hawks win first and foremost,...then a Brandon Pirri goal. Make it a game winner Brandon.
...aaaaaaand the Hawks lose again. 5-4 OT......disgusting!!!
As the game enters the third period, Corey Crawford's presence and 2 goals (1 by Ben Smith and 1 by Marian Hossa pulled the Hawks even. The Hawks are struggling against everyone. Good team, mediocre team,...it doesn't matter. The Hawks are literally giving the puck away. Their puck management skills is so terrible. They are playing loose with the puck. They aren't thinking. Maybe the Hawks can play inspired and finish off strong. Last article I wrote, the Hawks must have thought they won and stopped playing after 40 and lost 3-1 to a mediocre Winnipeg (who happens to be playing hot under their new coach). Brandon Pirri hasn't seen the score sheet...yet. Still a period to go. I'm pulling for a Hawks win first and foremost,...then a Brandon Pirri goal. Make it a game winner Brandon.
...aaaaaaand the Hawks lose again. 5-4 OT......disgusting!!!
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