Comments on: It’s Difficult To Water Down Expectations….*Update http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/al-cimaglia/7959/ NHL hockey blogosphere of your favorite team rumors, trades, opinion, recaps, previews and news Thu, 17 May 2012 10:41:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: jt19 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/al-cimaglia/7959/comment-page-1/#comment-1650 jt19 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:24:12 +0000 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=7959#comment-1650 hopefully Q will leave eager and kopecky in the press box and use dowell and bickel with fraser (or someone else) hopefully Q will leave eager and kopecky in the press box and use dowell and bickel with fraser (or someone else)

]]> By: Dave Morris http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/al-cimaglia/7959/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Dave Morris Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:43:28 +0000 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=7959#comment-1639 Al, as you point out, the next four games will really take the measure of the Blackhawks. The challenge intensifies tonight with the absence of Hjalmarsson. The Hawks' defensive efficiency is something new for Hawks fans...but in keeping opposition shots to a minimum, and preventing goals, the Blackhawks are evoking the mantra of the late Pit Martin...who helped make the Hawks a complete team with his adherence to defensive responsibility and was one of their leaders during their dominant years in the early 70s. I also wonder what impact Scotty Bowman has made on the way the Hawks play...his imprint--seen in Montreal, St. Louis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit--seems to be making itself apparent in the disciplined, puck possession game that Chicago is in the process of mastering. It also appears that Tomas Kopecky may have exhausted the patience of the coaching staff. Watching the Bruins-Hawks reminds me of when Phil and Tony Esposito squared off against each other. Factoid: Dustin Byfuglien and Shawn Thornton have a running feud that goes back to when they were teammates. Thanks again for your excellent articles. Al, as you point out, the next four games will really take the measure of the Blackhawks.

The challenge intensifies tonight with the absence of Hjalmarsson.

The Hawks’ defensive efficiency is something new for Hawks fans…but in keeping opposition shots to a minimum, and preventing goals, the Blackhawks are evoking the mantra of the late Pit Martin…who helped make the Hawks a complete team with his adherence to defensive responsibility and was one of their leaders during their dominant years in the early 70s.

I also wonder what impact Scotty Bowman has made on the way the Hawks play…his imprint–seen in Montreal, St. Louis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit–seems to be making itself apparent in the disciplined, puck possession game that Chicago is in the process of mastering.

It also appears that Tomas Kopecky may have exhausted the patience of the coaching staff.

Watching the Bruins-Hawks reminds me of when Phil and Tony Esposito squared off against each other.

Factoid: Dustin Byfuglien and Shawn Thornton have a running feud that goes back to when they were teammates.

Thanks again for your excellent articles.

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