Everyone wants to know what has happened to the Blackhawks. Everything that can go wrong is happening these days, but none of the problems should be blamed on bad luck. Simply, the Hawks have been exposed for what they have often been: a team that can’t play effective hockey for 60 minutes.

Colorado is similar to Edmonton, as both teams can play at a faster pace than the Hawks. Tuesday night The Avs took advantage of Chicago mistakes and broke open what appeared to be a close contest. The Avalanche was flying through the neutral zone and it was only a matter of when, not if, they would score.

If Joel Quenneville’s message hasn’t hit home after 54 games, it means one of two things. Either Quenneville is the wrong man for the job, or the players assembled can’t play the way he preaches. It could be a combination of both.

My view is the way this roster was assembled is the biggest problem, as there are too many holes. That fault falls primarily on GM Stan Bowman, although Quenneville can’t be held blameless. Coach Q. hasn’t adapted well to what he has been given to work with.

Quenneville’s message appears to be falling on deaf ears. The defense-first mentality he stresses lasts for awhile, and then players revert to what they know best. Sooner or later the Hawks push the pace looking to score, which can lead to turnovers. There was a time those mistakes could be absorbed, but that isn’t the case anymore.

In 2010, Quenneville had a group of players who were young, fast and hungry to succeed. There was so much talent Quenneville could always roll three, if not four lines. These days it’s almost impossible to even name the Hawks’ third line.

Quenneville continues to mix and match line combinations, but even the younger clubs who are not playoff contenders find a way to exploit the Hawk weaknesses.

When the Hawks were a true Cup contender, their bottom six forwards were among the best in the NHL. The team played at quick pace and wore out opponents in the second half of games. These days the exact opposite is true.

A mark of a non playoff team is they allow too many goals, especially in the last 30 minutes of games. Currently, the Hawks rank 26 out of 30 in total goals allowed per game. Chicago has allowed 70 goals against in the second period. That amount is the most in the NHL and not by a small margin — it is 10 goals worse than any other club.

When the scoring slips, the Hawks have shown they can’t win games 2-1 or 1-0. Quenneville has realized he must change one thing he always hesitated to do: move Dave Bolland up to be a second line center. Quenneville’s security blanket, so to speak, was Bolland’s third line.

Few would argue when the Hawks won the Stanley Cup they had the best third line in the NHL. A strong checking line that could also score some goals allowed Quenneville a great deal of flexibility. He could mix and match the top six forwards and wait for the right combinations to click. Coach Q. had a match-up edge on every opponent.

These days, the third line is a non factor. It is almost like a faceless unit of minus players. That’s a big hurdle to overcome and without standout goal keeping, the puck will often end up in the Hawks net.

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5.) Tommy Cross (D) #4 Boston College (Boston Bruins)

 – The captain of the Boston College Eagles, senior defenseman Tommy Cross will be playing in his final BeanPot tournament this month after spending four seasons under legendary coach Jerry York in Chestnut Hill. Taken in the second round of the 2007 Entry draft by the Boston Bruins, Cross is a card-carrying veteran of the B’s summer development camp. The 6’3″ blueliner is strong in his own end and often shows great puck-handling abilities. If he can avoid the injury bug, it wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that Cross could project as a Dan Girardi-type player in the NHL.

4.) Alex Killorn (F) #19 Harvard (Tampa Bay Lightning)

– Also taken in the 2007 Entry Draft, Killorn was selected 77th overall (3rd Round) by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6’2″ senior has always been skilled with the puck and been able to put the puck in the net, but he biggest knock against the Montreal native has been his deficiencies in his own end of the ice. From all reports, Killorn has done nothing but impress during their annual summer development camps and is expected to compete for a roster spot with the big club next season.

3.) Kevin Hayes (C) #12 Boston College (Chicago Blackhawks)

 – Spending much of his freshman season on the shelf after suffering an early-season knee injury, Hayes has truly emerged as an offensive force this season, contributing 19 points (5G/14A) in 27 games played thus far. Hayes was taken in the first round of the 2010 draft because of his rare combination of size and speed. The Dorchester, MA native plays more of a finesse type game and his best asset is his uncanny awareness in the offensive zone.

2.) Adam Clendening (D) #5 Boston University (Chicago Blackhawks)

– The undersized, offensive defenseman from Niagara Falls, NY may be the most exciting player to watch in this entire tournament. Leading the charge on the Terrier blueline, Clendening has posted two goals and added twenty assists in only 23 games this season. Taken early in the second round of the 2011 Entry Draft, Clendening has proven that he has the talent to make a serious bid for a roster spot in Chicago sooner rather than later.

1.) Chris Kreider (F) #19 Boston College (New York Rangers)

– Taken with the 19th overall selection in the 2009 draft, the offensively gifted Kreider has done it all at Boston College and could be playing in his final BeanPot tournament this year. A prototypical power forward with speed, Kreider has reportedly contemplated forgoing his senior season for a chance to go pro with the Rangers next fall. The 6’3″ Boxford, MA native has scored 16 goals and added 14 assists in 27 games this year.

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For the most part, teams that are in a losing streak also don’t score enough. In the last five games, the Blackhawks have only recorded a total of 10 goals. That’s another reason the loss in Edmonton hurts a lot because the Hawks scored four times which should be enough to secure a victory.

Brent Seabrook had the Hawks lone tally which came at even strength. Usually another sign of a skidding club is they don’t put themselves in a position to win. Losing teams either make mistakes and are often shorthanded or don’t capitalize on power play opportunities.

On many nights, the club which reaches three goals first often ends up the winner. Through a combination of some Blackhawk mistakes and due to their fatigue, the Flames came away with a well-earned victory. It isn’t as if the Hawks aren’t trying but every game is a big challenge and there is little margin for error.

With the loss, Chicago has now dropped to fourth place in the Central Division. The Hawks have captured 65 points which ranks them sixth in the Western Conference, eight points ahead of Minnesota who is in eighth place.

The Western Conference is tight with only two points separating second place Vancouver and sixth place Chicago. A big concern is Detroit now has 71 points, as they sit atop the Central Division as well as the Western Conference.

The primary goal for the Blackhawks this season was to win the Central Division which then would have secured a top three finish in the conference. If the rest of the road trip goes like it has started, the aim for the Hawks will shift. With a few more losses, the Blackhawks will be more concerned with securing a playoff spot rather than catching Detroit to win the Central Division.

To no surprise, the best period for the Blackhawks was the first when they had enough energy to control much of the play. Ray Emery started in goal and did a decent job and gave his team an opportunity to win.

Emery wasn’t perfect, but when a club struggles and isn’t scoring there is no room for error by a goal keeper. Make no mistake, this wasn’t a goalie loss but rather a victory by the Flames who made fewer mistakes and had more gas in the tank in the third period.

The Hawks could never regain the lead after Michael Frolik took a four minute high sticking penalty, which resulted in Calgary’s second goal. The Flames won battles in front of the net and converted on a power play opportunity by defender Jay Bouwmeester coming off a rebound.

In the final period, the Flames iced the game as a long pass got through Duncan Keith and allowed Jarome Iginla to skate in alone and easily beat Emery. Calgary’s fist strike came off a big shot from Ollie Jokinen. It would have been a difficult save but did go through Emery. Jokinen was in prime scoring position and made the most of the opportunity.

A tired team usually commits more errors, both physical and mental. The Hawks took two high sticking penalties which normally fall into the careless category. There was a hooking penalty which often happens because a player stops moving his feet and reaches with his stick. That can be an indication of fatigue.

Steve Montador, who skated with Nick Leddy Friday night, was guilty of a delay of game penalty. That can fall into the category of another mental miscue and came at a time when the Hawks were down two goals. Sean O’Donnell made a rare start and was partnered with Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Normally, Leddy plays the right side but Friday night was on the left side with new partner Montador. Joel Quenneville is trying different options to get his club back on track. The ice time for Leddy was cut down also as he played slightly less than 14 minutes.

This change for Leddy could indicate what the next move for General Manager Stan Bowman will be.

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Maybe some harsh reality will finally settle in as sometimes certain games bear more weight in a long grueling season. Possibly, but before anything can be fixed, those in charge of the fixing have to realize there are problems and mistakes to be corrected.

One can’t be sure what type of roster general manager Stan Bowman was trying to put together this past summer. What is certain is Bowman completely missed on some of the veteran free agents he signed. What also appears likely is Bowman counted on much better performances from other players and may have overvalued his club.

Then there is head coach Joel Quenneville who gave the company line Thursday night when asked about his personnel. Quenneville commented after the loss there really isn’t anything wrong with the personnel rather it’s a matter of not performing in the correct way. If Quenneville truly believes this same group can win in the playoffs then he hasn’t been doing a very good job of coaching.

Maybe Quenneville has no real choice but to accept a roster with too much dead weight. If he wants to be the fall guy that probably won’t take too long to happen. If the Hawks struggle for the next few months and make an early exit in the playoffs Quenneville will be held responsible.

Maybe it is a combination of a GM who won’t admit mistakes and a head coach that can’t get his message across. Without changes, the Hawks won’t be able to successfully play the same type of fast paced style as was the case a couple of years ago. They don’t have the same team speed. Players aren’t able to pass the puck as well and the defense as a group has not been as good. All that said this team often tries to be something it can’t be.

For things to improve, Bowman has to find players which can blend in and improve the level of play. Then Quenneville has to utilize what he has been given. So far, both have more work to do. Maybe Thursday night will turn out to be a game to hinge the entire season on.

Back in early January 2010, the Blackhawks were sailing along with a four goal lead in Minnesota going into the third period. The Wild scored three times in 2:05 and came back to defeat the Hawks 6-5 in a shootout. That game still stands out as being a turning point in the Stanley Cup season.

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It was the first game back from the All-Star break, so there were moments in the opening period where each club appeared out of sync. The Canucks did look more together in the early going, and they should have had the lead after the opening 20 minutes.

With the help of some great goal tending by Corey Crawford, the Hawks were able to settle down. The game was tied at one after the first frame and stayed that way until early in the third period. Crawford made some huge stops and Canucks back-up Cory Schneider was every bit as good. Schneider was even more strongly tested than Crawford.

The Hawks had the better of the play after the first period until the overtime. Crawford and Schneider put on a fantastic show, and in the end, the Canucks found away to convert in overtime for the win. This game was a delight to watch except for some shoddy officiating.

Hawks newcomer Brendan Morrison couldn’t have started off much more slowly, which wasn’t a shock. It’s not as easy as one would think to jump in and play with elite talent. Morrison made more than his share of bad passes and turnovers in the early going. As the game went on, he got a lot better. Morrison’s veteran instincts did shine through as he played close to 19 minutes. Morrison has good hands and visions, but I’m not sure he will keep his spot as the second line center.

Patrick Sharp returned from a 10 game absence and looked as if the play was too fast for him at times. Sharp stayed with it and was on the ice for about 19 minutes with three shots on goal.

Jonathan Toews was back in action also and was not at his best. Toews was credited with five shots and his line did generate quite a few scoring chances. Toews did work hard, but he had an usually difficult night in the faceoff circle.

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Morrison, 36, has often been injured in recent years and his play has fallen off. Maybe Morrison could be considered no more than a spare part or depth player. That said, he may provide some veteran knowhow and improve the Hawks’ lineup.

Striking a deal for Morrison was worthwhile because the cost was low.

The Hawks dealt Rockford Ice Hog defenseman Bryan Connelly, who was recently selected to play in the AHL All-Star game. For whatever reason, Connelly was not in the Hawks plans and he wasn’t going to play on the big club.

Connelly, 25, is a smaller defenseman with offensive ability. Blackhawks management prefers others in their system with the same skillset. Connelly will have a better chance of becoming a NHL player with the trade to the Flames organization.

My guess is Morrison will get an opportunity as the second line pivot. If he does well playing alongside Marian Hossa, Morrison could be a great pick-up. If not, Morrison could find his way onto the third or fourth line and could pitch in on special teams. If Morrison can stay healthy, he will give Joel Quenneville more options.

Morrison returned this season after ACL surgery on his left knee, which he injured in a game against the Blackhawks last March. Morrison was hurt on a clean check by Niklas Hjalmarsson, but according to Morrison, some Hawks players were chiding him while he was helped off the ice.

Morrison mentioned on Friday night the incident is a “dead issue.” Morrison also commented he was ecstatic about coming to Chicago and will fill any role that is asked. Maybe Bowman has added a valuable component to a long playoff run, if he can stay healthy.

The Blackhawks are about to kick off their longest road trip since 1997. The nine-game journey will start in Vancouver on Tuesday night. The trip will not end until February 18 in Columbus. The Hawks will face some difficult opponents but their task might not be as bad as it appears.

The Hawks will return to Chicago after each three-game stretch to break up the trip. The first leg of their journey will be against three Western Canadian teams.

The Hawks will fly back to Chicago after Friday night’s contest in Calgary. They will recharge over the weekend and head to Colorado on Monday. No doubt it will be a challenging stretch, but at least the schedule allows for time to get back home.

On the injury front, word going around is Jonathan Toews will be ready to face the Canucks. That isn’t etched in stone, but official word on Toews could come down later Monday.

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5.) —–> To Chicago: Hal Gill, Travis Moen, 5th Round Pick

—–> To Montreal: Kyle Beach, Brandon Saad, 2nd Round Pick

– Seemingly going nowhere this season it may be time for the Habs and GM Pierre Gauthier to start thinking about unloading some pieces in an attempt to build for the future. Both Gill and Moen are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer and could provide a Cup-hunting Blackhawks team with some added depth and grit for a playoff run this spring. Neither Moen nor Gill give you much in the way of flash or skill, but both are very durable players who have a Stanley Cup on their resume. For Montreal, both Beach and Saad fit the mold of what the Habs need the most: big, strong power forwards who can put the puck in the net. While neither will give Montreal much in the way of immediate assistance, they both have the potential to become cogs in the Canadiens’ lineup for years to come.

4.) —–> To Boston: Tuomo Ruutu, Bryan Allen

—–> To Carolina: Jordan Caron, Matt Bartkowski, 2nd Round Pick

– For a team that has simply run roughshod on the Eastern Conference since the start of November there really aren’t many glaring holes on a roster full of Stanley Cup winners. However, like we saw last February, GM Peter Chiarelli isn’t afraid to tinker with his team in order to add the necessary depth to make another run at Lord Stanley. This trade makes perfect sense for a Boston team that still relies on an inexperienced Steven Kampfer as it’s seventh defenseman. The hard-nosed Bryan Allen isn’t known much for his offense (0G/7A in 51 games this season) but can provide a solid defensive presence in his end of the ice, as well as log some valuable time on the penalty kill. Like Allen, the 28-year-old Ruutu will be a free agent on July 1. The Finland native seems to have been cut from the same mold as Boston winger Rich Peverley in the way that he can be trusted in any situation. Ruutu has posted fifteen goals and added eleven assists in 51 games this season while being shuffled up and down the Carolina lineup.

3.) —–> To Philadelphia: Ryan Suter, 3rd Round Pick

—–> To Nashville: James Van Riemsdyk, Brayden Schenn, Andrej Meszaros, Jody Shelley, 1st Round Pick

– Now, I’d put this trade as the least likely to happen, at least not until this summer. A deal like this makes perfect sense for a Flyers team that will be without captain Chris Pronger for the remainder of the season. Ryan Suter is perhaps the most underrated defenseman in the entire NHL. Often overshadowed by Shea Weber, Suter has quietly stacked together one all-star season after another and is slated to finally cash in this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The question still remains as to if the cash-strapped Predators can re-sign Suter to a long term deal to keep him in Nashville. However, if GM David Poile comes to the realization that he will not be resigning with the Preds, he would be better served to deal him now than let him walk for nothing this July. The package I’ve presented seems like quite a hefty price for one player but keep in mind, true number one defensemen simply do not grow on trees. While I really can’t see this one happening before the deadline, if Suter is adamant about not re-upping in Nashville, I can’t see any better scenario for the Predators’ franchise both now and into the future.

2.) —–> To Toronto: Jeff Carter, 3rd Round Pick

—–> To Columbus: Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin, 2nd Round Pick

– There’s no question that Jeff Carter’s brief stay in Ohio’s capital is coming to an early end. Reportedly frustrated by the entire situation, the former Flyers star has put up only seventeen points (10G/7A) in 30 games this season while playing for the league-worst Columbus Blue Jackets. While many teams would be skeptical of accepting any player with ten years left on his contract, the Leafs have been on a league-wide search for a true number one center since Brian Burke took the helm in November of 2008. It’s my belief that if Carter is surrounded by a talented team (like he was in Philadelphia) he will once again be able to return to his elite form. While many could think of this as an overpayment for Carter, I would argue that while Schenn still looks like a future all-star, he seems to be the odd man out on a Leafs’ blueline already manned by Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek and John-Michael Liles — all of whom are signed to lucrative contracts. Kulemin is a young player with loads of skill and potential who seems to be struggling under the hockey-crazed pressure cooker that is Toronto. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him a world of good. In Toronto, Maple Leafs’ fans may be foaming at the mouth with the thoughts of putting an elite pivot in between all-star wingers Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

1.)  —–> To Minnesota: Zach Parise

—–> To New Jersey: Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, 2nd Round Pick

– This trade simply makes too much sense. With Parise still unsigned and the Devils’ ownership situation still uncertain, it’s easy to suggest that New Jersey will be unable to retain Parise at year’s end. Recent speculation has suggested that the 5’11″ Minneapolis would like nothing better than to return to his home state to continue his career, making him a perfect fit for the Wild. However, a former 40-goal scorer with extensive leadership qualities simply does not come cheap. With this package the Devils pick up a solid return for a guy who will likely be gone for nothing on July 1. Devin Setoguchi is a solid young winger who can play top-six minutes and provide some pop playing across from Ilya Kovalchuk. In Coyle and Brodin New Jersey receives two former first round selections who look to be sure bet NHL contributors in the near future. Parise should provide the right type of boost for a Wild team trying to work themselves off of the playoff fringe.

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With already 64 points in the bank, the Hawks could earn around 100 points for this season. In the 2009-2010 season, a 100 point finish would have been good for fourth place in the Western Conference. As Hawk loyalists remember their favorite club squeaked into the post-season in eighth place with 97 points.

To summarize the first 50 games, the Blackhawks have been streaky and fortunate. Except for the last few weeks, the team has been relatively injury free and has played 29 home games thus far. Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews are well on their way to having great seasons. Rookies Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes have been pleasant surprises.

As a team, the Blackhawks have room to improve although it will be difficult without a couple of solid acquisitions. The lynch pin for a successful campaign and a long playoff run may rest with General Manager Stan Bowman. It will not be any easy task but Bowman will have to find a way to acquire a couple of players who will lift his club to another level.

The biggest concern for the Hawks is their defensive play which must improve if they are going to make a long playoff run. Not only will the defensemen have to tighten up but the forwards will have to be more defensively responsible as well.

Goaltender Ray Emery has been great in a back-up role but Corey Crawford can be better. Blackhawks special teams will need to improve, especially the penalty killing unit. Being able to win more faceoffs would help in many ways.

Even after 50 games it could be thought that the Hawks are still a work in progress.

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Nashville could have been leading by four goals after the opening 20 minutes instead of only two. The Predators missed the net on prime scoring chances, and Corey Crawford made some nice saves, otherwise Nashville could have put the game away early.

The Hawks didn’t dent the net until 7:20 of the final period on a Dave Bolland power play strike. Nashville net minder Pekka Rinne was the difference, as the Hawks had their chances. The third period charge was too little too late, and the Predators defeated the Blackhawks for the second time in four days. The Nashville defense was solid and blocked 24 Chicago shots.

The Predators were the more cohesive group. They kept the Blackhawks out on the perimeter, and Rinne did the rest. Playing without the injured Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp made a difference, but the outcome may have been the same even with them in the lineup. As has been the case too often this season, the Blackhawks didn’t look ready to start a game. There were too many turnovers in the Hawks’ zone, especially in the opening frame.

Nashville was the more efficient team, except in the faceoff circle. Dave Bolland won 17 out of 20 draws, for a win rate of 85 percent. On the night, the Hawks won 63 percent of all their faceoffs. That was quite an accomplishment considering Toews was out of the lineup. Bolland was taking over for the injured Toews and had a good game centering for Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg.

Crawford didn’t appear confident in the early going and he showed his frustration after Nashville took a 2-0 lead. Crawford was vulnerable after a miscue and was beaten from close in. Crawford disgustedly broke his stick over the crossbar after the goal as his emotions got the best of him. To Crawford’s credit, he kept his composure and helped give his club a chance to win.

Crawford and many of his teammates need to rest and recharge during the All Star break.

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With the recent addition of John Madden, the Panthers now have four players who competed for the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010. Friday night, Florida will be looking to halt a seven-game road losing streak. Chicago currently sits one point behind Detroit in the Central Division.

The Hawks will have Ray Emery between the pipes as they look to continue their winning ways. Over the past six games, the Blackhawks have accumulated 10 of a possible 12 points.

The Hawks have three games left before the All-Star break. After facing Florida, they will skate against the Predators in Nashville on Saturday and return home for a rematch on Tuesday.

The pixie dust has started to wear off as the injuries have mounted for the Panthers. Florida has six players on the injured reserve list including former Blackhawk Jack Skille, who has an upper body injury.

This year hasn’t been kind to the Panthers, as their first line has gone cold. That’s especially troubling when your top line is by far the most talented unit on the team. Kris Versteeg and Thomas Fleishmann have been held scoreless in January. Their pivot man, Stephen Weiss, scored for the first time this month during Florida’s 4-3 loss to Colorado on Wednesday. During their last ten games the Panthers are 3-4-3.

Brian Campbell is having a great season and was an All-Star selection. Campbell has recorded three goals to go along with 31 assists and is a plus one for the campaign. Campbell ranks second in the NHL in assists as well as total points for defensemen.

Tallon didn’t have a problem absorbing Campbell’s mega-contract when the Blackhawks were looking for a trade partner. The Hawks accomplished what they wanted, as they shed a large, long-term commitment. Make no mistake, Campbell is a very good player and Tallon didn’t hesitate to add him to the Florida roster.

Tallon has a well deserved reputation for having a keen eye for young hockey talent. He is the ultimate scout and has been successful in identifying promising prospects in the NHL Draft. Tallon deserves a great deal of credit in building the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup team.

Where Tallon has had some issues is in identifying talent at the NHL level. He also has a reputation for overpaying players. Many times, players are able to jump pay grades and receive some surprising compensation from the former Blackhawk general manager.

Tallon compiled an interesting group of players over the summer. He had a boatload of cap space, approximately $30 million needed to get to the salary cap floor. If you are the type of person bothered by professional athletes getting paid far more than should, don’t take a peek at the Panthers’ payroll.

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The Hawks reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference as a sense of determination appears to have set in. The Sabres aren’t firing on all cylinders, and if the Blackhawks took them lightly, the results might have been different on Wednesday night. That wasn’t the case, as the Hawks grinded their way to victory and took care of a team they should defeat. Wednesday night belonged to the Blackhawks, and when they turned it on, the Sabres couldn’t keep up.

Once again Hayes and Shaw made their presence felt and contributed to the cause. Each player was credited with a goal and assist, and Shaw recorded four shots on goal along with four hits.

Shaw should have had another assist on an athletic play which led to a Marcus Kruger tap in. The Hawks were denied that score as the referee thought there was a hand pass made by Shaw and waved off the goal. It was the incorrect call, but a hand pass is not something that can be reviewed by the War Room in Toronto. Nonetheless, the Hawks and Shaw stayed determined and prevailed.

Jonathan Toews scored two times on the power play and led all skaters with six shots on goal. As usual, Toews was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning at a 65 percent clip. Following the game, Toews commented on what a difference Hayes and Shaw have made. The Captain remarked that it is a huge difference to have all four lines working and making things happen.

For the first time in a long time, the Hawks have more than Toews standing in front of the net on a power play. The additions of Hayes and Shaw have established more net presence with the man advantage and throughout a game. Both young players have a high enough hockey IQ to find the open ice and get into goal scoring position.

Wednesday night, Shaw stood his ground and scored the first Blackhawk goal. Hayes’ strike came on a beautiful cross-ice pass from Andrew Brunette. Hayes went flying down his wing straight for the net and buried his scoring chance. That was the fourth goal in ten games for Hayes, and afterwards the Hawks never looked back.

Shaw scored his fifth goal in eight games and it appears he isn’t a fluke. Surprisingly, there was another Blackhawk rookie who had an even faster start than Shaw. In 2003 Igor Radulov scored five goals in his first seven games.

Radulov became the definition of a “flash in the pan,” as he scored only eleven points on four goals the following season. He never made it with the Hawks and left to play in Russia during the 2003-2004 campaign. It’s too early to proclaim Shaw will have a long and productive NHL career, but he doesn’t look like Igor Radulov to me.

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The 4-3 score was flattering to the San Jose Sharks. If not for some spectacular saves by Antti Niemi and a soft goal allowed by Corey Crawford the outcome would not have been close. In the end the Blackhawks displayed strong character. They didn’t falter although San Jose was able to tie the score with two quick goals early in the second period.

Give the Hawks high marks for playing well in all three zones. The Sharks are a fine hockey club but they don’t match up well with the Blackhawks. The Hawks can usually dictate the pace of play when facing San Jose. Last night the Sharks couldn’t play as quickly, lost individual battles and tuned the puck over.

The Blackhawks controlled play for most of the game and had the better scoring chances. The Hawks were successful because they kept things simple. They advanced the puck into the Sharks’ zone and were able to work their defense down low. The Hawks cycled the puck but didn’t look for pretty plays. It was more of a north and south game which enabled the Blackhawks to cause problems for Niemi.

A player who once again excelled at keeping it simple was Andrew Shaw. In the salary cap era the best teams can use a pleasant surprise from players with modest contracts. There doesn’t appear to be a reason to wait any longer, Shaw can be proclaimed an unexpected difference maker.

Shaw can skate well and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. So far he has been defensively responsible and has avoided taking dumb penalties.

Shaw had his best outing as a Blackhawk and was credited with his first game winning goal. It came about because of his hard charging style. He plays a smart physical game and recorded three hits versus San Jose. Shaw can also play center and was a perfect 6-0 in the faceoff circle. To go along with his other accomplishments Shaw recorded five shots on goal in 16:51 of playing time.

The Hawks’ forecheck has improved since Shaw has arrived. His aggressive play appears to be contagious as Shaw looks like a keeper. Another Blackhawks who has been a pleasant surprise and is solidifying his place as a top six forward is Viktor Stalberg. He notched his fourteenth goal last night, which is third best on the Blackhawks.

It’s true Stalberg is playing with skilful players who provide him with scoring chances. What shouldn’t be overlooked is Stalberg is winning puck battles and working hard along the boards. He also finds the soft spots in coverage and puts himself in scoring position. Stalberg is converting chances and looks like true a NHL goal scorer.

Blackhawks fans have witnessed the evolution of a young player who needed time to develop. Stalberg was like another youngster with skill who also had lessons to learn.

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With a little good luck and a concerted effort the Hawks tied the Wings with 52 seconds remaining in regulation. Unfortunately the better team for most of the contest was by far the best in overtime as the Red Wings defeated the Blackhawks 3-2.

Last season, as a group, the Hawks didn’t have enough experience and talent. Some fans thought because the Hawks had an abundance of high priced skill players they should be able to carry the team. The same people sometimes blamed the Blackhawks shortcomings on a lack of effort. The truth lies somewhere in between poor effort and a roster with issues.

This year’s club has some holes and when every player isn’t dialed in against the better teams they can look bad. For much of the opening frame Detroit appeared to be playing with an extra player. The Hawks had no answers for the aggressive Red Wings as they were a step quicker. The Blackhawks were guilty of turnovers and consistently lost individual battles.

If not for the strong play of Corey Crawford the Red Wings could have easily had a four goal lead after the first period. The Hawks didn’t record their first shot on goal until over twelve minutes were gone in the opening frame.

It could have been ugly if not for Crawford but the Red Wings couldn’t sustain the pressure. The Hawks scored a fluky goal to make the score 2-1 after 40 minutes of play and then controlled the third frame.

A lack of effort is a problem but it shouldn’t be mistaken for a group with deficiencies. Insufficient performance can look as if there isn’t enough effort. Sometimes it is the wrong type of effort.

Poor play can also happen by having too many players trying to do more than they are capable of, in essence being asked to do too much. The other thing to consider is fatigue. A tired player can look as if he is not putting forth the necessary effort.

Against the top teams Blackhawk weaknesses can be exposed.

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Next article article on Monday.

It’s funny how things end up.

Young forwards Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw were not expected to make an impact with the big club this season. Now, they are providing offense and looking like they aren’t rookies. Their contributions go beyond scoring goals.

It seems like Hayes and Shaw are highly responsible for the “new look” Hawks. The new look is supposed to be what General Manager Stan Bowman was going after this past summer. Better late than not all, as the Blackhawks appear to be pointed in the right direction. With the rookies in the lineup, the Hawks have been tougher to play against.

The Blackhawks are checking with some tenacity and playing better defense. They are scoring goals from near the net and playing hard in the corners. All of a sudden, the Hawks do seem more like a puck-possession team that can play at a quick pace. Against a tight-checking club like the Wild, the Hawks stayed patient and had the puck for most of the game.

It probably isn’t a coincidence this is all happening with Hayes and Shaw in the lineup. It seems the Hawks realized that the best way to make up for the lack of injured Patrick Sharp’s offense is to play better defense. Still, it’s too early to say the Hawks will be able to play as consistently as they did Thursday night, especially since the competition wasn’t the toughest.

The Wild are injured and they don’t have a lot of offense to begin with. They often struggle to score more than two goals a game. Their strength is usually goal tender Niklas Backstrom, but he was out ill. Back-up Josh Harding has been having a solid season, but Thursday night he wasn’t at his best. Harding was playing too casual and simply not sharp.

Ray Emery got the call for the Hawks and picked up his tenth win. Emery got the job done, but he wasn’t at his best either. Both of the Minnesota scores came off of juicy rebounds. Corey Crawford hasn’t been any better concerning rebound control.

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Next article will be posted on Sunday morning.

Viktor Stalberg has owned Columbus this season, and his good fortune continued against them on Tuesday night. Stalberg recorded his first NHL hat trick and Marian Hossa got back on track with a solid plus three performance.

Stalberg is starting to have a nose for the puck and a scoring touch. Offensively, he is going to the correct spots and working hard. On the defensive side of the puck, Stalberg still has lessons to learn. If he can keep his focus in all three zones, Stalberg could have a nice career.

Forward Ben Smith was called up and played well as he recorded his second tally of the season. His buddies from the Rockford Ice Hogs, Kevin Hayes and Andrew Shaw, each had slightly over 18 minutes of ice time. Joel Quenneville has shown a lot of confidence in Shaw and he used him on the penalty kill against the Jackets. Both Hayes and Shaw continue to fit in nicely.

Steve Montador took 19 minutes in penalties during the first period. Montador got an instigator penalty, two extra minutes for fighting with a visor, a five minute fighting major and a 10 minute misconduct.

That meant the Blackhawks had to kill off some penalties, which led to a lot of ice time for Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. To the Hawks credit, although outshot 11-5 in the first frame, the Blue Jackets were held scoreless. The Hawks then scored twice in the middle period and never relinquished the lead.

The Blue Jackets peppered Corey Crawford with 34 shots and he came up with some big saves. Crawford gave the Hawks a chance to win, but he didn’t look too comfortable doing so. Crawford is still having trouble absorbing shots. He is struggling with rebounds but hasn’t received the best support from his defenders.

Nick Leddy looks shaky in his own zone and has been caught off guard by opposing players near the net. Leddy’s playing time was down Tuesday night to only 15:02. He finished a minus two on the game and is a cumulative minus nine over his last four outings.

The stress of playing big minutes appears to have caught up with Leddy.

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Rookie Jimmy Hayes has emerged as a pleasant surprise and is slated to sub for Sharp as a top six winger. It’s probably best to temper the enthusiasm for Hayes, as he has only played in five NHL games, but so far he’s been good. He is the type of player the Hawks need.

Hayes has size, good hands and his hockey intellect appears to be high for a 22-year-old. He isn’t bashful and will shoot the puck. Hayes has been credited with 12 shots and two goals while doing fairly well defensively.

A common trait on Stanley Cup-winning teams is that usually a nice surprise pops up during the season. It isn’t uncommon for a rookie with a modest contract to turn out to be a big contributor. After training camp, Hayes certainly wasn’t thought to be near the top of the list of call-ups. That was then, and now Hayes has a huge opportunity to play a lot of games in Chicago this season.

No matter how well Hayes does, he is a long way from being Patrick Sharp. For the Hawks to stay near the top of the Western Conference, a solid contribution will be needed from every team member while Sharp is absent.

Maybe more important than looking for who will replace Sharp’s offense, a better defensive effort is needed from everyone. The Blackhawks have been giving up goals because of careless play in their own zone. Good defense isn’t only the responsibility of defensemen, the Hawk forwards have to put forth the effort to back check too. Lately, the Hawks have looked mesmerized by the puck and have forgotten to cover opponents in prime scoring areas. Sometimes that happens due to a lack of focus, which also has to do with fatigue.

For the Hawks to carry on without Sharp, the penalty-killing unit has to be better. Staying out of the penalty box should be the first goal. Then Joel Quenneville will have to find a player to fill in for Sharp on special teams.

The power play has been hot and cold even with the injured Hawks’ sniper, so the Blackhawks have to be committed to a top effort in every game. With the man advantage, the first aim should be to keep it simple. Getting more shots on net with traffic should lead to better results.

Unfortunately, some fatigue appears to be setting in. They were very fortunate in the injury department up until recently. Hopefully, the team will respond now and some adversity will make them stronger.

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Next article out on Wednesday.

The officiating didn’t help, but that isn’t a good excuse as the Blackhawks still squandered a two-goal cushion on home ice. In the end, the Hawks didn’t capitalize on power play opportunities and were exploited near their net by the crafty Red Wings.

As the Blackhawks stumble past the halfway point of the season, there are concerns and that which need to be recognized and fixed.

This past summer, GM Stan Bowman had additional salary cap space because of the Brian Campbell trade. Bowman realized the Hawks needed more know-how and went out and signed a group of experienced NHL players. Bowman remarked the Hawks had to be tougher to play against. Supposedly the additions would add more grit and experience. On the surface, that seemed to be so.

It is impossible for each player to be 100 percent dialed in for every regular season game. The better teams have enough overall talent to survive and play at a high level consistently. There will still be low points and struggles, but if everyone is on the same page with strong efforts, talent should prevail.

This is a different kind of Hawks team than the one that won the Stanley Cup. Trying to play the same style of a fast transition game might not work as well. My take is Bowman wanted to not only provide needed experience, he also sought to make the Hawks more like the tough and gritty Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.

Unfortunately, despite the fact the Hawks have accumulated 53 points in 42 games, Bowman’s plan may have been misguided.

The Blackhawks haven’t proven they have the necessary players to pull off a physical forecheck and also play a quick transition game effectively. They can at times, but performances have been up and down. It seems like the Hawks are caught between trying to be tough and physical while still relying on quickness and skill.

As it is, there are simply too many wasted rosters spots. Now, due to increased injuries, the Blackhawks are counting on young prospects to step into full time NHL roles. Almost every top team needs some unexpected contributions from young players with friendly salary cap hits. The Hawks are banking on players which weren’t on the radar to quickly help this year and become significant contributors.

Maybe Jimmy Hayes, Andrew Shaw and Dylan Olsen will be able to play well enough to become full-time Blackhawks this season. Maybe the addition of some young blood will help soften the mistakes made this past summer.

The Blackhawks were supposedly built to make a strong run at the Stanley Cup. The sham of believing four shifts by John Scott, or the scattered, infrequent performances by Sean O’Donnell and Sami Lepsito, are effective additions to the defense must end now.

Believing Nick Leddy or Steve Montador can make a transition game sizzle like Campbell must stop. Thinking the heavy, hard minutes Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson are burdened with will have no ill effect is ridiculous.

Believing Hawks forwards are losing puck battles and playing so poorly defensively because they don’t care enough is also a straw man fallacy. Fatigue is a big factor, as well as some square pegs forced into round holes that lead to poor efforts and a lack of consistency.

The Blackhawks have enough high-end talent to make them a dangerous team. They are led by Jonathan Toews, who brings a supreme effort on almost every shift. On the surface, with the added experience, it appears they should comfortably qualify for the playoffs. The biggest concern is a rash of injuries and fatigue to top players who are counted on to shoulder the majority of the load. The end goal for this club shouldn’t be to only qualify for the post season.

Currently the Hawks are in a rough patch.

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However, something happened on the way to making the NHL more palatable to the masses. You might have noticed that your favorite player or players have been missing in action quite a bit this season.As of Thursday, 51 NHL players have been lost to concussions this season. On that list is the player many believe is the league’s best, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played in just eight NHL games since suffering a concussion on Jan. 5, 2011.

That list has become a gargantuan story this season, much to the alarm of the league and teams, who have in the past attempted to minimize what independent medical experts have been citing for years: hockey has a concussion epidemic on its hands.

< READ MORE ON CBS New York >

Other pieces on CBS by BD:

HOW PLAYERS, NOT THE ISLES COACH WILL WALK PLANK THIS SEASON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE? TELL THAT TO NY ISLANDERS FANS! 

Thursday night, the problem was the performance from veteran Blackhawks players, as some put forth a part-time effort. When the final horn sounded in Philadelphia, the better team won, as the Flyers edged the Blackhawks 5-4.

In some ways the score was flattering to the Hawks. Except for the beginning of the opening period and stretches in the third frame, the Flyers controlled most of the action. The shots on goal stat rang true as the Hawks were outshot 46-34.

The best performances of the night came from the recent additions to the Hawks’ roster.

It was another nice game by winger Jimmy Hayes, who scored on a pretty tip-in off a great pass from Jamal Mayers. For most of the contest, the Frolik-Mayers-Hayes combo was the best line for the Blackhawks. That’s a troubling statement, because if the fourth line is your best line, some high-priced talent isn’t doing much.

Rookie winger Andrew Shaw had a nice debut. Shaw got the worse of it in a staged fight in the early moments of the contest. He showed up and came away with some stitches, but wasn’t seriously hurt. In the second period, Shaw bagged his first NHL goal on a slick move. Shaw was credited with four shots on goal and four hits. He did a very good job for a 20-year-old in his first NHL game.

Recent call-up Dylan Olsen had a solid performance on defense. He was credited with three shots and three blocks while playing 9:48. Olsen didn’t look out of place.

Those who were not expected to be solid contributors were and others who were counted on fell short of expectations.

Ray Emery wasn’t bad in goal, but he had issues with rebound control and trouble moving from side to side. Ilya Bryzgalov had a similar night; both goaltenders should have saved a couple of shots that beat them.

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The link below is for a Sirius/XM Radio interview with Jamie Shalley on Jan. 5.

12-01-05 Al

Next article will be out on Monday.

The NHL’s top cop Brendan Shanahan spelled out the reasoning behind his verdict concerning Carcillo’s boarding infraction, saying Carcillo came in high and checked a player who was away from the boards and in a vulnerable position. Carcillo wasn’t playing the puck and initiated the contact. Other factors working against Carcillo is he has been previously fined or suspended nine times and Gilbert suffered an injury on the play.

Carcillo was also injured, and from the tone of Joel Quenneville’s comments, he has a serious leg injury. Word going around is Carcillo may require knee surgery.

Carcillo’s suspension will not begin until he is deemed healthy enough to play. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 21. If Carcillo has to go under the knife, his season could be over and his NHL career in jeopardy.

2012 has arrived and the Blackhawks luck has turned.

Up until recently, the Hawks have been relatively injury free. Compared to many clubs, the Hawks haven’t been sprinkled with pixie dust, they have been crop dusted with it. In the NHL, good luck doesn’t usually last all season, and now the Blackhawks will need some help from young AHL prospects.

For Thursday’s contest in Philadelphia, the Blackhawks will have three call-ups from the Rockford Ice Hogs on their roster.

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Next article will be tomorrow.

The Hawks were guilty of a poor effort, taking dumb penalties, turning the puck over and sloppy defensive play. The Blackhawks penalty-killing unit hasn’t had a good season. Their trouble continued against the Oilers as Edmonton scored on two of five power plays. The Blackhawks power play was no better than their penalty killing, as they were held scoreless in five attempts with the man advantage.

The Blackhawks didn’t get revenge for the 9-2 beating they took in Edmonton back on Nov. 19. Instead, their effort was sluggish in the opening period and wasn’t any better to start the middle stanza. The Hawks stopped skating to begin the second period, and then things went from bad to worse.

Before the season began, I shared my thoughts on Daniel Carcillo. I thought Carcillo would be given a big opportunity to skate on the top two lines. If Carcillo could keep his composure, he could find a home in Chicago and become a fan favorite.

Although Carcillo has his own local radio show, is an engaging character and has some hockey skill, his days in Chicago could be numbered. After his dangerous hit on Oiler defenseman Tom Gilbert, Carcillo may have a tough time finding another job with any team in the NHL next year.

At about the 7:30 mark of the second period, Carcillo and Gilbert were chasing a puck headed beyond the goal line in the Oiler zone. Gilbert was going to get to the puck first, and a few feet from the boards, Carcillo pushed him with both hands. Gilbert crashed into the boards and was hurt while Carcillo fell awkwardly and appeared to injure his left leg. This was not an accidental bump. Carcillo reached up with both hands and pushed Gilbert, who was in a vulnerable position.

It was a dangerous, stupid act on Carcillo’s part. He seemed to be not playing the puck and was fixated on punishing Gilbert. Carcillo couldn’t help himself and returned to his stupid ways. He has already served two suspensions this season, and Monday night was an obvious reckless play. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Carcillo received at least a five or six game suspension. With his history, it could be even longer.

The result of Carcillo’s careless reckless behavior earned him a five minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct. On the resulting power play, Edmonton scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. The Hawks weren’t playing great before the incident, and afterwards the Oilers were motivated and capitalized. Carcillo’s action had a direct impact on the outcome of the contest.

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The Blackhawks deserved the victory as they held the Red Wings’ skill players in check. This was a big win for Chicago beyond the rivalry factor. The Hawks were able to play faster than the Wings which exploited Detroit’s defense. Red Wing defenders were caught hooking and holding. Unfortunately the Hawks could not capitalize on power play chances or this game wouldn’t have been so close.

Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and were the two best skaters on the ice. On the Detroit side of the ledger Pavel Datsyuk didn’t have a shot on goal. The Wings other big gun, Henrik Zetterberg was also held scoreless. Zetterberg had only one shot and finished the night a minus two.

It wasn’t only Chicago star players which helped defeat Detroit as others contributed to the victory.

Daniel Carcillo returned to action with four hits, a fight and a nice assist. In his first NHL game, right winger Jimmy Hayes made his presence felt. The 6’6”- 220 lb. Hayes had four hits in the first period.

Carcillo and Hayes set the tone as the Hawks recorded 13 hits in the opening frame. Hayes was credited with two shots on goal and hit the post with his first attempt on Jimmy Howard. With the help of Hayes, the fourth line outplayed their Detroit counterparts.

Goal tenders Corey Crawford and Howard both had very good performances. Crawford was a little more fortunate as the Red Wings hit iron on more than one occasion. In total he was also a little sharper than Howard.

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Next article will be posted on Tuesday.

The Kings followed a perfect script and when the playoffs begin, the Hawks will find similar tactics used against them. LA was better in all three zones and was able to contain Chicago’s skill players. The Blackhawks couldn’t get rolling as many of their 38 shots came from the perimeter. Jonathan Quick was the best player on the ice, outdueling Corey Crawford.

Quick was very good and deserved his fifth shutout of the season but this was a team win for LA. Some may say the Hawks failed because they ran into a hot goal tender but there was more to the loss.

Los Angeles controlled the neutral zone and the Hawks were not able to dictate the pace of the game. Blackhawk defensemen couldn’t add to the offense and the Kings were able to win the battles in front of Crawford. The Kings scored the dirty goals and Quick didn’t allow many rebounds. In total, LA was more efficient as their effort was top notch.

Crawford played well enough to win on most nights. To add to the Hawks frustration, their power play came up empty. The Blackhawks moved the puck well with the man advantage but couldn’t solve Quick. The Hawks didn’t do a very good job of getting the puck down low and Quick was not screened often enough. The LA defense was solid as they recorded 18 blocked shots.

The Hawks are in the midst of a dangerous stretch of games. That may sound a bit ominous considering the next two games will be played at the United Center. During an extended homestand a team can get too comfortable. Last night’s contest was the third of five consecutive home games. Joel Quenneville wasn’t happy with the effort from his troops in Tuesday’s practice. Quenneville has been around long enough to sense some complacency.

The good news is the Hawks won’t have to wait long to start another home ice winning streak as the Red Wings come to town on Friday. It’s hard to believe this will only be the first meeting of the season between the two long time rivals.

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Next article will be out Saturday morning.

Even though the Blackhawks improved their home record to 13-2-3 Joel Quenneville probably had reason to criticize. The Hawks appeared to be a little off, their passing wasn’t great and their defense was loose. Fortunately they were facing the worse team in the league and Jackets goalie Steve Mason wasn’t particularly sharp. Columbus also missed 10 shots on the night which helped the Hawks notch another United Center victory.

Corey Crawford made 37 saves but was only strongly tested a handful of times. Crawford did make some nice stops in third period as his teammates lost focus and were outshot 14-5. Even though the Blue Jackets managed a 38-22 shot advantage the outcome was never really in doubt.

The Blackhawks have a great 9-1-1 record in December. They will close out the month facing Los Angeles and Detroit at the UC this week. Things have gone really well but the Blackhawks are in the strongest division in the NHL.

The top three teams in the Central Division are Chicago with 50 points, St. Louis has 46 points and Detroit has recorded 45 points. No other division in the league has its top three teams accumulating as many points as those in the Central.

The bad news is despite a very strong December the Blues and Red Wings are still in striking distance. St. Louis trails the Hawks by only four points with a game in hand. The hated Red Wings have played one less contest than the Hawks as well, and are only five points behind. Detroit will roll into the UC on Friday night and face the Hawks for the first time this season.

The next opponent on tap is the Los Angeles Kings with their new head coach Darryl Sutter. The former Blackhawk player and head coach was hired as the Kings bench boss on December 12.

The Blackhawks probably won’t fare as well on Wednesday if they are outshot in the opening frame 13-5 as they were last night. The Hawks will have to play better versus the Kings and Wings to come away with victories. They will practice on Tuesday morning and should be more prepared and focused to face LA.

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Next article will be out Thursday morning.

Stop by The Third Man In.com to hear a podcast which was done with Chris Block on Monday afternoon.

Montreal native Corey Crawford returned to action and was solid. He allowed only one goal on a beautiful deflection that bounced in off the post. Crawford appeared confident, and although not frequently tested, came up big when needed. Crawford made a few nice saves on forward Max Pacioretty, who was one of only a few noticeable Montreal players.

The Blackhawks are rolling and are well ahead of last season’s pace, when they barely squeaked into the playoffs. The Hawks have issues that, if resolved, could make a return appearance to the Stanley Cup Finals a reality.

The Blackhawks need to establish a more consistent transition game. That is difficult to do without good passing. Hawks defensemen have been more involved in the offense, but on some nights they struggle. For the most part, the Hawks have held their own in 5-on-5 play, but they should be better. The penalty kill still needs improvement and power play performance has been streaky.

My point is not to signal flaws in a club that sits atop the NHL, but to indicate the Blackhawks can be even better.

On the positive side of the ledger, the Hawks have a very nice addition in goalie Ray Emery. Andrew Brunette is slower than slow, but he finds a way to contribute to the offense. Jamal Mayers has been a solid addition and Steve Montador has been inconsistent but has shown flashes of good play.

As Joel Quenneville commented in a postgame interview, Viktor Stalberg has improved. In summary, Quenneville said Stalberg is now a smarter more polished hockey player than he was last season. Stalberg realizes if he doesn’t make turnovers and can shore up careless puck management, he will play.

Wednesday night, Stalberg skated on the third line and the more things he can do well the better. Stalberg will continue to score as he did Wednesday night if uses his speed and big body. There is a lot of competition for ice time, and Stalberg realizes now to not get too comfortable. Stalberg’s understanding of his situation here is the reason he can flourish. Stalberg progression is steps ahead of the young Ice Hogs who are competing for his roster spot. Stalberg sometimes leaves Hawk fans wanting more.

Bryan Bickell, more often than not, has disappointed this season. Maybe Bickell had an epiphany on the flight home from Pittsburg. Or maybe he had another heart-to-heart talk with Quenneville. Whatever the reason for his improvement, Bickell played his best game in a long time.

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Next article out December 27.