Playoffs

On Sunday, when Los Angeles dropped a 2-0 decision to the Coyotes, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter wasn’t happy. He was especially upset with his power play.

In postgame comments, Sutter called out his point men for not getting shots on goal. Sutter didn’t pull any punches, which is his way for the most part, and mentioned his players need to avoid getting their shots blocked.

Keep in my mind, at that time the Kings were ahead three games to one in the series, but Sutter still went out of his way to call out some players.

I wonder how many defensemen last season had more of their own shots blocked than Duncan Keith?

If memory serves me correctly, Joel Quenneville never publicly put the onus on Keith to get his shot through to the net. Different strokes for different coaches but players who are given the privilege of playing on the power play have to perform. Sutter certainly realizes the same.

By winning every playoff series so efficiently, the Kings should have a big advantage over whomever they play from the East.

Not to split hairs but…

Although the Blackhawks are at the top of the NHL in average attendance, which is close to 21,500 per game, this seemed a bit odd.

When the Hawks faced the Blues at the United Center on February 19 the attendance was 22,077, one of the larger crowds of the season.

Facing elimination in Game 6 the UC crowd was 21,636, which at the time struck me as being a little low. Maybe it is only matter of playoff tickets being more expensive and Coyote fans not traveling very well.

Possibly fan interest dropped off after the Hawks fell behind three games to one. Or maybe there is no significance in having a larger crowd in February than for a playoff elimination game. Either way, the attendance for next season will be interesting to keep an eye on.

Hossa

Adding to an anxious off summer for the Blackhawks is the real concern regarding Marian Hossa’s condition. It has been speculated Hossa suffered a serious concussion after the vicious cheap shot be Phoenix forward Raffie Torres.

Even if Hossa returns 100 percent healthy for training camp, which is not a given, there is no telling what lingering psychological effects will remain. Hossa is 33-years-old and commented he has never had the same type of head injury before. Not only might Hossa’s long-term health be in question but it will be interesting to see if he can be the same dominant player once again.

Kane

Many were waiting for the Blackhawks to make an official statement in regards to the off season antics of Patrick Kane. Unless Kane is charged with a crime or requires some sort of treatment, most likely the Hawks won’t be issuing any statement. There is a school of thought which is used in politics and applies here. Never try to defend what doesn’t need to be defended.

Apparently because Kane wasn’t arrested and charged with a crime the Blackhawks probably think it is best to not say anything. There will be fans who look at not issuing a comment as trying to ignore the situation and in some ways that would be correct. Others who die out political fires and handle such awkward public situations for a living would concur with Hawks management.

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Any win against the Red Wings is a good win and Hawk fans can look forward to the playoffs beginning later this week. In essence capturing the two points didn’t help Chicago but it did prevent Detroit from moving up to fourth place. The Red Wings are now forced to open the playoffs in Nashville.

On a sour note, the Hawks couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead. The Wings tied the game with 46 seconds left in regulation and then were held scoreless in the shootout. Patrick Kane scored another shootout, highlight reel goal enabling the Blackhawks to finish the season with 101 points.

Corey Crawford was the main reason the Hawks held a lead for much of the game. Unfortunately, Crawford let in a soft goal at 8:11 of the third period to allow the Wings to get on the scoreboard. As has often been the case this season, Crawford played well for the most part but was exposed by a weak goal. This time it was a costly misplay by Crawford which marred an otherwise solid performance.

Blackhawk fans certainly are not without trepidation as the playoffs are about to begin. There are questions surrounding the goaltending, the health of Jonathan Toews and a miserable power play to name only a few issues. What shouldn’t be doubted is the Blackhawks are a club with a lot of heart and they usually compete hard. The Hawks have enough high end talent to be a problem for any team in the post season.

It is time to give Blackhawk players, coaching staff and front office their due as many teams would have folded by playing so long without arguably their best player. Instead of sliding out of the playoff picture and calling it a season ruined by bad luck, the Hawks rallied without their captain. This group not only accepted the challenge but excelled without Toews. During his 22 game absence, the Hawks posted a sparkling 13-5-4 record.

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Next article will be out on Monday.

Hockey like other professional sports is always a challenge to figure out. Although the Blackhawks have been without Toews, Steve Montador, Duncan Keith and other significant players they have held serve, actually that would be an understatement. Despite being shorthanded, the Hawks have played their best hockey of the season.

So how did the Hawks improve their game without Toews and others?

The most important change for the Hawks over the last six weeks was their mindset.

The players have finally accepted the messages that head coach Joel Quenneville has seemingly preached all season. Maybe it was the stark reality of failure during the nine game losing streak. For the first four months of the season this club seemed to get by, but didn’t necessarily play the correct way. The Hawks would give up bad goals but still be able to outscore opponents.

The emphasis by players was to look for more goals as that’s the solution they knew to get out of trouble. Lessons are often more difficult to learn without failure. Human nature leads us to rely on what has worked in the past and often that is the easiest path to take as well. Staying on the same course, especially considering all the injuries and the suspension to Keith, would have spelled real trouble for the Blackhawks.

There appears to have been a collective realization by the players that unless defensive coverage was made a priority they could miss the playoffs. The Hawks have finally found how to become a team which is hard to play against. When they have the puck they are holding onto it longer by simplifying their game and are more aware in all three zones. The club has become more physical by working harder along the boards. The Hawks for the most part haven’t stayed out on the perimeter. They have battled for pucks and have consistently gone to scoring areas.

No doubt the addition at the trade deadline of defenseman Johnny Oduya by GM Stan Bowman was important. Oduya hasn’t been perfect but considering how much he has been relied on, his performances have been very good. Oduya has expanded his role to helping on special teams and the smooth skating defender has fit in well.

Bowman’s best trade deadline move may have been by subtraction, not addition.

Finally, Bowman and others in management came to the realization having John Scott on the roster was a mistake. The inept Scott wasn’t an effective hockey player but more of a team mascot or security blanket.

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Next article will be out Friday morning.

With the win, Nashville is now four points ahead of Chicago and it isn’t as likely the two clubs will meet in the opening round of the playoffs. That’s probably a good thing for the Blackhawks as they have been able to capture only one point in five games versus the Predators.

These days due to an injury to Jonathan Toews and a suspension to Duncan Keith, the Hawks have to manage without both. That in itself is a tremendous challenge and to win, the Hawks must be able to adapt. Nashville was without Martin Erat, who is one of their top forwards, but they stuck to what they do best. On Sunday night, the Predators once again brought out the worst in the Blackhawks.

Imagine the Hawks as an expensive sports car with wide, low profile tires trying to move rapidly down a snow covered road. The speedy car is capable of traveling at excessive speeds but the snow prohibits it from travelling any faster than an old jalopy. The Predators are able to take the speed out of the Blackhawk attack as they effectively shut down their offense.

There is really only one way to succeed against a solid checking team with an outstanding goaltender and that is to keep things simple. In this case, the Hawks would need to get into the Predators zone by chipping or dumping the puck in behind the Nashville defense. Then the Hawk forwards must work hard to retrieve the puck and look to create scoring chances by going to the Predators’ net. After the Predators top pairing of Shea Weber and Ryan Sutter, their defense has some holes.

Sunday night, the Hawks didn’t do what was needed to succeed versus Nashville and as a result, their own vulnerabilities were exposed. Except for Andrew Shaw and a couple of shifts from the fourth line, goaltender Pekka Rinne was left unbothered. The Blackhawks forwards were kept out on the dreaded perimeter and as a result their offense was ineffective.

The Chicago forwards kept trying to skate into the offensive zone but to no avail. The Nashville defensive structure was so solid the Hawks could not get through center ice with much speed. The Predators were waiting for the Hawks at their blueline and did a fine job of not allowing Patrick Kane and others to create scoring chances. Eventually Hawk players tried to do too much on their own and that sealed their fate.

Even if everyone were healthy, the Hawks will lose to quality teams if they didn’t keep the game simple and work hard. Clubs like Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles and Phoenix who pride themselves on air tight defensive coverage will pose a difficult challenge. Once again, the Predators made it look simple while facing the Blackhawks and the score was an indication of their dominance.

The Chicago power play can be best described as abysmal.

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Next article will be out on Wednesday morning.

Maybe it took the loss of Jonathan Toews for the Blackhawks to play effective hockey. Possibly the lessons head coach Joel Quenneville have been preaching for months are now hitting home. Finally, the Hawks have been as concerned about preventing goals as scoring them. Whatever the reason or reasons, the Blackhawks are playing their best hockey at the right time.

With only nine games remaining in the regular season, Quenneville finally looks like he has a solid checking line in place. Dave Bolland is in fine form and Bryan Bickell has finally regained his form of last season. The addition of rookie Andrew Shaw to the third line brings some physicality and helps the Hawks keep things simple.

The Bolland line was responsible for checking Alex Ovechkin and his mates and the Hawks won that battle in a big way. Ovechkin did score a highlight reel goal, but Hawks checking line wasn’t on the ice. Bickell, Bolland and Shaw not only contained the Capitals attack, they also accounted for three Blackhawks goals. Shaw picked up two markers and an assist on Sunday and Bickell added an empty-net tally.

Shaw’s play exemplifies the value of playing simple hockey.

Shaw knows his role and always seems to be around the puck. The rookie winger puts himself in position to score because he goes to the net. At 5’10” and 185 pounds, Shaw isn’t a big player, but plays much bigger than his size. He has nice hands and is fearless. Those attributes have helped him score quite often.

In only 28 games, Shaw has notched nine goals while picking up six assists. He crashes and bangs and causes havoc for the opposing goal keeper. Shaw has helped the offense and also has held his own defensively. He has been a pleasant surprise this season. It also seems with the emergence of Shaw, the Blackhawks have become a more difficult team to play against.

Toews missed his 13th consecutive match on Sunday.

With Toews on the sidelines, Patrick Kane has embraced moving back to the center position and is playing his finest hockey of the year. Against the Capitals, Kane recorded his sixth goal in the last 10 games and was the best player on the ice.

Kane is not only a force when he has the puck but also has been solid defensively. Not only Kane, but the entire team has checked better and won board battles. These days, the Blackhawks aren’t hell bent on playing jail-break hockey, but rather seem more in control.

Corey Crawford was fine Sunday night but he wasn’t relied on to save the day. Except for some sloppy play in the middle period, the Hawks controlled the Capitals and Crawford had enough help.

On the offensive side, the Blackhawks were generating a lot of traffic near the Washington net, which was great to see. The team that was often too fixated on generating scoring chances with pretty plays is now focused on doing the dirty work.

The Blackhawks can still be exciting to watch, as Viktor Stalberg electrified the crowd with his speed and beat Caps goal tender Michal Neuvirth for his 18th marker of the season. Stalberg used his speed to blow by defenseman Dmitry Orlov and most importantly was able to finish the play with a goal.

During their latest run, the Blackhawks have defeated some quality opponents. Now they will have an opportunity to pick on the weakest club in the NHL. The Hawks will take to the road for a Tuesday night contest in Columbus.

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Next article will be out Wednesday morning.

The Blackhawks haven’t been winning with smoke and mirrors. They have defended better, the goal tending has improved and the team has been more effective because everyone is on the same page. With a power play goal here and there and the best players showing more energy and resolve the Hawks have been successful.

Considering the injuries to Jonathan Toews, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador the Blackawks have been playing with desperation. Injuries are a big part of professional hockey and they can be more problematic when they come in bunches. The Hawks aren’t alone in the bad luck department as the Red Wings are playing without stars Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom.

To put things into perspective, many clubs have endured more injuries this season than the Blackhawks. Detroit, not including Sunday’s contest, has suffered 137 “Man-Games Lost”, compared to only 96 for Chicago. The better teams find a way to succeed just like the Blackhawks have done recently.

Having to count on young players who lack experience is a dangerous option but now there really isn’t any other choice. On Sunday afternoon, we saw why rookie defenseman Dylan Olsen could use more seasoning in Rockford. Olsen’s footwork isn’t up to snuff and combined with the quicker game in the NHL, he gets caught flat-footed at times.

Olsen may stay in Chicago once Niklas Hjalmarsson returns but it wouldn’t be because he is 100 percent ready to play in the NHL. Previously, Sami Lepisto has been held in low regard by the Hawks coaching staff. It would come down to a choice between Lepisto and Olsen as to who would dress. My thinking is Lepisto is the more reliable of the two but it wouldn’t be a shock if Olsen plays ahead of him.

To be able to win now, heavy minutes need to be piled on top players. Unfortunately this has been the case before the injuries in respect to Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Nick Leddy is also asked to do more as he played over 25 minutes on Sunday, as was the case for newcomer Johnny Oduya. Lepisto only saw 5:31 of ice time and Olsen played just 7:03. For most of the season the third pairing for Chicago hasn’t been able to pull a heavy work load.

Fortunately, Oduya has been able to fit in quickly. Except for making a couple of poor shot shot block attempts close to the net which have led to goals, Oduya has done well. Oduya’s best asset is his skating and he can play at a quick pace. He has also chipped in on the penalty killing unit and it looks like Oduya was a good trade deadline acquisition.

The most difficult challenge of the three game road trip will take place on Tuesday in St. Louis. The Blues are a physical club that can play a defensive structure with solid goal keeping. Even before the Blues were a Central Division leader they always seemed to give the Hawks fits.

The mission for the Blackhawks in the final 15 games is to get healthy and enter the post season on a roll. At best, the Hawks may finish fifth but more important is to be playing consistently well through the season finale on April 7.

Joel Quenneville has many decisions ahead including sticking with one starting goal tender. Ray Emery has been really solid in the last two games and for now it is his net to lose. As odd as it is, this could be the third time in as many years the Hawks backup goalie ends up being the starter in the playoffs.

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Next article due out on Wednesday morning.

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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Next article will beout on Wednesday.

On Friday, the Panthers and the Hawks squared off in a contest that at times looked as if it was being played in about six inches of snow. After the NHL lockout games are played in less time than before. It is uncommon to see many play stoppages and there is less time between whistles and faceoffs. That’s a good thing in general as the game keeps moving.

Maybe it was the fact both teams had some difficulty getting to the United Center because of the snow. Possibly the start time being delayed 30 minutes caused an issue for both clubs. Whatever the reason, this was a difficult game to watch as there were a ton of stoppages and close to 60 faceoffs, which is an unreal amount. There were so many unnecessary icings it almost became comical.

The end result was Florida continuing their road losing streak and the Hawks playing well enough to skate away with a 3-1 victory. Of the former Chicago players on the Panthers only Kris Versteeg stood out a little, but he didn’t really accomplish anything on the ice.

What could be most important from Friday’s contest happened during the second period. Panthers’ defender Eric Gudbranson slashed Jonathan Toews on what appeared to be his left hand. Toews left the ice but returned a short time later and played in the final period.

On Saturday, Toews played until the final seven minutes of the middle frame and missed the entire third period. It is unclear whether Toews reinjured his left hand. In any case, Quenneville commented after the game they would know more about Toews’ injury in the next few days. Currently his injury status is listed as day to day.

That doesn’t sound good, especially considering before the Preds game both Toews and Quenneville downplayed the injury from Friday night. Maybe a new issue developed on Saturday or Toews is still dealing with a sore hand. It’s only a guess for now but it is unlikely Toews would miss the last period against Nashville if the injury wasn’t somewhat serious.

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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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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 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.

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.

In the opening period, the Wild battled but couldn’t find their skating legs. The night before, Minnesota played a hard-fought match and had to travel home from Winnipeg. It was also their first game back after a five-game road trip, so it wasn’t surprising the Blackhawks would have the upper hand early.

The Wild were able to weather the storm in the opening frame despite being outshot 11-2. The Blackhawks stayed determined and solved Niklas Backstrom twice in the opening 11 minutes of the middle stanza. The Wild wouldn’t go away quietly, though, as both teams headed into the third period tied at two.

In the third period, the team captains took their turn to dent the twine. Jonathan Toews gave the Hawks the lead on a beautiful individual effort at 6:54. Then, with slightly less than five minutes remaining, a Mikko Koivu shot deflected off of Nick Leddy and beat Ray Emery.

The game remained tied through overtime as both teams had chances to score. The Wild and the Hawks had three shots each in extra time. Minnesota recorded 28 shots after the opening frame to be outshot only 31-30.

In the shootout, Toews put a nice shot past Backstrom to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Emery played another solid game, stopping both Minnesota shooters, and the stage was set for Patrick Kane to win the game.

Kane left those in attendance in awe as he sped over the blue line and pulled up almost to a stop. No player can handle the puck as close to their body better than Kane. The Blackhawk winger made many head fakes and jukes within a few feet of Backstrom. When the very patient Kane got Backstrom to bite hard on a move he held the puck and shot it into a wide open net.

Kane’s goal was the best I have seen in a shootout because it wasn’t a trick shot. He didn’t fully stop and turn away from the net, which shouldn’t be allowed. Kane kept heading toward the goal but was able to slow down to almost a stop and wait Backstrom out while stick handling. Not many players have the skill to make that play.

The Hawks earned a hard fought point against a strong opponent. The Blackhawks showed they can play well against a tight checking team and were also good defensively for most of the game. Emery continues to impress and Corey Crawford may not got back into action this weekend.

The Blackhawks return to the United Center to face Anaheim on Friday.

The Ducks have not done much better since Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench. Since the coaching change the Ducks are 2-3-1. That type of record is not nearly good enough for the Anaheim to have a sniff at the playoffs. Even so, the Ducks did beat the Coyotes on Wednesday night.

As has been the case for much of the season the Hawks win, but don’t make it easy. The next two games are a good opportunity to pick up two victories.

This time of the season there are more distractions, especially while playing at home. Sharp focus will be the key issue for the Hawks as they take on the Ducks and then face the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Al’s Shots

John Scott’s presence on the ice probably cost the Hawks one point last night. Maybe it won’t matter concerning point totals for the season and playoff seedings. Then again, it could make a big difference in the highly competitive Western Conference.

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After dropping a game last Tuesday to Phoenix on home ice, one would think the Hawks would have been more focused. That wasn’t the case as in a comedy of errors and poor effort, the Coyotes took a 2-0 lead after the opening frame. Phoenix then scored their third goal early in the middle stanza on a text book screen. Corey Crawford was yanked, Ray Emery came in and the Hawks got going.

Last week the Coyotes kept to their system and smothered any comeback attempt from the Blackhawks. This time, after getting a three-goal lead, the Coyotes got away from what makes them successful.

Although Phoenix usually plays a strong, tight checking structure, hockey players can’t always stick to their script. The Coyotes stopped checking and started to trade chances with the Blackhawks. More often than not, playing a wide open game will spell trouble for Phoenix.

Led by Jonathan Toews, the Hawks entertained the sellout crowd with some fast-paced action. Toews scored two times, and his running mate Patrick Kane added another goal to tie the game at 13:57 of the second period. The Coyotes lost control and were fortunate not to lose the game.

Marian Hossa missed a great scoring chance while shorthanded, otherwise the Hawks would have won in regulation. Although being outplayed for the majority of the contest, the Coyotes kept the Hawks off the board. The game stayed knotted up through overtime, and the Hawks couldn’t score in the shootout.

Although this was a different twist, the end result was still another loss on home ice to Phoenix. The Hawks have faced the Coyotes three times this season, with the visiting team always coming away victorious.

There is reason to believe as a group the Blackhawks aren’t as concerned as they should be about bad starts. The Hawks are 9-0-1 when scoring first, which should be a resounding message the first goal is all important, but maybe their 7-8-3 record after giving up the first score might allow them to be too comfortable with a poor start.

In some ways the Hawks could be a victim of their own success.

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Next article will be posted Friday morning.

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The Blackhawks fought fatigue as well and stayed determined. They kept it simple and played a north-south game. The Hawks swarmed Oiler goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and made it difficult for him to operate. Khabibulin had been on quite a run, so putting five goals by him was an accomplishment.

Coming into Sunday night’s contest, Khabibulin allowed a meager 12 goals in 10 games. As a team, the Oilers had been very stingy in the opening period, allowing only six goals in 16 contests. On Sunday the Hawks struck three times in the first stanza, so the Blackhawks bucked a couple of trends with a strong start to set the tone for a winning effort.

Corey Crawford was reliable. He was strongly tested only a few times and was able to keep the lead for his teammates. For the most part, the Oilers attack was kept under wraps.

Jonathan Toews paced the Hawks’ with a game-high seven shots on goal. As usual, Toews’ determination was noticeable. He now leads the team with nine goals. Toews is skating strongly and driving to the net. The Hawks captain scored the first goal and also potted the game winner.

Normally Toews is a slow starter, but he has compiled 15 points in 18 games to begin this campaign. This could be the start of a really big year, as Toews normally gets better as the season progresses.

Toews isn’t the only Blackhawk off to a flying start. Marian Hossa had another strong outing, notching two assists. He leads the Hawks with a plus 13 rating and is second in goals with eight.

Patrick Kane also contributed to the winning cause with two helpers. Kane could be on his way to a career year as he is averaging slightly over one point per game. Kane has played in all 18 matches and is credited with 19 points.

Patrick Sharp has not been as consistent as he would like, but his stats are still impressive. Sharp was credited with two assists and now has 17 points. Sharp missed training camp, but he now appears to be rounding into form.

All four of the Hawks top skill players could have sparkling years, if they can stay healthy.

Newcomer Steve Montador has become quite a power play specialist. Montador became part of the Hawks’ second power play unit three games ago, as a forward stationed in the slot area. Against the Oilers, Montador scored his second power play marker.

Before his power play score, Montador lit the lamp with a beautiful goal on a slick individual effort. That tally gave the Hawks an early two-goal cushion.

Duncan Keith has started to hit the net with regularity. Keith scored his second goal in two games. Ever since Keith has been reunited with Brent Seabrook, his play has improved offensively as well as defensively.

The reuniting of Keith and Seabrook has also helped Nick Leddy. Since teaming with Niklas Hjalmarsson, Leddy is skating confidently and moving the puck up the ice on a regular basis. Sunday night, Leddy led all players with 27:20 of ice time and recorded two assists. Leddy had his most complete game of the season against the Oilers.

Unfortunately, not all of the news from Sunday night’s game was good.

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The Hawks had success over the Canucks in prior years because they could stick to a game plan and eventually frustrated their opponent into mistakes. Sunday night, the Canucks were a step quicker and their passes were crisper. Most importantly, they were the smarter club.

Except for some determined, individual efforts from Marian Hossa, Marcus Kruger and Jonathan Toews, the Canucks completely overshadowed the Blackhawks.

It wasn’t a shock the Hawks lost, but the way they were controlled is cause for concern. It appeared the players had their own plan, certainly not one head coach Joel Quenneville had scripted.

I had an uncomfortable feeling going into the long awaited rematch stemming from the mindset of the team. Would this club be more concerned with winning a battle rather than the war?

Sunday night, the Hawks lost both the game and many puck battles. They ended up as the team that collapsed when taunted and committed frequent mistakes.

The fights by Dan Carcillo and Jamal Mayers didn’t make the Hawks a tougher team to play against. The blame for the loss shouldn’t fall on their shoulders, although Carcillo was getting careless for really the first time this season.

Sunday, the Hawks turned into the Canucks of the past.

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On Thursday night, the Blackhawks defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout. The game marked the fifth time out of 12 games the Hawks went to overtime or a shootout to decide a contest.

Does this indicate a strong club which finds a way to win when not at their best? Or are the Hawks a team which is unable to play consistent, effective hockey? For now the answer to both questions is yes.

If not for the stellar play of Corey Crawford, the Panthers would have defeated the Hawks. Crawford was coming off his softest performance of the season against Nashville. Thursday night in Florida, Crawford was the best player on the ice. No matter how many turnovers, missed passes or errors in judgment the Hawks committed, Crawford kept his team a float.

Usually it is an ominous sign when an opponent is allowed to score a goal late in a period. Often that is an indication of a lack of concentration and those goals provide a boost for the opposition going forward. The Panthers scored at 18:19 of the middle frame and then tied the score to force overtime with a goal at 17:56 of the third period. Not once, but twice the Panthers came back with a late period tally, but the Blackhawks still came away with a victory.

The Hawks allowed the less-talented Panthers to hang around. Fortunately, Crawford stood tall in overtime and was perfect in the shootout. As Joel Quenneville commented following the game, this was a goalie victory. Crawford has had a great start to the season.

There were reasons to be distracted last night. To continue reading click here.

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There is no embarrassment in losing to Cam Ward and the Hurricanes, especially in an away game. But the Hawks didn’t simply go down in defeat; their effort was so poor it was highly unlikely they could possibly win.

The Blackhawks played their worst period of the season versus the Hurricanes in the opening frame. What followed wasn’t very good either, as the Hawks only showed flashes of determination. The result was a well deserved 3-0 loss.

The next day the Hawks had a chance to get back on track at the United Center against the club with the poorest record in the NHL. Blackhawks ledge jumpers held hands but didn’t need to take a plunge as their favorite club survived to post a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The league is so competitive that almost every game and each shift matters. The Blackhawks had been winning while not playing their best, as was the case versus Anaheim last Tuesday. Usually it is only a matter of time until a substandard effort leads to defeat.

The best teams don’t string losses together. It remains to be seen if the Hawks will end up in the upper echelon of the NHL. There are reasons to be confident, but after this weekend, it is apparent better efforts will be required on a consistent basis.

There is a common thread that runs through teams suffering losses or struggling to win. Many times those clubs have difficulty scoring goals and usually their power play goes dormant. Another commonality in bad times is many of the best players seem to disappear.

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The Hawks were dominant in the opening minutes of the first frame. The Ducks couldn’t prevent the Hawks from pressing the pace as they appeared a step quicker. As the period wore on, the Anaheim defensive scheme began to take hold. The Hawks weren’t able to move through the neutral zone with ease. Rather, the Ducks stifled the Hawks and kept them out on the perimeter.

Early in the second period while on a power play, Ducks’ captain Ryan Getzlaf received a nifty pass from linemate Corey Perry. The talented Getzlaf made no mistake and hoisted a shot past Corey Crawford.

Geztlaf got inside position on defenseman Sean O’Donnell and Crawford didn’t have a chance. O’Donnell had a rough night, and with back-to-back games this weekend, Sami Lepisto may get a long awaited start.

The Ducks proceeded to put the United Center crowd of 21,247 to sleep for almost the next 10 minutes. Then it was show-time for Patrick Kane.

As Kane carried the puck into the Ducks’ zone, he wheeled around and did a Denis Savard like spin-o-rama. Anaheim players were fixated on Kane, which left Marian Hossa open near the net. Kane’s amazing pass went perfectly to Hossa for an easy tap-in past Jonas Hiller.

Although Kane did finish on a high note, like many teammates, he didn’t have a perfect game. About six minutes after Kane dazzled the crowd, he was victimized for a Teemu Selanne score.

Kane was the last man back and made an ill advised pass attempt to Duncan Keith. The Ducks were changing lines and caught Kane off guard to intercept his pass. The ageless Selanne had Crawford all to himself and made it look easy as the Ducks took a 2-1 lead. Kane will probably be more careful in the future when he is the last man back.

The Hawks couldn’t string passes together as the Ducks controlled play throughout the middle frame. As the contest seemed slanted toward the Anaheim side, the third period began and the Blackhawks persevered.

The Hawks killed off a delay of game penalty and afterward Joel Quenneville put the old band back together. Quenneville reunited Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Kane for a shift and his timing was perfect. To continue reading click here.

Losing 3-2 to the Boston Bruins in a shootout isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, but the Blackhawks fell into a familiar, ominous pattern.

As was often the case last season, when the going was the toughest, the Hawks came up short. For whatever reason, the Hawks didn’t appear as comfortable as the Bruins, who controlled play in the final frame. The Hawks didn’t respond well in the late going and left a point on the table.
During the third period of games in the 2010-2011 campaign, the Blackhawks had 89 goals scored against them. That was the fourth highest total in the entire NHL. Only three franchises, who were all non-playoff teams, had more goals allowed in the final frame. Those clubs were Colorado (103), Atlanta (98) and Ottawa (93).

Teams that give it up in the third period are normally on the golf course in early April, so the Blackhawks were in dangerous territory. To make matters worse, Chicago was also in the bottom half of the league in goals scored in the final 20 minutes.

Although it is much too early to conclude third period difficulties will continue, there is reason for caution. Like last season, there has been a big turnover in personnel. Hopefully since the new acquisitions have more experience they will not fold when the pressure is the greatest.

In hockey the best results happen when everyone meshes. The Bruins exhibited a more complete effort when the game was on the line. The Hawks couldn’t sustain their opening period energy.

The Bruins scored both goals on mistakes. That isn’t a shock as both squads were evenly matched. What is somewhat surprising is how some of the Hawks’ top players were victimized.

Boston’s Chris Kelly scored because of a weird bounce off the glass that led to shorthanded goal. I could write that off as bad luck, although there could have been a better effort by Hawk forwards to skate back after the turnover.

The second Bruin tally was the bigger issue. The Toews line was on the ice and inexperience can’t be used as an excuse. They can all share the blame, but Patrick Sharp got caught watching the puck instead of his man. In total the Bruins deserved the win as they were sharper than the Hawks.

Speaking of having to be sharper… It’s time to reunite Keith and Seabrook. Not to single out one player, but so far this season Duncan Keith has yet to play to his skill level.

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Al’s Shots

Doing a podcast tonight with Chris Block from The Third Man In.com . The show will  begin at 8:00 PM CST.

We will discuss the start for the Blackhawks and what we believe will happen in the coming weeks.

Plus Chris will have the real scoop on the nice start for some of the Rockford Ice Hogs.

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Also please spread the word on my Blackhawk page on My Fox Chicago.com

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Hawks

On Thursday night, the Hawks tried to tempt fate as they began the contest with a less-than-enthusiastic effort. Joel Quenneville is an experienced head coach knows being off too long (the Hawks last played on Saturday) can work against the home team.

It was also reported Quenneville wasn’t happy with his teams’ morning skate. Coach Q. didn’t see the intensity and focus required for a game day. The Hawks fulfilled Quenneville’s suspicions and stumbled through the opening 7:29, finding themselves trailing the Jets 2-0. Quenneville was livid behind the bench and called a quick timeout. He scolded his troops and his tirade evidently woke the boys up. The Hawks scored the next four goals and clung to a 4-3 lead after two periods.

Another problem the Hawks were guilty of last year was getting outplayed in the third period. The Hawks didn’t score in the final frame Thursday night, but at least the Jets didn’t dent the net either. Both goal keepers looked shaky at times, but Ray Emery was strong enough to help his mates skated away with a hard-fought victory.

Maybe the best thing to say about this game is last season the Hawks probably would have lost in a similar situation.

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In his last playoff game with the Flyers, Carcillo had a problem with the officiating, so the left wing took it upon himself between periods to express his displeasure to the men in stripes. Carcillo did so off the ice near the official’s dressing room. That area is well known to be off limits to players, but it didn’t stop Carcillo.

Unfortunately Carcillo’s actions often have no limits. For those who believe you can’t take the spots off a leopard, it will only be a matter time until Carcillo implodes.

Carcillo’s Car Bomb moniker does fit. At times, Carcillo’s actions have destroyed the opportunity of victory for his teammates. His frequent brain cramps and subsequent penalties/suspensions can cost a club valuable points. Hawks fans are skeptical a player who embraces the nickname Car Bomb can ever be reliable.

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Al’s Shots

With a few players close to returning to action Brandon Saad was returned to the OHL.

He has a big future in the NHL as long as he doesn’t regress. Saad should be able to excel when playing against boys.

Crawford is questionable for tonight….My guess is he will play.

If not Alexander Salak could make his debut.

*Crawford must be fine…Salak sent down to Rockford. 10:15 AM CST

Ray Emery had come down with the flu.

But is on the ice this morning….Maybe he gets the start??

Hawks need to keep taking advanatge of their favorable home schedule.

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Quenneville is known for almost constant line juggling, but he also opened this season with a couple of new roster wrinkles. For the most part, Patrick Kane stayed playing at center, but Quenneville was unrelenting in changing line combinations. Quenneville also put new twist on things by skating seven defensemen in both games as well as quickly calling up Marcus Kruger from Rockford.

For those like myself who thought Kruger would get time to settle in with the Ice Hogs, it might be time to rethink. Then again, there were injuries and a suspension for Coach Q. to deal with. In any event, Quenneville knows all too well points in October can’t be squandered, especially at home.

A First-Game Loss: What Went Wrong

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Al’s Shots

Please continue reading on My Fox Chicago.com….

It’s early but I have seen enough of John Scott.

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This summer general manager Stan Bowman’s mission was different than the offseason of 2010. This time around he was aided by salary cap flexibility. Bowman was able to target veteran players who could fill particular needs. That’s the good news but there are still some questions which need to be answered. Hopefully it won’t take long for head coach Joel Quenneville to make it all work.

Following the Stanley Cup run Bowman was left no choice but to fire sale proven NHL talent. He did so and netted young prospects and a group of players which were either bargain basement veterans or inexperienced. Sprinkle in a few injuries to core players and the 2010-2011 Blackhawks barely squeaked into the playoffs.

Now Bowman has assembled a group earmarked to be a solid Western Conference competitor. Maybe the Blackhawks aren’t going to be a top seed in the West come April, but with a little good fortune the Hawks could secure home ice for the opening round of the post season.

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Al’s Shots

Thanks for continuing to read on my Fox Chicago.com.

Enjoy the interview below and the games this weekend.
I will be back on Monday with some thoughts.

Here is the audio of a Sirius/XM interview done Thursday afternoon with Jamie Shalley.

11-10-06 Al Cimaglia – XM Chicago

We discussed trainng camp suprises and looked ahead to the coming season.

My take was the Hawks were going to lose Game 4. But once they gained a single victory Vancouver regressed and the Hawks became the more complete team. But the good Canucks did resurface in the third period of Game 6. If not for some great saves by Corey Crawford during the third frame and in overtime the Canucks would be already heading to the second round.

Game 7’s are great theater but it often seems the final score isn’t close. There is no telling who has the edge this evening, although home ice is an advantage. But who knows…Maybe the Hawks can perform better on actual ice rather than the slow, uneven playing surface of the United Center. The ice at the UC for Game 6 appeared to be really bad. In any event the beleaguered Alain Vigneault will have the last line change which could matter.

This is not a potential loser’s lament, but in many ways the Blackhawks have already won.

After backing into the playoffs the season would have ended with a thud if the Hawks were swept. Probably the same could have been said if the Canucks won in five games. Now the Blackhawk Cup winning image has been somewhat restored and there are great benefits to this extended playoff stint.

This is a young team with many players with little or no playoff experience. Playing in three elimination games is a priceless. This series has also served as a valuable audition for players which might be in the Hawks’ future plans.

The Blackhawks needed a pleasant surprise and they got one named Ben Smith. I’m not sure why Smith wasn’t called up sooner…It’s probably best to just feel fortunate he was here for the playoffs

Smith is a smart player who plays both sides of the puck well. He has the guts and brains to get into position to score goals. Smith plays bigger than his size and has some nice hands.

Michael Frolik looks like a keeper, especially if he is playing wing. Frolik has made a commitment to play good defense. He blocked four shots on Sunday which led all forwards.

It’s been a nice trend lately as the Hawks have had many more blocks than the Canucks. In Game 6 the Hawks recorded 31 blocks compared to 12 for Vancouver.

Viktor Stalberg has tried to adapt his game and is still a work in progress. If Stalberg knew how to find goal scoring areas as well as Smith he could become a productive player.

Nick Leddy keeps my blood pressure elevated. But there is no denying Leddy has kept mistakes at a minimum although playing more minutes.

Leddy could muscle up in the next five months and be much stronger next season. He could begin the season in Rockford playing 25 minutes a game, but my guess is that path won’t be followed. Leddy can skate and has what can’t be taught….Very good vision and instinct.

For one of the few times Leddy looked a bit frantic in Sunday’s overtime but he didn’t make a costly mistake. Leddy was a steal in the Barker deal and should have a long, successful NHL career.

I’m not sure about Marcus Kruger, although I have nothing negative to say. If anyone is still wondering….A great way to look foolish is to become too opinionated on a young player too quickly.

Kruger shows good hockey sense and for now that’s enough. He has been put in a tough spot and for the most part doesn’t appear overwhelmed.

Chris Campoli has been a great addition and seems to be improving with every game. Look for the Hawks to make re-signing Campoli a priority.

This series has shown Crawford can play on the big stage. Crawford has been consistent all season and has saved the day when needed. He has outplayed a few other big name goalies during the post season.

Game 7

If Crawford plays as well as he did in Game 6 the Hawks have a great opportunity to make history.

For Luongo to shed his demons he has to beat the Hawks and help his team advance through the playoffs. There wasn’t much doubt in my mind Luongo would start tonight.

Bobby Lu is signed through the 2021-2022 campaign and was paid $10 million this past season. Because of the size and term of his contract Luongo can’t be traded. He has to be the main tender for the Canucks.

The Hawks must commit to getting to the Vancouver net. The Canuck defensemen played shorthanded in the last game and they must be pressured tonight. The Hawks need to continue to exploit the area between the face off circles and capitalize on scoring chances.

My key for a Blackhawk win is Jonathan Toews.

I’m thinking Joel Quenneville will play Toews with Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp for a good portion of the game. That line will probably have to produce at even strength for the Hawks to advance.

As important as scoring is how well Toews and company perform defensively.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Toews is often matched against the Sedins. Vigneault had Ryan Kesler’s line playing against Dave Bolland on Sunday in the late going. AV has the last line change and he may look to keep Kesler on Bolland and free up the Sedins.

The Hawk Captain has been hasn’t been able to light the lamp and is a minus four in the series. His crew will need to provide some offense and be defensively responsible as well.

With this surge the Blackhawks have made up for a less than sparkling regular season. We will find out soon whether it’s a historic comeback or just a nice story.

Al’s Shots

As reported by XM Home Ice yesterday and later confirmed by the Blackhawk Media Department…

Bryan Bickell underwent surgery to repair a tendon which was severed in Game 2.

Bickell will be out of action for six to eight weeks and is expected to make a complete recovery. The surgery was done by the Hawks’ hand surgeon and was anticipated since the injury occurred.

Bickell wanted to play as long as possible and yesterday was when the surgery needed to be performed. Bickell’s loss will be felt as he was playing well with Bolland and Frolik. Those three formed the most consistent line for the Blackhawks.

Who will Coach Q. play in Bickell’s place?

Troy Brouwer?

Tomas Kopecky made the trip to BC and might be ready to return to action.

One thing for sure….

Quenneville needs to ice the best team which shouldn’t include 59 seconds of John Scott. In Game 6, Scott played only three shifts. His lone appearance in the third period was for eight seconds.

A couple of years ago assistant coach Mike Haviland made a comment about Bolland which caught my attention.

Haviland called Bolland the life-blood of the team.

Bolland is a hockey players hockey player…. Not a lot of flash. But Bolland has a high degree of skill. He plays with an edge and is an intelligent player.

Bolland will be part of the Hawks in the future. The only negative on Bolland is he has had back problems and has trouble winning faceoffs. Those issues could be related.

No matter if Bolland is the second or third line center he could add to the offense.

It’s hard to quantify what the Marian Hossa keep in, prior to the Smith game winner, meant in terms of dollars to Rocky Wirtz.

Hossa showed his elite status and his supreme effort could lead to another playoff series. If so Hossa will have paid for a good chunk of his $8 million salary.

The Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis was upset by the Bickell check to the jaw of Kevin Bieksa.

Maybe Gillis should direct his frustration at himself and every other GM, who decided a killing zone behind the net would make sense.

It seems the last place a hit to the head should be permitted is in the area behind each net. Defensemen especially are most vulnerable there.

Let’s hope for another good game… One decided by the players not the officials.