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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The Coyotes were outplayed badly in the opening 15 minutes Thursday night but when all was said and done, they put forth the more complete effort. The Blackhawks were beaten 3-2 in overtime, in a game that was theirs for the taking.

It would be understandable after watching Thursday night’s contest to come away with the impression the Coyotes are a team the Hawks should handle. They aren’t very flashy, although they have some young players who are highly skilled. What matters most to their head coach Dave Tippett is that his club takes care of the details and finds a way to win close games, which is exactly what happened.

The really disappointing fact about the Blackhawks losing Game 1 was they were in the contest although they didn’t play nearly as well as they could. Phoenix was the better club for the majority of the night, but mostly because not enough Blackhawks showed up with an effective full-time effort. Joel Quenneville commented the same in his postgame interview.

Quenneville didn’t mention any names but he probably was thinking Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Sean O’Donnell and the entire fourth line were of little help. In the case of Hossa, Sharp, and Oduya, their performances could be categorized as simply bad. There were other players like Patrick Kane, Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell who weren’t as good as they can be. A spotty team performance won’t normally be good enough when playing the hard-working Coyotes.

Tippett, in his postgame remarks, complimented his team for finding a way to win without leading goal scorer Radim Vrbata. The winger was injured early in the opening period. It has been speculated Vrbata may have suffered a concussion coming on an Andrew Shaw check. Losing Vrbata after playing only 30 seconds could have been a deciding factor. On a club that doesn’t score much, Vrbata had 35 markers, 11 more than the next highest Coyote. There hasn’t been any official word on Vrbata’s injury status other than to list him as day to day.

The Blackhawks didn’t take care of the details. It appeared poor shift changes caused the Hawks problems on the first two Coyote tallies. Unfortunately, some old Blackhawks bad habits of turning the puck over in their own zone happened too often. Then the follow up was to get mesmerized by the puck and chase the Coyotes, which also happened often.

Although the Hawks had 45 shots on goal, there wasn’t enough traffic in front of Smith. The game-tying goal by Brent Seabrook was off a goal mouth battle but the same effort wasn’t there most of the night. Throughout the middle frame and in much of the third period the Coyotes outworked the Blackhawks.

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Next article will be out Sunday 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.

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.

1. The team is not as good as their record: When injuries hit and the schedule gets more difficult the Hawks will slide in the standings.

2. The Hawks are focused on trying to get through the season to gain a top four seeding in the playoffs: The core of the team will find a way to do enough so there is no danger of missing the playoffs. Once in the post season, they will intensify their efforts for a Stanley Cup run.

3. The Blackhawks are one of the five best teams in the NHL: With a tweak or two to the roster they will be a true Cup contender when the playoffs begin.

There is some truth in each of the scenarios.

As things take shape this season, option three makes more sense, although the Blackhawks don’t wow me with consistently strong efforts. In the big picture, they have as much high-end talent as any club. The Hawks also have younger players who benefit from the experience and confidence of already winning the grand prize. That is a big advantage over most others.

The second option is believed by some who have played in the NHL. The thinking is the Hawks are able to pace themselves to have enough gas in the tank to make a deep playoff run. The strategy seems dangerous, but the season is long and grueling. Players don’t get up equally for every opponent, and the Hawks, as a group, appear to measure their efforts.

The first scenario rings true in some ways too. The next six weeks will be telling as the opponents get more difficult. The advantage for the Hawks is there are many home games through the end of January. For now, the Blackhawks deserve the benefit of the doubt, as they are a top club until proven otherwise.

The Blackhawks will be in Minnesota Wednesday to face the Wild. The Wild, largely not expected to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, have been a surprise and currently sit atop the NHL with 43 points, three more than the Hawks.

One game doesn’t decide superiority, and this will be a battle of opposites. The Hawks like to run and gun while the Wild play things close to the vest. The Wild would like to score more, but they have been successful anyway. The Hawks would like to give up fewer goals, but so far they keep winning.

Minnesota has been successful under rookie head coach Mike Yeo by working hard in all three zones. The Wild employ a solid defensive structure with strong goal keeping. They don’t count on skating up and down the ice outscoring an opponent. The Wild rely on outworking the competition and normally winning low-scoring games.

The Wild are led by the talented and underrated Mikko Koivu, who has 27 points. His total is five fewer then the Hawks’ leading scorer, Jonathan Toews, who has played one less game. The next top scorer for Minnesota is newcomer Dany Heatley who has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. Heatley is the leading goal scorer on the Wild and his nine tallies is eight less than Blackhawks goal leader Toews, who has 17 markers. The Wilds notorious pest, Cal Clutterbuck, leads the NHL with four shorthanded goals.

As is evident, the Wild won’t wow anyone with offense, but they have two top goal keepers. Niklas Backstrom and the injured Josh Harding have strong .932 save percentages. Backstrom saw action Tuesday night as the Wild traveled to Winnipeg and lost 2-1. Backstrom might play again Wednesday, but if not, Matt Hackett will be between the pipes due to the injury to Harding.

Hackett is the nephew of former Blackhawk goalie tender Jeff Hackett. The youngster has done well in two games this season — boasting a perfect record. Hackett has recorded a .974 save percentage with a 1.01 GAA.

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Next article will be posted tomorrow morning.

The Blackhawks did do a fine job of silencing the best players on San Jose. Once again Sunday night’s match wasn’t an illustration of a consistent effort from the Hawks. As has been the case most of the time, the Blackhawks don’t need to be dialed in every period to win.

Are the Blackhawks dancing with danger? Maybe, but for now, embrace the fact they have enough talent to win without playing a complete game.

Style points don’t matter, only points in the Western Conference standings do. In the end, the Sharks probably felt the same way the Blackhawks did after losing the first meeting of the season. San Jose probably deserved a better fate, but give the Hawks credit as they find ways to win. They also showed they can score dirty goals, as none of the tallies from either team were pretty plays.

The Hawks surged in the final period to force overtime. Then, new father Patrick Sharp became the hero once again. Sharp scored the winning marker in overtime for the second consecutive game. Sharp and linemate Marian Hossa are developing some nice chemistry.

Former Blackhawk goal tender Antti Niemi always seems to play well against his old team. Niemi was the main reason the Sharks won the first meeting in San Jose a few weeks ago. Sunday night, Niemi was very good but his performance would take a back seat to the Hawks’ Ray Emery.

To secure the victory, Sharp won a battle with Shark defenseman Brent Burns and trickled in the game winner behind Niemi. Burns didn’t have his best game and was caught playing on the wrong side of a determined Sharp. As a result, the Hawks recorded another home ice victory and the Sharks skated away stunned.

Emery kept his club in the game during the opening 40 minutes as the Sharks held a 2-1 lead. The Hawks couldn’t get anything to click. They appeared a step slower than the Sharks and were losing puck battles. The Hawks couldn’t play at quick pace nor sustain an attack.

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Next article will be posted on Thursday.

Marian Hossa was the best player in the game. Ray Emery outplayed his counterpart Al Montoya. The Hawks’ special teams were very good, scoring a power play goal and successfully killing off six Islander penalties. The key stop for the penalty-killing unit was while the Islanders had a five-on-three power play. At that time, the Hawks PK unit stood tall for almost two full minutes.

Some would say the Blackhawks were lucky to win. Hossa did score the 400th goal of his career on a fluky play. On the game winner by Patrick Sharp, the Islanders Steve Staios had a blowout. Hossa and Sharp broke out on a two on one which might not have happened otherwise. Still, the Hawks were the better team and deserving of two points.

The Islanders are a young, quick team and appear to be gaining confidence. They battled back from a 2-0 deficit and deserved coming away with a point. They seem to have found a solid young goal keeper. My suggestion to Montoya would to be to stay in the net until he learns how to better handle the puck. Thursday night, as has been the case recently, Montoya gave his club a chance to win.

The Blackhawks finally came out with a determined effort from the start. They not only scored the first goal, but also took a two-goal lead. The Hawks played with a steady effort throughout. There were some breakdowns, but the Hawks ground out a road win, and they were successful despite some questionable officiating.

Dave Bolland is skating with more jump. Johnathan Toews continues to be a force and is working well with Patrick Kane. The Sharp-Kruger-Hossa line was solid.

Marcus Kruger still must shoot more. Kruger looks to pass first almost always and is missing opportunities to score himself. Forgotten defenseman Sami Lepisto made a rare appearance and played well. I didn’t see any glaring mistakes from Lepisto and he should have a chance to play again on Sunday.

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Next article will be on Monday.

That’s a fine accomplishment as no other club has more wins than the Blackhawks. Maybe in time bad habits and sporadic efforts will catch up with them. But for now, the Hawks have enough talent and a high enough compete level to get by in most games.

With victories over the Islanders and Blues this weekend, Blackhawk fans learned two things. The Hawks can play down to the level of competition and still win, although not look good doing so. Also, when their best players show up and they get good goal keeping the Hawks are difficult to beat.

On Friday night the New York Islanders must have felt like they were in a playoff game. The Islanders probably won’t play in front of another crowd this season of over 21,000 and they made the most of the opportunity. In fact the Islanders outplayed the Blackhawks for the majority of the game. They almost picked up their third road win of the season in Chicago but did so the following night in Dallas.

After 27 games played the Blackhawks have accumulated 35 points. That’s one fewer then than the league leading Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hawks don’t always look good winning. They often can get by without putting forth a complete effort. But no matter how they are viewed the Hawks have won 16 games in regulation.

That’s a fine accomplishment as no other club has more wins than the Blackhawks. Maybe in time bad habits and sporadic efforts will catch up with them. But for now, the Hawks have enough talent and a high enough compete level to get by in most games.

With victories over the Islanders and Blues this weekend, Blackhawk fans learned two things. The Hawks can play down to the level of competition and still win, although not look good doing so. Also, when their best players show up and they get good goal keeping the Hawks are difficult to beat.

On Friday night the New York Islanders must have felt like they were in a playoff game. The Islanders probably won’t play in front of another crowd this season of over 21,000 and they made the most of the opportunity. In fact the Islanders outplayed the Blackhawks for the majority of the game. They almost picked up their third road win of the season in Chicago but did so the following night in Dallas.

The Hawks were accommodating hosts as their only strong effort came in the second frame when they outshot the Isles 15-2. Chicago dominated New York after falling behind in the first period 2-1, after another slow start.

The Hawks tallied two goals and scored late in the second stanza to take a 3-2 lead. Most in the building thought the Hawks would seize further control in the third period and skate away with an easy win. What followed was one the poorest periods of Blackhawk hockey at the United Center in a very long time.

The islanders scored twice to even the score after regulation. In the third period, the Hawks were outshot at one point 23-3, the frame ended with the Islanders holding a 23-7 shot advantage. Sometimes shots on goal can be a misleading stat but in this case the Islanders were the superior club.

With the game tied the Islanders dominated the overtime period but Corey Crawford stemmed the tide. Crawford also was a perfect 3-3 in saves for the shootout. That enabled the Hawks to come away with an ugly 5-4 shootout victory.

he Hawks were accommodating hosts as their only strong effort came in the second frame when they outshot the Isles 15-2. Chicago dominated New York after falling behind in the first period 2-1, after another slow start.

The Hawks tallied two goals and scored late in the second stanza to take a 3-2 lead. Most in the building thought the Hawks would seize further control in the third period and skate away with an easy win. What followed was one the poorest periods of Blackhawk hockey at the United Center in a very long time.

The islanders scored twice to even the score after regulation. In the third period, the Hawks were outshot at one point 23-3, the frame ended with the Islanders holding a 23-7 shot advantage. Sometimes shots on goal can be a misleading stat but in this case the Islanders were the superior club.

With the game tied the Islanders dominated the overtime period but Corey Crawford stemmed the tide. Crawford also was a perfect 3-3 in saves for the shootout. That enabled the Hawks to come away with an ugly 5-4 shootout victory.

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The islanders scored twice to even the score after regulation. In the third period, the Hawks were outshot at one point 23-3, the frame ended with the Islanders holding a 23-7 shot advantage. Sometimes shots on goal can be a misleading stat but in this case the Islanders were the superior club.

With the game tied the Islanders dominated the overtime period but Corey Crawford stemmed the tide. Crawford also was a perfect 3-3 in saves for the shootout. That enabled the Hawks to come away with an ugly 5-4 shootout victory.

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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There is little doubt hockey is a team sport. But oddly, a simple formula has proven to indicate success.

The club which has the best performance from a goal tender and a skater usually comes away with two points. Versus the Flames the Blackhawks had both angles covered. Simply put, Chicago had the better goal keeper and the best skater along with the determination to succeed versus Calgary.

Goal tender Ray Emery has improved in each of his four starts and after last night’s victory, has compiled a 4-0-1 record. Emery outplayed his counterpart Miikka Kiprusoff and was the main reason the Hawks defeated the Flames.

Calgary controlled the action in the opening frame. The Flames were the better team and swarmed the Hawks in the early going. The Flames were on a constant attack for much of the first frame but Emery stood tall. His rebound control and positioning was better than in any of his previous outings.

Because of a botched play by Kiprusoff the Blackhawks scored the first goal of the night during the opening period. With a strong performance Emery made sure his teammates kept the lead throughout the contest.

To a hockey purist Marian Hossa is the prototypical player. He is big, strong, and fast. Hossa has the ability and the will to play at a top level every game. Last night, Hossa was a factor on almost every shift versus the Flames. In my view he was the best skater for either team.

Others like Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith were a big factor too but Hossa controlled play and was consistent force. In every zone Hossa has an effect on a contest as his play without the puck is top notch. Versus the Flames Hossa had two assists while playing over 21 minutes, but his contributions go beyond offensive production.

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Joel Quenneville should breathe a sigh of relief as the Hawks power play clicked three times. In total, the effort was vastly better and Corey Crawford had a decent outing as well.

The Hawks were able to generate speed and a lot of shots by defensemen moving the puck up ice. The Hawks led early and stayed focused. The Blackhawks controlled the majority of play until they pulled in their horns in the third period.

To put the Blackhawks victory into context, the dismal performance by the Blue Jackets has to be mentioned. The struggles for Columbus began with sub-par goal keeping.

For whatever reason there are times a player suddenly loses his ability to perform at a high level.

In 2008-2009, Columbus goal tender Steve Mason won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year. Mason then signed a two year, $5.8 million contract extension in September of 2009. The Blue Jackets appeared to have found their franchise goalie for the future.

In the following season Mason was only average, and now he looks broken. The Blue Jackets are guilty of having suspect defensive coverage and have given up more goals than any other club. But Mason looks like a shadow of the goalie he was in his rookie year. In many games, Mason hasn’t given his club a chance to win, as was the case Thursday night.

Mason looks like his confidence has eroded to the point he might not recover. That would be a shame, as he is only 23 years old.

The Blue Jackets had a long four day break since suffering an embarrassing loss this past weekend. They should have been charged up and ready to battle, but instead they began the contest looking unprepared. Their best player, Rick Nash, was mostly invisible in the opening period.

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Happy Veterans Day to all who have served!

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.

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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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Hawks’ netminder Corey Crawford was sneaky good. Although Phoenix had only nine shots through two periods, many were very good scoring opportunities. To help the Hawks cause, the Coyotes missed the net on a few occasions when they should have dented the twine.

Marian Hossa returned from sick bay none the worse for wear. Hossa gave the Blackhawks an opening period lead and played well. After that, the more determined Blackhawks didn’t allow the Coyotes to capture any momentum.

Nevertheless, the Hawks did leave the door open for the Coyotes, as they held only a one goal advantage through 20 minutes. At that time, it felt like Chicago should have had a bigger lead based on their edge in play. The score was tied by Phoenix in the opening minutes of the second frame.

In the second period, the Hawks wouldn’t be denied. After Taylor Pyatt evened the score, Jonathan Toews notched his second goal of the season less than three minutes later.

Phoenix came back to tie the score aided by a Duncan Keith blowout and subsequent giveaway. Ray Whitney launched an accurate shot past Crawford and it appeared the Coyotes had found new life. But less than a minute later, Jamal Mayers redirected a Keith shot from the point to put the Hawks on top for good.

Aided by a one-sided retaliation penalty called on Hossa for slashing at the end of the second period, the Coyotes began the final stanza on the power play. The Hawks killed off the penalty and a few seconds later, Patrick Sharp was whistled for tripping. At this point the Blackhawks, were clinging to only a one-goal advantage.

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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.

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When one analyses the link between the Thrashers’ on-ice and off-ice difficulties, some may proffer that the club’s inability to sign a contract extension with superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk, the best player in franchise history, and his subsequent trade on February 4, 2010 kickstarted the process that saw the NHL leave Atlanta again.  It is always hard to prove whether one discrete event is causative but clearly the Kovalchuk deal was not the beginning but the end of a long line of red-letter transactions that hampered the Thrashers.

A snapshot: Patrik Stefan, a mediocre player: the franchise’s first-ever first overall draft pick in 1999 … trading 21-year old defenceman Braydon Coburn to Philadelphia for 34-year old blueliner Alexei Zhitnik, one year away from leaving the NHL, at the 2007 trade deadline…

Strangely, the Pittsburgh Penguins inadvertently found themselves intersecting with Atlanta’s demise over the last four seasons.  At the 2008 trade deadline the Thrashers, destined to finish second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, traded star right wing Marian Hossa and left wing Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for young forwards Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong, 19-year old junior prospect Angelo Esposito and the Penguins’ first-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft who turned out to be centre Daultan Leveille.

In the previous season, Hossa became the first Thrasher ever to score 100 points in a season and he would go on to lead the Penguins in playoff goals during their run to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final while Dupuis blossomed into a versatile forward, scoring 49 goals and 115 points in 249 games with Pittsburgh.  In contrast, Christensen and Armstrong combined to produce 48 goals and 103 points in 236 games for Atlanta.  Yes, when Armstrong migrated south, he no longer had Sidney Crosby feeding him the puck while Dupuis often saw top-line “Crosby” minutes in Pittsburgh.  However, the main point is that with one man, Dupuis, the afterthought of the deal, the Pens in the long-term essentially maintained the production of two players they traded away.

Christensen and Armstrong are no longer with the Thrashers and Esposito has languished in the AHL, never having played a game in the NHL after showing flashes of goal-scoring skill during his days in the Quebec major junior ranks.  Leveille finished his third year at Michigan State in 2010-11 and is still a few years away from possibly playing professional hockey.

How about 2004 first round choice Boris Valabik, selected tenth overall by Atlanta?  In a draft where the Thrashers could have chosen Drew Stafford, Travis Zajac or Andrej Meszaros, they tabbed Valabik who has played just 80 NHL games in his career and has since moved on to the Boston Bruins where he played for their AHL affiliate in 2010-11.  Unfortunately, Valabik will best be remembered for being the awkward victim in a truly bizarre post-goal brawl in Philips Arena.  In a game on December 18, 2008, several Pens and Thrashers mixed it up moments after Atlanta scored late in the first period.  While Valabik was occupied with fighting Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang, Crosby inexplicably jumped in to take a few shots at Valabik including one or two from behind … and well, um … just watch:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fast forward to this season.  On December 22, 2010, Atlanta Spirit Group, the consortium of eight owners who owned the Thrashers, finally settled a prolonged internal dispute when disgruntled – some would say disruptive – co-owner Steve Belkin was removed from the group.  Six nights later, the Thrashers arrived in Pittsburgh hoping to avoid a season-high four game losing streak.  They couldn’t.  Crosby scored twice including a highlight-reel, splitting-the-D goal to add to the hat trick he dumped on Atlanta at the beginning of the month.

As the winter progressed, it became apparent that new investors were being sought to help finance and keep the cash-strapped team in Atlanta.  On the verge of a summer of unknowns, guess who visited Philips Arena for the season finale?

The Pittsburgh Penguins, of course.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Thrashers concluded their time in Atlanta with a loss, 5-2 to the visitors and the game’s 2nd star, scoring a goal and an assist, was Pascal Dupuis.  The loss meant that of all 14 Eastern Conference foes, the Thrashers suffered the most at the hands of Pittsburgh, falling to 11-28-0-5 in 44 games.

Add the Penguins to a list of odd and inadvertent factors that doomed NHL hockey in Atlanta.

Judging from Bowman’s remarks it seems almost a certainty Frolik will be in a Hawk uniform come October. Frolik is an upcoming restricted free agent (RFA) who is not arbitration eligible.

The more pertinent issue is what position Frolik will be required to play. If Frolik accepts the assignment to be Marian Hossa’s pivot man the rest of the roster could take shape more easily.

If, for whatever reason Frolik is resigned as a winger not a fulltime center Bowman will have more work to do.

Two things need to change regarding Hossa as a Blackhawk. First he must stay healthy and play in closer to 80 games rather than 60. Next his offensive production must increase. Hossa is better than a 25 goal performer.

A challenge for Bowman is in trying to get full value out of Hossa.

Frolik is a lefty center which is what Hossa prefers. It is too early to tell if Frolik will help increase Hossa’s production. But there is little doubt Bowman needs to establish a center to compliment Hossa. Frolik probably can be reasonably resigned, he is not arbitration eligible. If Frolik is the key to more scoring from Hossa, then Bowman can focus on other needs.

Bowman’s second ready made option at center for Hossa is Dave Bolland.

Hossa and Bolland did play together last season with mixed reviews. Bolland is right handed, plus Hossa doesn’t seem like the easiest player to mesh with. I wouldn’t sell Bolland short, his offense could improve if not required to focus primarily on defense. But using Bolland with Hossa may create another hole.

If Frolik is used at wing the shopping list for Bowman will change. So the direction the Hawks go to fill holes on their top two lines will depend on Frolik’s role with the team.

Maybe Joel Quenneville opts to play Hossa and Bolland together more as a shut down line. The way Bolland, Marty Havlat and Andrew Ladd were used a few years ago. Somehow I don’t see Hossa relishing that role.

What will happen with Brouwer, Crawford, Kopecky and Stalberg?

Viktor Stalberg is an upcoming RFA who is arbitration eligible. But really Stalberg doesn’t have much bargaining power. His biggest asset is possible untapped potential. Although Stalberg has lessons to learn he can skate and is trying to be more physical.

Stalberg doesn’t play well enough along the walls to keep a spot as a complimentary top six forward. Stalberg has a little of Kris Versteeg in him, as too many plays end with him last touching the puck.

For about $1 million or less the Hawks may take a chance on resigning Stalberg. Then they will have to figure out where he can fit in.

Tomas Kopecky is an upcoming unrestricted free agent (UFA). Because of his point production he could be looking to earn close to $2 million next year, which would be a nice raise.

Kopecky fills a need because he isn’t afraid to set a screen. He also will bounce up after getting smashed. Although not a finisher, Kopecky has a nice shot.

On the downside Kopecky isn’t a strong defensive player. He takes some bad penalties because he chases due to being out of position. Kopecky doesn’t play quick enough, plus his skating isn’t great. So realistically, Kopecky is not a top six forward on the Blackhawks.

Kopecky stats are inflated because he often played with Hossa and was also used on the power play. My take is the Hawks would be a stronger team with Kopecky playing fourth line minutes rather than receiving top six ice time.

The decision on his Blackhawk future will depend if Bowman wants to allocate close to $1.5-$2 million for a fourth line screen setter. The Hawks may want to focus on more size, speed and physicality. Kopecky might be overpriced for a fourth line role.

It’s 50/50 at best whether Kopecky will return.

Troy Brouwer is an upcoming RFA who is arbitration eligible and possibly could attract an offer sheet. Brouwer will want his salary to move close to the $2 million range from the $1,025,000 he earned last season.

Maybe it was posturing, but in interviews Bowman didn’t seem as positive about Brouwer as he did other players.

Where I sit the Hawks can’t afford to lose Brouwer because they will not be able to replace him for less money. That isn’t the only reason, Brouwer hits and can score which is a rare commodity.

Even though he had a prolonged slump to finish the year Brouwer still recorded 17 goals. He was also the biggest victim of Joel Quenneville’s line shuffling. Brouwer played on every line and never could settle in.

The Hawks gave up on another proven AHL scorer, who couldn’t find a set role with the Hawks. Rene Bourque is a different player than Brouwer, but both were top goal scorers in the AHL. Bourque found his niche in Calgary and he became a valuable top six forward. My take is the same could happen for Brouwer.

As Chris Block recently cited, only three players had as many or more hits than Brouwer and recorded a higher goal total.

Cal Clutterbuck and Tuomo Ruttu each had 19 goals and Brouwer is a better player than both. The other big hitter who can score is Dustin Brown, who Brouwer is not better than at this point. But Brouwer is almost two years younger and maybe his best days are still to come. Brouwer doesn’t have to be Brown like to be an effective Blackhawk.

Brouwer’s production fell off in the last part of the season. But it is extremely difficult to pound away every game and continue to score. There are very few players which can be really physical and score goals. Brown is an elite category.

Bowman continues to pooh pooh the possibility of any Hawks receiving an offer sheet this summer.

At first blush, Corey Crawford probably won’t. After all Antti Niemi won the Cup and didn’t receive an offer sheet. But not so fast…Niemi was arbitration eligible and Crawford is not. This summer the appetite for young goalies who won’t break the bank could be different.

There are a couple of teams which might not be able to pursue Ilya Bryzaglov or Tomas Vokoun because of cap restraints. The Capitals and Flyers appear to need a goalie badly and don’t have a ton of cap space.

It doesn’t make any sense to wait on the Crawford negotiations, but that is what Bowman said he plans on doing. For whatever reason, Bowman intends to sit down with Crawford during the weekend of the NHL Entry Draft. The Draft will be held on June 24 -25, if not signed Crawford could negotiate with other clubs beginning on June 28.

My guess is Crawford’s camp could be looking to drag their feet and hope for an offer sheet. After all that strategy worked well for Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Crawford could find a taker in the $3 million range. A playoff bound team like Washington or Philadelphia, who can’t afford a big name UFA keeper, could be very interested in Crawford. Top young goalies have recently been signed for around the same amount.

Crawford doesn’t have a lengthy NHL resume, but that may not prevent another franchise from tendering an offer sheet. One thing for sure, Bowman can’t take the chance.

The Hawks are in a better cap position this summer than last. But I don’t think they planned on a new contract for Crawford being valued at $3 million or over.

If Crawford doesn’t attract an offer sheet, Brouwer may throw a money wrench into Bowman’s summer.

There might be a franchise which believes Brouwer is worth a second round draft choice and tender an offer sheet for over $2 million per season.

For example, a club could tender a three year $ 7.0 million offer sheet to Brouwer and the Hawks may not be able to match. Actually the Hawks most likely will look to pay Brouwer less than $2 million per season, even if for only one year.

Although one can argue Brouwer isn’t worth over $2 million per season, power forwards are not easy to find.

The two biggest deals before the trade deadline involved Chris Stewart and James Neal, both power forwards. I am not putting Brouwer in their class but the Hawks can’t replace him without going out into the open market. Let’s not consider Kyle Beach, who doesn’t appear ready and would be over a $1 million cap hit. Anyone the Hawks acquire to fill Brouwer’s role most likely will require a $2 million cap space commitment.

It seems like the Hawks could be caught because other teams may value Brouwer’s grit and scoring touch. My thinking four months ago was Brouwer should be resigned and I feel the same way today. But now his price could be higher.

Considering the lack of big, physical goal scorers around the league Brouwer has some bargaining power.

The biggest fear for some Blackhawk fans is Bowman will overvalue his own draft choices and show less interest in others. Brouwer and Crawford were not Bowman selections.

Comments from Bowman may indicate Brouwer is not a top priority. The Hawks could be undervaluing Brouwer, which might not be the case with other franchises.

Every comment from Bowman indicates Crawford is definitely in the Hawks’ future plans. The question is whether Crawford will be signed before another club makes him part of their future.

Last summer the Hawks young manager had an unenviable task. This summer Bowman has to consider every possibility and not be caught off guard.

Otherwise Bowman’s job in the next few months could once again be very difficult.

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.

With a couple of new young faces, the adrenaline rush after the Raffi Torres head shot and the return of Dave Bolland the Hawks have recaptured their focus and confidence. The passing has improved, the defensemen* are playing well and they are adding to the offense. *(Excluding John Scott)

It helps to play with a lead and the Hawks are different team to deal with when they can roll three scoring lines. But this series could be more about what the Vancouver Canucks have turned into rather than what the Hawks have become. At last report the boys from BC appear a bewildered bunch which can’t sustain an effective effort.

Before the series began I commented on XM radio about would likely happen if the Canucks failed to move past round one. Because of the injuries and the fact half of the Chicago team was different from last spring the Canucks shouldn’t have an excuse for not winning this series. My last comment on the topic was that if defeated Mike Gillis wouldn’t clean house this summer, he would blow the house up.

My guess is head coach Alain Vigneault would become collateral damage. Much in the same way as Mike Keenan was terminated in 2009 after the Hawks eliminated the Flames. Maybe Gillis would have to answer for the Canuck failures as well.

The odds are still stacked against the Hawks. Unfortunately because of a poor start they are only a bad bounce, or bad call away from the end of their season.

There is no doubt the Hawks are in a vulnerable position. But by winning two in a row the Hawks have done their best to put some vulnerability into the psyche of the Canucks.

Game 6 represents another big challenge. Although it looks like Brent Seabrook will return the Hawks have to remember how they won Games 4 and 5.

The following must be present for another victory.

Hard work, clean exits from their own zone, traffic in front of Luongo, no bad penalties plus a north-south attack.

Marian Hossa answered the bell last game and provided a scoring punch. The defense and forwards have been playing well without the puck. Duncan Keith is playing his best hockey. Corey Crawford has been sharp and the rookies haven’t been looking so young.

Hawk fans are emotionally fully invested and long for a Game 7.

The Canucks need to flip the switch and hope they can reignite their Stanley Cup run. As it is, the Hawks may have already put a dent into that dream.

The Cup winning club is often the team which plays the least amount of games while accumulating 16 wins.

Last year the Philadelphia Flyers played in only 17 games before reaching the Finals. The Hawks had a four game sweep on their way to toasting from Lord Stanley.

The Canucks missed on a great opportunity for a short series and all that remains is whether they will regain stride or get blown up.

Al’s Shots

Like most head coaches Quenneville doesn’t like to a change a winning lineup but if Seabrook returns he has no choice.

If Scott could catch someone to check then he probably should start at wing. But the immobile Scott has received more punishing checks than he has dished out.

Lapierre, Glass and Torres won’t fight Scott but they don’t hesitate to paste him every chance they get. In some ways those checks seem to rev up the Canucks.

The Hawks could use more physicality but Scott only provides fighting not big hits.

I would sit Scott and dress Marcus Kruger. Actually my choice for the fourth line would be Rob Klinkhammer but he doesn’t appear to be on Q’s radar.

Teams scoring first are 31-6 in the 2011 playoffs.

Let’s hope for a game which the players decide the outcome not the officials. The refs haven’t done a very good job thus far.

Lastly, for all those celebrating….

Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

Ben Smith will be a good Blackhawk poster boy for future hopes. Smith appears to be intelligent and gives a good interview. Smith picked up two goals versus the Canucks in a losing effort. Unfortunately he was also on the ice for the three Vancouver scores. 

Smith isn’t the only one to be blamed for some defensive miscues. There were about four Hawks mesmerized by the puck on the Canucks first score. 

The good news is Smith looks like a NHL player. He knows enough to go to the net and keep his stick on the ice. Its nice Smith also buries his chances. Smith keeps it simple and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. 

Joel Quenneville doesn’t stop surprising as Jake Dowell was a healthy scratch. 

Back in mid December I thought Dowell should get an audition as a second line center. That was a bit wishful but at the time there weren’t many better choices.  In the last couple of months Dowell’s play has dropped off. 

Ryan Johnson was my choice to be the third line center during the playoffs but maybe he plays too small. Johnson played less than nine minutes and only took two faceoffs but the Hawk still won 60% of the draws…Hmm. Maybe Johnson will be around next season only because he wins faceoffs. But Johnson isn’t getting much ice time even though he is a veteran. 

Coach Q. pulled Marcus Krugers’ name out of the hat on Friday and he played 11:47. To my disbelief Kruger and Smith saw a lot of playing time together. Kruger was a perfect 4-0 at the dot. Evidently Quenneville isn’t afraid to load up the same line with players with hardly any NHL experience. 

Michael Frolik doesn’t win many faceoffs and seems out of place at times but he tries. I don’t know if Frolik fits into the Hawks plans as a winger. 

Viktor Stalberg might have been the most noticeable player on the ice the other night. 

I’m thinking Stalberg will be in Chicago come October as well as Smith. 

I’m not surprised at anything at this point unless the Hawks come back and win the series. 

But I would be shocked if this summer Stan Bowman doesn’t sign a couple of veteran role players which could provide some leadership. The Hawks won the Cup and then got younger and less experienced. Management shouldn’t want to repeat the same show next season.  

There could be about nine new faces in the 2011-2012 team picture compared to this season. So Hawk fans should be prepared for another period of adjustment. 

We can boil the current Blackhawk situation down to an “either-or”… 

Either the skill level of the top players left from the Cup run has suddenly dropped off dramatically. 

Or their gas tank is just about empty. 

My hope and vote goes for the latter. 

I won’t believe Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson could have gone from stellar performers to less than average this quickly. 

The top end players have played heavy minutes the past three seasons and in this campaign they were more overworked than in the past. 

If the Blackhawks want to play a fast paced puck possession game they have to do one thing more than anything else. They need to pass the puck accurately. 

A team trying to play skilful hockey which can’t connect on passes is like trying to play basketball without being able to catch. 

There are three factors which lead to poor passing….A lack of skill, not playing as a cohesive unit and fatigue. 

Unfortunately the Blackhawks hit the trifecta. 

Lacking skill is probably the least contributing factor to their current problem, although some players are still over their skis. The bottom of half of the roster isn’t overly talented. 

Not playing as cohesive unit should be of no surprise as that has been a bad trait all season. 

The fatigue factor is now the biggest concern. 

The defensemen are getting pressured and pounded. The result is bad passes and weak clearing attempts. Campbell and Keith are playing poorly. Hammer is not much better.

The Blackhawk offense is supposed to start with the defense but when passes don’t click everything slows down and scoring opportunities are limited.  

Having defenders join the rush should happen at the appropriate time to generate more scoring chances. But the only time the Hawks generate scoring chances shouldn’t be when their dmen skate into the offensive zone below the faceoff circles.

The Hawks top forwards have been silenced. 

Jonathan Toews had his poorest performance of the season in Game 2.. No one misses Dave Bolland more than Toews. 

Ryan Kesler has controlled Toews and Quenneville has no answers. Maybe Q. will finally put Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane together but not with Toews. That way on home ice Quenneville might be able to free up Toews from Kesler. 

On Friday night Sharp reminded me a bit of Alex Burrows or Shane O’Brien from previous post seasons. 

Sharp took a bad penalty after a whistle the same way some of the Cauncks were guilty in the past. Unfortunately the Canucks responded with a power play goal as they made the most of Sharp’s brain cramp.

The Hawks could never draw even with the Canucks. Playing from behind saps more energy.

Kane hasn’t been able to ignite the offense but he hasn’t had much help. Many of the passes directed at Kane have been at his feet or beyond his reach.

Fatigue has probably set in for Kane too. While Kane was reaching for a puck along the boards Alexander Edler stepped up and crunched him. Usually Kane wouldn’t let a player get a free shot at him but his reactions could be a bit slower at this point. 

Marian Hossa is invisible much of the time even though he was playing on the top line. Hossa has no points in the playoffs and also is an ugly -3. That is the poorest plus minus of any Hawk forward.

Hossa could be tired but he played in only 65 games during the regular season. Unfortunately Hossa is on the wrong side of thirty. His tank will empty quicker than many of the younger players.

In Friday’s blog I pointed out the Hawks needed secondary scoring to have a chance to win Game 2. What wasn’t on my play sheet was that secondary scoring would account for every goal and the Hawk power play would remain ice cold. 

If the Hawks are going to make another flight to Vancouver they need to stop playing from behind and start connecting on the power play.  

On Sunday night the United Center crowd could become impatient, especially if the Blackhawk power play doesn’t convert. If the Canucks get a lead the home ice advantage will be neutralized and boos and cat calls will likely fill the air. 

The UC could become an unfriendly place for the home team.  A good start in Game 3 is more important than ever. 

Al’s Shots 

Being called up for the playoffs as a Black Ace is more of an honor than anything else for a minor league player. Usually the Aces never get to play. But it is a learning experience for the young guys, besides being a reward for a job well done.

They get to travel, skate with the big club and hang out. It probably is a cool experience and a nice perk. 

Two of the most heavily touted Hawk prospects of the past few years did not get an invite to be a Black Ace. 

Kyle Beach and Igor Makarov were conspicuously left off the Aces. 

Beach was called up two years ago as an Ace and was sent home along with Akim Aliu. Sources close to the situation told me they were disciplined for getting into a fight. Kind of a friendly dust up, if there is such a thing. But that was another of many questionable on and off ice incidents for Beach. 

I don’t know the exact reasoning for leaving Beach and Makarov off the Aces. But unless they were excused for personal reasons it is not a ringing endorsement from Hawk management to not be called up. 

Beach, a former first round draft choice should be embarrassed by not being included. Last year he was called up as a Black Ace.

One would think Makarov could have benefitted from the experience too. 

Makarov played his first full season in the AHL and had mixed reviews. Although he did come on in the last month. I always had my doubts on Makarov being a future NHL player and I don’t think differently now. 

Beach has the hands to be a NHL player but it could be awhile before he gets a chance.

The Hawks could look to move Beach this summer before other teams come to the opinion he is more hype than anything else. Probably some already feel that way.

If Beach could stay on course he could fill a need. The Hawks could use a big power forward in the worst way. 

But it is looking more likely Beach may never get a chance to play with the big club. 

Bryan Bickell appeared to suffer a nasty skate cut during Game 2.

The injuries keep mounting…

The Hawks might only be one more injury away from Rob Klinkhammer making his playoff debut.

As brought up in the past, this has been a crazy season. The best thing the Hawks had going for them is there are many other Western Conference teams which at any point could be less than average. So in that regard the Blackhawks were not alone. But make no mistake the Hawks could match any club when it comes to being inconsistent.

The third line du jour was eaten alive by the Red Wings but Joel Quenneville kept trotting the same matchups out all game. Not to place all the blame on Coach Q. because he is playing with a short stack.  With Dave Bolland and Troy Brouwer on the shelf, Quenneville is almost pulling names out of a hat.

Especially with the injuries no matter what Quenneville does he is groping to fill roles. The Hawks had nobody which could fill the void from losing Patrick Sharp or Bolland and the same can be said for Brouwer.

The poor play didn’t stop with the bottom six forwards. The turnovers and sloppy efforts came from some of the top unit players as well. Detroit was guilty of mental mistakes and turnovers on Friday night and on Sunday the Hawks took their turn.

Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith and others weren’t careful with the puck, they left the Red Wings many opportunities. Sound puck management was lacking which shouldn’t come as a shock.  The Red Wings were able to keep things simple and once again the Hawks couldn’t.

The Wings came out on top even though the Blackhawks received every officiating break.

Keith must have had multiple get out of jail cards. He slashed a players’ stick and it sailed into the crowd…No call.

Keith high sticked Tomas Holmstrom and drew blood….No call

The Hawks got the benefit of a bad icing call late in the game and also got the last power play opportunity of the day. But none of it mattered.

The Blackhawks finished the campaign with 127 man games lost which was 93 fewer than the previous season. The losses were felt more this time because there wasn’t the ability to absorb injuries. Really bad luck comes in with close to 300 man games lost, Colorado was victimized with close to 450 man games lost.

So excessive injuries weren’t really an issue in Chicago but rather the inability to play well when players were out of the lineup.

Unfortunately the table was set on Sunday for the Hawks to finish as high as fifth. Playing the Ducks wouldn’t have been an easy task. But now the Hawks will play the most consistent team in the Western Conference.

Anyone who believes the Canucks are fearful of playing the Blackhawks should reconsider.

Without Bolland and Brouwer this is a great matchup for Vancouver. Past history won’t put fear into the Canucks but rather will keep them respectful of the inconsistent Blackhawks.

Corey Crawford didn’t have a great game. He could have been better on couple of Red Wing goals.

For the Hawks to have any chance against the Canucks, Crawford will have to be all world. In addition Bolland and Brouwer need to be back in action soon.

Otherwise the Hawks are on borrowed time.