Sometimes You Eat The Bear...: Canucks 3 - Hawks 2

by SamFels on Oct 22, 2009 1:21 AM CDT in Recaps Comment 58 comments

More photos » Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Pardon me if I veer from the usual outline of these, but I think this game just needs a notes format:

-If any of you are fooling yourselves, stop. Tonight was the first game this season where the Hawks were badly outplayed for a majority of the game, at least the last 40 minutes. Vancouver -- which has struggled to do this all season -- played the exact game they wanted to. Slow, defensive, and built on work along the boards, which the Hawks came second place in all night. Credit to them, they dumped it in for a great portion of the game, but the Canucks D-men simply outdid the Hawks forwards, and that was that.

-As seriously as Coach Q takes a 5-on-3, his team sure doesn't know how to run one. We all know Q thinks games hinge on this, and yet this season the Hawks have been clueless. Whatever the players out there, they don't move the puck fast enough. There's far too much standing and waiting. On a two-man, stretch the kill out, get a forward down, and lanes appear. As far as players, Bolland is clearly not healthy, why aren't Toews and Kane out there together?

-If Toews and Seabrook are really hurt, there are problems.

-Cam Barker is such a turnstyle he needs a rape-kit.

-Speaking of Toews' injury: We applaud Versteeg for the thought of going to the defense, but it was clean hit. In the 3rd of a tight game when you're up 2-1 and you've already blown a two-man, you can't take that penalty. You see the Canucks three more times this year. Take a number, worry about it later.

-Too many penalties in the final frame for two games now.

-This was by far as impressive as Niemi has looked all year. Composed, confident, almost cocky. If there's a silver lining to Huet's terrible start, it's given the Niemi the chance to prove that he can be a more than reliable back up who can take 25-30 stars this season. Displays like tonight could lead to more.

-Kane created Brouwer's goal, but is responsible for Samuelsson's goal. We'll just have to live with it.

-I. Love. John. Madden

-And. Troy . Brouwer.

I think that's it. McClure will be in to clean up in the morning.

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Comments

You can't miss the bear

I didn’t watch tonight’s game, so I don’t know what all really went down.

I will say this though:
OH MY GOD!!! TWO LOSSES IN A ROW!!! THE SKY IS FALLING! WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS! NIEMI LET IN THREE GOALS!! TRADE HIM FOR A HANNAH MONTANA CD!!!

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Oct 22, 2009 1:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well it’s too bad you missed tonight’s game, because Niemi looked damn good. It’s too bad we lost this game, and it’s too bad you are mocking half the people on this site for Huet being a total hack so far.

Here’s to hoping Toews and SeaBreeze are alright.

by cubs22 on Oct 22, 2009 1:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, we were outplayed...

…but to come up empty-handed after leading at home with 7.5 minutes left, guh.

…And yes, Niemi played well, but he missed a shot that would have been handled by a goalie with his glove velcroed to his pad. Ironic. This cost the Hawks at least a point and, bottom-line, if the result isn’t better than if I had been in net, I’m not doing cartwheels.

It’s not impossible for a goalie to win a game, but it’s been a while in this town. The last realy good run by our goalies were shutouts by Khabi, Huey, and Crawdaddy bunched together during the playoff push in spring 2008. For most of the game, last night looked like a rare one of these games, and I’m pissed Niemi couldn’t at least get us into OT.

Hard to say if Barker/Hendry is an improvement over Barker/Sopel. I thought it was scarier, and evidently Q thought so too. He was juggling d-lines the last two periods (lots of novel combinations) to minimize this combo.

With the emrgence of Seebs and Nintendo, I wouldn’t be surprised if this pattern continues.

Despite it all, once again, if we don’t blow a minute long 5 and 3 and almost kill two penalties before coughing up powerplays, we get two points.

by cliffkoroll on Oct 22, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barker is indeed struggling

and needs to find his game a little for if this continues Q may be forced to have him watch from the stands. With that said though, I think he’ll turn it around pretty soon as well as the PP. Give it time it will all work out in the end.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Oct 22, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I think it's a shame Huet didn't start

because this game seemed different from the other games, and to me, this would have been a better show of what he can or cannot do.

Fine, I’m just getting stubborn on this. I’m not sold on Niemi as a #1. I’m no goalie, never played hockey myself, it’s just my feeling. I fear terribly when he leaves the net as he seems (IMO) to look lost and scared. I could, of course, be wrong. It has happened once before.

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Oct 22, 2009 1:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Crawford!!!

Okay, just kidding…

Is it just me or were there more chances shorthanded than on the pp… for the second game in a row.

by CaptainPorkchop on Oct 22, 2009 2:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i get the same feeling

Despite that one PP goal against us tonight, in general I’ve found myself feeling better about the Hawks on a PK than on a PP.

by chiblackhawks on Oct 22, 2009 7:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If nothing else,

Toews will always know that he will be on Willie Mitchell’s highlight reel.

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Oct 22, 2009 2:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mitchell will have a target on his back.

For the rest of his days in a Canuck jersey if he chooses to suit up against the Hawks. I know that the hit was clean, and I know that the game was tied up in the 3rd. Common sense says you don’t retaliate in that situation. But, it was our captain. All of that other shit goes out the window. He had a choice he made when he lined up Toews if he wanted to take him off the puck or put the hurting on him and you know which one he chose. There are very few players on the Hawks that would have come out of the penalty box and done it the same way.

Victim was found murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.

by pucknut on Oct 22, 2009 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eager, Brouwer, Fraser, Burish...

All likely would’ve done the same thing. And we would’ve cheered.

NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE

by mjthor on Oct 22, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are correct.

Well stated mjthor. Unfortunately 2 of the 4 players you listed are hurt. The other two were not on the ice when this incident happened. Three (I threw Buff in also) intimidating players (if you call Fraser intimidating) out of a lineup of 18 guys is just not enough to face that Vancouver team. I said it yesterday morning that the Nucks would come out headhunting. If I know this why does’nt Q know this? Maybe he does and there just isn’t anything he can do about it. Unlike the 5-on 3’s which something must be done about because that’s just pathetic.

Victim was found murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.

by pucknut on Oct 22, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You said nothing about players that were active on the Hawks roster last night.

And that irrelevant, anyway.

I’m not quite sure the point you’re trying to make anymore.

NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE

by mjthor on Oct 22, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"There are very few players on the Hawks that would have come out of the penalty box and done it the same way."

This is epically wrong.

by Dr. Ice on Oct 22, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its true.

If Patrick Sharp or Kane or Kopecky come out of the box and see him in front of them they will go right for the puck and not play the man. Wow, I just realised how unpopular i’m going to be.

Victim was found murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.

by pucknut on Oct 22, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What can I say? We enjoy rational thinking (most of the time) around here.

by Dr. Ice on Oct 22, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ray Ferraro is the color guy on TSN for this game. He said that Niemi has a “weird” way of catching the puck. Sammy went right for and over his glove on the winning goal. Ray did score 400 plus goals in the league. One would think he knew what he was talking about. He also pointed out Niemi goes down too much. Go roof daddy on the guy…beware when the word gets around. There have been many goalies that were “great” for a while, and now are on the backup goalie / team carousel, moving around the league like gypsies. Shooters talk. Guys are buds with other guys on other teams…word gets around.

I thought the breakdown was fine Sam, save for one thing…Kane turning to go up ice way too soon that late in a game was bad…but “Soupy” Campbell, after giving away the puck, saw Sammy breaking to the net and briefly turned THE OTHER WAY and let him go to the net. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand it.

I mean…thanks Campbell, but WTF? loved the feeling in the game too…Ferraro could hear the jawing between Fraser and Kes all game long, and while TSN is too PG to let us hear that, it did lead to Fraser going for the big hit on Kesler when he made a sublime pass to Grabner for his 1st NHL goal.

That line sure is quick Huh?

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Oct 22, 2009 3:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it was Ladd

..not Fras who took out kesler and left grabner all alone. nice work.

"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"

by west_fulton on Oct 22, 2009 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just wondering if the Canucks Gatorade bottles are filled with Luongo tears?

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Oct 22, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TSN takes homerism to astronomical heights. the fuck is wrong with these guys.
- Bieksa high sticked himself. Look at the video fuckheads. worse, i’m sure they did and still stayed mum.
- on TSN Highlights, they fall all over themselves about Mitchell’s “great” hit yet no word about the penalty he received (i thought it was a charge not a rough).Penalty’s are not “great” hits, they’re penal-fucking-ties
- After First Period shots of 6 for VAN and 10 for the Hawks, Ferraro says the Canucks out-played the Hawks.

Now, i understand the points made here, and the Hawks deserved to lose, but that first period was anything BUT one-sided IMO. spotty at times for sure, but one-sided? really?

After that bullshit “first-beer-son” pride on the Mitchell hit, i finally turned the fucking fucks off. good gravy.

I’m sure someone will point out some CORSI figures or “Defensive Chances in the Neutral Zone” stats, but all i really wanna do here is vent…not be constructive. thank you.

…the kids can come back in the room now…

by WirtzGMnomore on Oct 22, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mitchell’s penalty wasn’t for the hit on Toews. It was for the back-and-forth with Versteeg. It was a good hit, a clean hit.

by Dr. Ice on Oct 22, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough. there was ALOT more, though, i could go on…but i’m out of breath.

by WirtzGMnomore on Oct 22, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As has been pointed out before

TSN tends to maybe not be anti-american with thier hockey coverage, but they always lean toward the Canadian team. It was ridiculously clear during the playoffs last year.

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Oct 22, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well…maybe keep the kids out…you are just going to keep swearing then…now I know you might say its the “Canuks site” and quote some silly homerism…but here’s the box score…

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2009020116

TSN has some of the best commentator talent on the game working for them. They have done well at NHL hockey for years. Lets just say I’ll take the opinion of a guy that had 400+ goals in the “Show” over yours on that one. Ray Ferraro quite rightly pointed out that Niemi holds his glove “weird” and that’s where Sammy went with the winner.

There are a few teams of broadcasters throughout the States that have great talent ( my fave is Jenrette (?) in Buffalo.

He HAS to hit him Wirtzy. He was not up to speed enough to try and skate with him…if he misses the poke check, its a 3-2 with Toews carrying the puck.

That being said, you guys are totally right to be pissed on the 4 minute call. And Wirtzy may be correct that TSN made a “sin of ommision” there.

But there was no penalty on the original hit at all.

Because it was clean. And the only thing he could do. Coach would have stapled his ass if he didn’t. As one of the Hawks astute posters said on the story over at Nucksmisconduct, Niemi could have prevented the whole thing doing what he is supposed to there…alert Toews by slapping his stick on the ice. And Brouwer should have never made the pass…he was looking right at Mitchell coming out of the box…its directly in his line of vision.

Next game is Nov. 22nd. I am sure that will be just as spirited in Vancouver.

Oh, one last thing.

Fuck Corsi.

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Oct 22, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the number of goals you accumulate over a career makes you a expert analyst

Why doesn’t TSN hire Wayne Gretzky? or Mike Bossy? Fuck bring Bobby Hull back into the booth?
As much as I dislike McGuire at times he does bring more insight to the table than Ferraro. But none of them are better than Bob McKenzie when it comes to TSN.
Just for the record Rogers Sportsnet is a much more talented and professional staff than TSN, even HNIC is far superior when it comes to hockey coverage and expert analysis.

by hawks61 on Oct 22, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair and astute observation about Niemi and Brouwer on Toews hit

by cliffkoroll on Oct 23, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mr. Ferraro

…ever mention high-sticking himself for the TSN turning point (yep, uh, sorry – it certainly wasn’t the Mitchell hit) resulting in a fucking bogus penalty that gave him one of those 400 goals to tie a game his team eventually pulled straight out of his expert analytical ass?

Just curious.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Oct 22, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That 5-on-3 power play stat is brutal.

I still can’t stand how that last Vancouver goal was scored; Kaner turned it over, but Campbell just stood there, mouth-breathing and doing jack shit to get in the way of the ensuing shot. Still, I think it’s a decent sign that this is the first time all season he’s been the culprit for a goal like that. Barker deserves to be in the dog house more, for all the reasons everyone’s pointed out.

by gmh on Oct 22, 2009 4:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm worried

Alright,i used to be a hockey fan in the 90’s….then for like a good while i totally stopped watching…now i have been a huge hovkey fan for the last 3-4 years…..i live in europe,moved here from the south side of chicago,i played b-ball last night from 10-12:30,came home,took a shower,and waited till 2:30 in the morning to watch the hawks nucks game….was up till about 5 a.m. and woke up for work this morning at 7,everyone at work thinks i have a hangover lol!!!But i am pissed as hell stayin up that late and havin the hawks lose….

I have to say that i am worried a bit about the hawks,maybe i shouldn’t be,it looks like Seabrook is ok but who knows about Tazer…even though this was the first time the hawks got outplayed this season,i haven’t liked the last 2 games at all….maybe because they lost…anyways,powerplay-horrific…penalty kill is pretty good this season but was bad last night,and for the second game in a row,penalties late in the game are costing us!!!Brouwer is lookin better and better…my question is,will this team be better when hossa comes around,or will he possibly disrupt everything?

by csm on Oct 22, 2009 4:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

better.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Oct 22, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well we couldn't get in the zone all night

usually we can dump and run, but Vancouver played so tight at the blue line, we couldn’t do shit

Praise Him!!

by Hawk is God on Oct 22, 2009 6:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Quite true

And that inability to gain the zone has the potential to bite them in the ass over the course of the season.

The illadvised passes, and particular D-men becoming turnstiles are hanging our goalies out to dry. That and the PP is atrocious.

Hopefully they can get their heads out of their asses when they play Chris Hanson’s favorite interview subjects.

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Albert Einstein

by Novy on Oct 22, 2009 6:35 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Niemi's glove

Of course I think Niemi had a good game, and was great on those first kills in the third. I picked up the feed from TSN on NHL network last night, and the whole game they were criticizing the way Niemi catches the puck by swatting at it. I know he made some key glove saves (and Huet barely knows how to catch), but on the two third period goals, wasn’t he beaten glove side?

by DC Blackhawks on Oct 22, 2009 7:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Second goal

was stick side. Third was glove side. Yes, Kane deserves some blame there as he misplayed the puck, but to me, Campbell made the bigger mistake trying to make a cute drop pass in your own zone with 5 minutes left in a tied game.

My goal? World domination.

by stickhandler on Oct 22, 2009 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree. another ill advise move on the part of campbell that cost us a game

by cheliraz on Oct 22, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

watch the game.

campbell did not cost us the game, dude. that giveaway was all Kaner. As good as he is in the offensive zone, he still needs to work in our end. What cost us the game, rather, was totally reckless and sloppy play in the last two periods. getting four shots in all of the 2nd didn’t help much either.

by Kevin Kujawa on Oct 22, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Campbell had a nice game

But I think that turnover is on him. Kane had no room to do anything with that drop pass. Campbell should have skated through that forecheck.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Oct 22, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah.

after watching it again, you’re right. i was sitting on the other end of the ice, but i feel like that play happened four times in that period and we dodged the bullet the three other times. to say that the game is on campbell was what fired me up initially.

by Kevin Kujawa on Oct 22, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

like matt said a couple days ago

Campbell and Buff rage this year is unwarranted, lazy, and is just carrying over from last year.

I really thought campbell was solid last night (he was positioned really well on a three on one earlier in the game), the turnover was irritating, but niemi needs to make that stop.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Oct 22, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see how anything I said translates as Campbell rage. He was solid last night and has been real good all year I think. His backcheck on the 3 on 1 was tremendous.
That doesn’t change my opinion though that he made a risky play in his own end late in a tie game. Kane compounded the error by mishandling the drop pass, but you just don’t make that kind of play in that game situation. There’s no need for it. I’d make the same comment if it were Hammer or Keith or any other Hawk.

My goal? World domination.

by stickhandler on Oct 22, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not a big capbell fan, but i will say he did play well throught most of the game. but your only as good as your as your last play and he coughed up the puck late in the game. i just think he should be smarter than that. no rage here.

by cheliraz on Oct 22, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how anything I said

makes you think I was talking about you

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Oct 22, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Campbell is a good hockey player...

…but an average defenseman at best.

by cliffkoroll on Oct 22, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

all props to brouwer for another good game set aside...

how do you make that pass to tazer?

"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"

by west_fulton on Oct 22, 2009 7:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

T-Bone

2 goals in the last two games? Not expecting 30 from him, but any he scores is a positive.

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Albert Einstein

by Novy on Oct 22, 2009 7:57 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

And on another note....

Is it me or can Jordan Hendry skate really well?I mean a heck of a lot better than Sopel?

by csm on Oct 22, 2009 8:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yea, it might be just you...

I thought Barker was exposed even more with Hendry. His skating is nice, his passing is crisp, but he and Barker were terrible. At time, Hendry looked confused and overwhelmed. There came a point where I wished Sopel was out there. I thought maybe watching this game would make people on this site see his value as a solid 5th/6th D-man. Skating well doesnt mean you’re a better player. Sometimes it’s the only thing you got (i.e. Jack Skille)

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Oct 22, 2009 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its good to have Hendry as a 7th d-man.

He was most impressive last night. Doing all the small things that need to be done on defense. His skating looks improved over last year also. The way Sopel has been blocking shots this year I think it is a matter of time before he gets injured. You gotta love the way Sopel jumps in front of those pucks! And when that happens Hendry will be ready.

Victim was found murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.

by pucknut on Oct 22, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

have to disagree on a couple points and agree on a couple

Niemi was pretty darn good……….for two and a half periods. The hawks had just killed over 3 minutes of that double minor and Niemi needs to make that save, after all our goaltender is supposed to be our best penalty killer. The third goal was damn soft, sure there was a turnover, but samuelson’s shot was nothing special. Unless those shots were redirected, they need to be stopped.

I put the turnover on samuelson’s goal on Campbell, not Kaner. Campbell could have skated right by samuelson (the puck would’ve been out of samuelson’s reach), but instead he makes an ill advised drop pass that Kane didn’t get a handle on. There was a mouth breather behind me at the UC last night who was bitching about Campbell all night, but I thought Campbell had a nice game, especially in his own zone, the turnover was his only mistake.

Bolland looks average at best out there. Put Toews and Kane together on the PP again. It makes no sense to have your best guy on the draw and your best PP playmaker on separate lines. And then let Madden center the second PP line until bolland gets healthy. I understand that Madden is a defensive guy, but he’ll win draws, and be positionally sound, give him a look until Bollie figures things out.

Last thing, I know fourth lines shouldn’t make or break a team, but I didn’t even notice the fourth line last night, having burish and eager out is hurting more than I thought it would.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Oct 22, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn't get to watch last night until the end

(turned it on just as Van tied it).

But I know what you’re saying about the 4th line. I wouldn’t say I took it for granted, but perhaps we failed to truly appreciate just how important it was to have your fourth line consistently generate pressure and control the puck in the offensive zone. Even when they didn’t generate any real chances, so many 4th line shifts consisted of Burish (especially) , grinding it along the boards behind the net, making the defense work.

Any goals were icing on the cake.

Now we’re forced to eat the crumbs of grandma’s fig newton box when the fourth line goes out.

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on Oct 22, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

dunno how many times i said this last night

but i really do miss our fourth line. It came to a point where I commented on how much ice time the current fourth line seemed to be getting. “What? Why are they out there again? Ohnooooo.”

Etc etc.

by chiblackhawks on Oct 22, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Eager is the guy I miss the most. Is it too early to declare Ebbett a bust?

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Oct 22, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Toews Hit, Status??

Any word on Toews? Hate to see such a tough, hard hit. Looked clean. I missed the game. CSN now posting all game lites which I like: http://tinyurl.com/ygdze7j

Speaking of Toews, excellent feature on him in this week’s SI. It’s called Captain Serious. Good quotes from Burish. And a mention of a bar in UND (Judy’s Tavern) were Toews/crew partied hard one night. Can’t find the link…. will look and post if I find it.

by ChiSportsFan on Oct 22, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No surprise hes in SI then gets injured right after

Lets Go Hawks!

by CubsBall2202 on Oct 22, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

- Forget Scum. No team seems to aggravate me more these days than the Canucks.

- I have no complaints about Versteeg. That sort of penalty, I think, a team should be able to kill fairly easily, and really, it was Buff’s high-stick (that apparently was actually Bieksa high-sticking himself?) that got us in the end. Warmed the cockles of my heart to see our littlest, scrappiest guy out there against a lumbering giant. Sort of. Anyway I was half-convinced he’d go through a sophomore slump this season and so far he’s defying those expectations. I don’t mind.

- Watching that Toews hit was painful. What’s the most time he’ll be out? Two weeks? We’ve got the Preds, the Wild, and the Habs at home, and then the Yotes and the Avs on the road before November 9&11 when we host the Kings and Avs, but he should be back by then.

- We had no jump at all last night. I don’t think I know enough to figure out whether that was because we just didn’t have our legs on us, or if the Canucks were just able to effectively smother our offense. Hopefully we get our game back on Saturday.

- Is it just me or was Sharp not— well. Sharp?

- It is also wrong to feel more confident about your team during a PK than during a PP. Meh. Hopefully that’s something we can get back on track.

- Duncan Keith is ridiculous. I’ve always loved him but now that he’s getting more shots in (he hit his third goal last night; according to @NHLblackhawks last year he hit his third goal sometime mid-December), there’s more to like.

- Niemi was solid, except when he wasn’t. (woo, astute observation!) Wouldn’t be surprised to see him between the pipes for the next couple of games, but hopefully then he’s got the defense that was so keen on protecting our goalie the last few games.

- Maybe I should stop eating at West End before the game. The last time I did was for the pre-season game with the Wild and that didn’t end well either.

by chiblackhawks on Oct 22, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree on Sharp...

…and the other Patrick too. After flying out of the gate, they seem to have gone on radio silence the past week.

Keith is obviousy thinking more in terms of offense this year- a testament to Seebs’ development. Right now, Dunc is the best player on the ice whenver he’s out there.

by cliffkoroll on Oct 22, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs