Setting me up just to knock-a knock-a knock-a me down: Power Rankings, Week 6

by Killion on Nov 11, 2009 11:37 AM CST

Most of these polls were completed before Toews' return and the solid victory over the Kings on Monday night so they're based on the back-to-back losses to the Yotes and Avs. So it's no big surprise there's a lot of downward movement in this weeks rankings. In fact, the Hawks dropped down several spots in all but one ranking (Thanks TSN!)

SBN Power Rankings: The Blackhawks dropped out of the Top-10 in the league for the first time in the SBN rankings this year. They dropped down to 5th best in the Western conference as well, down two spots from last week.

The Hockey News: Taken before Toews' return against the Kings, the Hawks dropped 4 spots from last week to the 12th overall spot.

NHL Fanhouse: 12th overall is really popular this week.

TSN: Somehow, the Hawks held onto their 8th overall spot in TSN's poll.. Highest ranking this week..

ESPN: ESPN ranked the Hawks highest the last few weeks but they've dropped them down to 10th overall this week.

League Wide Stats:

Even though the power rankings dropped - the actual stats are looking pretty good. They dropped in overall points and goals against per game one spot each but there was some movement up in Faceoff%, Power Play % and most importantly in Penalty Kill %.

Points: With 20 points, we're tied with 4 other teams at 9th
Goals/Game: 14th Overall (2.88)
Goals Against/Game: 6th Overall (2.31)
Shots/Game: 5th Overall (32.9)
Shots Against/Game: Top of the Pops x3 (22.4)
Faceoff %: 2nd Overall (53.4)
Power Play: 18th Overall (18.8)
Penalty Kill: 2nd Overall (86.2)

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last week wasn't our best

but hopefully this week we pick up some. Schedule’s gonna be tough with the road trips out West, but hey, it’s highly likely they come back with Hossa in the lineup.

by chiblackhawks on Nov 11, 2009 11:48 AM CST reply actions

early Huet jitters & injuries

and still sitting there in the rankings?

call that a success and move forward. early season jitters are irrelevant if you jell from there and are cooking when the playoffs come.

by krome on Nov 11, 2009 12:21 PM CST via mobile reply actions

TSN is either the most accurate or woefully inept Ranking of the lot.

Maybe they saw this and preemptively ranked the Hawks…

by WirtzGMnomore on Nov 11, 2009 12:44 PM CST reply actions

Matt ?

Can you immagine the rankings when a legit superstar Hossa is added? With warriores like Toews,Brouewer,Ladd and Eager and a hopefully fixed Bolland on the ice?The UC is gonna rock like never before.

by idiot man on Nov 11, 2009 1:44 PM CST reply actions

For all the PP complaints

and they’ve been warranted, don’t get me wrong…but they’re still, basically, middle of the pack (sure, the back end of the middle, but what the hey) Lest we forget, some of the PP stat accumulation came with Buff at the point. Buff…at the point…of the power plaaaaay. Let’s hope Doctor Q’s maaaad experiments come down to more of a less psychotic level – which should help with Tazer back in the mix.

"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon

by HawkVision on Nov 11, 2009 2:50 PM CST reply actions

just like daddy

the apple didn’t fall far my man…

by oneminuteremainingintheperiodoneminute on Nov 12, 2009 3:25 PM CST up reply actions

well done.

by oneminuteremainingintheperiodoneminute on Nov 12, 2009 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

I think the consensus is

that our offensive numbers are going to get better and despite our pro-Hawks bias I’m pretty comfortable that that’s accurate.

But are we really this good defensively? We’re #1 in shots against, #2 in penalty kill and #6 in goals against. Is that in the ballpark of how good we are defensively? Can we keep this up, are we a top 5 defensive team?

by Scott13 on Nov 11, 2009 4:01 PM CST reply actions

I'm gonna say yes...

…number 6 in goals against despite average goaltending.

Keith, Seebs, Nintendo. As long as one of these three is on the ice, we have excellent defense.

I wouldn’t have guessed I could mistake anyone for Dunc, but the last week or so particularly, this has happened a few times with Hammer. The way he moves his feet and the way he moves the puck, it’s a bit eerie.

by cliffkoroll on Nov 11, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

I think in our own zone

here’s who makes me least nervous listed in order from thank god to oh no:

Seabrook
Keith
Hjgibberish
Barker
Campbell
Sopel

And I know Sopel’s been a shot blocking machine, but I still get white knuckled when he steps out. But you have to give Hammer a lot of credit because he was at the bottom of my list in the playoffs. In the playoffs my list looked like this:

Seabrook
Keith
Walker
Barker
Campbell
Hjgibberish

You have to give the forwards a lot of credit this year. With Kane playing the way he has this season there isn’t a weak link among them and there seems to be a team-wide mentality to protect what’s yours.

by Scott13 on Nov 11, 2009 5:08 PM CST reply actions

Only change I would make honestly is to put Barker at the bottom below Campbell and Sopel. Barker scares me much more in our own zone personally.

by runningquicklynowhere on Nov 11, 2009 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

exactly

Every time I see Barker wind up from the point, I feel like he’s going to drill one into the approaching player’s shin pad for a breakaway or odd man rush.

by K_Dog on Nov 11, 2009 5:59 PM CST up reply actions