It's Something Less Than A Holiday: Hawks 1 - Kings 1 (Kings win punt, pass, and kick competition 2-0)

by SamFels on Nov 29, 2009 11:17 AM CST

Well, it's over. Though I'm sure we all feel just a tad flat after the last two, a Circus Trip record of 4-1-1 is beyond acceptable, and borders on wildly successful. We would have all taken that before the trip began, it's just one point from the last two makes it feel worse than the record suggests it should.

Once again, it's frustrating watching the Hawks not figure out how to play a trapping team until the 3rd period. The Kings constantly sagged all five skaters into the neutral zone, and yet for the first 40, all the Hawks took turns trying to stickhandle through the entire Orc Army. The results were predictable. Still, they created some chances here and there, which Jonathan Quick stood up to, and Huet made his share of saves as well. Though why he was playing on back-to-back nights after Niemi's last outing is anyone's guess.

The deadlock was broken when Marlboro 72 reverted to their sophomore year ways, letting Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds dance through them unmolested. Good play by the Kings duo to be sure, but Seabrook should have closed down the passing lane better, and Keith could have done more than ask Simmonds if he wanted fries with that as he skated by. 1-0. The rest of the period was pretty ho-hum.

Finally, the Hawks got it in the 3rd, chipping the puck in deep, outskating a slow Kings d-corps and creating chances. A few of them fell to Marian Hossa last night, and I get the feeling that if those same chances fall to him in about five games or so, the shots will be going top-corner instead of goalie's crest. So it goes. Captain Marvel was able to cash in on the power play to get a point for his team, which was the least he deserved. Has he played a better stretch of hockey than this one?

OT was your usual hair-on-fire stuff, though Kane did draw a penalty during it, which is the reverse of how the Hawks worked these things last year. However with only seven skaters on the ice, the Hawks couldn't figure out how to enter the zone, which is sort of mystifying. A couple of awkward Hossa one-timers was all they could muster.

You know how it goes from there. Wonderful trip, and this team is so good we're all a little disappointed it wasn't better. Ah well. December is a home-heavy slate, with 10 games at the UC. As McClure has dubbed it, it should be Runaway and Hide Time.

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I'm quite annoyed by the bandwagon

“Journalists” in Chicago scrambling to be first in line to shine the collective knobs of the Blackhawks. Yeah, Morrissey you’re first in line. It’s November. These guys have no clue and probably don’t realize the Hawks were just shut down for 2 games in near identical style. They are one of the top teams in the league and occasionally dominant but come on. They have won nothing and annointing them as “the team to beat” in November is foolish and ignorant.

A Wash/Chi or Pitt/Chi finals would be highly entertaining, but getting through the physical trapping teams will be quite a stuggle and either of those Eastern powerhouses have the sharpshooters that would give the flopper nightmares.

Speaking of Huet what’s with the shootout strategy of hitting his knees as the shooter gets over the blue line with his glove awkwardly extended in front of the 5 hole and flailing with his stick? Make Niemi the designated shootout goalie.

by Duck99 on Nov 29, 2009 12:10 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Fuck that

Let’s bring in Julie “The Cat” Gaffney. She snuffed out Gunnar Stahl’s triple deke in a high pressure situation, so she should be the shootout specialist over Niemi AND Huet.

www.secondcityhockey.com

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.

by McClure on Nov 29, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

and that’s the second Gunnar Stahl reference that one of us has made in less than 24 hours.

Second City Hockey

by Killion on Nov 29, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

How about the welcome wagon?

I think that the Hawks deserve a nice loud welcome back Tuesday night after that torturous west coast swing. Giguere and Quick both stood on their head to keep their respective teams in the game and the Hawks never gave up. Overall, 4-1-1 is fantastic on this circus trip… why do they call it a circus trip? Signed, Joachim Noah of YOUR Chicago Bulls.

Victim was found murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.

by pucknut on Nov 29, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

it is the circus trip

because that is what’s occupying the UC – so as to require the long trip.

But I suppose that is a lot to ask a basketball player (whose team shares the building and is in the same predicament) to understand

by krome on Nov 29, 2009 2:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

and who spell’s his own name wrong, but he might just be high

wait what?

by pepe126 on Nov 29, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

I'll take it

They definitely were showing signs of being tired and let’s be honest, they were wanting that Sharks game and after absolutely annihilating the Sharks in the tank they weren’t up to playing a not so good Ducks team. As for yesterday, Sam said it, they couldn’t figure out the trap.

The Hawks got 9 points out of a possible 12 points against teams that are 46-25-5 at home so far up to this point at home. They walked into the Horses ass dome and made Kipprusoff look like a joke, they beat the Canucks by a shut out with Niemi and great defense after playing in Edmonton the night before, then they went into San Jose and beat a team that has only lost 6 games in regulation the past two seasons. I just hope the game against the Ducks wasn’t the Hawks typical playing to your opponents level.

As for Huet, yes he looked pretty damn lost in that shootout but .964, .926, .917, .912, and .955 on the Circus trip is amazing and the lowest total was a lapse in the PK.

The defense needs some love too, Dunc and Seabs other than letting that goal last night have played damn near perfect, Soupy and Hjalms are on fire as well (though I’d like to see Phantom get more points), and even Sopel and Barker looked good on the trip, though I noticed Barker out of position a lot and he is too damn slow to make up for shitty positioning and poorly timed attempts at pinching. But they have looked damn good.

Toews was the player of the trip, great stretch. So when are they moving Kaner back with Sharp? Because Toews, Kane, and Hossa in my opinion should be moved. Get Ladd or Brouwer or Buff (notice how I mentioned Buff last).

Great trip, Clark W. Griswold would have been proud. Can’t wait to see them back at the UC Tuesday.

by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Nov 29, 2009 2:53 PM CST reply actions

I agree

I dont like the Toews, Kane, Hossa line either. Kane especially looked a bit confused on what his role was. Too many play makers on one line. Diversify our talent. Sharp and Kane is a good idea.

by Puckpowwow.com on Nov 30, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

The Third Period

was perhaps the most impressive to me on the whole trip. They were on the final 20 minutes of a 6-game trip, they’d already spanked the team ahead of them in the standings, and 4-2 is a great record for a tough stretch. They could have mailed it in and caught their plane. But they came out flying and didn’t quit until the end of overtime. They should have been too tired to flip the switch like that, but they did. Imagine what they’ll be like when they’re rested. And Hossa is fully settled in. And they get back on home ice. And…ahhh, it’s going to be fun!

by Preacher000 on Nov 29, 2009 5:33 PM CST reply actions

The second line

was just bad in this game. Versteeg Sharp Buff is not a line that is going to give you any consistency whatsoever. Don’t take this as panicking, but as fun as it has been to watch kane, toews, and hossa skate circles around the opposition in the offensive zone…………I think some tweaks might be in order. Maybe that rumored Buff for Matt Cullen trade wouldn’t be such a bad idea given Bickell’s skillset (for next year and beyond).

Again, not panicking, just miss full strength Bolland.

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

by Hack on Nov 29, 2009 11:17 PM CST reply actions

I agree

That second line was nonexistent, I thought, for the past 3 games. I love Kane/Toews/Hossa, but I think they need to be split up to get some consistency in the top 2 lines. Buff is better if he’s not asked to score, and I think he will be more beneficial to us on the 3rd line. Also, you know Ladd will bust his ass every shift of every game, which will pay dividends when he’s playing w/ the skill players on one of the top 2 lines. As I said earlier—-Sharp is worthless w/o Kane, so keep them together.

by illinikc33 on Nov 29, 2009 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

Somehow

I get the feeling that the Kane/Toews/Hossa line is together for a few games so Hossa can get back in the groove, and once Hossa is back at the top of his game, then Kane will play with Sharp again…

I don’t know why but that’s just my gut feeling at the moment.

GO BLACKHAWKS
Witness to Mark Buehrle's perfect game July 23, 2009

by chisoxfan1473 on Nov 29, 2009 11:55 PM CST up reply actions