Hurt? Sick? Hungover? What's wrong with Toews?
by Killion on May 1, 2009 9:37 PM CDT
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PrintToews started off the playoffs like we all hoped he would - he had 5 points in 3 games and put the team on his back and scored the wining goal for Game 2.
The last few games, not so much.
In a press conference today, Q said that Toews has been sick for the past week and that should explain the drop in ice time and the overall level of play. Plenty of people think that's BS though and think Toews is hurting. A few others think Toews was just massively hungover after his 21st birthday on Wednesday - you guys are all joking with that, right? ... right?
Here are some more numbers for you:
| Goals | Points | +/- | Shots | Faceoff% | TOI | |
| Flames G1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 71.4 | 17:18 |
| Flames G2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 53.8 | 15:40 |
| Flames G3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 46.7 | 17:18 |
| Flames G4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 62.5 | 17:28 |
| Flames G5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 80.0 | 12:41 |
| Flames G6 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 | 57.1 | 14:10 |
| Canucks G1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 3 | 27.3 | 13:46 |
The slide for Toews really begins around Game 5 with the Flames. Only 12:41? In arguably the most important game of the post-season? That ought to raise a few eyebrows. Still even with that lack of ice time Toews managed a point with an assist on Sharp's goal 11 minutes in. He also won 80% of the draws.. very good.
Last night's game was probably the worst seen Toews not just in the playoffs, but possibly in his entire career. 27.3% on the draw? Ouch. Toews also took the first penalty of the night and a lazy one at that. The Captain also was responsible for the turnover in the 2nd that lead to one of the Sedins' goal..
While Q did say that Toews has been battling the flu (same thing Kane had?) he also said he was feeling better today. Does anyone really believe anything he says though? Take it all with a mountain of salt...
In Game 4 though we did mention in the recap that Toews was damn near invisible.. That's most likely the start of his sickness there - That is the first game Kane came back from when he was sick. So there's some backup for the idea he's sick, not injured.
Ultimately we won't know what's wrong with Toews until the season is over -but really, nothing seems to be wrong with his physical play. Sure he was horrible on faceoffs last night but his faceoff numbers before last night habe been good, even if the rest of his play hasn't been. I haven't noticed any fault in his skating though that's harder to see on TV where you can't watch him unless he has the puck.
His errors, the penalty and the turnover (which was more like getting knocked around by a Sedin.. ew), really seem to be more mental problems. If he can get rest, get healthy, we should see the return of our Captain.
Q did say that this morning's practice was the best of the year - so lets hope for something out of that tomorrow.
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And with that...
…watch for Toews to put up career night. Once you start to doubt him he comes off the mat and shines once again!!!
I have faith.
Hurt, sick, whatever he will step up.
by runningquicklynowhere on May 2, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
not worried so much about Towes
Its the stupid penalties that are killing me. If we advance and want to have any chance against Scum, we better buckle down and stop taking unnecessary penalties.
Regarding Towes, if anyone has the intestinal fortitude to bounce back and “commit”, I’ll place my money any day on O’ Captain, my Captain. The dude undoubtedly has grit and determination. Not making excuses for the guy, but he is only human…. that and swine flu is all the rage these days…..
I think the bigger story is that Kane hunkers down and pots twice in game one. I’d like to see him continue this streak, if for anything his own confidence.
I’m not naysaying, but win or lose (hopefully win), this experience will serve us well in the future.
Go Hawks! And to quote Slapshot, “Fucking Christ, Pop ’em!” in Game 2. Amen.
This rant brought to you by Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Lack of presence in front of the net
made me think he didn’t want to get hit. He’s ALWAYS right there, and he hasn’t been.
But I think they’re gonna learn a lot from that 1st game, and come out like the winners they are.
If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning
Found this on Kukla's Corner...
and then immediately dropped them from Twitter once I found out one of their writers is a Canucks fan and the other is a Wings fan.
Haha wow that was pretty funny. They called Eager a wimp and their reasoning was that he didn’t fight someone that wanted to fight him. I don’t think they know how fighting plays into a game and when it would hurt or help your team.
note: Not my favorite DEP song or album, but the title works too well.
even though Eager isn’t much of a werewolf, I still like the irony of “Sunshine.”
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
Nucks fan here. I thought that Eagers hit was a little late, but they called him and let it go with that. I’m cool with as long as they let the players play and hit all series. The problem this year so far has been the inconsistency. With Carcillo and Brashears suspensions, and then the lack of one with Cammaleri and Perry, the league is lookin pretty bush.
Anyways, tonights game should be a beauty. I’m pickin the Nucks to win 5-3 again. I think this series will be tight, but still high-scoring.
As for Toews, he’s gotta be havin some shoulder issues. The flu is not a reason for a Canadian kid to become invisible. I’ll bet that the real reason will come out at the end of this series.
"The flu is not a reason for a Canadian kid to become invisible"
What the fuck is that even supposed to mean? Influenza kills thousands of people every year, and if you actually have influenza, and not the bullshit common cold people refer to as “the flu,” then you’re gonna be EXHAUSTED.
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
A 26-ounce flu can make a Canadian kid invisible :)
by Sean Zandberg on May 2, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
And this is what I was talking about...
…the same old ‘Canadians are ultimate warriors’ bullshit! It’s sickening that it’s starting to induce me to vomit. It’s hockey! And no matter where you are from some players get hurt and sick and it doesn’t discriminate or exclude Canada! Canadians aren’t always playoff hereos, one that comes to mind is Joe Thornton yet nobody says anything but when Ovechkin struggled in the first round its ‘Russian can’t play in the playoffs’ garbage! Just remember how the Canadian media trashed Bure before his breakout in 1994.
So its O.K. for any player of any nationality to be hampered by an injury or sickness but not a Canadian. It simply makes no sense whatsoever and I’m for one is completely sick of it!!!
I think you are referring more to Don Cherry and his avid followers.
Especially in today’s NHL, the “Canadian” ideal you are talking about angering you is all but dead. It was good to see a Swedish captain hoist the Cup for the first time last year. That was something that was not thought to happen.
That being said, historically Canadians are warriors and for the most part always have been. But that idea is skewed in that throughout the history of the NHL most of the players have been Canadian. Like I said though, that is changing. And that is good.
Derian Hatcher, an American, was one tough SOB as the Stars’ captain when they won the Cup in 1999.
And yes, Joe Thornton is a Canadian playoff FAIL, no doubt!
by Sean Zandberg on May 2, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Just to further my point about Cherry...
Here’s what he said recently in regards to the MVP honors:
“I don’t know what those guys are smoking when they give out the awards. I don’t know who is doing the voting but they’re out to lunch.”
As for the three Russian nominees, Cherry said "it doesn’t bother me.
“But I can’t see how the three Russians can be in there. I can see two of them, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll see who is most valuable in the playoffs. I think it’s been a Canadian every time except one, so we’ll see what happens when the real season gets through.”
by Sean Zandberg on May 2, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I find it highly annoying
that Canadians spell “defense” with a C.
This fucking swine flu quarantine sucks. I’m so bored.
Swine flu quarantine?
The fuck are you talking about?
or is that your excuse for not job hunting?
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
I got back from Mexico Wednesday
Had a sore throat, so per CDC, I needed to quarantine myself for at least four days to see if my symptoms got worse. They haven’t. I should be good to go today.
I hope you were wearing gloves on your hands
as you posted on this blog the last few days.
Got more soul than a sock with a hole.
If Toews were himself in Game 1
I’m not one to get into hypotheticals and all, but think about it. We looked like the slower team on the ice in periods 1 & 2. I miss the old Toews. Can we please get him back tonight???
Kuc's take
Not much opinion in this column. But a couple quotes from Q and Toews offers some insight… Who am I kidding. These quotes are worthless.
I could believe it's some kind of flu
Not the crazy Mexican flu but just normal sicky flu. There’s been some nasty stuff going around this year. I NEVER get sick and I’ve been knocked on my ass twice this year already.
I refuse to believe it’s a post 21st hangover. Given his reputation as Captain Serious, I just can’t see him doing something like that in the biggest stretch of hockey in his life. There’s plenty of time to go out and get silly in June.
Agreed
No chance its post 21st bday celebration. He’s sick or was sick.
Toews will be back
He was obviously sick in the pre game and post interviews.. as was Kane when he was interviewed.. surely the team docs are loading them up with fluids and such…
toews will be back tonight
he is just too competitive and driven to keep playing like this. he won’t even admit he has the flu.
expecting a great game tonight
Looking at his numbers, I’d say whatever happened to him, happened during Game 5. Unfortunately I missed that one. Probably back or shoulder. I’m sure he’s probably playing all drugged up and full of cortozone (sp).
Quenneville said Toews is 100% today. Take it for what it’s worth.
by Sean Zandberg on May 2, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank-you Nucks fans...
…for once again playing the part of ‘Dime-store psychologists’! Really you should worry about Toews tonight!
As for predictions I perdict the team that scores the most goals wins tonight’s game-Hawks?, Canucks?!!!
hawks61, relax. I was just passing on a link for YOU the Hawks fans to check out. I say “take it for what it’s worth” because you can’t believe anything coaches or players say this time of year.
by Sean Zandberg on May 2, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Rhetoric rhetoric politics hearsay rhetoric hearsay rhetoric rhetoric politics hearsay rhetoric hearsay rhetoric
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
rabble rabble rabble
people people, you can’t just going around saying rabble rabble rabble, it’s not going to solve anything
…
rabble rabble rabble
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