I'd Make A King Nothing Joke Here, But Metallica Suck Now: Kings 2 - Hawks 3 (OT)
by SamFels on Mar 11, 2010 2:32 AM CST
288 comments
Well, this time they only took off the first half of the second period. Baby steps to the elevator, right?
Actually, this was one of the Hawks tighter games of the past two months. The passing was much crisper, the defensive coverage was -- for the most part -- far more solid than we've seen, and the feet were moving at a pretty high rate. Power play still sucks to high heaven, though.
Anyway, the roof almost blew off when 2:34 in Adam Burish collected Kaner's pass behind the net, circled to the other side and put one out in front for The Sharp-Shooter. Luckily for everyone, Sharp whiffed on the one-timer, sending the Jonathan Quick the wrong way and leaving a gaping hole to put the puck into the net. You could tell the Hawks were feeding off of Burish's energy by just the way they celebrated that goal. You would have gotten very short odds on Burish soon picking a fight after, which he did with Rich Clune. A typical Burish-bout, which is to say it's slightly better than a Fraser-bout.
The 1st continued and ended just like far too many 1st periods lately. The Hawks batter an opponent, the shot-clock says they should be up three or four but they're not, and you head for your intermission piss/beer/smoke just knowing the lack of a lead is going to cost you.
And so it did. The Hawks were on the backfoot for the start of the 2nd, and when Andrew Ladd sort of whiffed on chipping it past Sean O'Donnell who set up Anze Kopitar to set up Dustin Brown (the exact people you don't want to be setting up), Brown was able to pot home a wrap-around that Niemi probably should have had (cue everyone telling me how biased I am and how much I hate Antti Niemi and how I'm going to hell).
It got worse two minute later. After Toews received a somewhat questionable goalie-interference penalty (it was kind of 50-50), Versteeg and Hossa both got caught to one side and left Anze Kopitar all alone on the other. While a wrister from the circles isn't always considered a good goal, Kopitar's shot was a laser and that's why he's one of the standout talents in the league.
Never fear, Iron Madden's here. The best line of the night came through not two minutes later when Madden found Ladd, whose shot rebounded to VERSTEEG!. He needed two attempts, but he got it home. The rest of the period the Hawks pretty much carried.
Before the 3rd, my companion at the game remarked that he thought we would be there awhile, and he was pretty much right. It was very tight, but the Hawks had the better of it. They should have had a power play earlier than they got one, because how Dustin Brown escaped an instigator penalty for starting a fight with Lowen-Brouw, I'll never know. The Hawks got their make-it-up call later when Simmonds was sent off for holding Sopel. Luckily, the refs didn't know that it always looks like Sopel's being held, he's just that slow.
Not that it matters, because the power play was an utter disaster again. Even 4-on-3 in OT, they hardly looked dangerous. On the winner, the Hawks got lucky it was Brad Richardson on the puck and not someone with, y'know, a clue, because Jack Johnson and another were streaking into the Hawks zone. But Richardson hand delivered the puck to Bolland, who had no trouble finding the Shooter. Why doesn't Sharp always look that good on a breakaway? He absolutely put Quick on his ass.
Observations
-I thought this was Madden's best game for a while. The combo of him, Ladd, and Versteeg really seem to be clicking, and has reinvigorated Steeger's game. I still don't know if he can be trusted on an out and out checking line. But what else would you use Madden for? To be determined...
-Though he had two penalties, and acted like a bitch after Hammer cleanly checked him, Wayne Simmonds is a beast. He was around the puck all night.
-Drew Doughty is too cross-check-y.
-After a couple flashes in a couple games, this is the second game in a row where Bolland-Hossa-Brouwer haven't done anything of note. Keep an eye on that.
-Seabrook didn't burn the building down. These days, I'll settle for that.
Player of The Game
Really only one choice here.
The Sharp-Shooter
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HjammerTime
“No mediocre enforcer will ever be celebrated like Adam Burish in Chicago. I dont dislike the man but the cult following he has puzzles me.”
To answer your question…“You could tell the Hawks were feeding off of Burish’s energy by just the way they celebrated that goal.”
This is why he’s a stud and that is why the team needs him come playoff time.
Burish
I saw your reply on the last thread. I made it clear I dont even really dislike Burish. Just that I dont quite understand the Burish cult. Maybe its my love for Eager. I dont really know.
If he helps the team raise the Stanley Cup at the end of the season I will be quite happy.
"Whats your location Chief?"
"Well, Im on a road. Appears to be asphalt. I am directly under the Earth's sun......now."
I get your point and I completely agree with you
But Eager really hasn’t been the same player he was last year. He seems much more hesitant which is not something you want. Confidence is an amazing trait to have, whether it’s in hockey or in our “average-joe” careers. That’s what he’s missing and why I feel he hasn’t been playing as well as he should have been.
Honestly, I think he’ll be gone by 2011 and Beach will take his place, with more skill at a much better price.
i think that's why it's called a cult following
If he was really good, it’d just be called a following.
For me
my Burish love is almost hipster-ironic, except that it’s genuine. And I’m not a hipster. And it’s not ironic.
Honestly, a lot of it has to do with the obvious joy he gets in annoying the opposition. I look at him play and think, “I’ll never play like Toews or Kane or Keith, but I could smile a lot while poking guys in the eye.”
Why... Why are you never funny?
Badger:
“The roar from the crowd really fired me up,” he said. "In warmups there were a lot of signs. One said ‘Burish, my grandma is pregnant.’ I don’t know what that means. I skated by it and said, ’it’s not mine.’ "
Awesome. I think he’s celebrated because the guy fires up his team and pisses off the opponent, consistently. And if there’s anything we always love about our sports stars in Chicago, it’s consistency along with personality, see: Bears, 1985.
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
The guy could become a good NHL player...
…instead of simply the next beloved “Wiz”.
One game, but he looked very good. I thought he came alive in the playoffs last year, also when playing with Sharpie.
He’s young, and I just have this bad feeling that one morning Eager’s gonna wake up to find that his brain leaked out of his ear overnight.
I just have this bad feeling that one morning Eager’s gonna wake up to find that his brain leaked out of his ear overnight.
cliffkoroll, I think you accidentally just coined Eager’s new moniker: EARWAX
That’s awesome!!! Can we have a vote on this??
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Rec'd! (gets my vote) That's beautiful
Plus there’s the popular Earwax Cafe in Wicker Park, so it’s a Chicago thang. It’s also Vegan, so it works quite well with the fact that Eager really is a vegetable.
Buff-Burish-Eager line = Meat-Cheese-Vegetable groups
These guys really are nutritious!
I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
so we can throw in grains too
now they’re officially recommended by the USDA. maybe they can be the poster boys for the food pyramid, but instead it would be in the shape of a box – with a few rocks thrown in…
…to add fiber of course
I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
Earwax
I’m sure there’s a few good Q-tip jokes in there somewhere
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
I like earwax also
I like it even better with how you tied it all together w/ vegetables and the Meat-Cheese-Veggie line. This is brilliant.
Not only a Badger
It’s not just because he’s a Badger that I like him, although I do appreciate ALL of the Badgers in the NHL. Burish really loves the game and he relishes his role. His ego does not get in the way of reality. He knows he’s not a super-star and he’s just happy to be a part of the game and this team. That is why, IMO, people like this guy.
That may well be
one of my favorite quotes of all time.
Burish is good for the Hawks and fans
while being one of those players that pisses off every team and their fanbase. As stated here, he brings a lot of energy to the Hawks. I wonder how much everyone would hate him if played for the Canucks or Scum.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Burish added an instant jolt of energy to the fourth line.
welcome back, good sir.
Depressing stat of the night month: This is the first game since February 6 (@ St. Louis) — or eight games — that a ’Hawks goaltender has posted a SV% above 0.900. Guh.
The Kings are going to be impressive through the next few seasons, but I thought our guys played well for the most part, power plays excepted. Ryan Smyth didn’t seem to be much of a factor; I wonder if that extra goalie screen drill they did at Tuesday practice paid off.
goalie SV% since the beginning of February
STL (H) — Huet — 0.842 — L
PHX (H) — Huet — 0.955 — SOL
STL (A) — Niemi — 0.971 — W
DAL (H) — Niemi — 0.889 — SOW
ATL (H) — Niemi — 0.852 — SOW
CBJ (A) — Niemi — 0.857 — SOW
OLYMPIC BREAK
NYI (A) — Niemi (Huet) — 0.750 (0.818) — L
EDM (H) — Huet — 0.857 — W
VAN (H) — Huet — 0.870 — W (if not for the late VAN goal, would have had a decent SV%, but the game was out of reach by then)
DET (H) — Huet (Niemi) — 0.765 (0.875) — L
LAK (H) — Niemi — 0.933 — W
SUMMARY
Huet:
Shots faced — 107
Average shots faced/60min — 22
Goals allowed — 15
SV% — 0.860
Niemi:
Shots faced — 167
Average shots faced/60min — 27.7
Goals allowed — 18
SV% — 0.892
Remember, also, that Niemi needed three shootouts to get those last three victories in February. Again, the data doesn’t mean much without taking a closer look at each of the goals that were scored. Off the top of my head, the defense absolutely shat the bed in a couple of these games, and I doubt we can pick out a single instance where the team played a full 60 minutes.
This should have been a fanpost, but I’m too lazy to copy & paste. Anyway, the (very vanilla) moral of the story is: Our goaltending needs to be better, but they can’t do it alone, they need better overall defensive effort in front of them.
WOW!
Dont get me wrong or anything,you really did your homework,and well summarized,but that is awful….not what you did or wrote,but the way the Hawks have been playing for the last month or so…..its amazing how many victories they got in that period….here is hoping that they get their act together,i for one think tonight was a step or two in that direction…..good D tonight,not as many turnovers,Niemi had some nice stops….i thought they played well tonight,other than the PP which was atrocious once again,but hands down i thought they outplayed the Kings tonight,and if it wasn’t for their nifty netminder,this once could have been just as ugly as the vancouver game last friday,but a win is a win,can’t wait for the Flyer game…..
GO HAWKS!
they've gone to shootouts
in nearly half of their victories. the big problem that I can see is lack of consistency. we know how well this team is capable of playing; the problem is, they aren’t doing it for 60 minutes every game, and sloppy plays have led to bad goals against, and, yeah, we know the rest.
since february?
I understand that there are no shootouts in the playoffs,but a W in the regular season is a W…just like I’d rather have an OTL than a regular L because of the point….
I do agree with you that there has been a lack of consistency,maybe because they want the playoffs to start,and have lost interest in season games….maybe its just a slump,every team goes through one….i just hope they break outta the funk and get some W’s,in regulation or OT,that’ll help their confidence big time….we’ll see which team shows up this weekend against the Flyers and Caps
yep, since Feb
I guess my point was more that they couldn’t close out games against weaker opponents (DAL, CBJ), and were making a lot of defensive mistakes.
If that was
your point,then good job,point made….they did have some trouble closing out games,an even though the goalies haven’t done us any favors,part of the blame should be on the D…but imo opinion if they play like they played last night,they will be alright….other than a few minor blips i thought they hustled last night,again they put a lot of shots on net,they had guys screening Quick,a few missed opportunities on rebounds and like Edzo says when you get the puck to the net good things happen…i agree with Sam,Seabrook wasn’t great last night,but he wasn’t awful either,solid game from him
I noticed those SV% stats too the other day
but didn’t want to fuel the fire. Very nice of you to wait until you could point out some good news before posting them!
Are you going to Philly specifically to watch the game if you don’t mind me asking?
I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
The d played pretty well last night
That was the most consistant effort for a full 60 min that we have seen for a long time! Niemi played fairly well… I would of loved to see him stop that wrap around but what are you gonna do… Also again the trend continues with the hawks getting up and playing well against good teams… Top tier teams in the top 5 or 6 playoff spots… Scum is a scary team simply because they are a way better team than their record implies… also anybody heard anything on Fuckface I mean Bertuzzi??? Is he out for good or just for a game or two?
Drink it up!
The ultimate head hunter - Bertuzzi.
He’s going strong, unfortunately, as he played the other night against Calgary – which they lost.
"The Golden Goal! And Canada has - once in a lifetime - Olympic Gold!"
Congratulations to The Golden Boys- Toews, Seabrook, and Keith- for delivering the GOLD to CANADA.
it would be far more depressing if it he hadn't been over .900
and if we start to string over .900 games together from here, it will be a very good sign
oh, and since I pregame early
I’m hopping on a plane to Philly on Friday morning for the game Saturday — another asstastic start time, yay. Any input on what to do there (and in South Jersey, where I’m actually staying), besides ‘attempting to subsist on Yuengling, Tastykakes, and Pat’s for four days’?
Hopefully the game starts so early the Philly fans forget to bring their douchebaggery and I won’t have to whip out the mace.
After 4 years of college there, I can say...
…no, you pretty much summed it up with your diet plan. Bring me back a provolone without.
by GenPabloSecobar on Mar 11, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
my rec
after you’ve had your fill of Yuengling, head to a WaWa. You can grab a sandwich and stock up on tastycakes – of which the butterscotch krimpets and chocolate cupcakes are vastly superior to all others.
Gotta admit, I’m a little jealous.
by pointmesouth on Mar 11, 2010 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
I love Krimpets and Kandykakes
my friend occasionally ships me boxes of Tastykakes … they’ve replaced Girl Scout cookies as perennial must-haves.
gives me good memories
of college… though we called it “the Wa”
Was a huge fan of the powdered doughnuts myself.
Some Philly friends of mine told me that Jim's is better than Pat's
Jim’s Steaks at the corner of 4th and South streets. I’ve never been to Pat’s, but I have been to Jim’s and their steaks are goooood.
Depending on where you are in South Jersey and if you’re into this kind of thing, there’s the Battleship New Jersey. Last summer when I visited Philly I did the General Quarters tour. It’s a long tour, so make sure you have a couple hours to spend if you go.
The power play is still f**king clown shoes
Everybody...HIT SOMEBODY! ~ the Chicago Rush are back in April 2010
clearly I'll have to try both
and make my own conclusion! Thanks for the Battleship recommendation, maybe I’ll check it out if we have time.
Sharpie
That was a bling bling goal Sharpie scored there in overtime. I was downtown at a bar with a friend of mine who is a lifelong Scum fan and Blackhawk hater. Even he had to admit it was badass.
Heartbreaking to see Ladd catch iron. It would be great to see him go on a tear and catch Kesler in the goal count. Though that little bastard actually outdid himself with that “fair tradeoff” comment.
"Whats your location Chief?"
"Well, Im on a road. Appears to be asphalt. I am directly under the Earth's sun......now."
His second goal
Totally reminded me of the shorty he scored against San Jose in the before time,you know before the hawks D and goaltending was playing like shit??It wasn’t the same angle,but it looked like the same move,forehand to make the goalie bite and go down and then BAM!…Goal :)
GO HAWKS!!!
Seems we have some imposters on the ice..
duh……but……I will take a litle of a funk now and get back on track for the play-offs.
MIA list;
Cambpell
Eager
Buff
Sopel
Bolland
Seabrook
…….that is all.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
I thought that both Buff and Sopel showed up to the game last night. I admit that Buff can and has disappeared this season, and Sopel is not going to be picked first for speed skating.
Buff was ragging for the puck quite a few times in the offenseive zone, and Sopel not only took shots, but was screening Quick a couple of times.
/Note unceasing sarcastic laughter in background.
by burpchelischili on Mar 11, 2010 5:31 AM CST up reply actions
don't agree with half of these
Sopel does his job, and Buff has shown more fire lately. Bolland wasn’t just going to show up after major back rehab and start lighting up the stat sheet, either, although a little more chemistry with Hossa wouldn’t hurt either.
Buff was there last night
Sopel is probably playing well if you don’t notice him (especially since he hasn’t played for several games). Not that i’m going to go get a sopel sweater but you really can’t be happy enough with his contributions this year.
Eager, i totally agree. All but 2 or 3 games this year he’s been pretty irrelevant. I’m hoping that burish coming back will give a shot to our 4th line which, last year, was one of the best 4th lines in the league.
I agree with GMH on bolland, although, even when he’s at his best, he’s not a real stat sheet filler sort of guy.
I stand corrected on Bolland
C Dave Bolland was the top faceoff man, winning 12 of 18.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
and don't forget
he assisted on the winning goal.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 9:04 AM CST up reply actions
and that he's my BFFw
Bolland Fucking Fabulous Weapon.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:10 AM CST up reply actions
if the three alcoholics here didn't already love him so much
he’d be my second son.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 9:14 AM CST up reply actions
You have a first?
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:19 AM CST up reply actions
Versteeg
I think I have a running tally of when he’s dumped the puck, just to prove he does.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 9:22 AM CST up reply actions
Let me know
when you get to your toes
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:27 AM CST up reply actions
goddammit
next up: video evidence
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
I watched him do a "semi-dump" last night
(boy could we have fun with that statement) which resulted in a goal, so I gave him 1/2 a dump plus another 1/4 for the goal = 3/4. I guess you can therefore count that one on your pinky chi.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:34 AM CST up reply actions
Oh nooessss
Chi’s whippin out the Versteeg Dump The Puck Montage.
Great! I have a limited attention span, so I love short films.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:37 AM CST up reply actions
you're just on a (toilet) roll today, aren't you?
okay, that was weak. sorry.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 9:39 AM CST up reply actions
and later when you hear me throwing out lines like
our team is going down the drain, we should put the fridge in net, Burish is like an oven, he really lights a fire under the team…
..you’ll know I’m making lunch.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:55 AM CST up reply actions
(looks around for Trixie)
MooooOOOOOOooooom, CNS is being gross!
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 12:42 PM CST up reply actions
He had some good moments
but I think I noticed him giving up a couple of not-very-good TOs… though thankfully not in our zone
I actually thought Campbell was there last night...
…but yeah, he’s been turdish lately in general.
by GenPabloSecobar on Mar 11, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
Campbell
was clown shoes most of the night, except for when he lost his stick and actually looked like a hard-working hockey player in front of the net. Maybe Q should send him out without his stick every night.
teaching respect for the Indian, one Red Wings fan at a time.
Nice post
Agree on Madden- in fact, I liked all the lines last night.
The goal by VERSTEEG!?! was colossal. For all you Rozner’s (we should have traded for a goalie!) out there, this is intertesting.
Whatever the Hawks might have picked up with Vokoun (maybe 1-2 extra playoff wins) would likely have been cancelled out our worse by the occasional game-changing play by that goofy fucker VERSTEEG!?!
In math terms:
VERSTEEG!?! > [ Vokoun – Max(Huet, Niemi) ]
Finally, Seebs made a great pass to Kane to set up ther first goal. Marlboro 72 continues to be held to a different standard (maybe fair- they live on Mt. Olympus). But, most teams have a big drop-off between lines 1 and 2. As much as I love Hjammer, I gotta believe it’d be a different story for him in a top pairing.
that goal last night by versteeg was huge
but let’s not carried away here.
You really love you some Steeger huh? You may want to close your eyes after the season cause the only “equation” that will matter to the front office is……Sharp > Versteeg.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
My point was...
…that the importance of goaltending is overrated. Suppose the Hawks had Vokoun all year. They may have won 3-4 more games. I can recollect Steeger being crucial in as many wins for the Hawks this year.
Next year? You some kinda old Brooklyn Dodger fan? Not on my radar right now.
by cliffkoroll on Mar 11, 2010 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
the importance of goaltending is not overrated
even by people that emphasize it heavily.
It isn’t the be-all, end-all of the game, but it is a crucual position (and yes, the D & forwards play a big role in helping the goalie look good).
And if we had gaoltending that didn’t let in a high volume of soft goals, the Steeg contribution would be irrelevant.
I disagree on two points
1. Minimizing 1-2 extra playoff wins. That’s huge and can be the difference between a 2nd round exit and winning the cup. Plus, as you implied, a goalie can almost single-handedly steal a game or two. It’s almost impossible for any skater, let alone Versteeg, to do that.
2. The trade deadline’s past, so no reason to make it a huge issue, but everyone seems to forget that Versteeg’s absence would have been filled by another player, so you would have to look at the difference in production between those two players, not at Steeger’s production as a whole – I seem to doubt that difference would amount to much. Add to that the fact that we’re talking about currently a 3rd line guy who see’s 15 minutes of ice time compared to 60 mins for a goalie (umm…) and his effect is even less.
If I could get Sharp for about the same price as Steeger, Sharp everyday of the week. The only thing that even makes it a discussion IMO is that Sharp makes a $1M more.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
the extra 900k is more than worth it
Versteeg has been miscast this year to some degree……..let’s get that point out of the way right now.
Sharp is a more complete player.
Sharp can fill in at center much more effectively when needed.
I think sharp can fit in with most line combos, versteeg not so much.
Right now Sharp has 56 points, Versteeg has 35.
The argument for Versteeg?
He is 5 years younger.
He makes 900k less.
Talking about this summer sucks, but I think a Sharp Steeg debate is pretty one sided.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
even I'm well aware
we’d probably be getting a pick or two for Steeger this summer. Sharp > Steeger.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
Thank-You.
"The Golden Goal! And Canada has - once in a lifetime - Olympic Gold!"
Congratulations to The Golden Boys- Toews, Seabrook, and Keith- for delivering the GOLD to CANADA.
Agreed
that was my point and the only reason it would only be a topic of discussion is if it came down to a cap decision, however unlikely, but isn’t completely out of the question until we see how everything plays out this summer.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 6:50 PM CST up reply actions
am I the only one
silly enough to hope the cap actually goes up somewhat this year? even just a little may help, but it probably won’t.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 7:02 PM CST up reply actions
Speaking of Winning More Games
To get away from the goalie thing….
I bet we would have won 7-8 more games if the PP woulda scored one more goal those games where we went 0-fer on the clown shoe drill. Figure that the shootout losses would have been wins and several of those 1 goal games would have gotten an extra point. I’m starting to think if we can’t fix the power play that’s going to cost us more in the playoffs than maybe all the goalie rotation, D lapses (which I bet get fixed by playoff time), lazy Buff, no dump Verstud, Earwax penalties,stuff combined. It might even overcome bad reffing getting an extra goal a game.
by husler777 on Mar 11, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Can't disagree...
I don’t know what the stats are for the PP but we all know it’s awful and we need it to be at least average come the playoffs. Perhaps GMH has those at his statistical fingertips.
I'm gonna rec this
on the basis that it is a fresh perspective (can you believe that hus?). Your point is valid IMO, but for the sake of expanding the topic, I’d like to add this:
Consider special teams as a whole. Our PP% has currently dropped to 10th in the league. One could say that upper 1/3 still ain’t bad, but for a team with this much talent that looks so good 4 on 4, I expect more. Our PK% is also 6th in the league. I personally like to look at the PP% + PK% stat. A good team should always be over 100% and over 105% would be exceptional. Currently the Hawks are at 103.3%. Only two teams (Sharks-108.4, Canadians-107.3%) are better. I bet if you throw shorties into that equation, the Hawks (10) surpass Montreal (3).
Bottom line, I personally don’t just look at goals not scored on the PP, without considering goals not conceded on the PK. I know they seem like spectral opposites, but very few teams excel at both. Hawks are a two-way team, so I they’re kinda where I expected them to be and are have improved since last year (PP-19.3%, + PK-80.6% < 100%).
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 1:43 PM CST up reply actions
My question to this would be
Is it Torchetti or Gin Blossom Haviland that runs the PP? Or is it The Stache himself? I’m from Chicago, I need to know where to (erroneously) place the blame.
Side effects may include: Thrifty Knuckles, Sexual Nightmares, and Sleep Crime
by AirTrafficAJ on Mar 11, 2010 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Havi is the Dman coach
Torch is the PP coach.
I’m sure Q and Havi have some PP input, but Torch is the guy.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
Come to think of it
this should get 100 recs, just for the line To get away from the goalie thing….
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 2:49 PM CST up reply actions
LOL...Good one!
Thing that i can’t figure out looking at your “I’m gonna rec this” post, is what happened to the PP? I remember a stretch there where we were putting constant pressure on AND scoring pretty often. To “drop” to 10th in the league means it was pretty good for a while. What changed?
I'm not really sure
How much does Q make??
As chi mentioned below, the PK has dropped off too. It was top 3 for quite a while, but teams streak throughout the season and some of those recent goals were softies, so I’m not as concerned there.
The PP never was that great. I think it got as high as 6th or 7th? Maybe not enough puck or player movement, lacking net presence, and no one fitting in well at the point? Seems to me that the only reason they’ve played Buff and Sharp at point for quite a stretch was because they really wanted a right-handed shooter. Also, our 2nd PP line is god awful. I’ve actually gone back and reread some coaching books on basic PP fundamentals over the past month or so, but my knowledge is lacking compared to many other commenters.
As ridiculous as this statement may seem at first, IMO we overestimate the Hawks PP scoring ability. Our team is filled with some of the best two-way players in the league, not pure scorers (Kane is the purest, but even he is still more of play maker than goal scorer). Many of the Hawks’ scoring opportunities come from their ability to force turnovers. When you put them on the PP, you’ve essentially taken away that aspect of their game. That’s why they’ll probably never look as potent as we expect them to be, although they could be better. Would love to hear some feedback on this.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
granted, scoring off of a high pressure transition game is different than a PP
I think that the skill set involved in doing so ought to translate into strong PP game if the PP is structured/designed well and the players taught to implement it well.
PP and PK have both been dropping off, is the problem
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
PP effectiveness...
…is usually pretty damn important come playoff time.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Goaltending is not overrated.
Trust me every organization wants, more than anything, is a stable full of good young goaltending talent. You cannot have enough depth at the goaltending position within the organization.
Is it the end of all if you don’t have it? No. But do you really need timely goaltending to win the Cup? Yes. Even Osgood back in 2008 was called upon to make a few timely saves and overall was very good in the playoffs that year and last year. He was one of the major reasons why the ‘Hawks fell to the Wings in the Conference Finals. Had the Wings won the Cup last season (thankfully they didn’t) you could make the case that Osgood probably would’ve won the Conn Smythe.
Goaltending is like money. It can’t buy you happiness, but it sure can put a good down payment on it.
"The Golden Goal! And Canada has - once in a lifetime - Olympic Gold!"
Congratulations to The Golden Boys- Toews, Seabrook, and Keith- for delivering the GOLD to CANADA.
Goaltending IS overrated
Exhibit A: the ridiculous percentage of the discussions on this board devoted to the subject.
Exhibit B: The Blackhawks record.
This is not to say that goaltending is unimportant, but it’s highly-visible, and mistakes are obvious even to cementheads.
I imagine there is a fair amount of anxiety in Vancouver, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Boston (Olympic goalies all)- hell, maybe anywhere outside Buffalo – right now on this issue. And widespread anxiety suggests a “grass is greener” mentality, not clear thinking.
Maybe what I’m saying is the perceived difference between Goalie A and Goalie B is greater than the actual difference, by the nature and visibility of the position.
Not sure the Olympic impression helped either. A one-game playoff is a very different animal from a 7-game series.
Yes, the ghost of John Casey lives, and it’s possible for a hot goalie to lift his team to an extended run, but 20-25 games is a long run, and this is not the usual NHL playoff script.
Great goalie comment
Bad goaltending can lose you games.
Goaltending can also allow you to win some games that you probably shouldn’t.
I don’t think the Hawks have bad goaltending. It could be better a lot better, but almost every team wishes they had better goaltending. Buffalo has the best goalie, maybe in the world, and they are not in 1st place – far from it. The Hawks have arguably some of the least statworthy goalies this year, but could concievably win the Presidents trophy or finish 1-3 in the league standings.
How can this be? Hockey is the ultimate team game. Calgary is the perfect example of this. Real good goalie. The team, not so much.
Vokoun, Howard, Halak, Hiller, Ward are all examples of this as well. Great stats, not so good teams at this point. Most will not make playoffs.
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
Even though I used him for my name
I have to agree… and despite the hugeness, I’d hardly categorize him as a “clutch” player, at least not yet.
I’ll be sad when he leaves (and I’ll have to change my name) but we can certainly enjoy having him with us at least for the rest of this season and the playoffs — having this kind of forward depth is a good thing no matter how you look at it.
May I suggest a screen name
along the lines of HosSa or KeiTh or the more classic MiKita or PiloTe for your future choice? :P
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 8:42 PM CST up reply actions
Or maybe I'll just revert to
good old fashioned “put some words together with some random number,” like hockeyblagger4712
I may be tempted to keep the Top Gear reference though. Maybe like BrentSopelIsReallyJamesMay (= Captain Slow! it works!)
Sopel will be gone soon too
but maybe just Captain Slow would work. Or take the Top Gear logo and put your screen name in it and then you still have your theme and probably a pretty rad, clean looking avatar. Like:
I have a background in graphics arts so I like messing around with cool logos.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 11:20 PM CST up reply actions
Woah, sick!
That looks awesome! I’ll try to find a special occasion to make the switch… playoffs perhaps.
Out of curiosity — how much artistic ability/background is needed for graphic arts? I’ve always wanted to dabble in it but I have no artistic ability whatsoever, at least in the traditional sense. I like the idea of designing things though (tried my hand at designing web pages, etc)…
Hard to answer that
I’m one those people who actually reads instructions (unlike my wife who wings everything). Paint.net has on online tutorial that goes through the different commands and features so I would assume it might not be too hard. It does take some practice, but the learning curve is short. Here’s another cool Top Gear avatar idea I saw online. I think you should really just go with TheStig man. Just put a Hawks uniform on him.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 11:42 PM CST up reply actions
thats cool man didnt know that
I am a graphic designer myself! Still trying to find a good job but at least Im having fun doing birthday cards, business cards, and invitation for my family! <—- sarcasm LOL
Drink it up!
left the "arts" years ago
but still dabble in it to keep my sanity (b-day cards, invites, etc ;)
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 12:46 AM CST up reply actions
A win is a win is a win!
PROS
Savoir-Faire Night!
Burish/Catfish in
Kopecky/Huet out
VERSTEEG!
CONS
PP is CLOWN SHOES
Niemi gives up a softie wrap around/looked clumsy
No Blackhawk hockey till Saturday
I stayed sober all day
Revenge is a very very very dangerous motivation!
by thepuckstopshere on Mar 11, 2010 8:14 AM CST reply actions
VERST G!
He had some jump last night. Looks like he’s almost back. Q broke Kris just because he could. Some of those lines are just Q pulling it out and waving it around. D played more responsible and everything looked a little better.
What are we thinking?
The Hawks have the best record in the NHL over the last 10 games (along with Phi). 7-2-1! Others have the same points, but not as many wins, which is what matters this time of year.
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
wow, really?
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 8:39 AM CST up reply actions
I know it's hard to believe
I wanted to shave Q’s mustache off the other day.
Mighty Washington doesn’t have as many wins as the Hawks over the last 10. Go Hawks!
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
goals
that second one – niemi got beat – plain and simple
the wraparound wasn’t clean – it bounced off a hawks player who was standing in the crease – tough play all around as he was locking down the post to his left and couldn’t get over to his right quick enough on the bad bounce
however – give up 1-2 goals a game consistently and we will be just fine with out high powered offense.
the big word there – consistently
angry bird is angry .
T.V. didn't show how that puck went in...but there were two Hawk d-men standing on that side when the puck came right at them
I was wondering how that puck got in.Neimi did protect the short side on the wrap around.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
wrap around
I’m not sure how that puck made it in either. I don’t know how Niemi could have played that shot any better…need to see that goal from another angle.
I don't remember seeing any replays
from that side of the ice or the above the net angle last night.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
I thought...
…it just caught the far post and went in. Kinda fluky for a wrap-around, but I didn’t think it deflected in.
by cliffkoroll on Mar 11, 2010 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
Niemi did get beat on that second one
and I know we don’t want our all-star defenseman taking too many pucks off his body, however, I thought Keith did a piss poor job getting out to Kopitar to try and block the shot or at least cut down Kopitar’s shooting angle.
by EamusCatuli23 on Mar 11, 2010 9:20 AM CST up reply actions
I know it's only a coincidence
but I’ve noticed that in the last 3 games, Kesler, Filppula and Kopitar all scored from the same area on the ice. Kesler & Fipula’s goals were partial screens and Kopitar’s was a rocket.
It also seems that at times both goalies are a bit late going post to post. I wonder if that’s a communication problem
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
I believe it's called a
talent problem.
teaching respect for the Indian, one Red Wings fan at a time.
I don't have a number
but it seems like a lot more people are taking those long shots from that point. Can’t blame them, both goalies have shown weakness there.
Is there room for Jordan Henry on the play-off roster?
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
playoff rosters
i believe rosters actually are allowed to expand for the playoffs. at least for practicing.
once rockford was knocked out last year they had bickell, brophey, dowell, crawford, hendry and maybe one other up practicing against the team. they called them the “black shirts” or something like that and were there to be good competition to practice against.
it’s also why crawford was in the building when nik got hurt last year in game 3 and was able to dress as a backup inbetween periods.
Black Aces
are what the playoff time practice squad guys are known as
My goal? World domination.
by stickhandler on Mar 11, 2010 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
aces
thanks stickhandler. i knew black shirts was the defense from nebraska and wasn’t right, but couldn’t remember the proper term.
yeah, there's room
if you send sopel to his favorite spring break vacation spot……I.R.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
Sam
It was actually Madden who drew the holding call, not Sopel.
Sopel actually got called for holding himself I believe
It was 2:30am. I wouldn’t blame him if he thought Savy make a nice move last night!
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
catfish
took a penalty that I and everyone else in my local pub were unable to see. Frankly I thought the officiating last night was pretty shitty (which doesn’t excuse anything). However, its the second of two games since the Olympic Break where the refs seem to have their vision obscured by the opposing coach’s jism.
by Cristobal the Cat on Mar 11, 2010 9:36 AM CST up reply actions
I am loving what Q is doing in the D zone
Putting Towes and Madden out for the Defensive face-offs, provides a nice advantage.
It's THE GOAALLLIEEE!!!!!
Am I mistaken
or hasn’t he been doing that for quite a while?
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
I've seemed to notice him doing that
since the Olympic break. Don’t really recall him doing it that much before
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
Thanks
Prior to Olympic break? Wasn’t Dollar Bill the owner back then??
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
At one point yes....
LOL
Please see my signature.
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
faceoffs
q’s been doing it off an on for a whle. at various points in the season he’d have fraser out there with toews for important defensive zone draws.
it’s definitely been more noticeable since the break. and i’ve especially noticed it happening w/ bolland (our weakest percentage wise) who had a great night at the dot last night.
it only makes sense to have 2 guys who can take faceoffs out for important ones
good Bantam or Midget level coaches do that.
In the NHL it helps when a disproportionate number of forwards were centers coming up the ranks, so there are often a fair number of guys with the potential to do it competently.
This has actually been going on for most of the season
I remember a Kings game very early in the season where Q was doing this. It may have been only a 3rd period in a close game thing before but this has been part of the Hawks play for most, if not all, of the season.
it is sort of coaching at the 200 course level
a small step above coaching 101, but only a small one
Q's been doing it
in ALL perisods of the gam most notably since the Olympic break though. While he has done it in key spots in a game this seaon he seems to be doing it more during all periods in their own zone when it’s not a key face-off recently
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
I felt much relief after that win.
However, not enough relief to take care of the heartburn that started soon after the Hawks received the 5-3 PP.
It is straight Keanu Reeves style BLOWING MY FUCKING MIND how continuously awful this team looks with a 2 man advantage. Our system is this.
-No one, under any circumstances, move.
-Hold the puck for at least 5 seconds each.
-Try and force the pass across the middle with the defense collapsed low.
-If you cannot make the pass, just look at the guy you want to pass to, while stationary,
for 5-10 seconds.
-Send it up to the point.
-Have the defensemen fake the shot, then hold it, then shoot it directly into the
defensement.
Puck clears.
-Regain zone and restart at point one, until the PP ends.
At that point, you may resume movement.
Picture bloodbaths and elevator shafts
Like these murderous rhymes tight from genuine craft
by chrome on Mar 11, 2010 9:24 AM CST reply actions 7 recs
rec'd
Very nicely put.
They have the same problems 5 on 4, but with 5 on 3, it’s really glaring.
Either move the damn puck or crash the net, boys!
And when they move the puck
it’s just from the point to goal-line-extended, not side to side. If you don’t get the defense moving you’re not really accomplishing much.
Hawks were straight up Lambs Farm
on that 5 on 3. They were trying to make the pass across the ice for the highlight reel backdoor goal. Quick was giving up juicy rebounds all night and posting a guy like Brouwer in front and putting some pucks on net would’ve yielded some good chances for a goal off a rebound.
by Cristobal the Cat on Mar 11, 2010 9:48 AM CST up reply actions
Lighten up Francis
on the Lambs Farm reference
Revenge is a very very very dangerous motivation!
by thepuckstopshere on Mar 11, 2010 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
I'll see your rec and raise you another
Wow, that about summed it up perfectly. Maybe this is all part of their “puck control” strategy??
/sigh
I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
in addition
try to position guys so they’re shooting on their weak side
by activestick on Mar 11, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed
I remember writing earlier in the year that we look much more dangerous one man down than we do when we’re two men up.
I also like the term defensement.
www.mjt.org
The highlight of the post, in retrospect.
Picture bloodbaths and elevator shafts
Like these murderous rhymes tight from genuine craft
Goalies
I thought Auntie Em was decent last night, and Huey was decent against Vancouver (coupla meh goals but some big and important saves in both games.). That’s 2 outta 3 in my book, and probably all the Hawks need.
Is this the hockey equivalent of “green shoots”?
I thought Huet
made some big saves and played pretty well in the 1st period against Detroit. Too bad the entire team melted down in the 2nd period.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
like was mentioned above
we’re 7-2-1 in the last 10, in spite off the goaltending/defensive issues – they must be doing something right
If that’s “green shoots” then I can’t wait until spring
I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
Anyone know why Doughty didn't get a high stick on buff on the 5-3?
i can’t understand why the refs didn’t call that one when he’s standing right there…maybe it’s just me
I think he was inferring
that it should have been a penalty, but they didn’t call it because of it already being 5 on 3. Still horrible. High stick is one of the few penalties where there’s really not much judgment that needs to come into play. Especially when the when the ref was RIGHT THERE. If you want to let a borderline hook or trip go in that situation, I can kind of deal with that, but not a clear as day high stick.
My goal? World domination.
by stickhandler on Mar 11, 2010 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
refs do look at the game situation a fair bit in making calls
it is even (in other contexts) explicitly taught to refs in their training.
I think maybe Q declined the penalty
so as to put our PP out of our misery
by krome on Mar 11, 2010 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Sharks vs. Preds tonight
This game is a win-win scenario, but I’m pulling for the Preds. It’s only a matter of time till we clinch the division, but the Pres Trophy is a much tougher road.
Magic numbers…
Pres Trophy – 33
clinch Division – 17
Clinch playoff spot – 14
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
President's Trophy
is completely out of the question. We will speak of delusional matters like that no more!
teaching respect for the Indian, one Red Wings fan at a time.
I misspoke
Top seed in the west is 33, not pres trophy
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
Not that delusional... yet
If Hawks win three games and Washington loses two, we’re tied in pts. Not hard to fathom. I guess the delusional part comes in when you consider the strength of the opposition in the East compared to the West. So point taken.
Part of me wants to hold on to the possibility. Caps with home-ice would be tough, but let’s get there first.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
Not to mention
You can kill 2 birds with one stone this Saturday with a win against them….
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
I can understand the confusion
With the 11:30am start time, most of us will still be up from Saturday night.
by HungryHungryPanda on Mar 11, 2010 6:51 PM CST up reply actions
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME SATURDAY NIGHT
So, it’s gonna feel like a 10:30 start. I predict the UC is no more than half-full when the puck drops.
That sucks
Wasn’t this game originally scheduled for 6pm? The Hawks are in Philadelphia on Saturday for a 12 o’clock game. I figure they’ll probably get back here (weather permitting) around 8 or 9. Thanks NBC and NHL.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
yeah - I left off the "not" there
but I could claim “satire” along the lines of the great building Huet bandwagon comment earlier
Are you being sarcastic, dude?
I don’t even know anymore.
by HungryHungryPanda on Mar 11, 2010 6:17 PM CST up reply actions
Sarcasm is my zodiac sign, with Facetiousness rising
But I’m trying to tone it down. I should have said
SJ & Washington are soooooo noted for deep playoff runs
sarchasm
the gulf between a sarcastic comment and its literal interpretation.
by cliffkoroll on Mar 12, 2010 10:43 AM CST up reply actions
I enjoy broadening people's horizons
and challenging them to stretch a bit (its good mental exercise)
Dunc with a few more head-scratchers last night...
…we need more Doug Wilson, less Chris Chelios, in the playoffs.
Not Sure
If the dude with the bull horn frequents this site but I think that needs to go away. Do we really want to rip of Calgary/Vikings fans. Dont get it.
by SergeiKrivokrasov25 on Mar 11, 2010 12:12 PM CST reply actions
Did the Steeg goal
go in off Quick’s face? I couldn’t tell conclusively from the replays but that’s what it looked like on the small tv I was watching.
Sopel had a bad game. I know it’s his first game back after missing a few, and everyone takes time to adjust, but he just got beat over and over. And this becomes more noticeable given the solid Hendry play of late. I’m not anti-Sopel, I’m just anti-Sopel last night.
Harvey. I know a number of people enjoy reliving old memories hearing his voice but he completely butchered a number of items that were certainly written down for him.
Buffalo and the Kings seem a lot like the Hawks from last year, could be fun for their fans in the playoffs.
Was the ice complete dogshit last night? Both teams seemed to be fighting the puck, especially early in the game.
I still wouldn’t mind seeing Keith and Seabrook split up temporarily. I think they would benefit from being forced to do a little more in-game thinking.
It’s fun having Burish back.
He didnt even look good at practice on tuesday...
I think they should of scratched him last night and get another game without taking pucks to the shins.
It's THE GOAALLLIEEE!!!!!
re: Sopel/Hendry
…I agree. LA is a pretty good skating team- maybe that’s why Sopel didn’t look so good.
Didn't go off his mask
It bounced in off his glove hand.
re: the ice
Possibly… I saw D2K stumble by the near boards at one point, didn’t look like there was anything else to cause it…
More of Less of....
Please coach Q:
More Hendry less Sopal
More Niemi less Huet
More Burish less Kopecky
More dump & chase on the PP less cute
passing on the breakout & neutral zone
More Hossa backcheck less Campbell figure 8s
More pucks on net less perfect passing attempts
If they can even out the netminding this team goes far
Too close for comfort last nite
by 1rarebird on Mar 11, 2010 12:41 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
I'd rather have more figure 8's
and maybe even a camel spin, because at least then I know we’ve got the puck
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
That's not where I was going...
…it’s just that it seems every time I look up, Hossa is moving robotically across ice in the neutral zone, running down some hapless stickhandler.
It’s like saying “More 20 Cent goals”. Yeah, it’d be nice, but, unlike most of the items on the list, it’s not like we cna moan about a deficiency here.
more press for Otto
I know we’ve discussed this at great length already, but here is the latest if you’re interested:
anyone else annoyed
with huet’s goaltending as of late. if he starts sunday i have a bad feeling bout the game
Not at all
I think everyone is really quite pleased with his goal tending of late. I think several people have compared him favorably to Ken Dryden and Tony-0. Yes, I do believe you’re quite alone in your annoyance.
Heritage morning Sunday
In an unprecedented move, the Blackhawks have announced a ceremony honoring a CURRENT player. That’s right, Chicago favorite Cristobal Huet gets his day in the sun Sunday against the Capitals.
Croissants, baguettes, a mind-boggling array of wines and cheeses, Jim Cornelious belting out La Marseillaise, miniature guillotines for the kids (watch those little fingers!)
Viva La France!
The only thing he has in common
with Dryden and Tony-O is that they all played for the Canadiens.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
No not annoyed
I wish he would play just a little bit better.
They are 2nd in the league until the Sharks play, and still could be so after they play. Considering that two years ago, they failed to make the playoffs by 3 points, I am very far from annoyed at either of the goalies play.
They didn’t make the playoffs for many years and it was the group that is here now, including Huet, that finally got them there. They are better this year than last year.
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
No not annoyed
Quite the contrary, Huet has been phenomenal – he makes the most timely saves. However, I would say that they were better last year than this year. Last year they would always give up when they got behind, they didn’t have any fight.
BOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
Are you trying to make sense?
Because you don’t.
If you honestly think the Hawks were better last year than this year, then I don’t know what to say. Maybe watch the NBA or wait a month and Baseball will start.
Maybe you were trying to be funny? Like Kenny Banta?
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
sarcasm buddy
because your comment was quite effective, like saying the hawks are 1st in the league until they lose a single game, and everyone else starts winning every game.
BOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
the killer joke?
During World War II, Ernest Scribbler, a British “manufacturer of jokes”, creates “the funniest joke in the world” and promptly dies laughing. His mother reads the joke, at first believing it to be a suicide note, and also dies laughing. A Scotland Yard inspector retrieves the joke, but despite the playing of somber music and the wailing of fellow policemen to create a depressing mood, also dies laughing.
The British Army test the joke on Salisbury Plain, then translate it into German. Each translator only translates one word of the joke, so as not to be killed by reading the whole joke. One of them saw two words of the joke and had to spend a few weeks in hospital. This German version is said to be “over 60,000 times as powerful as Britain’s great pre-war joke”, a reference to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement. The nonsensical German translation is used for the first time on 8 July 1944 in the Ardennes, causing German soldiers to fall down dead from laughter:
Wenn ist das Nunstruck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!
I couldn't follow it either
so I assumed it was humor. He probably had one too many bowls of soup at Mendy’s.
Huet played
with himself just fine last night on the bench. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Revenge is a very very very dangerous motivation!
by thepuckstopshere on Mar 11, 2010 2:38 PM CST up reply actions
Anybody know....
That song thats played before the Hawks come back on the ice for the 3rd period?
No, but someone asked this before
and we never got an answer. I believe I gave a very useless answer. I’m going to try to find out. somehow.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 4:39 PM CST up reply actions
depending on what you guys are referring to
my BFF says it’s either Uprising by Muse or Lux Aeterna from Requiem for a Dream. Uprising is what they’ve been playing before guys come out though she says it changes from time to time and Uprising’s what they’ve been playing recently? Lux Aeterna is what they play with that video montage of game highlights and the broken mirror effect. But what they play is a weird version of it—she’s got the remix and it’s the closest one she can find.
Hope one of those songs is what you’re looking for.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 7:09 PM CST up reply actions
Is it the video montage
for the 3rd period? BHTV has all the scoreboard videos except that one which is weird and annoying. There’s also the Chipotle song voting for the third period that plays the Foo Fighters a lot, but that’s not played with the video.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 7:25 PM CST up reply actions
hit post too soon
I will find those songs you suggested and see.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 7:25 PM CST up reply actions
you know what else BHTV does not have?
that video of Versteeg singing American Boy with Estelle.
buuuuuut yeah, I think we’re talking about the same thing. Not the Chipotle song though, I don’t think. Let me know if one of them is what you’re looking for.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 8:00 PM CST up reply actions
American Boy
That was the highlight of Friday night’s game for me. If only because my dad (who’s 100% Dutch) kept saying “you’re Dutch and Canadian Versteeg!” while shaking his head.
by HungryHungryPanda on Mar 11, 2010 8:05 PM CST up reply actions
exactly!
the boy has no shame. It’s awesome.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 8:07 PM CST up reply actions
probably not for a while
they held out for TOFTBO! too. Ah well.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
ajdaksjdfaksfas
YESPLS.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 8:28 PM CST up reply actions
YEESSSS!
It’s Lux Aeterna!!!! You are awesome. Or you BFF. Whatever, thank you so much.
The not knowing was ruining my enjoyment of the games. Every time I saw it, all I could think was, “I have to remember to find out what this song is.” Very distracting.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 10:50 PM CST up reply actions
I will let her know that. :P
She usually asks me to text her the lyrics so she remembers to find them when she gets home, haha. I have a list of the songs she has from the games somewhere, been meaning to get them all downloaded to my phone.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 11:40 PM CST up reply actions
I think I know the montage of which you're speaking
And I really want to know as well. It’s not Lux Aeterna (I think it’s the “Two Towers” remix they use in the other montage) or Muse because I already have both those songs on my iPod.
"FACEOFF!" "Makes the pass." "FIGHT!" - 8 bit hockey
We must be thinking of different montages
because I really think Lux Aeterna is the one I’m thinking of. When is the “Two Towers” one? I love LotR music.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 10:52 PM CST up reply actions
chevrier is referring to
The Lux Aeterna Two Towers remix. If you go on YouTube you can find at least 50 different remixes of Lux Aeterna (Requiem for a Dream). You can also find the Two Towers remix listed under Requiem for a Tower (it was used in the Two Towers trailer and at least 25 other movies and video games – you could film grass growing to Two Towers and it would be epic). My favorite is the Happy Hardcore remix.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 12:22 AM CST up reply actions
The music played just as the Hawks return to the ice for the 3rd period is what I was looking for. I know for a fact it isn’t the Requiem for a Dream music. Ahhhh well
That one varies I think
Isn’t it whatever people text-vote for in the Chipotle ad? I think Sunday’s was a Foo Fighters song.
by Katherine215 on Mar 12, 2010 11:59 PM CST up reply actions
It's usually right before
the third period faceoff. It’s probably only about 45 seconds or so of a Hawks montage, but once I hear that music it’s in my head for days.
Like right now…argh!
"FACEOFF!" "Makes the pass." "FIGHT!" - 8 bit hockey
Too bad you can't put it in my head
so I would know which one you’re talking about.
by Katherine215 on Mar 13, 2010 12:13 AM CST up reply actions
Uprising by Muse
= Doctor Who theme
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 12:44 AM CST up reply actions
Speaking of which
I’d love to get a list of the music they play at the UC… being a music newbie myself (I listen a lot of stuff but I don’t know what any of it is), I love what I hear there…
My favorite
is the Dropkick Murphys song, Shipping Up to Boston. Especially when the show the guy who does an Irish jig while it’s playing.
by Katherine215 on Mar 11, 2010 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
That is one fantastic song
I actually know that one!
SCH is probably a good place to learn music, everyone here seems to be really knowledgeable, in all genres.
I guess to try my luck
There’s that one song with the guitar riffs they play after the whistle occasionally… I know that’s not very descriptive… it has, um, descending chords?
(I’m classically trained, then got into electronica — my sister’s a DJ — and in the past year and a half I’ve decided to embrace more normal stuff, pop, some R&B and hip hop, but mostly rock, though I still pick up way more on melodies and stuff and am horrible at picking out lyrics)
Are you talking about “Blister in the Sun” by the Violent Femmes?
/Note unceasing sarcastic laughter in background.
by burpchelischili on Mar 12, 2010 6:37 AM CST up reply actions
I never thought the content
of this song (lines like “I’m high as a kite” & “Body and beats I stain my sheets”) was really appropriate for a sporting event. They’re are other songs as well (i.e. Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” is about heroin addiction) that should be skipped as well.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Hmm, not quite
Actually, not at all… the segment of the one I’m thinking of doesn’t even get to any lyrics (kinda like how after a goal they get through just the “da da da” part of Chelsea Dagger and that’s it), just a sorta epic-sounding guitar riff….
I LOVE THAT GUY
he’s awesome and I always feel like the game’s missing something if he’s not dancing his jig down in the 100-level.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 11, 2010 11:41 PM CST up reply actions
I know!
I haven’t seen him in awhile though. I wonder if he’s still dancing down there.
by Katherine215 on Mar 12, 2010 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
And now for something completely different...
What is that white stripe down the front of Sharp’s pants in the picture above? Did his suspenders break?
He had a woody after scoring that goal
(can you blame him) and they had to edit it out
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 11, 2010 5:28 PM CST up reply actions
I wonder if he
unsnapped them since he couldn’t/wouldn’t be penalized for it
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
the laces normally supplied with hockey pants aren't much different
only the suplied laces are color coordinated
Wow Nashville was dominating the Sharks the first 2 periods
outshooting SJ 34-11 with a 4-2 lead, then all hell broke loose. The Sharks scored 6 goals on 14 shots in the third and ended up winning 8-5. Ellis was pulled at the 14:40 mark of the third. Can’t remember the last time a goalie was pulled that late in a close game.
wow
So Dan Ellis is one of the hockey players who has a Twitter account, and he actually has one of the more hilarious, un-PC accounts, including gems like:
Just walked a block and a half with @Sullivan26 for a starbucks and got soaked. makes me want to kick mother nature in the ovary.
and:
Detroit downtown living at its finest!! New high rise open concept! http://tweetphoto.com/13337353
so of course I wondered if he’d say something about this one.
He did.
Nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Poor guy. (Yes, I cannot believe I’m saying this about a Predator.)
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 12, 2010 6:50 AM CST up reply actions
Sorry about the dead horse thing...
…but i thought this was a fair and balancexd treatment of the issue from nhl.com
that's actually a pretty solid explanation
for how giving up fewer shots is translating to a lower save percentage. I wonder how many of the shots we give up are breakaways or from prime scoring angles.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 12, 2010 1:23 PM CST up reply actions
Hawks SV% (.901)
I thought last year we gave up a hell of a lot more odd man situations. I attributed it to a young team playing a high-risk/high-reward style of offense. Lots of pinching and we’d get caught deep. I’ve noticed a huge improvement this year – actually, that’s the single biggest improvement this team has made IMO. According to that theory (if my eye test is correct), our SV% should have been even lower last year, but it was higher (.911). Is someone now going to tell me that because they faced sooo many odd man rushes that the goalies didn’t get cold, or therefore there was a higher # of shots and it didn’t skew the stats?? The majority of goals I have a concern with have been in the 20+ ft range. I believe there is some merit to what they’re saying, but ultimately Huet and Niemi have underplayed their position.
I guess, hey, whatever they have to tell themselves to regain their confidence works for me.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
"I guess, hey, whatever they have to tell themselves to regain their confidence works for me."
Fun story. One of my friends went to practice the other day and waited around for the players to come out. Huet and Niemi drove out and stopped to sign for autographs a bit, and their conversation went like this:
Friend: I believe in you, Huet!
Huet: I believe in me too.
Friend: But I also love Niemi!
Huet: You just like goalies.
/this friend is not KofC, who also likes goalies.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on Mar 12, 2010 5:19 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe your friend
was half of the SCH site?
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 5:29 PM CST up reply actions
I questioned this quote
No one is crazy to think the Hawks are the most complete team in the NHL
Why is this “crazy” to think? Sharks might be. Pittsburg? Caps aren’t what I’d call a balanced team. Not many teams can roll lines like Hawks.
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
I think he was saying
People are not crazy to think the hawks are the most complete team. He phrased it awkwardly. I had to read it twice.
by Katherine215 on Mar 12, 2010 4:21 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks
You have shown me the error of my ways. Not-blond moment I guess?
Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 12, 2010 4:40 PM CST up reply actions
I get them once in awhile
They’re more frequent as the highlights fade…
by Katherine215 on Mar 13, 2010 12:01 AM CST up reply actions
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