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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
Amazing.
To build on an old phrase, last night, the Man from France killed 20,000 Boobirds with one stoning. Of a game Nashville Predators club.
Now before we get way ahead of ourselves, it was one game. And it wasn't one of those 40+ save, highlight reel type of games.
But nor was it even close to the 12 save cakewalk Cristobal Huet enjoyed in the last contest with Nashville.
Huet was razor sharp all night, and tested more than a few times, in a 27 save, 2-0 shutout. The Blackhawks were without top defenseman Brent Seabrook and are very thin at forward right now. Yet Huet and Duncan Keith primarily, with a nice game from Brent Sopel, kept Nashville off the board.
That is the kind of play the Hawks need from their number one goaltender, whoever he is. Clearly, the Hawks and Huet are hoping he'll continue to play that way.
THE BOWMAN WAY:
Much has been made over the years of Ken Holland's ingenious drafting, and how it's kept the Red Wings at an elite level in the NHL for years. While I don't disagree with the result, or Holland's role, to me it's not so much that the Red Wings went out and found talent, it's that they found talented players— with high hockey IQ's.
When a team is decimated by free agency or injury, the system it plays and the way its players execute can still carry the team.
I believe we saw some of that last night in the Hawks. Tomas Kopecky and John Madden might not be the most talented players in the NHL, but there are few players who are smarter. Watch the way Kopecky reads plays, positions himself and especially rotates back to the point when a defenseman pinches. Madden makes his presence felt all over the ice. This is also the kind of player Marian Hossa is. While his scoring prowess is well documented, #81 also deeply understand the intricacies of the game, making him a constant disruptive threat in any zone.
Regardless of their various physical characteristics, Troy Brouwer, Patrick Sharp, Nik Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane (at least in the offensive zone) are more examples of Blackhawks who play with a refined, instinctive understanding of the game.
Conversely, this is also most likely why Jack Skille continues to languish in Rockford, in spite of obvious physical skill.
This is where, I believe, Scotty Bowman is putting his imprimateur on this club. And it is a very good thing for the longterm competitiveness of this club.
KANE'S (NOT SO) EVIL TWIN:
No, I'm not referring to James Kane. Rather, the recently-acquired Andrew Ebbett.
During last night's game, there were at least two or three occasions where, because of his stature and the way he handles the puck in space, I could have sworn Ebbett was Kane.
Granted, those were just momentary flashes. But Ebbett clearly has some skill and had a nice game last night.
JJ's 3 STARS:
1. Huet
2. Keith
3. Dustin Byfuglien
Buff took two penalties at bad times last night, albeit both were very borderline infractions. Still he scored the goal that seemed to really turn the momentum toward the Hawks in a tight game and delivered some huge hits all night, culminating in an absolute demolition of Nashville rookie Colin Wilson at the final horn.
Wilson's going to be a big star in the NHL by the way, and is my dark horse candidate for the Calder Trophy. But welcome to the big time, kid. This isn't Hockey East anymore.
JJ
To build on an old phrase, last night, the Man from France killed 20,000 Boobirds with one stoning. Of a game Nashville Predators club.
Now before we get way ahead of ourselves, it was one game. And it wasn't one of those 40+ save, highlight reel type of games.
But nor was it even close to the 12 save cakewalk Cristobal Huet enjoyed in the last contest with Nashville.
Huet was razor sharp all night, and tested more than a few times, in a 27 save, 2-0 shutout. The Blackhawks were without top defenseman Brent Seabrook and are very thin at forward right now. Yet Huet and Duncan Keith primarily, with a nice game from Brent Sopel, kept Nashville off the board.
That is the kind of play the Hawks need from their number one goaltender, whoever he is. Clearly, the Hawks and Huet are hoping he'll continue to play that way.
THE BOWMAN WAY:
Much has been made over the years of Ken Holland's ingenious drafting, and how it's kept the Red Wings at an elite level in the NHL for years. While I don't disagree with the result, or Holland's role, to me it's not so much that the Red Wings went out and found talent, it's that they found talented players— with high hockey IQ's.
When a team is decimated by free agency or injury, the system it plays and the way its players execute can still carry the team.
I believe we saw some of that last night in the Hawks. Tomas Kopecky and John Madden might not be the most talented players in the NHL, but there are few players who are smarter. Watch the way Kopecky reads plays, positions himself and especially rotates back to the point when a defenseman pinches. Madden makes his presence felt all over the ice. This is also the kind of player Marian Hossa is. While his scoring prowess is well documented, #81 also deeply understand the intricacies of the game, making him a constant disruptive threat in any zone.
Regardless of their various physical characteristics, Troy Brouwer, Patrick Sharp, Nik Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane (at least in the offensive zone) are more examples of Blackhawks who play with a refined, instinctive understanding of the game.
Conversely, this is also most likely why Jack Skille continues to languish in Rockford, in spite of obvious physical skill.
This is where, I believe, Scotty Bowman is putting his imprimateur on this club. And it is a very good thing for the longterm competitiveness of this club.
KANE'S (NOT SO) EVIL TWIN:
No, I'm not referring to James Kane. Rather, the recently-acquired Andrew Ebbett.
During last night's game, there were at least two or three occasions where, because of his stature and the way he handles the puck in space, I could have sworn Ebbett was Kane.
Granted, those were just momentary flashes. But Ebbett clearly has some skill and had a nice game last night.
JJ's 3 STARS:
1. Huet
2. Keith
3. Dustin Byfuglien
Buff took two penalties at bad times last night, albeit both were very borderline infractions. Still he scored the goal that seemed to really turn the momentum toward the Hawks in a tight game and delivered some huge hits all night, culminating in an absolute demolition of Nashville rookie Colin Wilson at the final horn.
Wilson's going to be a big star in the NHL by the way, and is my dark horse candidate for the Calder Trophy. But welcome to the big time, kid. This isn't Hockey East anymore.
JJ
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