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Toews Puts Penguins and Critics on Ice |
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The Captain is baaaack(?).
His line in the boxscore reads 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -1 +/-, 4 SOGs, 59% FO, 1 block, 2 giveaways and 19:24 TOI.
If you didn't catch the game, you would say "meh" after reading that.
However, Toews had a very impressive game on Saturday vs. the Pens. He looked stronger on his skates and, as Q would say "had a purpose" opposite Crosby's squad.
Captain Serious has been under some harsh criticism this year (more like the last few years), including from yours truly. I've personally been hard on him as I know what he's capable of and, at 29-years young, he still should have a lot in the tank.
JT had a game that makes me very optimistic for the Hawks 2017-18 season. Over the last decade+, as Toews goes, so do the Blackhawks. His physical and overall presence was on display against the Penguins and it was a welcomed sight.
With 3 wins in their last 4 games, have the Blackhawks turned the corner? No, I'm asking you, have they?
This has been a frustrating season to date, but there have been a lot of positive signs lately.
Murray and Crawford were both great on Saturday. Crow, once again gave his team a chance to win with 35 saves. He has been key and will need to keep up this play moving forward.
The lines and defence have been gelling a lot better of late. The latter being lead by increased ice-time by Gustav Forsling.
Molly asked on the message board if we're starting to see a transition from Keith to Forsling as the #1 D. I say if #42 solidifies himself as a real solid Top 4 defence come playoff time, the Hawks are in much better shape.
Stan and Co. needed a few young guys to step up this year if this team was going to be successful. My theory was at least 2 guys needed to emerge on the backend the way they constructed the defenders and it looks like Forsling and Rutta have been leading the charge.
Interesting enough, the decrease in playing time to one of the Hawks top defenceman is helping as well. Brent Seabrook played 16+ minutes again for the 2nd straight game.
Up front, not to nitpick, but the Hawks are short 1 centre. Wingels was 17% on the draw vs. the Pens putting him at 39% for the year.
Ryan Hartman is not a long-term solution (he was 17% FO on Saturday BTW), so what to do?
Hinostroza is not the answer in the middle in my opinion and has been playing LW primarily in the AHL.
Highmore and Dauphin appear to be the best pivot options in the minors at this time, but it's a stretch to ask them to come in and make an impact this season.
In the short-term, I would say Kero should draw back into the lineup in favour of Bouma until Stan can outsource an external option.
A 2-1 win is the kind of close scoring game that the Hawks need to win. They won 24 games last year by 1-goal in either regulation, OT or in the SO. This year, they have 3 victories by the same stat; they had 8 wins by this time last year.
Let's revel in this "winning streak" of 2.
The Hawks take on the smoking hot Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. I'll check back in with a preview then.
JL - @JustinLoweHB
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ICYMI:
* The Rockford IceHogs played 2 games this weekend vs. Grand Rapids and Chicago. They were victorious in both contests; 3-2 (SO) win against GR and a 4-3 (SO) win vs. Chicago.
* Jeff Glass has stolen the crease back from JF Berube with 4 straight wins in as many starts and played in those back-to-back games.
* We have to touch on the most-watched IceHogs these days, Vinnie Hinostroza who had 1 G, 1 A, 5 SOGs in regulation, coupled by 2 pretty shootout goals to help Rockford post back-to-back wins this weekend. He continues to state his case to be inserted into the Hawks lineup.
* Luke Johnson, the team’s Rookie of the Year last year, now wears an “A” for the IceHogs. He had 2 goals on Sunday and has been very versatile during his time in the AHL playing both wing and centre. He is one to watch, an underrated player boasts a really strong character and is a former teammate of current Hawk, Nick Schmaltz, as they skated together in North Dakota.
* In case you were wondering, here are the lines that started the game vs. Chicago yesterday:
Fortin-Kampf-Jurco
Hino-Highmore-Johnson
Iacopelli-Dauphin-Martinsen
Knott-Sikura-Pelletier
Gustafsson-Dahlstrom
Snuggerud-Pokka
Svedberg-Norell
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