The Hawks are 5 - 0 and except for a few glitches have played very well, yet a good portion of the posts on here want guys benched, traded, moved off lines, sent to the minors ... Yadda, Yadda, Yadda! Why don't we wait for a few losses before we talk about rearranging or blowing up this line-up!
- paulr

Hawks have played very well so far. I think today was their weakest game and they still won.

My concerns for them are that this reminds me of last year... great start and injury free (anyone that brings up carcillo here loses my respect) with Toews winning all the faceoffs. The D still has holes. The biggest difference is that Craw actually looks really good out there. Time will tell.... but the hawks have looked solid so far, especially on the PP. JMO.

"You got to take it one game at a time"......


- jhawk159

Juuuusssst a bit outside....

Juuuusssst a bit outside....
- StLBravesFan

Crash Davis: It's time to work on your interviews.
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do?
Crash Davis: You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time."
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Got to play... it's pretty boring.
Crash Davis: 'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down.

It was a win

a lot of parity in this league

Thought both goalies played well

End of story

tiger doesn't shoot 65 every round

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeVca9MwDX8

Never F@#K with a winning streak

Well it's a win....


The biggest positive I take out of the game was that that was a goalie win. Crawford was by far the Hawks best player. Good to see.

Like Saad a lot. really like his wheels. He created lots of space for Hossa and Toews.

Liked Bickell's game tonight too. Him and Stalberg were really after it.

And Toews' move was sweet.

But that's where the positives end. Seabrook is still a step and a half behind. If not for Sheldon Brookbank,he would have been the Hawks worst Defenseman. But Brookbank, ho is glacially slow, kept him from that honor.

Kruger got hosed at the dot and the team was mostly blah for the entire game.

But good teams find a way to win when they're not playing well. And the hawks found a way. Nationwide arena is a very nice arena. It was cool being there. Although that new HD scoreboard showed way too much of the fat guy dancing for me.....

Onwards.

NIt picker I am !! This is the truth !!

However 5-0 doesn't happen by accident.

Power Play goals !!! Holy S HIT ! The Hawks might finish in the top half this year on the PP.

Kane is on fire and seeing the entire ice surface.

Toews goal gave me an erection

Hawks have played very well so far. I think today was their weakest game and they still won.

My concerns for them are that this reminds me of last year... great start and injury free (anyone that brings up carcillo here loses my respect) with Toews winning all the faceoffs. The D still has holes. The biggest difference is that Craw actually looks really good out there. Time will tell.... but the hawks have looked solid so far, especially on the PP. JMO.
- moylander

Ladies and Gentleman, introducing Eyore....the perpetual pessimism ..he has it all...until we win all games 10 - 0 nothing can be worth being happy about.

#22 sticking up for a team mate
- Beaver-Warrior

Just barely, Bollig > Mayers and would have dropped Boll just he did last year. Excited to see him return to the lineup.

Ladies and Gentleman, introducing Eyore....the perpetual pessimism ..he has it all...until we win all games 10 - 0 nothing can be worth being happy about.
- TrueGrit

yeah I'm feeling gloomy wienerhead

I thought to myself literally three minutes remaining that Craw has to let in some weak goal to keep his gaa at exactly two and what happens...

It wasn't a weak goal but still. It seems like most of the goals he allows are in the last few minutes of periods... Prolly not true, but seems so...

Sloppy but a win is a win......the next three will give us more concrete answers as to what type of team this really is:

Detroit - Although not the Wings of the past it is the 2nd of a back to back game and of course a rivalry game.

Wild - An up and coming team with two big prized free agents the hawks both wanted. Interesting to see how the hawks respond to facing Parise and Suter.

Nucks- No need to analyze this one....it will be atypical game with Riot City.

As far as the team goes I would think by game 20 we will truly know what type of team we have and how good they really are. If I remember correctly CC played good the first month of last season and then it was a circus the rest of the year. Hossa usually has a jump on everyone else and then an injury or two finds him. I really like Kaners start as well as Stalbergs, Toews, and Krugs. The D looks deeper this year with the emergence of Leddy and the addition of Rosi but, what the heck is with Seabs.....hopefully he finds his legs soon. All in all I am happy with the start and couldn't have asked for more.......let's see how we are we at the 20 game mark.

Hawks have played very well so far. I think today was their weakest game and they still won.

My concerns for them are that this reminds me of last year... great start and injury free (anyone that brings up carcillo here loses my respect) with Toews winning all the faceoffs. The D still has holes. The biggest difference is that Craw actually looks really good out there. Time will tell.... but the hawks have looked solid so far, especially on the PP. JMO.
- moylander

With all due respect, I disagree. Despite virtually the same roster I'm seeing a different team.

But it's only 5 games and a monster trip is pending. That Hawks-Shark matchup is looking tasty.

I thought to myself literally three minutes remaining that Craw has to let in some weak goal to keep his gaa at exactly two and what happens...

It wasn't a weak goal but still. It seems like most of the goals he allows are in the last few minutes of periods... Prolly not true, but seems so...
- busmaster

If you want to point fingers, point 'em at the defenders that gave him the space and time to flip in that rebound.

Craw was fine.

With all due respect, I disagree. Despite virtually the same roster I'm seeing a different team.

But it's only 5 games and a monster trip is pending. That Hawks-Shark matchup is looking tasty.
- ArlingtonRob

I think the Wild game is going to be nasty.....just a feeling.

If you want to point fingers, point 'em at the defenders that gave him the space and time to flip in that rebound.

Craw was fine.
- ArlingtonRob

Agree. Craw in the last 5 games has made some game changing saves... those saves he was missing last season. I can't fault him tonight at all... seemed like columbus spent a lot of time in front of him and they took a ton of high quality shots... which he fended off.

If you want to point fingers, point 'em at the defenders that gave him the space and time to flip in that rebound.

Craw was fine.
- ArlingtonRob

I could probably point the finger at 7, which would be more realistic. But everyone knows he's going to be a rock come May. Do you have that confidence in CC?

Leddy is better with Rozsival to help calm the waters. Shaw isn't physical as the third line center---probably better suited on the 4th line wing. Unless you think he could be effective with 19-81. Thing is, moving Kruger up ruins the 4th line since it isn't a physical line. With Kruger it is an ok 2way line. With shaw it isn't. Plus, saad needs Toews and Hoss to carry him along until/if he starts to click. Can't mess with the lines. For crissake, we criticized Q's crazy juggling and now we want changes? Mayers looks to be cashed. I support Bollig and a minor trade for a 4th line C.

I could probably point the finger at 7, which would be more realistic. But everyone knows he's going to be a rock come May. Do you have that confidence in CC?
- busmaster

No, I too do not trust Crawford....yet. Hope he proves me wrong.

It is really hard to switch up the lines when the team is winning. Chemistry is very important. But if they have to, I still keep the Toews and Bolland lines together. I still like Shaw better as a winger. I would like to see him with Kruger and Frolik. Also keep Stalberg with Bickell. So I would also like to see another center brought in with a trade. A tough one who can pk and win draws

A lot of people want to say the Hawks didn't play well but I think the credit has to go to Columbus for that. They played one hell of a game.

They pressured the Hawks all night and gave them no room to move.

I have to say.. I'm not seeing how Saad is earning a top 6 spot right now. He's not playing terrible and not a liability but I just don't think he's doing enough to stay there on a team that (early on) looks like a contender.

I like the kid's skill and hope he eventually can take that spot and keep it but at the moment, I'd like to have a true power forward there with Toews and Hoss.

I have to say.. I'm not seeing how Saad is earning a top 6 spot right now. He's not playing terrible and not a liability but I just don't think he's doing enough to stay there on a team that (early on) looks like a contender.

I like the kid's skill and hope he eventually can take that spot and keep it but at the moment, I'd like to have a true power forward there with Toews and Hoss.
- pri$ey

Me too, Pri$y, but who? They don't have one on the roster or in the minors.

I have to say.. I'm not seeing how Saad is earning a top 6 spot right now. He's not playing terrible and not a liability but I just don't think he's doing enough to stay there on a team that (early on) looks like a contender.

I like the kid's skill and hope he eventually can take that spot and keep it but at the moment, I'd like to have a true power forward there with Toews and Hoss.
- pri$ey

Any suggestions who'd fill that role?

I have to say.. I'm not seeing how Saad is earning a top 6 spot right now. He's not playing terrible and not a liability but I just don't think he's doing enough to stay there on a team that (early on) looks like a contender.

I like the kid's skill and hope he eventually can take that spot and keep it but at the moment, I'd like to have a true power forward there with Toews and Hoss.
- pri$ey

Your correct but once he gets a couple of goals and confidence he may surprise us
Keep in mind he's young and it takes time

Has to be intimidating playing with two stars like Hossa and Toews
Give him a little slack
I am