I agree and have to add :

See what happens when you piss off Bickell?

More interesting to me that after ten games, every game, the opposition interviews both coaching staff and players between periods openly say, "we do not want to get in a foot race with them (Blackhawks)."
- wiz1901

Yeah, maybe someone should piss in his cornflakes every day. He needs to play angry every game, otherwise he's a waste of space.

Yeah, maybe someone should piss in his cornflakes every day. He needs to play angry every game, otherwise he's a waste of space.
- Ogilthorpe2

This!

He has a pretty good set of offensive skills and when he puts his entire skill set together he is a huge asset to this team. The issue with Bickell is he only plays like this once every 8 games.

While I enjoyed seeing Bickell work at being physical, am I the only one who felt he took out more glass panes then players? Did I miss something?

Also, it seemed like Kaner was coasting back on a lot of the plays, and has stopped the constant attack/pressure. He's starting to look like 2011-12 Kaner again.

Sorry, maybe I'm just cranky because I was up late!
- resqmed99

You are not cranky - just accurate. Kane had a horseshoe up his a$$ last night. He coasts/drifts/seems disinterested and then ends up scoring the GW goal. As for Bickel, at least he is attempting to be physical. Thought that we were going to be pounded into submission last night early on, as SJ was hitting everything in a white sweater. We are consistently outhit and that will eventrually extract a toll. Yes - I am enjoying the ride - but not fully drinking from the kool-aid trough. We need a second line center - Bolland is not doingi for me - and a physical power forward.

You are not cranky - just accurate. Kane had a horseshoe up his a$$ last night. He coasts/drifts/seems disinterested and then ends up scoring the GW goal. As for Bickel, at least he is attempting to be physical. Thought that we were going to be pounded into submission last night early on, as SJ was hitting everything in a white sweater. We are consistently outhit and that will eventrually extract a toll. Yes - I am enjoying the ride - but not fully drinking from the kool-aid trough. We need a second line center - Bolland is not doingi for me - and a physical power forward.
- ksilvy58

The hit stats can be really deceiving when you're a team that typically out-possesses everyone by a wide margin. The important part is that the Hawks responded to the physicality but also stayed within their game.

Hell of a game.

I thought the hit was clean. Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda were adamant that it was a clean hit. Actually liked Keith's response as it was instinctual and reactionary. Although I could have swore instigating with a visor was 2,5 and 10. Hawks definitely caught a break. But it sure as heck didn't change the momentum of the game.

Can't say enough good things about Frolik. Which is a shift for me. But he's been an absolute badger on the forecheck and brilliant on the PK. With as clown shoes as the second line has been I really wouldn't mind seeing a reunion of the Bolland-Bickell-Frolik checking line. And actual checking line....( Shaw is too skittish to be a checking center....or a center for that matter.) Bickell, Kruger, and Stalberg, who drew a lot of praise from the SJ broadcast team, deserve their due. They're all playing well.

JJ, I wish I saw this "Hype machine" you're constantly rebelling against. I don't see it. I see people celebrating a hard working kid's first goal. And having fun with the kid's name because it rhymes with God and looks like sad and their are a lot of twitter friendly jokes. But this Hype machine you speak of simply doesn't exist. You're tilting your windmills in the direction....

18 out of a possible 20 points. That's awesome.
- yahoodi

Sometimes objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. Relatively speaking.

Torres tomorrow night! Should be an intense game. Excited to see the real rematch of the series last year. The first was a slop fest.

You are not cranky - just accurate. Kane had a horseshoe up his a$$ last night. He coasts/drifts/seems disinterested and then ends up scoring the GW goal. As for Bickel, at least he is attempting to be physical. Thought that we were going to be pounded into submission last night early on, as SJ was hitting everything in a white sweater. We are consistently outhit and that will eventrually extract a toll. Yes - I am enjoying the ride - but not fully drinking from the kool-aid trough. We need a second line center - Bolland is not doingi for me - and a physical power forward.
- ksilvy58

Look at every goal Kane has scored in the last few games, Bolland is not on the ice. What that means is that our leading scorer is not producing unless he is playing away from his five on five center. Time for a change.

I agree and have to add :

See what happens when you piss off Bickell?

More interesting to me that after ten games, every game, the opposition interviews both coaching staff and players between periods openly say, "we do not want to get in a foot race with them (Blackhawks)."
- wiz1901

And therein lies the problem for contenders like SJ, LA and St.Louis - overall team speed and especially lack of it on their back end.

If you can't stay with a faster team, the first thing you do is play the trap, clog up the neutral zone game. Then you have to resort to obstruction fouls - holding, hooking etc. If the referees call the game by the book, it spells trouble for those teams.

What do you want him to say? "Nope, totally legit, the ref blew it and we benefited from it!"

Was there contact to the head? Sure, it looked like there was. Was his head the principle point of contact? Definitely not. Furthermore, Mayers himself would probably tell you that he put himself in a vulnerable position in open ice.

The league itself came out, in pretty quick fashion, and said it shouldn't have been a penalty.
- Holes02

Thought the league said shouldn't have been a match penalty.

If the league is saying shouldn't have been a penalty, then the league doesn't really want to reduce concussions or protect the health of its most important assets - its players.

Skates left the ice, lifted his shoulder into Mayers, a dangerous hit whether Mayers was looking or not.

Blog fixed, re: timing of 4 on 4, Kane goal, etc.

Thought the league said shouldn't have been a match penalty.

If the league is saying shouldn't have been a penalty, then the league doesn't really want to reduce concussions or protect the health of its most important assets - its players.

Skates left the ice, lifted his shoulder into Mayers, a dangerous hit whether Mayers was looking or not.
- StLBravesFan

Dangerous? Perhaps. Headshot? Absolutely not.

Did anyone see Stan's vote of confidence for the team? He said the Hawks, as constructed presently, are good enough to win the Cup.

So I ask...is that just GM speak? Was he putting the spotlight on Q? As I watched that game last night, I was thinking...'there's a weakness....there's another....oh, one more'.

Ramenda, Bret Hedican and I think Logan Couture all made some remark about Crawford last night. I don't think many people in the hockey community hold his goaltending in high regard.
- eburgio

Yes. And yes.

Go back through his comments at the end of last season. "We underachieved in the playoffs, etc."

What he says and when he says it often has a desired spin effect. I know some say I'm seeing bogeymen. Yeah, well . . . maybe I hear things they don't.

You are not cranky - just accurate. Kane had a horseshoe up his a$$ last night. He coasts/drifts/seems disinterested and then ends up scoring the GW goal. As for Bickel, at least he is attempting to be physical. Thought that we were going to be pounded into submission last night early on, as SJ was hitting everything in a white sweater. We are consistently outhit and that will eventrually extract a toll. Yes - I am enjoying the ride - but not fully drinking from the kool-aid trough. We need a second line center - Bolland is not doingi for me - and a physical power forward.
- ksilvy58

LW way bigger problem there....

Sharp looks like absolute garbage. Slow footed, poor puck management and more than not a black hole. Bolland is invisible but when has that line been able to set up and sustain any kind of cycle or possession? If Bolland cant set up behind the net then he is useless in an offensive role.

Kane has been an absolute monster and dictating the play when the puck is on his blade. Far from a glaring problem right now.

RE hitting: When the first and third line sustain pressure the way they do they are going to get hit more than they can hit because they have the godamn puck. Expecting Frolik or Kruger to mash people is silly and Kane, Sharp and Bolland are not what I would call overly physical. The numbers are about where they should be based on the roster and style of play.

Look at every goal Kane has scored in the last few games, Bolland is not on the ice. What that means is that our leading scorer is not producing unless he is playing away from his five on five center. Time for a change.
- nickmo2699

OH MY GOD! Quick everyone to the bat cave. We have to make a plan. We can't go on this way.

Look at every goal Kane has scored in the last few games, Bolland is not on the ice. What that means is that our leading scorer is not producing unless he is playing away from his five on five center. Time for a change.
- nickmo2699

Or sharrrrrrrrp

You do know that they are 8-0-2...right?

Don't phuck with a winning streak.
- Ogilthorpe2

Even if Bowman was able to get Ott

OH MY GOD! Quick everyone to the bat cave. We have to make a plan. We can't go on this way.
- TrueGrit

36 is the Aquaman of the Hawks right now

You do know that they are 8-0-2...right?

Don't phuck with a winning streak.
- Ogilthorpe2

X2

Yeah, maybe someone should piss in his cornflakes every day. He needs to play angry every game, otherwise he's a waste of space.
- Ogilthorpe2

he should piss in his own cornflakes if that what it takes since he is playing for a contract next year

Morin/Beach and or Hayes to name a few all could replace him but all are in a similar position in terms of proving themselves

I thought Bicks would rise to the challenge when we lost Byf/Ladd etc but it hasnt happened

A few things that have encouraged me about this team, this year:

Ability to dust themselves off after giving up goals
Last year, this was not the case. A fair bit of it is tied to...

Crawford's ability to rebound after poor goals/poor starts
Again, last year Crawford would remain bad until he was either pulled, or the Hawks were run out of the building.

Nick Leddy's composure
He's still susceptible to getting pushed around in his own end on occasion, but he looks much more comfortable playing the puck in his own end, and using his wheels to get out of trouble

Defensive depth
Hammer/Oduya have been the best pairing on the ice for much of the year. When Keith/Seabs pick up their games (I thought Biscuit looked good last night) to their typical high level, we'll be solid.

36 is the Aquaman of the Hawks right now
- victorymc98

10 is the flash with zero speed

he should piss in his own cornflakes if that what it takes since he is playing for a contract next year

Morin/Beach and or Hayes to name a few all could replace him but all are in a similar position in terms of proving themselves

I thought Bicks would rise to the challenge when we lost Byf/Ladd etc but it hasnt happened
- boldirev

Let's be realistic none are as capable defensively or skate as well

Yes. And yes.

Go back through his comments at the end of last season. "We underachieved in the playoffs, etc."

What he says and when he says it often has a desired spin effect. I know some say I'm seeing bogeymen. Yeah, well . . . maybe I hear things they don't.
- John Jaeckel

I cant listen to Bow Jr because its always similar rhetoric and just what you expect him to say

Loved how CC battled back after a softie or 2. He looks to have a whole new mental toughness this year. Faceoffs still an issue. How many times did we see the Hawks lose a defensive zone draw that lead to 2-3 good chances? Too many. Not saying it is the end-all-be-all cure to the issues, but Kruger 0-fer-6 on top of his 2/14 last game is baaad.

And therein lies the problem for contenders like SJ, LA and St.Louis - overall team speed and especially lack of it on their back end.

If you can't stay with a faster team, the first thing you do is play the trap, clog up the neutral zone game. Then you have to resort to obstruction fouls - holding, hooking etc. If the referees call the game by the book, it spells trouble for those teams.
- RickJ

I agree. But you can't count—at all— on the refs calling it by the book. Or, if your goalie is going to s--- the bed or your star player is going to take a head shot. All of which happened when a faster, more talented team faced the Phoenix Coyotes in Round 1 last year.

This is why adding some muscle up front might not hurt this team going into the playoffs. Of all the "good" Hawk teams since 2008-09, the 2009-10 team was best at transitioning from a fast-break, possession style to a dump and bang style—when the opposition forced it. And that's what happens more often than not in the playoffs.

I also want to say this: not sure why Patrick Sharp has suddenly taken on the hands of Jeff Shantz, but in fairness, he has been pretty physical at times the last few games. Last night he made a really nice play checking a larger d-man right off a puck behind the SJ net and gaining possession. Something not enough current hawk forwards can or will do.