What does this even mean? Arguably the most consistent player in the league and undoubtedly one of the best has a bad two weeks and he's superman who needs excuses?
- rollpards19

It is not a knock on toews, just the psychology of the fandom. He is struggling, no doubt. Needs to get better. He is human. How hard is it to say that?

I knew that was coming. Superman struggles, got to be an excuse. Right on Que....I was just waiting for this....
- TrueGrit

C'mon TG. It's a legitimate question. 1 shot on goal tonight... 0 last game... 2 in the game before that... turnovers.. losing FOs on the PP and PK the last couple games... Toews has not looked like Toews the last 3 or 4 games.. Usually when he "struggles" to score he is still solid in other areas of his game - not the case lately.

I am not saying they suck. They were definitely fresher. Even still, a tired Hawk team stayed right with them. And good lord, the Hawks D from top to bottom was pretty free with the puck.
- Elbows15

This is true, for sure. I'm more worried about this, both 5 on 5 and on the PK than I am about the backup goalie situation. In most facets of the game, Raanta looks like a serviceable NHL goalie now. As others have said, he does lose the net sometimes, seems to get confused as to where he is in space, and misreads the tempo when passing from the net...

...But Khabby plays like a middle-aged (sorry, nothing personal) drunk. His soft goals this year were clearly the result of no longer having the reflexes necessary to keep pace with the NHL game, reflexes that Raanta has in abundance.

I would say go with the kid, keep Crow fresh for the playoffs. Hawks can win games with Raanta behind net.

C'mon TG. It's a legitimate question. 1 shot on goal tonight... 0 last game... 2 in the game before that... turnovers.. losing FOs on the PP and PK the last couple games... Toews has not looked like Toews the last 3 or 4 games.. Usually when he "struggles" to score he is still solid in other areas of his game - not the case lately.
- CBHawks88

I'm guessing he's not quite healthy, but has some nagging injury that they're not announcing and isn't bad enough to keep him out. He hasn't looked himself. And I agree that it is a legitimate question.

C'mon TG. It's a legitimate question. 1 shot on goal tonight... 0 last game... 2 in the game before that... turnovers.. losing FOs on the PP and PK the last couple games... Toews has not looked like Toews the last 3 or 4 games.. Usually when he "struggles" to score he is still solid in other areas of his game - not the case lately.
- CBHawks88

Remember the shoulder to the chops he took from Derek Morris in Phoenix last Saturday?

5 games in 7 nights, 7 in 11. That's alot of hockey when a player has some bumps and bruises. and I haven't seen him get a vacation like Zuz, Rozy and Hoss.

This is true, for sure. I'm more worried about this, both 5 on 5 and on the PK than I am about the backup goalie situation. In most facets of the game, Raanta looks like a serviceable NHL goalie now. As others have said, he does lose the net sometimes, seems to get confused as to where he is in space, and misreads the tempo when passing from the net...

...But Khabby plays like a middle-aged (sorry, nothing personal) drunk. His soft goals this year were clearly the result of no longer having the reflexes necessary to keep pace with the NHL game, reflexes that Raanta has in abundance.

I would say go with the kid, keep Crow fresh for the playoffs. Hawks can win games with Raanta behind net.
- Tugboat

He'll be fine as long as they protect him. He's only given up two per in regulation. just has to work on that five hole.

C'mon TG. It's a legitimate question. 1 shot on goal tonight... 0 last game... 2 in the game before that... turnovers.. losing FOs on the PP and PK the last couple games... Toews has not looked like Toews the last 3 or 4 games.. Usually when he "struggles" to score he is still solid in other areas of his game - not the case lately.
- CBHawks88

I just figure he is human. And see nothing wrong with that. He has not looked very good no doubt.

I'm guessing he's not quite healthy, but has some nagging injury that they're not announcing and isn't bad enough to keep him out. He hasn't looked himself. And I agree that it is a legitimate question.
- Tugboat

You guys crack me up. I think he is just bummed that Pirri was sent down.

This is true, for sure. I'm more worried about this, both 5 on 5 and on the PK than I am about the backup goalie situation. In most facets of the game, Raanta looks like a serviceable NHL goalie now. As others have said, he does lose the net sometimes, seems to get confused as to where he is in space, and misreads the tempo when passing from the net...

...But Khabby plays like a middle-aged (sorry, nothing personal) drunk. His soft goals this year were clearly the result of no longer having the reflexes necessary to keep pace with the NHL game, reflexes that Raanta has in abundance.

I would say go with the kid, keep Crow fresh for the playoffs. Hawks can win games with Raanta behind net.
- Tugboat

Dude making it to middle age was a shock to me too.

Later boys. On to Sunday. Need a win.

Well said, in all the longing for yesteryear and Frolik misletoe, I mentioned last month, the bigger issue regarding the PK likely has less to do with personell as it does strategy. That is, contrary to what many seem to think or believe here on this board, but every NHL team has staffs full of people who study what their oppenents do. They study what other teams do that work. Guess what, they find weaknesses and wrinkles and go to school on that. How come the Bears don't run the 46 defense anymore. How come it was pretty much obsolete by 1990? It is because teams figure out how to beat it. Yes I know personnel are important in any scheme, but when you can look at something over and over on film, you can devise a strategy to minimally nuetralize its effectiveness or even defeat it.

So like Rogers throwing the quick slant or 13 yard curl route vs Lovies awesome cover 2, you can bet that every nhl team knows that they can stick anyone right in front of CC and there will be no resistance. Worse yet, is that point shots with direct targets are clear much to often.

So the issue is, now that the league has obviously adjusted to the Hawks scheme from last year, how do we adjust? As Al points out, it is not the magic of one player, it requires a systemic solution.
- TrueGrit

Wow, that is funny.

Regardless of what happens in their game against the Ducks tomorrow night the Blues will finish the week with the leagues highest Point%, but if the Sharks lose at the Wild Sunday and the Avs lose at Vancouver(both very possible) and we take care of business at home against the Panthers(god save us if we cant...) we'll still finish the week 2nd in Point% and 1st in total pts, DESPITE this 3 game losing streak and all of our current issues. Shaw should be back for our next game and Bickell will start skating next week, probly a week or so away from return. Raanta looks like a legit backup goalie. Jus tryin to stay positive....

Regardless of what happens in their game against the Ducks tomorrow night the Blues will finish the week with the leagues highest Point%, but if the Sharks lose at the Wild Sunday and the Avs lose at Vancouver(both very possible) and we take care of business at home against the Panthers(god save us if we cant...) we'll still finish the week 2nd in Point% and 1st in total pts, DESPITE this 3 game losing streak and all of our current issues. Shaw should be back for our next game and Bickell will start skating next week, probly a week or so away from return. Raanta looks like a legit backup goalie. Jus tryin to stay positive....
- SimpleJack

Screw all that Jack. Go by points. More a case of how they lost the previous two to tonight's game. Also a little bit of a let down after a nice circus trip. Here is a positive for you. They are beating themselves more than anything.

Screw all that Jack. Go by points. More a case of how they lost the previous two to tonight's game. Also a little bit of a let down after a nice circus trip. Here is a positive for you. They are beating themselves more than anything.
- Elbows15

K screw all of it. Ur right. We have the most points! We're the best!! There's always a let down after that damn road trip(or so it seems...). Tonight we were tired, a solid effort....but indeed the last 2 we kinda let slip away and played poorly. No big deal when u look at the standings though we're still on top!

Why in the world is Bollig getting more ice time than Morin?

Seriously?

K screw all of it. Ur right. We have the most points! We're the best!! There's always a let down after that damn road trip(or so it seems...). Tonight we were tired, a solid effort....but indeed the last 2 we kinda let slip away and played poorly. No big deal when u look at the standings though we're still on top!
- SimpleJack

See how easy. Even with a terrible week. Still 6-3-1 in the last 10. 8 of those games on the road. 1st or 2nd in road points. A lot of positives. Goalies can play better. Good lord the PK can. Need a couple of O'fers to get some confidence back.

Why in the world is Bollig getting more ice time than Morin?

Seriously?
- JoeHawks88

When you find out. Let the rest of us know.

See how easy. Even with a terrible week. Still 6-3-1 in the last 10. 8 of those games on the road. 1st or 2nd in road points. A lot of positives. Goalies can play better. Good lord the PK can. Need a couple of O'fers to get some confidence back.
- Elbows15

Thats how im tryin to look at it. We're in great shape at this very moment. We had a nice streak of GA goin as we closed out that road trip, but then came those next 2 games and the inconsistency showed itself. We need a LONG stretch of solid defense/goaltending with none of those random "off nights" where we give up 5 goals and turn the puck over as if we're being paid off to lose on purpose. Im sure its gonna start trending in the right direction with more efforts like we saw on the road trip, and not so much like those mid-week blips that followed.

We also miss Shaw. No net front presence 5-5. Not as much on the PP. Not as much snarl, especially against a physical team like Ana. But injurues happen and this loss was more on the D. Duncs couldn't catch the puck nor could he get off a shot to save his live. Oduya was off and they all looked a step slow. 3-in-4 showed. Made Zeus look almost not slow...he is worthless, especially if he can't win draws! Thank God Krugs has been so good at the dot.

It's a long season and besides the PK, things are pretty good. Getting healthy when Bicks comes back and plays with Shaw and Steeger will be a boost. Loving Smith's game. Toews needs to break out of his slump and he is definitely pressing. BTW, if he was injured, Q probably wouldn't play him 24:48. But lack of goal production by that line made a difference last night. Q matched them against Getzlaf early and it cost them some effort in their own zone. All the more reason to need Shaw back so he can take some defensive responsibility from Toews's line.

Need a win Sunday!

Didn't see the game - just saw the highlights on CBH.com (not a lot of hockey news on El Paso or Juarez TV), so this is a limited assessment, but: looked like Raanta should have had the second goal (screened, but make a save), and the first SO goal was terribly soft thru the 5-hole, but he did allow only two goals in the game - and two in each of his three starts, isn't it? - so he's doing fine as a back-up for now.

Ideally, I'd like to see him have a full year at Rockford, working on positionning, keeping his net - closing his five-hole - and I still think Khabibulin gets another shot, but can't fault his effort or (mostly) his results.

Good to see the Hawks be the beneficiaries of a bad goalie interference call for a change, even tho it should have gone the other way.

We also miss Shaw. No net front presence 5-5. Not as much on the PP. Not as much snarl, especially against a physical team like Ana. But injurues happen and this loss was more on the D. Duncs couldn't catch the puck nor could he get off a shot to save his live. Oduya was off and they all looked a step slow. 3-in-4 showed. Made Zeus look almost not slow...he is worthless, especially if he can't win draws! Thank God Krugs has been so good at the dot.

It's a long season and besides the PK, things are pretty good. Getting healthy when Bicks comes back and plays with Shaw and Steeger will be a boost. Loving Smith's game. Toews needs to break out of his slump and he is definitely pressing. BTW, if he was injured, Q probably wouldn't play him 24:48. But lack of goal production by that line made a difference last night. Q matched them against Getzlaf early and it cost them some effort in their own zone. All the more reason to need Shaw back so he can take some defensive responsibility from Toews's line.

Need a win Sunday!
- Kentxo

Two things - it was a hockey tie, not a loss. Second, not sure how it is on the defense when they gave up two goals. I was encouraged last night; they were tired (5th game in 7 nights, 3rd in 4 nights) and banged up, and played a well rested team (two days off coming in and 3rd game in 7 nights).

Two things - it was a hockey tie, not a loss. Second, not sure how it is on the defense when they gave up two goals. I was encouraged last night; they were tired (5th game in 7 nights, 3rd in 4 nights) and banged up, and played a well rested team (two days off coming in and 3rd game in 7 nights).
- mohel

Y'all are loving the 3 point games now

Y'all are loving the 3 point games now

- philco28

Not a fan of the three point game, but if them are da' rules ya' gotta gather points. I liked that they held the Ducks to 2, since I've been barking about goals against....

Two things - it was a hockey tie, not a loss. Second, not sure how it is on the defense when they gave up two goals. I was encouraged last night; they were tired (5th game in 7 nights, 3rd in 4 nights) and banged up, and played a well rested team (two days off coming in and 3rd game in 7 nights).
- mohel

Agreed, Hawks played a pretty decent game against a team that had been off since Monday night and who are a very good squad. And that with Raanta, Nordstrom and Morin up from Rockford.

And it would really help if Patrick Sharp could bury a few of his golden opportunities to score.

Agreed, Hawks played a pretty decent game against a team that had been off since Monday night and who are a very good squad. And that with Raanta, Nordstrom and Morin up from Rockford.

And it would really help if Patrick Sharp could bury a few of his golden opportunities to score.
- RickJ

Sharp had a couple of times he shot when he had someone crashing the net. Saw at least twice when Toews would have had a tap in and Sharpie put it in Hiller's chest. When Shaw comes back, Handzus needs to sit. He looked bad to me. Should have gone out on top like Mayers