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....
- mohel

They were lucky to hold 'em to 2....Hawks were looser defensively than a young Madonna on the prowl in NYC. It doesn't show up in the stats or shots against, but lot of bad touches that caused havoc inside our end.

Well this has been an annoying run.

Seabrook continues to disappoint. I know it's been glossed over by his offensive numbers and Keith having a Norris like season. But he hasn't been very good. And I thought last night it was rather apparent.

The lines will sort themselves out once Shaw, who's already back as the overmatched Joakim Nordstrom has been sent to Piggy-land, and Bickell are back. And while Raanta was kinda everywhere, the end result was he only let in 2 goals and gave his team a chance to win- what you need from a backup goalie. While he clearly should be in Rockford, I think you have to give him some starts. Hopefully he'll settle down after getting his first home game under his belt....

Onwards.

Reaction transaction for 12.7.13

Nordstrom's been sent BACK to Rockford

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
#Blackhawks reassign forward Joakim Nordstrom to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

They were lucky to hold 'em to 2....Hawks were looser defensively than a young Madonna on the prowl in NYC. It doesn't show up in the stats or shots against, but lot of bad touches that caused havoc inside our end.
- philco28

annaheim is a bad matchup for the hawks, remember the ducks also had at least 2 starting dman out (not counting Souray) and Silverberg out.

Reaction transaction for 12.7.13

Nordstrom's been sent BACK to Rockford

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
#Blackhawks reassign forward Joakim Nordstrom to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
- philco28

Making room for Shaw's return tomorrow?

Making room for Shaw's return tomorrow?
- DarthKane

Hope so 65 has been SORELY MISSED

Today's article....

Blackhawks got one out but lose in a shootout 3-2 to Anaheim: On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eXGbj4

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Today's article....

Blackhawks got one out but lose in a shootout 3-2 to Anaheim: On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eXGbj4

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Al, nice piece once again. Although I wish you and John would call out Q, the staff and the team for some things. Like:

Really bad (I mean really) bad decision making by the top 2 D pairings.

I think we were absolutely lucky to give up only 2 goals -- some bad decisions and the apparent focus on other things really could have turned things VERY ugly. I am rather incensed at the rope given to the top 2 pairings while it seems that the benefit of the doubt is seldom given to others. In fact, just the opposite as you can see by the TOI.

And what does Duncan Keith bring to the PP party that sees him getting nearly double the amount of TOI as Nick Leddy?

I'd like to see some back-to-basic stuff from him -- instead of the double clutching and such at the point, snap the puck to the net. How many shots last night never made it through? Or if they did, didn't come close to being tippable/hitting the net?

Seabrook sleepwalking through much of the game has grown old for me. And much as I love Hjalmarsson, I think Oduya has been (of late) the more dependable of the pair. Too many blind passes. Again, luck on our side those didn't turn into GA.

Al, nice piece once again. Although I wish you and John would call out Q, the staff and the team for some things. Like:

Really bad (I mean really) bad decision making by the top 2 D pairings.

I think we were absolutely lucky to give up only 2 goals -- some bad decisions and the apparent focus on other things really could have turned things VERY ugly. I am rather incensed at the rope given to the top 2 pairings while it seems that the benefit of the doubt is seldom given to others. In fact, just the opposite as you can see by the TOI.

And what does Duncan Keith bring to the PP party that sees him getting nearly double the amount of TOI as Nick Leddy?

I'd like to see some back-to-basic stuff from him -- instead of the double clutching and such at the point, snap the puck to the net. How many shots last night never made it through? Or if they did, didn't come close to being tippable/hitting the net?

Seabrook sleepwalking through much of the game has grown old for me. And much as I love Hjalmarsson, I think Oduya has been (of late) the more dependable of the pair. Too many blind passes. Again, luck on our side those didn't turn into GA.
- savvyone-1

I think the last three games it would be easier to point out the few players who have been engaged for most shifts...

I don't know what you mean by calling out but...

While many were blaming Crawford for the Wild loss I pointed out Oduya cost the Hawks two goals and Seabrook's shot block attempt on the game tying goal was unbelievable it was so weak.

Many mental mistakes and I pointed out today the defenders were a step slow last night.

It is what it is...They lost the two games they should have won to start the month...

Coming away with 1 point last night was an improvement.

Shaw and Bickell out makes a difference no doubt....

Today's article....

Blackhawks got one out but lose in a shootout 3-2 to Anaheim: On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eXGbj4

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

So I missed lasted nights game and what do I find? Darn near every player called out as a bum, soft etc....The usual stuff. As US would say "carry on".

According to Hawks site they are showing 17 Seconds tonight at 8pm on WTTW

According to Hawks site they are showing 17 Seconds tonight at 8pm on WTTW
- patorioto

Thanks for the heads up...I see it on the guide on my TV..

The one positive for me lately is I think versteeg is this years solution to 2C

I think the last three games it would be easier to point out the few players who have been engaged for most shifts...

I don't know what you mean by calling out but...

While many were blaming Crawford for the Wild loss I pointed out Oduya cost the Hawks two goals and Seabrook's shot block attempt on the game tying goal was unbelievable it was so weak.

Many mental mistakes and I pointed out today the defenders were a step slow last night.

It is what it is...They lost the two games they should have won to start the month...

Coming away with 1 point last night was an improvement.

Shaw and Bickell out makes a difference no doubt....

Today's article....

Blackhawks got one out but lose in a shootout 3-2 to Anaheim: On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eXGbj4

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

What I mean on calling them out -- is really more on the coaching staff and Q than anything. Al, you definitely point out the on-ice culprits almost all the time.

I would just like to see Q and staff face a bit more heat over the unevenness of their handling of personnel. As I said, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson and Oduya can seem to do no wrong in their eyes.

Now I know you are going to come back and counter this with the argument that maybe they do see it but have such reservations about Leddy and whoever they've paired him with that night -- to take on more minutes against better competition -- that they are willing to live with the gaffes of 2, 4,7 and 27 as opposed to what they might get with 8 and 32/17.

While I can understand this line of reasoning -- the only way Leddy is ever going to improve (now that he has 100+ NHL games under his belt and was part of a CUP winning squad) is for him to get put in more of those situations.

If we're going to keep getting Seabrook sleepwalking 90% of the time -- or Keith fumbling around with the puck at the point or making ill-timed offensive forays that cause odd-man breaks (as we have seen over the last several games), I have to think it would be beneficial for Leddy's long-term development to get some of those minutes and learn from it.

Leddy has been much better along the wall. Why not put him in more tougher situations? What if he is able to pick up his game and make a difference? I think it's quite possible. Instead, we get Q with the "tried and true" which has been for much of this season, error prone. Just look at the overall GA total. Certainly not league leading or anywhere close.

So, this is really what I'm talking about -- more on the staff than on the squad. They've got to play the minutes they're given. I'm calling out the staff on how they are doing this across the team -- it's not just the D but forwards as well, along with special team assignments.