One of the worst performances in years and it still goes down to the wire.

This Hawks club is lucky AF...even in defeat.
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed! I don't remember when I have seen the defence play so bad. Seabrook and Campbell head the list. But the whole team was disengaged until the final two minutes. Darling held them in but should have had the second one.

Can someone with coaching exp, please explain the purpose of using the passive entry through the entire game? It simply kills any built up momentum the team has breaking out.

Agreed! I don't remember when I have seen the defence play so bad. Seabrook and Campbell head the list. But the whole team was disengaged until the final two minutes. Darling held them in but should have had the second one.
- Gasboy

Let's give the Hawks a pass tonight because the team was definitely tired from playing so many games in a short time. However, if the Hawks continue to play so haphazardly and average a goal a night the next 2 or 3 games.... Look out, things are going to get real dicey in Hawkland.

Let's give the Hawks a pass tonight because the team was definitely tired from playing so many games in a short time. However, if the Hawks continue to play so haphazardly and average a goal a night the next 2 or 3 games.... Look out, things are going to get real dicey in Hawkland.
- spanky

Tonite was Winnipeg's 2nd of a b-to-b, 3rd in 4 bites, 4th in 6.

No passes - at home - after a terrible game yesterday.

"I tweeted at one point (essentially) that Hawk center Nick Schmaltz had not received his hotel wake up call by about midway through the second period. In truth, Schmaltz and Tyler Motte (and to a lesser extent Vince Hinostroza, who has become the latest object of over the top fanboy hype) have struggled to get pucks out of their end under forecheck pressure all season."

Hil-arious that the blogger is so quick to point the finger at the $900,000 club, but the minute anyone calls out his $10.5 million dollar idol (#19), he curls up in the fetal position and starts bawling.

He should have had Copps goal - he's a big goalie, should have come out and challenged him more.

Darling will give up 2/3 in games that Crawford will give up 1/2 - don't know that the Hawks can score the necessary 3/4 with Darling in there.
- StLBravesFan

Ah maybe, that was a very good shot by Copp to pick the corner. 2 minutes earlier he missed picking the other corner by a 1/4 inch. Darling gave his team a chance to win when they didn't deserve to even be that close.

Let's give the Hawks a pass tonight because the team was definitely tired from playing so many games in a short time. However, if the Hawks continue to play so haphazardly and average a goal a night the next 2 or 3 games.... Look out, things are going to get real dicey in Hawkland.
- spanky

Seriously? If you have been watching the Hawks at all this season you will know that their place in the standings is highly inflated. As in, they are more than fortunate to be where they are at. They are no longer a puck possession team. In fact they seem to be in retreat mode more often now. With efforts like tonight it is doubtful they make the playoffs!

Tonite was Winnipeg's 2nd of a b-to-b, 3rd in 4 bites, 4th in 6.

No passes - at home - after a terrible game yesterday.
- StLBravesFan

both teams near the top in GP; jets 28 and hawks 27. aves and wild have played 23...

5 games in hand vs the jets thats crazy scheduling

ok...yeah some dogs games lately and 4 w/o toews..

but (frank) it they are first in WC and 3rd in the league: tied with rangers and 1 point behind the habs...this was their first loss in regulation at home since opening night vs the blues...

this is with 4 rook forwards: hartmann, mott, hinostra, smaltz; two other young inexp players raz and panik..

plus two young 1st year NHL dmen: kempney and forsling...

add in crappy special teams...

they have done it with goaltending and OT wins and a resurgent hossa

not a damn poster on this board including me expected them to be in this position after 27 games, but they are.

now they have to weather more games with out toews and at least 10 games with out their best player #50...

yeah dark clouds approach but as the year wears on it is possible this team can only get better..

They need Toews back soon. I think they need his leadership, face-offs, and hopefully his old production.

Tonight was lackluster and they were just a coaches challenge on the second goal away from probably getting at least one point.

Seriously? If you have been watching the Hawks at all this season you will know that their place in the standings is highly inflated. As in, they are more than fortunate to be where they are at. They are no longer a puck possession team. In fact they seem to be in retreat mode more often now. With efforts like tonight it is doubtful they make the playoffs!
- Gasboy

I don't think I would call their place in the standings inflated, the Hawks banked a lot of points early while a bunch of other teams were spinning their wheels and still are. And if the Hawks aren't very good, it doesn't say much for Nashville, Dallas, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Anaheim, Calgary, Tampa, Washington, Florida.

Like most of the rest of the league, Chicago has morphed into a win one / lose one team with poor special teams who just can't get enough offence out of the 13 or 14 forwards on their roster. There is no major problem on the blue line or in goal, the team just doesn't score enough and as a result they are going to play plenty of low scoring tight games and lose some of them. And I wouldn't bank on the rookie forwards that are playing to score a bunch in the latter half of the season.

ok...yeah some dogs games lately and 4 w/o toews..

but (frank) it they are first in WC and 3rd in the league: tied with rangers and 1 point behind the habs...this was their first loss in regulation at home since opening night vs the blues...

this is with 4 rook forwards: hartmann, mott, hinostra, smaltz; two other young inexp players raz and panik..

plus two young 1st year NHL dmen: kempney and forsling...

add in crappy special teams...

they have done it with goaltending and OT wins and a resurgent hossa

not a damn poster on this board including me expected them to be in this position after 27 games, but they are.

now they have to weather more games with out toews and at least 10 games with out their best player #50...

yeah dark clouds approach but as the year wears on it is possible this team can only get better..
- bogiedoc

this team will get better, but clearly they are thin on talent offensively. if the blue-liners play to their potential and Crawford and Darling continue to play strongly, the team should make the playoffs. and then who knows. what frustrates me about the Hawks is their tendency to sandbag early in the season. the way the puck is so casually thrown around in their own zone makes them seem indifferent. maybe in past season they had the horses to "turn it on" when they had to, but this team is older and less talented. hope they wake up soon.

I expect the HAWKS to win that game ,they always respond to a challenge .And I know you will not show up with your Debbie Downer comments ..
- oldduffman

Sure I will...

...and you'll bring your pom poms regardless.

Blind optimism must be as addicting as heroin.

I expect the Rangers to run the Hawks out of the Garden...

...and the UC.
- ArlingtonRob

Me too, I expect the same, games will get harder, injury bug hits, not enough depth, no more horse shoes left up the ass, Kool aid will stop flowing! Yeah lets give away what little we have left for Old Shane Doan. Might as well just ride it out. Get a high pick this June. These guys are lucky to have banked those points up till now. We got I guess NADDA in the Rock either! Top that one or just about right on?

Me too, I expect the same, games will get harder, injury bug hits, not enough depth, no more horse shoes left up the ass, Kool aid will stop flowing! Yeah lets give away what little we have left for Old Shane Doan. Might as well just ride it out. Get a high pick this June. These guys are lucky to have banked those points up till now. We got I guess NADDA in the Rock either! Top that one or just about right on?
- wonthecup10

That's not happening.

If it does...for the first time I would suggest that SB should be relieved of his duties.

But there is a fly in the ointment...

...something needs to happen for the Hawks to sign Panarin, and the Hawks MUST sign Panarin.

That's not happening.

If it does...for the first time I would suggest that SB should be relieved of his duties.

But there is a fly in the ointment...

...something needs to happen for the Hawks to sign Panarin, and the Hawks MUST sign Panarin.
- ArlingtonRob

He's a great player, but are the Hawks really in position to roll out another monster contract?

That's not happening.

If it does...for the first time I would suggest that SB should be relieved of his duties.

But there is a fly in the ointment...

...something needs to happen for the Hawks to sign Panarin, and the Hawks MUST sign Panarin.
- ArlingtonRob

Let's see how that works out. It is a MUST. These guys try but they get knocked off the puck easy, not one of those kids is 6 foot tall. I fricken get pissed when I see Kevin Hayes playing so well in NY, who was so golden back in 15 that Bowman couldn't promise this kid a good look! Now we're bankin on a kid 5"2 133 lbs to be the next 1. Fricken Bowman.

This current Hawk team is starting to emulate the 2011 team. To many new players, not enough scorers and bad specialty teams. Bad Karma!

A little tidbit from Scott Powers.....

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Scott Powers of The Athletic watched John Hayden and Yale play. After the game, he talked to Hayden and wrote that Yale’s senior captain “absolutely” intends on signing with the Blackhawks at the end of the season.

“I have a great relationship with the Blackhawks, and they’ve done a great job with supporting me and teaching me since the draft,” he added.

Chris Hine
‏@ChristopherHine

Notebook from tonight ... Jonathan Toews misses 6th consecutive game; injury not getting better

He's a great player, but are the Hawks really in position to roll out another monster contract?
- kwolf68

Considering the need for talent that can score moving forward Panarin's retention seems like a must...how SB and Co. make it happen is for them to work out. Did not say it would be easy.

Chris Hine
‏@ChristopherHine

Notebook from tonight ... Jonathan Toews misses 6th consecutive game; injury not getting better
- ArlingtonRob

So not good. Missing the captain for myriad reasons, not the least of which is match ups- no Toews taking on the other team's top line. And face offs. And best (or tied for best because Hossa) defensive F. And leadership. Without Toews you get - against the better teams - what we are starting to see and will be seeing coming up (NYR twice within a week). And it ain't pretty. Sigh. Now no Crow - but Darling is solid and last night he was pretty much what kept them in it. 3 breakaways (3!) all stopped.

Rob looks like Dano was offside goal shouldn't have counted...
- DK002

IIRC, Dano touched the puck in the O-Zone (s/b offside), but then carried it into the neutral zone. If Q challenged that play, would they look at when Dano first touched it, or only the re-entry which was not offside?

JJ or anyone else do you think Schmaltz can actually add strength at Rockford? It was my understanding that due to be grind of the season players usually have a hard time maintaining their weight. Is it possible for one to even add strength during the season or is that something that can't be addressed till the off season. It's clearly the biggest thing he needs to improve on.
- bhawks2241

Personally, with travel, practices and games, I think any kind of disciplined, meaningful strength program (beyond maintenance) goes out the window during the season.

IIRC, Dano touched the puck in the O-Zone (s/b offside), but then carried it into the neutral zone. If Q challenged that play, would they look at when Dano first touched it, or only the re-entry which was not offside?
- tvetter

I think only the re-entry: the off-sides play ended when Dano exited the zone with the puck - new play was on-sides.

Otherwise - as certainly the Hawks staff would have seen the replay - Q would have challenged. He also referred to it in his post-game presser.