Quality of opponents over that stretch is a huge reason for the improved numbers and record.

Over the last eleven games they were 7-4, had MIN twice, and stepped up both nights to win two big individual games against them. SJ L, TB L, WPG L/W, ARI W, DAL W, EDM W/L, BUF W. Most of those wins (and a couple of losses) were against teams they should beat.

Lets see how this lineup does against PIT and CBJ next month. Then ask how they would fare in a couple of long series against teams like these. Because on balance the Hawks have a pretty weak schedule the rest of the way. Sets up a false sense of security if you ask me.

As I said earlier, the West teams will not be the test. It will be the East teams. The empirical evidence suggests the team as constructed will really struggle against the cream of the East.
- Return of the Roar

All teams get easy stretches and difficult stretches in the schedule. If the Hawks had the tougher part of their schedule already (and weaker schedule ahead) and only Minny is ahead in the west, then that is pretty good considering Minny had to go on a crazy 12 game streak to do it. Minnesota is getting tons of credit around the league lately, but imagine if Devon Dubnyk wasn't playing out of his mind good this season. They wouldn't be ahead of the Hawks or if they were it wouldn't be much.

That is what all the 4 teams ahead of Chicago have in common this season...All are getting really, is outstanding goal-tending.

Top goalies in Sv% right now.... Dubnyk, Holtby, Murray, Bobrovsky. I don't think the Hawks as a team are afraid to match up against anyone in the playoffs.

that was one helluva game...that wild team is very good; excellent team structure and they can skate

not for a couple of clanks and the high stick goal reversal; they might have pulled the win out...
- bogiedoc

Wild are definitely a good team but the Hawks looked just as good if not better. Don't be afraid to compliment the team that won.

All teams get easy stretches and difficult stretches in the schedule. If the Hawks had the tougher part of their schedule already (and weaker schedule ahead) and only Minny is ahead in the west, then that is pretty good considering Minny had to go on a crazy 12 game streak to do it. Minnesota is getting tons of credit around the league lately, but imagine if Devon Dubnyk wasn't playing out of his mind good this season. They wouldn't be ahead of the Hawks or if they were it wouldn't be much.

That is what all the 4 teams ahead of Chicago have in common this season...All are getting really, is outstanding goal-tending.

Top goalies in Sv% right now.... Dubnyk, Holtby, Murray, Bobrovsky. I don't think the Hawks as a team are afraid to match up against anyone in the playoffs.
- breadbag

Notice Darlings name up there in a couple categories?

Wild are definitely a good team but the Hawks looked just as good if not better. Don't be afraid to compliment the team that won.
- SimpleJack

I think the Hawks adjusted to the Wild over the course of the season series. So much of the Wild game plan is forecheck pressure and counter attack on turnovers/mistakes. When the Hawks D moved the puck well and the team limited the errors handling the puck, they owned the Wild for long stretches.

Toews has, I was told, had more to say off the record with the front office on this subject. A few games might not be enough to change what I was told was a high level of frustration on the issue of linemates.

I would therefore not jump to the conclusion that he is completely satisfied.

Or how well he's playing may say to him and others that they really need to go all in.

People will believe what they want, as always. And they may not do anything. I will be more surprised if they don't.
- John Jaeckel

My understanding, from an excellent source, was that Toews went to mgmt to offer his opinion about TT and his work habits, or lack thereof.

I guess the more blogs I read about Bowman saying that he will probably stand pat,I won't be to disappointed when March 1st comes around and Bowman does nothing .

Quality of opponents over that stretch is a huge reason for the improved numbers and record.

Over the last eleven games they were 7-4, had MIN twice, and stepped up both nights to win two big individual games against them. SJ L, TB L, WPG L/W, ARI W, DAL W, EDM W/L, BUF W. Most of those wins (and a couple of losses) were against teams they should beat.

Lets see how this lineup does against PIT and CBJ next month. Then ask how they would fare in a couple of long series against teams like these. Because on balance the Hawks have a pretty weak schedule the rest of the way. Sets up a false sense of security if you ask me.

As I said earlier, the West teams will not be the test. It will be the East teams. The empirical evidence suggests the team as constructed will really struggle against the cream of the East.
- Return of the Roar

Er, that strength of schedule / quality of competition was considered above average over that 20 game span when looking at the numbers, which is what I was referencing. Prefer to look beyond just standings - I care a lot less about wins and losses as long as the team is playing better. And even in the losses, they typically put up solid numbers.

Of the 14 teams they faced over the past 20 games, 8 of teams that are top 10 in terms of key shot metric categories: WSH, CAR, NSH, BOS, SJS, EDM, TBL, and MIN (the latter two are good scoring chances teams, though not the best at pure shot attempts). They faced 4 teams at time of playing them that are bottom 10: ARI, COL, DET, and VAN. DAL and WPG are average statistically.

Of the 8 good teams they faced, CHI had 'strong' statistical games against: MIN x 2, EDM (the loss), WSH, NSH, and SJS. They performed 'well' against: BOS, TBL, DAL, and WPG (even in losses). And then yes, they did good to great against the low team as they should (considering they tend to play down to opponents, this is a positive trend).

They only had two really 'poor' statistical showings were during the EDM win (score effects impacted that game though) and CAR (2nd of a b2b and the dip happened in the latter half of the game really).

They're improving and they've had good showings against some strong teams, even if they might not have won. It wasn't the highest QOC schedule ever, but most schedules are average over longer spans anyway and it did help that they had some softies mixed in with better teams. But I still think it's inaccurate to say it was only a 'few' good games from the team. They're trending up and not just against low teams. I do look forward to seeing how they perform against even more top teams like PIT (CBJ is debatable at this point).

Notice Darlings name up there in a couple categories?
- Slofire94

Darling has been pretty solid. It will be interesting to see if/when he is a #1 for a team in the NHL and how he handles that load.

My understanding, from an excellent source, was that Toews went to mgmt to offer his opinion about TT and his work habits, or lack thereof.
- TheTrob

Trob, that wouldn't surprise me in the least. That is what good captains do and the word around some country clubs in the Chicago area is that TT was a frequent "guest" both during in-season day offs and the off-season before he left/came back from Finland. Nothing wrong with decompressing but.........

Trob, that wouldn't surprise me in the least. That is what good captains do and the word around some country clubs in the Chicago area is that TT was a frequent "guest" both during in-season day offs and the off-season before he left/came back from Finland. Nothing wrong with decompressing but.........
- ILGolfer

He'll fit right in in Carolina then.
Warmer weather, and April off

I think the Hawks adjusted to the Wild over the course of the season series. So much of the Wild game plan is forecheck pressure and counter attack on turnovers/mistakes. When the Hawks D moved the puck well and the team limited the errors handling the puck, they owned the Wild for long stretches.
- breadbag

The Wilds forecheck and counter attack is pretty relentless. The "book" on the Hawks is to forecheck hard, with multiple forwards, but very few teams can sustain that pressure as well as the Wild for extended periods of time. Ultimately, when the Hawks game is "on", they exploit the opposing forwards being deep in the zone and generate odd man breaks and chances off the rush. Very few teams have the skills and/or desire to bring that type of pressure for a whole game, and whether the Wild can maintain that pace thru a few brutal rounds of the playoffs will be very telling.

The other thing, that some have noted, is Boudreaus inability to adjust accordingly. Last night was a prime example. He had last change and was pantsed regularly in the matchups. He sold out to shutdown the PAK line, at the expense of Toews owning them last night, and never once adjusted. Now, it is just as likely that if he had shifted Koivu's line to matchup with the Toews line, the PAK line maybe scores. Either way they still had plenty of chances (another by-product of the heavy forecheck, is giving up more chances if a team can beat it regularly)

6 days 21 hours

The ice shrinks come playoff time. Vanek can score and could bounce lines if need be. Im not advocating for Vanek, but JJ said he has been on Stan's radar for a while. Kicking stuff around is all..
- z1990z

I just had Sirius hockey on in the car while they niter iewd Brian Boyle, who prefers to STAY in Tampa and resign.

After he hung up former NHL player Patrick O'Sullivan expounded how Boyle was able to slide up and down any teams line up, kill pins, and do the dirty work and still score.
Told the story of how Dean Lombardi chopped two years off Boyle's career trying to convert him full time to a defenseman. (He has seen occasional duty there when his teams were in a pinch...)

This is a rental that fits.

As far as Toews voicing concerns, not interested...you either help solve the problem with tutoring or a salary give back, or he can start the rebuild telling his concerns while walking.

Not buying Vanek, one of the streakiest soft players around be any solution.

Nuff said,

http://blackhawkup.com/20...fire-cylinders-minnesota/

My hand to God, I don't talk to JJ or read his stuff before I write my own. Great minds think alike maybe? Either way, I think we can all agree last night was awesome guys!

Trob, that wouldn't surprise me in the least. That is what good captains do and the word around some country clubs in the Chicago area is that TT was a frequent "guest" both during in-season day offs and the off-season before he left/came back from Finland. Nothing wrong with decompressing but.........
- ILGolfer

Yes, but more than that it was just his un-willingness to work out and get stronger. It is undoubtedly a tough locker room because there are a whole bunch of work out fiends. Keith, Toews, Hjalmarsson, Hossa, Kane, Oduya when he was here, Kruger, Panarin, and a few more are beasts in the weight and conditioning room. They understand what a grind not just the season, but also playoff hockey is all about. TT's un-willingness rubbed a bunch of people the wrong way.

Darling has been pretty solid. It will be interesting to see if/when he is a #1 for a team in the NHL and how he handles that load.
- breadbag

Let again play devil's advocate: in the Wild game you think Darling could have made those saves prevent so many of those rebounds and quieted the front?

If you do, there's your starter next season.

Why wait
.
Start him now and throughout the playoff.

Let again play devil's advocate: in the Wild game you think Darling could have made those saves prevent so many of those rebounds and quieted the front?

If you do, there's your starter next season.

Why wait
.
Start him now and throughout the playoff.
- wiz1901

You wait because you are already paying Crawford $6mil and Darling will be due for a new contract this summer. You wait because Crawford has shown he can handle the pressure and take a team through the 16 wins needed to win the Cup. Unless they plan on trading Crawford before March 1 (talk about unexpected if they did), you play Crow bc he is still the #1G.

The more Wins Darling puts up and the larger his sample size for his exceptional statistics, the bigger his Cap Hit will be on his next contract.

I just had Sirius hockey on in the car while they niter iewd Brian Boyle, who prefers to STAY in Tampa and resign.

After he hung up former NHL player Patrick O'Sullivan expounded how Boyle was able to slide up and down any teams line up, kill pins, and do the dirty work and still score.
Told the story of how Dean Lombardi chopped two years off Boyle's career trying to convert him full time to a defenseman. (He has seen occasional duty there when his teams were in a pinch...)

This is a rental that fits.

As far as Toews voicing concerns, not interested...you either help solve the problem with tutoring or a salary give back, or he can start the rebuild telling his concerns while walking.

Not buying Vanek, one of the streakiest soft players around be any solution.

Nuff said,
- wiz1901

Wiz, you know salary give-backs are not allowed under the CBA. As to tutoring TT, how? Show him a new golf swing?

Wiz, you know salary give-backs are not allowed under the CBA. As to tutoring TT, how? Show him a new golf swing?
- BMWChiFan

I think Wiz was referring to Toews ask for consistent wingers this season, not his comments about TT.........but I could be mistaken.

As most on here summize, Toews resurgence has been as much about him getting healthy as it is playing with consistent wingers, if not more.

Interesting read five questions with Stan Bowman yesterday.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-286969140?tid=278387990

Yes, but more than that it was just his un-willingness to work out and get stronger. It is undoubtedly a tough locker room because there are a whole bunch of work out fiends. Keith, Toews, Hjalmarsson, Hossa, Kane, Oduya when he was here, Kruger, Panarin, and a few more are beasts in the weight and conditioning room. They understand what a grind not just the season, but also playoff hockey is all about. TT's un-willingness rubbed a bunch of people the wrong way.
- TheTrob

No doubt Trob, didn't want to be so blunt......so thanks.

Don't touch lines 1, 2, and 4. Our 4th line right now is the perfect combination of speed and energy with a little bit of skill and goalscoring mixed in. Love it.

All we need is another defensively sound LW to play with Kruger and Hossa that can also score and be dangerous offensively. So something like this:

Schmaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Palat-Kruger-Hossa
Hinostroza-Kero-Hartman


- SimpleJack

Swap Kero and Kruger and I'm good.

Swap Kero and Kruger and I'm good.
- scottak

Wouldnt swap a thing. The fourth line has looked great why change it?

that was one helluva game...that wild team is very good; excellent team structure and they can skate

not for a couple of clanks and the high stick goal reversal; they might have pulled the win out...
- bogiedoc

Or if Kane shoots into the open net instead of DD's glove along the ice.

It would cost them cap space that could be used or later applied elsewhere. Plus it could disrupt team chemistry and momentum. Why change what's working well, and indeed improving each game?
- BMWChiFan

Because it might in fact not be good enough yet to win a Cup.