Aside from the blown defensive coverage on Tampa's 2nd goal, I thought Hayden played well. He had 5 hits in his 9:21 and he made several good plays either chasing the puck down in the o-zone or bulling the puck out of the d-zone. If he can learn from the mistake in the d-zone tonight, then I think he is certainly a better option for the 4th line than Desjardins, Rasmussen or Tootoo.

Likewise Jurco played well. His speed and high energy is noticeable. scoring that greasy goal tonight hopefully takes some of the pressure off and he can play with more confidence and maybe more goals come.

When Anisimov is back:

Schmaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hartman-Kruger-Hossa
Hayden-Kero-Jurco
- EbonyRaptor

I'd like to see Rasmussen get back into the lineup, he can help with the PK.

I'd like to see Rasmussen get back into the lineup, he can help with the PK.
- DarthKane

I don't think anything can help this PK.

Just hope our opponents aim is poor, and our goalers stout.

Hey Hank thanks for your thoughts...meanwhile just back from the game down here in Tampa. Another ET phone home game for the Hawks. Despite the start and the 4-1 lead they looked like crap most of the evening.

Special teams were brutal...2 delay of game penalties that within seconds were in the back of our net. And the power play was absolutely horrid. Panarin with the dreaded turnover in overtime and it was over.

So that's 12 goals in two games. Can't blame the netminders the squad in front of them hasn't been up to snuff of late especially team defense. Some disturbing trends of late. Sure you can say this game doesn't mean much to the Hawks as the close in on the #1 seed in the West but...as someone mentioned you have to have real concerns about this team moving forward as they face their first real adversity since January.

Having Hartman and hopefully Anisimov back will make a difference

I'm interested to see how they come out Wednesday evening against the Pens in a game they might actually care about.
- DK002

with the hawks up 4-1...i thought i was watching the wrong game...how did they get 4 goals??

bolts skated and forechecked hard the whole game...did the hawks do any of that

hawks were again sloppy with puck...poor passing...and oh mr seabs = ugh

Before the Hawks went on a torrid winning streak in February they lost 3 in a row including a pair where they blew a third period lead. THe last few games haven't been the Hawks best this season. But there's no realistic reason to think this team is done, they have the character to turn things around (and they will).

Very good news - where did you see that?
- EbonyRaptor

CSN team was talking about it in the pre-game. Assuming the team gave them that info.

Before the Hawks went on a torrid winning streak in February they lost 3 in a row including a pair where they blew a third period lead. THe last few games haven't been the Hawks best this season. But there's no realistic reason to think this team is done, they have the character to turn things around (and they will).
- DarthKane

Thinking they're "done" is asinine. But I think it is fair to question they're mental toughness with all the youth and new faces. The 'know how' when faced with adversity doesn't seem to be at the level it once was.

I just wish Q would tamp down on his temper during these games that don't matter THAT much to let them make mistakes and learn now v. in the playoffs. We can't win in the playoffs without them taking fairly normal workload so we have four lines going. And, they are our speed.
- pdx2ord

I actually like that Q is fired up right not. It seemed like last season he was thinking the team would be able to flip the switch once the playoffs started but by the time he made his adjustments halfway through the Blues series it was too late. Need to start building some intensity now.

CSN team was talking about it in the pre-game. Assuming the team gave them that info.
- pdx2ord

Were Pat and Steve just being optimistic or did they make it sound they heard AA may be a little closer to a 3-week recovery period than a 4-week recovery period?

Were Pat and Steve just being optimistic or did they make it sound they heard AA may be a little closer to a 3-week recovery period than a 4-week recovery period?
- EbonyRaptor

Something along the lines of "we've been told that..." and to expect him for the playoffs if not 1-2 games before then.

My lines for the playoffs:
panic towes hossa
parin aa kane
jurco smaltz Hartman
hayden/desi kruger kero/hayden
rass and totto extra

seabrook kieth
hammer odaya
tvr cambell
kempney rosie extra
Crawford
darling

Black aces:
hino motte latta forsling

Thinking they're "done" is asinine. But I think it is fair to question they're mental toughness with all the youth and new faces. The 'know how' when faced with adversity doesn't seem to be at the level it once was.
- SimpleJack

It's been just a week since they came back from 2 and 3 goals down in the 3rd period to beat Colorado and force Vancouver to an OT - we weren't questioning their mental toughness then. They won 18 out of 22 (or something like that) - we weren't questioning their mental toughness.

It may be fair, but with 2/4/7/27/19/88/81 - youth and new faces or not - it's absurd.

It's been just a week since they came back from 2 and 3 goals down in the 3rd period to beat Colorado and force Vancouver to an OT - we weren't questioning their mental toughness then. They won 18 out of 22 (or something like that) - we weren't questioning their mental toughness.

It may be fair, but with 2/4/7/27/19/88/81 - youth and new faces or not - it's absurd.
- StLBravesFan

agree...questioning mental toughness is beyond dumb...

1. they lead the league is 1 goal wins
2. they have 7 goals with the empty net
3. they have come back ability; which they did not show at all last year
4. 4-1 in shootouts

where they have problems is coughing up way to many shot attempts and quality chances....been a problem for over 2 years now...

I was able to get to the Hawk game yesterday, and glad I did.

The fact that is was such an intertaining competive game, with the Lightning plus Syacuse Crunch call ups intent on keeping their parent club in the playoffs, really took me away. I rarely jump back into complete "fan mode" from impartial observer, and the pace and excitement of last night's match drew me in like it was one of the first games I have ever seen live.

But as I watched I did get distracted by all the new names in the Tampa Bay line up.

Sure, I was familiar with the Toronto 2nd rounder centre Gregg McKegg, and Lightning early draftee Adam Erme, and to have to reach back an recall later round picks Dotchin and Vermin, but I showed up at the Amalie TB areas to enjoy the Hawks not spend large seconds of brain churn trying to figure out who the Syracuse call up Yanni Gourde was…and then it hit me is was a more than occasionally lineman of Phillipe Danault in Victoriaville, who the hawks Rockford farm team actually brought in for a stretch…he was part of a nice nine game playoff run Victoriaville has in 2010.

and I even got distracted by seeing these guys who I honestly hadn't seen in years:

https://www.draftsite.com...layer/jake-dotchin/18775/

https://www.draftsite.com...player/joel-vermin/13333/


It's nice to see the NHL game so filled with adequate minor pro throops who on any given night come to play....

I was able to get to the Hawk game yesterday, and glad I did.

The fact that is was such an intertaining competive game, with the Lightning plus Syacuse Crunch call ups intent on keeping their parent club in the playoffs, really took me away. I rarely jump back into complete "fan mode" from impartial observer, and the pace and excitement of last night's match drew me in like it was one of the first games I have ever seen live.

- wiz1901

That's why I didn't see it as a bad game. Tampa played well and deserved the win. Chicago D men had no answer for their zippy forecheck.

I would not use Seabrook in OT -- he's much slower this season.
- etchtech

I agree 100%. If you don't have offensive players on the ice in OT, your playing for the shootout.

That's why I didn't see it as a bad game. Tampa played well and deserved the win. Chicago D men had no answer for their zippy forecheck.
- kinigitt

It was a very entertaining game with lots of goals and scoring chances. Have to be surprised as to why Tampa is outside the playoff picture. They have some really nice young players and sure don't miss the glacier slow Boyle or Bishop much.

Easy to lay a lot of blame on the Hawks D, but the bigger culprit is how the whole team mismanaged the puck most of the night.

It was a very entertaining game with lots of goals and scoring chances. Have to be surprised as to why Tampa is outside the playoff picture. They have some really nice young players and sure don't miss the glacier slow Boyle or Bishop much.

Easy to lay a lot of blame on the Hawks D, but the bigger culprit is how the whole team mismanaged the puck most of the night.
- RickJ

Yeah. That's been there story for the past week. Frustrating. There is a tendency to leave the defensemen by their lonesome to deal with forecheckers and either get a Q OCD change or get ahead of the play and wait for that great first pass our system relies on. It's not happening lately, teams are pressuring with 2 men and we get to see our defensemen start sweating like cartoon characters.

edit: as an aside: Drouin is turning out to be a hell of a player. Kid has stamina and great hands at speed.

That's why I didn't see it as a bad game. Tampa played well and deserved the win. Chicago D men had no answer for their zippy forecheck.
- kinigitt

It wasn't a bad game by any means. The first was even play wise, with the Hawks capitalizing more. The second was almost all Bolts overwhelming the defense with their energy lines, and the 3rd was all Hawks, they just couldn't solve Vaz. It was a very even game. If the Bolts squeak in to the playoffs, they will be a force, especially if Stamkos is back.

Thinking they're "done" is asinine. But I think it is fair to question they're mental toughness with all the youth and new faces. The 'know how' when faced with adversity doesn't seem to be at the level it once was.
- SimpleJack

Questioning the mental toughness of three time champions Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson? If those guys aren't mentally tough then what does it say for the rest of the legaue, most of which haven't won even one Cup.

When the Hawks were on a winning streak why weren't people pointing out the lack of mental toughness then? Or pointing out Panarin's glaring defensive weaknesses?

It was a very entertaining game with lots of goals and scoring chances. Have to be surprised as to why Tampa is outside the playoff picture. They have some really nice young players and sure don't miss the glacier slow Boyle or Bishop much.

Easy to lay a lot of blame on the Hawks D, but the bigger culprit is how the whole team mismanaged the puck most of the night.
- RickJ

They were killed by injuries. I think at one point all of their top 4 D were out. They are coming back healthy and looking like they should have.

Questioning the mental toughness of three time champions Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson? If those guys aren't mentally tough then what does it say for the rest of the legaue, most of which haven't won even one Cup.

When the Hawks were on a winning streak why weren't people pointing out the lack of mental toughness then? Or pointing out Panarin's glaring defensive weaknesses?
- DarthKane

Panarin has been a turnover machine for the past month or so. Not sure what he's doing different, but it isn't working.

Something along the lines of "we've been told that..." and to expect him for the playoffs if not 1-2 games before then.
- pdx2ord

Cool - thanks.

Or pointing out Panarin's glaring defensive weaknesses?
- DarthKane

I was. He was a tenacious son of a gun in his debut season. He's scaled back that aspect of his game BIGLY. I don't like it. You get a big raise, you take on more responsibility...you don't do less. That's my take.

In fantasyland, I'd trade him straight up for Saad and be very happy.

I was. He was a tenacious son of a gun in his debut season. He's scaled back that aspect of his game BIGLY. I don't like it. You get a big raise, you take on more responsibility...you don't do less. That's my take.

In fantasyland, I'd trade him straight up for Saad and be very happy.
- kinigitt

Im not even sure he's scaled back. It looks to me like he's trying to do too much to force a play and it backfires more.

Panarin has been a turnover machine for the past month or so. Not sure what he's doing different, but it isn't working.
- JRoenick97

It's called - 6million dollar man syndrome