John Jaeckel: Gameday Preview: Oilers@Hawks

Happy game fellows!

Woulf love to see the Hawka take advantage of a road weary Oilers team. Please please pleasdBlackhawks no dumb penalties 180-200 feet away from yoir own net.... Please...

John Jaeckel: Gameday Preview: Oilers@Hawks
- John Jaeckel

I like the new pic with the blog. Does it show the shot going off the D man's ankles?

JJ any trade rumors?

It will be interesting to see how they respond tonight. Obviously I hope it isn't the case, but now that the streak is over, I could see them go into a bit of a let down mode and lose 3 or 4 of their next 5. Hopefully though it's more like 3 or 4 of their next 20.

Can't wait until Jochen Hecht arrives to save this team

JJ any trade rumors?
- molly2522

Not presently, but that doesn't mean there isn't movement.

On one hand, the record and the Hawks' standing for the playoffs causes no urgency.

Wanting to avoid a bidding war means moving sooner rather than later.

According to the AHL web site, the league doesn't track face off %...anyone know how Pirri does at the dot?

According to the AHL web site, the league doesn't track face off %...anyone know how Pirri does at the dot?
- Ogilthorpe2

Eli is probably going to have the best take on it, but as I recall he's a 45%-ish guy against NHL players

Not presently, but that doesn't mean there isn't movement.

On one hand, the record and the Hawks' standing for the playoffs causes no urgency.

Wanting to avoid a bidding war means moving sooner rather than later.
- John Jaeckel

My thoughts upgradeon trades based on a limited sample is stan does not like to do stop gap measures and would prefer to get a guy he can retain for a few years. So based on this I dont see him going after the veteran [ie iginla] type player but a soon to be rfa on another team that he thinks provides a long term

Will be interesting to see how they respond this evening. Since about game 12, I've wondered how they react once they tallied a regulation loss. Fortunately, (hopefully), I think the players are far less fragile than the fanbase.

It will be interesting to see how they respond tonight. Obviously I hope it isn't the case, but now that the streak is over, I could see them go into a bit of a let down mode and lose 3 or 4 of their next 5. Hopefully though it's more like 3 or 4 of their next 20.

Can't wait until Jochen Hecht arrives to save this team
- Ogilthorpe2

If they are going to lose 3 or 4 of their next 5, I hope it's not tonight, since I have tickets. Lts keep good thoughts!

Will be interesting to see how they respond this evening. Since about game 12, I've wondered how they react once they tallied a regulation loss. Fortunately, (hopefully), I think the players are far less fragile than the fanbase.
- eburgio

Ming Dynasty china is less fragile than the typical Chicago sports fan. That said, I agree. The team seems to have the right mind set going by what quotes I've seen. However, the Oilers are one of the teams that can skate with them. The last few years this has been a tough matchup.

Oil are due to break out in a big way...

Another drubbing of the Hawks coming???

Oil are due to break out in a big way...

Another drubbing of the Hawks coming???
- Iggysbff

Very possible. Like I said above, they can skate with the Hawks which neutralizes one of Chicago's biggest advantages.

If they are going to lose 3 or 4 of their next 5, I hope it's not tonight, since I have tickets. Lts keep good thoughts!
- fourfeathers

#19 will read the boys the riot act before the game - blow this one tonight and there is no chance of cracking the 90 point mark in the season standings. Critical matchup.

#19 will read the boys the riot act before the game - blow this one tonight and there is no chance of cracking the 90 point mark in the season standings. Critical matchup.
- RickJ

I think they might be able to squeek into the 8th seed with 80 points or so.

#19 will read the boys the riot act before the game - blow this one tonight and there is no chance of cracking the 90 point mark in the season standings. Critical matchup.
- RickJ

As much as Hawk fans, including myself, don't want to see it, the best thing that can happen is for the Hawks to go on a bit of a skid. We all reflect and learn when things don't go well, while we tend to believe nothing is wrong when all is fine. Hopefully Hawk Management doesn’t, over or under, react based on wins and losses like many fans do. Regardless of that amazing winning streak there are some holes in the Hawks game that need to be addressed before the playoffs. It’s up to Management to plug those holes and there is no better way for anyone to get working on a problem than with urgency driving it. A few losses will provide that urgency better than a record breaking winning streak.

No they don't need to go on a losing skid. That's silly.

Only thing that needs to happen tonight is a strong showing from Crawford.

As much as Hawk fans, including myself, don't want to see it, the best thing that can happen is for the Hawks to go on a bit of a skid. We all reflect and learn when things don't go well, while we tend to believe nothing is wrong when all is fine. Hopefully Hawk Management doesn’t, over or under, react based on wins and losses like many fans do. Regardless of that amazing winning streak there are some holes in the Hawks game that need to be addressed before the playoffs. It’s up to Management to plug those holes and there is no better way for anyone to get working on a problem than with urgency driving it. A few losses will provide that urgency better than a record breaking winning streak.
- paulr

There isn't a team in the NHL that doesn't have some areas they wouldn't improve on -and that includes the Penguins, Bruins, Ducks, Kings etc.

The beauty of the situation for the Hawks is that they aren't going to be in overdrive for 45 days just trying to make the playoffs like about 9 other teams in the West who are looking for 6 spots. There is no guarantees but Bowman and Q have lots of options - sit out and rest a few players here and there; bring up some kids from Rockford and see how they do even if its to showcase some of them for a trade; experiment with different line and defence combinations etc.

What I want to see is the team playing well and fairly injury free at around April 15. Let the rest of the teams beat the crap out of each other in the meantime.

Oil are due to break out in a big way...

Another drubbing of the Hawks coming???
- Iggysbff

teheheheheheheh...not tonight

There isn't a team in the NHL that doesn't have some areas they wouldn't improve on -and that includes the Penguins, Bruins, Ducks, Kings etc.

The beauty of the situation for the Hawks is that they aren't going to be in overdrive for 45 days just trying to make the playoffs like about 9 other teams in the West who are looking for 6 spots. There is no guarantees but Bowman and Q have lots of options - sit out and rest a few players here and there; bring up some kids from Rockford and see how they do even if its to showcase some of them for a trade; experiment with different line and defence combinations etc.

What I want to see is the team playing well and fairly injury free at around April 15. Let the rest of the teams beat the crap out of each other in the meantime.
- RickJ

Exactly! And none of those teams have had an epic winning streak that may have hidden some of those weaknesses.

I think they might be able to squeek into the 8th seed with 80 points or so.
- NewToHockey

This year it might take 45 points to make the playoffs. Not sure if Hawks can do it!!!!!!!...................oh wait........never mind.

Exactly! And none of those teams have had an epic winning streak that may have hidden some of those weaknesses.
- paulr

So what is it you want Q and Bowman to fix other than the Powerplay? They've given up the fewest goals in the West and only Boston and Ottawa have given up fewer across the whole league. And only one or 2 teams have scored more goals than the Hawks even with their crappy PP.

It ain't broken so I'm not fixin it is my attitude.

According to the AHL web site, the league doesn't track face off %...anyone know how Pirri does at the dot?
- Ogilthorpe2

I don't sit in the stands and keep track of numbers. From what I've observed of Pirri at the dot, he's average. I wouldn't think of him as some sort of face-off specialist, nor do I ever think he's going to become that. I don't think Pirri is any better or worse then Frolik.