John Jaeckel: GameDay Preview: Hawks@Blue Jackets

first!

2nd....

Third !!!

Columbus has been playing well lately, hopefully the boys bring their legs to the game tonight

Lets go 'Hawks. 2pts needed tonight, Ducks are right on their tail.

Hawks are 0-2 to start the second half of the season.

Goaltending has been really shaky in both games. Will be watching to see if they can deliver big save when it really matters.

Hawks are 0-2 to start the second half of the season.

Goaltending has been really shaky in both games. Will be watching to see if they can deliver big save when it really matters.
- spatso

Hawks went 21-0-3 over the first half of the season and the goaltending was stellar during that stretch. Nice evaluation of the Blackhawks second half of the season thus far.....

Carbomb JJ? or is Q sending him a message to light a fire under his ass . can't blame Danny when the coach instills the "play nice little joey" mentality , kind of like the way he played in his day?

JJ

do you think the Hawks should put a claim on Ben Eager?

JJ

do you think the Hawks should put a claim on Ben Eager?
- FourFeathers773

No one thinks the Hawks should claim Ben Eager.

No one thinks the Hawks should claim Ben Eager.
- mrpaulish

I agree, go for Steve Ott! him & Carbomb & Shaw would be 1 hell of an entertaining trio when & if Queenville ever wanted to stir it up out there!

Gotta love Savvy

I think that is the attitude this team should go in there with. We are going to win, we are going to win decisively and we are going to enjoy the next two weeks before schedule hell kicks again.

Carbomb JJ? or is Q sending him a message to light a fire under his ass . can't blame Danny when the coach instills the "play nice little joey" mentality , kind of like the way he played in his day?
- wonthecup10

Being out of position, giving the puck away and making generally bad decisions (with the exception of being in the right place for that game winner) should constitute less TOI or a day in the press box.

Gotta love Savvy

I think that is the attitude this team should go in there with. We are going to win, we are going to win decisively and we are going to enjoy the next two weeks before schedule hell kicks again.
- fattybeef

I think the Hawks demonstrated that attitude during the first half of the season, not in their words but in their play.

Gotta love Savvy

I think that is the attitude this team should go in there with. We are going to win, we are going to win decisively and we are going to enjoy the next two weeks before schedule hell kicks again.
- fattybeef

Commit to the Indian!

Hawks went 21-0-3 over the first half of the season and the goaltending was stellar during that stretch. Nice evaluation of the Blackhawks second half of the season thus far.....
- Ballam

I think the hawks had an amazing first half. But, did the first half mask a goalie weakness? The concern was there before the season began. Once you get into the playoffs, goaltending is always the tie breaker. I still have the same doubts as I did at the beginning of the season.

Carbomb JJ? or is Q sending him a message to light a fire under his ass . can't blame Danny when the coach instills the "play nice little joey" mentality , kind of like the way he played in his day?
- wonthecup10

Gonna fix this. He should be in.

JJ

do you think the Hawks should put a claim on Ben Eager?
- FourFeathers773

For all the same reasons he was waived by Edmonton, no

I think the hawks had an amazing first half. But, did the first half mask a goalie weakness? The concern was there before the season began. Once you get into the playoffs, goaltending is always the tie breaker. I still have the same doubts as I did at the beginning of the season.
- spatso

And as a Maple leaf fan, he knows all about bad goaltending.

Gotta love Savvy

I think that is the attitude this team should go in there with. We are going to win, we are going to win decisively and we are going to enjoy the next two weeks before schedule hell kicks again.
- fattybeef

I have no issue with confidence either. But after the last two games, there needs to be a sense of urgency and respect for the opponent, no matter who it is. Get a two goal lead, then be "supremely" confident.

I have no issue with confidence either. But after the last two games, there needs to be a sense of urgency and respect for the opponent, no matter who it is. Get a two goal lead, then be "supremely" confident.
- John Jaeckel

.... and don't fall into a defensive shell!!!

Columbus is only 3 points from the 8th and final playoff spot. They have played a few games more than the teams they need to jump over. 5-2-3 in their last 10. We get to see Brassard up close and personal, if a deal is to be made for him.

I think the hawks had an amazing first half. But, did the first half mask a goalie weakness? The concern was there before the season began. Once you get into the playoffs, goaltending is always the tie breaker. I still have the same doubts as I did at the beginning of the season.
- spatso

Mask as in terms of playing better defencively?

The entire 'Hawks team played HORRIBLE team defence the last 50 minutes of the game in the mile-high city and the first 20 minutes of the UC game vs the Oil.

Could the goalies have been sharper? You bet. But these 2 games were complete team defence breakdowns. They know what they did wrong, and they'll correct them. Plus a little of this has to due with Sharp being out.

I think the hawks had an amazing first half. But, did the first half mask a goalie weakness? The concern was there before the season began. Once you get into the playoffs, goaltending is always the tie breaker. I still have the same doubts as I did at the beginning of the season.
- spatso

Our defense has been much better overall this year and the goalies have benefitted from that surely, there's no question there. But 24 games is also a long enough stretch that if goaltending is a huge weakness for this team, it would have been exposed a couple times over that stretch. Two bad games to start the second half doesnt mean we have a weakness in goaltending, if anything those two games our goalies got left hung out to dry by poor defensive play and fatigue throughout the lineup from playing 7 games in 11 days. If Crawford and Emery continue to get shelled like this down the stretch.. then we have reason for concern.