John Jaeckel: One Box Left To Be Checked

Hopefully and I do believe they will increase their level of urgency later in the season and especially in the playoffs for the top tier teams. I used to blame Q for the lazy starts and not "getting 'em up" from the opening faceoff. Now it's just been fun to watch them come back and never be out of any game since basically 08/09. And yes we are a better/deeper overall team and starting to roll 4 lines.

Even better is staying up late for these left coast games and coming home with a record of 6-1. How awful were the days of the past 6-20+ years (at least my time of watching hockey) and being happy coming home 2-5?

Go Bears!

2nd Happy post turkey day!

Spot on. Just had this conversation the other day. Looking forward to getting that turned around.

Sorry JJ, but my thoughts are the Blackhawks are much better than the Avalanche. And the Blues are good, but I'm not nervous about it. Could the Hawks lose to them? Sure, but it won't be because they didn't beat them in the regular season. Remember the Hawks rolling the Wings last year, and that's still the series that went 7.

Colorado is nothing to worry about.

And congrats to St Louis for taking 2 regular season games. Both 3-2, one in a shootout. Scary team those Blues.

Right now, there is no team in the NHL that would beat the Champs in the a best of 7. From the top down, the Hawks are simply the best team in hockey. And to think they will likely find another level in the playoffs. St. Louis won a whopping 2 playoff games last year. They have won exactly zero Stanley Cups in their history. They have a decent team but there is no resume of winning there to believe they are a threat to actually win the Stanley Cup. Just my 2 cents.

Right now, there is no team in the NHL that would beat the Champs in the a best of 7. From the top down, the Hawks are simply the best team in hockey. And to think they will likely find another level in the playoffs. St. Louis won a whopping 2 playoff games last year. They have won exactly zero Stanley Cups in their history. They have a decent team but there is no resume of winning there to believe they are a threat to actually win the Stanley Cup. Just my 2 cents.
- Omahawk

I hope you're right. There is a clear argument in terms of what you say.

Colorado is nothing to worry about.

And congrats to St Louis for taking 2 regular season games. Both 3-2, one in a shootout. Scary team those Blues.
- AceRatbang

Ha, really?!

Sorry JJ, but my thoughts are the Blackhawks are much better than the Avalanche. And the Blues are good, but I'm not nervous about it. Could the Hawks lose to them? Sure, but it won't be because they didn't beat them in the regular season. Remember the Hawks rolling the Wings last year, and that's still the series that went 7.
- rollpards19

You might be right. I'm far from sold on the Blues. But to dismiss them as being grossly inferior to the Hawks based on the head to head the year is arrogant and stupid.

Looking forward to the Ducks/Hawks game this week. The Ducks owned Chicago last year and I think Anaheim is better this year. I just wish they were healthier.

Good summary. Have to agree with your concerns about the blows and Avs.

Anyone else notice the Preds blogger seems to have a real problem with Hawks fans? Look at his latest... He actually uses Flyers fans as a comparison!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-of-Philly-Phans/24/56099

Take a look at this jerk's blogs since the summer when the Preds price gouge was announced. He and his little (and I mean little) band of followers seem to have quite the case of cup envy....

All I can say is "2 in 4" baby and (sadly) "Pekka Rinne will never be the same".

...and the Hawks were destroyed by Nashville, another division opponent. So far, the division has given the Hawks the most difficultly. I think this is accurate...

6-4-1 against the Central. So all of their regulation loses were in the division.

What does it mean? Who knows...it's simply a fact at this point in a long season.

Conversely, the Central Division is arguably the strongest in the NHL so the occasional lose makes sense.

Looking forward to the Ducks/Hawks game this week. The Ducks owned Chicago last year and I think Anaheim is better this year. I just wish they were healthier.
- duxcup07

In fact, the Ducks did not lose to the Hawks last year...no other team can make that statement.

Ha, really?!
- John Jaeckel

JJ...there's a possibility sarcasm was intended.

And may I add that this Bears/Vikes game is painful to watch.

I think the Blues, Ducks, Sharks and Kings (I would never count out the Kings until they're out) are all good enough to have a realistic shot at making it to the SCF. Colorado too, though less so, especially since it's unlikely both Varlamov & Giguere are going to maintain their level of play behind net for the long haul, and they've sort of come to earth since their 12-1 start.

St. Louis scares me the most. Steen is having either a breakout or career year, and they're deep.... It's a long season, and anything can happen (what if it had been DK instead of Robidas on that freak play the other night?)

It's not going to be a cakewalk. I pretty much have a "That's why they play the games" attitude, though— in my amateur opinion— I do believe the Blackhawks are the best team in hockey.

And may I add that this Bears/Vikes game is painful to watch.
- ArlingtonRob

Re the Bears, I'm long used to watching losing teams over the years, but I can't stand the porous D on display this season...

You might be right. I'm far from sold on the Blues. But to dismiss them as being grossly inferior to the Hawks based on the head to head the year is arrogant and stupid.
- John Jaeckel

Certainly not grossly inferior, maybe not inferior at all. We shall see. I don't think the Hawks need to fear the Blues, but they (and I bet, the Kings) are the main challengers and I'm sure the Hawks know it and respect them.

You might be right. I'm far from sold on the Blues. But to dismiss them as being grossly inferior to the Hawks based on the head to head the year is arrogant and stupid.
- John Jaeckel

Totally agree. I think they're the third best team in the league, but I also think the Hawks are the best. I'm not sold on their ability to score or play goalie in the playoffs. And while they lost to the Blues, the regulation loss was a weird play, and the other one was a shootout. I'd like to see some more from the two teams personally.

Looking forward to the Ducks/Hawks game this week. The Ducks owned Chicago last year and I think Anaheim is better this year. I just wish they were healthier.
- duxcup07

A bit of a stretch, eh? We would have found out more if the Ducks hadn't lost to the 7th seed.

Colorado game was an aberration. Avs got a couple early goals and Hawks OUTPLAYED them most of the game. I'm not worried about the Avs.

A bit of a stretch, eh? We would have found out more if the Ducks hadn't lost to the 7th seed.
- mohel

Or their one playoff series win since their cup 7 years ago? But owned for sure.

Colorado game was an aberration. Avs got a couple early goals and Hawks OUTPLAYED them most of the game. I'm not worried about the Avs.
- philco28

This

This
- rollpards19

I'll add it was 'one' game...and i'm not worried yet