John Jaeckel: Preds/Hawks Game 2

Let's go Hawks!!

I thought the Toews line improved when Kero was on it.

Of course, no matter what the lines are, the job is still the same: go the net, get traffic in front of Rinne and be defensively responsible. They do that, and the Hawks will win.

Moose and Kero also have done well this year on the PK, so this will help that rotation.

over/under on how long those lines last = 10 minutes

other than AK72the hawks have not had set lines for two years...thats not changing now...

I like the Hartman/Schmaltz swap and never really like Schmaltz up top. Worked for a handful of games nearly two months ago but nothing much since. Hartman is more of a scorer than Schmaltz imo and fits better up top comparatively speaking.

Will be interesting to see if Desi gets the nod once he's healthy but for now, Hawks are in must-win mode for tonight no doubt.

since his gutsy and well deserved CS peformance in 2015...

Keith has been no where near that level: personal problems, nasty divorce, torn knee, to much hockey

whatever it is his that plus i discern a lack of interest as if he is just bored with all this now...

even a meh keith is a top 10 dman but hawks need the 2015 keith to make some appearances...his shot selection and accuracy has been way off...his passing has been only so-so...

I thought the Toews line improved when Kero was on it.
- Hank_Greenberg

Yes I thought so too. I thought Toews and Kero had instant chemistry on the cycle. That line was a beast out there and I'm thinking Q will keep that in his back pocket to pull out tonight if he doesn't like the way that lines going with Hartman. I like Kero's game a lot. Nothing fancy he just works hard and goes to the net.

Skating Ras instead of Hayden makes sense to me. Blackhawks have a rooking on three different lines as it is. Ras doesn't have the upside of Hayden but he has more consistency, hopefully, right now. If Desi were ready, he might be playing instead of Ras.

I like Hartman on the Toews line.
I'm curious to see how Schmaltz responds tonight.

Toews had a stretch this year when he seemed "back" but has faded since. The team needs him back again ASAP.

I think the Blackhawks win tonight and go on to win this series.

Yes I thought so too. I thought Toews and Kero had instant chemistry on the cycle. That line was a beast out there and I'm thinking Q will keep that in his back pocket to pull out tonight if he doesn't like the way that lines going with Hartman. I like Kero's game a lot. Nothing fancy he just works hard and goes to the net.
- Ballam

The other benefit of skating Ras tonight; he can slide over to 4LC if Q wants to put Kero on the 1st again.

Skating Ras instead of Hayden makes sense to me. Blackhawks have a rooking on three different lines as it is. Ras doesn't have the upside of Hayden but he has more consistency, hopefully, right now. If Desi were ready, he might be playing instead of Ras.

I like Hartman on the Toews line.
I'm curious to see how Schmaltz responds tonight.

Toews had a stretch this year when he seemed "back" but has faded since. The team needs him back again ASAP.

I think the Blackhawks win tonight and go on to win this series.
- matt_ahrens

he had a very good 15 game stretch in february into march and then

no goals in his last 10 playoff games...

he had a very good 15 game stretch in february into march and then

no goals in his last 10 playoff games...
- bogiedoc

Kane has only had two, I think, in those same 10 - certainly a big one against TBL - no one has exactly put this team on his back and carried it through a low-scoring period.

Kane has only had two, I think, in those same 10 - certainly a big one against TBL - no one has exactly put this team on his back and carried it through a low-scoring period.
- StLBravesFan

yep..1 in G6 vs bolts to clinch the win and 1 in the blows series last year

I guess this means we're going to play the Preds game and try to beat them at their own game. Lots of dump and chase and heavy hitting, going to have to win it in on the boards.

Waste of Kero putting him at 4C with 2 inept wingers.

Moose and Tootoo shouldn't be in the lineup.

No idea why Q is giving up on the STP line so soon.

Lines should be:

STP
PAK
Hinostroza-Kero-Hartman
Hayden-Kruger-Hossa

IMO we would be able to roll those 4 lines with ease.

Instead I guess Q prefers a constant revolving door at 1LW and 3LW, and an ineffective 4th line that will require Kane or Panarin to double shift.

Get the first goal and get the stadium rocking.

Unless the Hawks plan to create traffic in front of the net it could be another long evening. Time for the Breadman to start earning some of that new paper.

As I mentioned this morning let's hope they find it after the layoff and basically not really playing at full steam coming into the playoffs.

Shame that Desi isn't skating yet - I'd really like to see him in there. I'm also interested to see Hino in there as well - with his speed. We'll see how Moose does this evening.

How bad do they want it? They've been talking since last spring about getting back here - time to show up.

Waste of Kero putting him at 4C with 2 inept wingers.

Moose and Tootoo shouldn't be in the lineup.

No idea why Q is giving up on the STP line so soon.

Lines should be:

STP
PAK
Hinostroza-Kero-Hartman
Hayden-Kruger-Hossa

IMO we would be able to roll those 4 lines with ease.

Instead I guess Q prefers a constant revolving door at 1LW and 3LW, and an ineffective 4th line that will require Kane or Panarin to double shift.


- SimpleJack

Per an article just posted on The Athletic:

2. Maybe don’t tinker with the lines too much: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville went the line blender after one period in Game 1. He wasn’t happy with Nick Schmaltz’s play and switched him and Tanner Kero. Quenneville also began sitting Jordin Tootoo and double-shifting Kane.

After re-watching the first period, Schmaltz wasn’t good, but he wasn’t that much worse than other Blackhawks. The team had just six shots on goal in the period. Schmaltz didn’t have the puck much and a few times found himself trapped by Predators’ defenders along the boards and near the blue line. He also played a factor into the Predators’ goal. But it still seemed like a quick reaction to take him off that line after one period – his first Stanley Cup playoffs period ever — considering the chemistry and success he had with Jonathan Toews and Panik since February.

In 230 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time in the regular season, Schmaltz, Toews and Panik had a 52.52 Corsi percentage and a plus-12 goal differential. They were on the ice for 16 Blackhawks’ goals and four against.

Based on Friday’s practice, it appeared Hartman may join Toews and Panik for Game 2. That would take Hartman away from Hossa and Marcus Kruger, and that line has been effective too. In 123 minutes of ice time, Hartman, Kruger and Hossa had a 55.38 Corsi percentage and a plus-6 goal differential (7-1).

Hartman, Toews and Panik did play together for a stretch this season. In 83 minutes, they had a 51.10 Corsi percentage and an even goal differential (4-4).

Schmaltz looks to be slated with Kruger and Hossa on the third based on Friday’s practice. The trio didn’t play together in the regular season.

It's part of their five keys to the game. https://theathletic.com/5...-for-game-2-vs-predators/

Now, stats aren't everything, but. . . And, think people are forgetting that Schmaltz got pulled from Toews' line when Arty went down. Before that, they were doing quite well. Feel like Toews now does better if there is a playmaker, like Schmaltz or Kero on that line with them and has time to gel (as he, himself, has said).

wow...phan-ooof...wins it in OT...

and another early 2 goal lead ends up in a loss...

all this angst about bottom 6 pairings...is hinoz, desi, hayden, tootoo, or ras really going to be difference makers...cmon...total they might have 12 goals and 25 points...

where have any of those plugs done anything significant other than play 5-7 per night..

hinoz has some speed and showed he can play but his another small body being asked to do something he is not...

My nephew will be at the game tonight, let's go 'Hawks!!

19 and 88 need to create goals tonight, plain and simple. If the entire team brings the requisite playoff intensity/desire, I like the Hawks chances to even the series tonight. LETS GO HAWKS!!!!

19 and 88 need to create goals tonight, plain and simple. If the entire team brings the requisite playoff intensity/desire, I like the Hawks chances to even the series tonight. LETS GO HAWKS!!!!
- EnzoD

Agree. Trite but true: the stars need to be stars and lead. They are the Hawks advantage (if it still exists?!) Kane and Toews, but Keith, Seabrook and Crawford as well.

Now, stats aren't everything, but. . . And, think people are forgetting that Schmaltz got pulled from Toews' line when Arty went down. Before that, they were doing quite well. Feel like Toews now does better if there is a playmaker, like Schmaltz or Kero on that line with them and has time to gel (as he, himself, has said).

Toews complained in a veiled way about not having any consistency on his line when everybody was talking about him being injured or no longer the same player. Quenneville sticks Schmaltz on that line with Panik and roles 4 lines consistently. Lo and behold, the Hawks go on their best stretch of the season. Quenneville himself has said repeatedly, that this team is most effective when it is rolling 4 lines and everyone is going. It took one period for him to go back to switching the lines around and playing his fourth line guys about 5 or 6 minutes for the whole game. The line switching led to Toews having no shots on goal. Coincidence or not? I don't know. I just don't get the rush to start tinkering with the lines and the lineup when the real problem was that not one single player was ready to start this game and that included the so called leaders of the team. Maybe he should try saving his tinkering for the power play, which as we all know was, is and continues to be a disaster, yet NEVER sees any kind of changes, either player wise or philosophy wise.

I don't get why the need to switch lines so often but that's how Q does it.
The big money players have to do it. Kane Hossa Breadman and especially Toews , we have had too many times when he has slumped in playoffs and starts of seasons. He has to put up some offence of numbers early this round.