You're never as bad overall as your worst game. Nor as good as your best game—or your best 12 games.
The Blackhawks were beaten last night—to pucks, in the corners, and ultimately on the scoreboard—by a more focused, balanced and rested Lightning team. Nothing to be ashamed of—the Bolts are now on a winning streak of their own and despite their well-publicized personnel issues, remain a very dangerous team.
And Chicago struggled similarly with Tampa's speed and defense early on in the SCF—and we know how that turned out.
The silver lining is this is a good wake up call to the Hawk players and the front office. The message is simply this: you're a very good team but nothing is assured against the legitimate contending teams in the league.
I have heard from two solid sources in the last 24 hours that Stan Bowman is working very hard on multiple fronts, including:
1) Jonathan Drouin. Talks rekindled yesterday. No report on progress. Steve Yzerman's price is rumored to be reduced (go figure).
2) Mikkel Boedker. I have heard that new contract talks with Arizona are at a standstill, meanwhile the Coyotes have been skidding of late. Talks are heating up again with the Chicago—from two sources.
3) Viktor Rask. The Hawks have allegedly contacted Carolina again about the young centerman.
4) Mike Hoffman. Allegedly, there was a conversation about the talented Ottawa winger. And before Ottawa fans go completely off the reservation, relax. I have also heard Ottawa's price is likely prohibitively high, as in Teuvo Teravainen, Ville Pokka and a 1st round pick.
So, while all that goes on behind the scenes (to some degree), the Hawks travel across Florida this morning to face the Panthers tonight in Sunrise. Florida, after going on along streak of their own, has lost 4 straight. I would expect maximum intensity out of the Panthers tonight.
Look for Jiri Sekac (definitely) and Richard Panik (likely) flanking Dennis Rasmussen tonight.
All for now, I'll recap tomorrow AM,
JJ