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It would be a bit hyperbolic to say the End of the World is nigh.
But the truth is, things look pretty bleak for the Chicago Blackhawks right now. Coming off an 0-3 road trip, where the team mustered just 4 goals total, Chicago also lost team captain Jonathan Toews to injury (upper body, day to day) on a big hit by Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik.
It’s easy for a Chicago fan (or a Chicago blogger) to get all indignant about hits like that. Fact is, because of the Hawks’ style of play and their roster, they are the recipients of hits like those typically far more than the deliverers of said.
I will just say this: if all hits were delivered according to the strictest interpretation of the rules, few would appear (or be) very big. I don’t have the rule book in front of me, but I believe one of the criteria for a suspendable hit is the hitter’s skates leaving the ice, ie “launching himself.…
Orpik’s skates do clearly leave the ice.
Will he receive any league discipline? Doubtful. Should he? Well, that’s why you have rules. If you say the hitter’s skates leaving the ice makes it a bad hit, then stick by it. If not, don’t say it. But then again, this is the NHL, where officiating and league discipline are akin to the WWE.
In another era, for sure, that is not a dirty hit. I would just like to see the league apply the rules clearly and consistently—whatever they may be. Furthermore, I care not a wit whether Brooks Orpik misses a game or not. The point is, if you have a rule and it is evenly, consistently enforced, then certain types of plays will happen less.
Meanwhile, the Hawks looked like garbage for enough of last night’s game to fall into a 2-0 hole in the first period that they could never climb out of. They dominated play for much of the remaining 40:00, but Marc Andre Fleury was very strong in net for the Pens.
And yet, with 6 games left in the season, Toews probably due back OK before long, Patrick Kane and Bryan Bickell due back healthy (or healthier at least), I saw something very encouraging last night.
Teuvo Teravainen and Marian Hossa have some real chemistry.
There were a few times when the puck was moving between the two players in a way that would cause real problems, even strength and on the power play, for opposing defenses. Put Kane back with Toews on another line, mix a little Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad in there, and you have some scary things to throw at opponents in the playoffs.
These are dark days for Hawk fans, but I wouldn’t snuff the candle out just yet. They need to get healthy again and get their ducks in a row for the playoffs.
Back with more later,
JJ