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Who saw a three-game winning streak coming when it was announced Jonathan Toews (along with Patrick Kane) would miss the rest of the regular season? And that against three almost certain playoff teams.
But that’s what’s happened, and, as pointed out repeatedly on the NBC telecast yesterday, it’s possibly testament to the “championship character… of this team.
This season has been as pretty or as magical as last season, but this year’s vintage has for the most part seemed to be able to pull it together for the big games. And recently, for a big stretch of games, minus its two biggest stars—if not best players.
Assuming Kane and Toews come back healthy (as Johnny Oduya appears ready to do as well), the timing could be very good for a deep playoff run.
The Hawks, even in the absence of their two most potent offensive weapons, have kept teams on their heels for the latter parts of these games, tilting the ice in Chicago fashion, and getting the vast majority of offensive zone time and shots.
This would pretty much be the prescription against likely first round opponent Colorado, which, if it has an Achilles’ Heel, it’s a slowish and suspect blueline.
Anyone pronouncing Marian Hossa done or almost done got yet another wake-up call yesterday.
At 35, Hossa is a better player than 98% of the league’s 25 year olds. Dominant at both ends of the ice, Hossa is quietly leading the Hawks, along with Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp. But the Hawks are also getting big contributions now from 3rd and 4th liners like Marcus Kriuger, Joakim Nordstrom, Ben Smith, Bryan Bickell and Jeremy Morin. Morin is making a strong case for playoff ice time with physical, snarly play, a goal and a quality assist yesterday.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, the penalty kill, which had languished near the bottom of the league for the first half of the season, is now ranked 17th (in addition to a #7 overall powerplay), testament to a significant second half imporvement
It’s probably early to say all the stars are aligning for the Hawks at the right time. But, the big question as to how the team would respond without it’s two “premier… players seems to be answered. And quite well.
The remaining three games before the playoffs (Montreal at home and Wahsdington and Nashville away) should continue to test that proposition however.
More on that as it happens,
JJ