Sucks? I saw him at least twice completely give up on the puck and just let a Flyers forward take it. He’s terrified to absorb a hit or take any kind of physical punishment. You can’t be an legit NHL dmen unless you’re willing to take a hit to make a play. He just bails out.
- bhawks2241

I hear you, problem is young coaches don't see what we've seen over so many years and give potential to much lee way and minutes. It's the only issue i have with a young coach to naive to realize Gusto is who he is

For it being the 1st game of the season, just wasn't impressed with the compete level. Felt bad for Gilbert on the early gaffe, but still feel the kid is going to be a keeper. If Lehner is ready, start him versus SJ.

For it being the 1st game of the season, just wasn't impressed with the compete level. Felt bad for Gilbert on the early gaffe, but still feel the kid is going to be a keeper. If Lehner is ready, start him versus SJ.
- gabriel

You got it man. Just be patient with things.

No doubt this team isn't giving a lot of reason for optimism, horrific pre-season, a mostly terrible first game, continual calls that the guys need to "learn his system" after 70 games, the first time I've heard learning a hockey system being akin to learning brain surgery or rocket science, etc...

But it's 1 game. Way too early to cash in the chips.

This was good to see

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis

Random observation: Robin Lehner watched the majority of #Blackhawks-Flyers like this. He was very into the game and banged on the glass after every big Corey Crawford save. It was cool to see.



If this trip does nothing more than give that locker room as little more cohesiveness, then it will have been a positive.

Jets down 4-0 against the Devils and come back to win 5-4 in a shootout. Nice comeback.

You got it man. Just be patient with things.

No doubt this team isn't giving a lot of reason for optimism, horrific pre-season, a mostly terrible first game, continual calls that the guys need to "learn his system" after 70 games, the first time I've heard learning a hockey system being akin to learning brain surgery or rocket science, etc...

But it's 1 game. Way too early to cash in the chips.
- kwolf68

Will keep playing at the table, kwolf! Will be interesting to see who sticks around, and who gets weeded out. Still need some practice time together. DeHaan eventually being in the lineup should help. Any "average" team that hustled, would have waxed Philly today. That's what hurts the most, IMHO.

Will keep playing at the table, kwolf! Will be interesting to see who sticks around, and who gets weeded out. Still need some practice time together. DeHaan eventually being in the lineup should help. Any "average" team that hustled, would have waxed Philly today. That's what hurts the most, IMHO.
- gabriel

I don't know that an average team waxes Philly. They got some nice players over there. Honestly, if Hart holds up strong they can make a run at the playoffs.

Absolutely agree about CDH, I am a HUGE fan of this player. Wanted him last year, Bowman gets him this year, I think he'll pay immediate dividends. And as much as I hated Murphy two years ago I think he showed real growth last year. I am more than willing to change my mind when warranted and Murph was a solid guy last year.

So until 2 of our best 4 defensemen are in the lineup, possibly 2 of our best 3, I will withhold judgement. A huge issue is Keith and Seabs are no longer top paring guys. Duncs is still probably a 3/4 and Seabs is a 6. Lots of cash tied up in them. But more importantly, NO ONE has really stepped up to be the "top pairing" talents they used to be. And that's why our team is struggling. A "top pairing" of Keith and Gus is just horrendous.

Crow was just not good today. Yea, he made several excellent saves, but he used to do that regularly MINUS the garbage goals he did give up (Goal 4 is poop I used to see in low level PeeWee). Crow is better than that and has to be better than that or he'll be watching soon enough.

And just to toss a log on the "sunshine" fire, the last time the Hawks lost an opening season game was 2015. As I recall, that season ended pretty good (shoulda been a 3-peat Cup run, but Q waited 1 game too long to move Shaw to center Line 2 and the poopty ass Kings had a horseshoe up their ass)

Stop yourself. We should crown TB right now as they are obviously the best team in the league and we don't need to play any more games!!
- Chunk

Boston is the best team in the league. Again. Should have won it all last year. My pick to win it all this year.

Boston is the best team in the league. Again. Should have won it all last year. My pick to win it all this year.
- SimpleJack

Trashville looks like my prediction, hella center depth and 3 elite D-men, and a very good tender.

Trashville looks like my prediction, hella center depth and 3 elite D-men, and a very good tender.
- kwolf68

Except when it matters. #participationbanners

Except when it matters. #participationbanners
- I Am The Breadman

Agreed.

Shouldn't you be studying?

Except when it matters. #participationbanners
- I Am The Breadman

Yea maybe so Bread, maybe so. At least I hope so. I surely don't need/want my prediction to be accurate. Calgary was my pick last year and they totally tanked. So I needed to go a bit chalk in the West.

Honestly, I think it's either Trash or someone from the east (Boston, Wash, TB)

Alright, got a vat of brown liquor. Time to watch today's game.

Agreed.

Shouldn't you be studying?
- mohel

Hahahaha, I got a little bit of a break for now.

Yea maybe so Bread, maybe so. At least I hope so. I surely don't need/want my prediction to be accurate. Calgary was my pick last year and they totally tanked. So I needed to go a bit chalk in the West.

Honestly, I think it's either Trash or someone from the east (Boston, Wash, TB)
- kwolf68

Calgary was my pick too. I'm thinking the champ comes from the Western Conference. It's as tough as it has ever been.

Yea maybe so Bread, maybe so. At least I hope so. I surely don't need/want my prediction to be accurate. Calgary was my pick last year and they totally tanked. So I needed to go a bit chalk in the West.

Honestly, I think it's either Trash or someone from the east (Boston, Wash, TB)
- kwolf68

Good evening, Wolfie. I'm not a believer in Duchenne. The next time he makes a team better by joining them will be the first, imo. They're still a solid bunch (of Richards).

HAWKS never beat Philly on the road ,and they were along way from home .Oh ya they did win that one game in Philly in OT ..LOL
Long season ask ST.L .Get back home back on track ..GO HAWKS !!!

I don't know that an average team waxes Philly. They got some nice players over there. Honestly, if Hart holds up strong they can make a run at the playoffs.

Absolutely agree about CDH, I am a HUGE fan of this player. Wanted him last year, Bowman gets him this year, I think he'll pay immediate dividends. And as much as I hated Murphy two years ago I think he showed real growth last year. I am more than willing to change my mind when warranted and Murph was a solid guy last year.

So until 2 of our best 4 defensemen are in the lineup, possibly 2 of our best 3, I will withhold judgement. A huge issue is Keith and Seabs are no longer top paring guys. Duncs is still probably a 3/4 and Seabs is a 6. Lots of cash tied up in them. But more importantly, NO ONE has really stepped up to be the "top pairing" talents they used to be. And that's why our team is struggling. A "top pairing" of Keith and Gus is just horrendous.

Crow was just not good today. Yea, he made several excellent saves, but he used to do that regularly MINUS the garbage goals he did give up (Goal 4 is poop I used to see in low level PeeWee). Crow is better than that and has to be better than that or he'll be watching soon enough.
- kwolf68

I agree with all both Chicago & Philly point of view.
The goaltending both teams you figure will be good. NO reason to think Crawford doesn't round into shape. He needs to be in better form vintage form - else Lehner will play #1 and Crawford will possibly struggle to merely share the net. Even less than half the starts no matter his past IF he has a coule more early games like this.

The achillies heel for Chicago this season may turn out no one performs like a #1 pair no matter whim they pair up. Honestly i can hardly wait until Mitchelk arrives and am anxuius ti see Beaudun progress. Those two are the best.... BUT we will nit see them until late thiscseason and next season. Bowman is going to ride the veterans. I would like to think Gus can be reluab4ke but just n3it sure if he can. You like Murphy. His skating could be better. He may wind uo moved for salary cap reasons after this season.

Philly has a lot of youth on defense. That might be their achilliies heel.

Rockford surrendered a last minute goal to loose 3-2. Laakinen in net.

I haven't read through all the pages of posts so excuse me if I'm redundant, but here are a few observations ...

If we don't get better goaltending that Crawford gave us today - we'll be in the draft lottery with a good shot at Lafreniere.

Kane led the "over-pass parade" today. There were far too many scoring chances squandered because a pass was attempted instead of a shot on net.

The only d-man that didn't make a bad play today (that I recall) was Maatta. The other 5 d-men were noticeable in a bad way - a couple of them more than once.

It sure seems like the Hawks lose more races to the puck than they win - a big reason why teams are able to keep the Hawks pinned in their own end for long stretches.

The penalty on Shaw was BS - yes, he cross checked but so did the Flyers player. If you're going to call one call them both. That doesn't mean Shaw wasn't guilty of losing his head and making a stupid play - cuz he was.

It was nice to see Gilbert deliver a nice hip check and actually stop the opponent from advancing the puck. Too bad we don't have other d-men that know how to and are willing to do that.

Kampf actually made a couple good plays in the offensive zone today - course ... they didn't amount to anything, but at least he made a couple nice plays.

Kubalik is a better skater and has more speed than I was expecting. I think he has a shot to be pretty good.

Hopefully deHaan, Murphy and Dach are ready to play next game.

I had to watch on a minimal minimal window due to being at the office so couldn't exactly see individual players.

Nylander got that first goal but how did he look for the rest of the game?
- Popsghostly

He was good. Nothing spectacular but then again the Hawks as a team were difficult to watch for large stretches.

A lot of nice saves - without him, Flyers might have scored 8 or 9.

But had he made the saves he usually makes, they might have had only 2 or 1.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed.

I hated that 4th goal he let in but this loss wasn't his fault. He was hung out to dry as the scoring chances indicated.

I believe they were 32-15 in favour of PHI.

Rockford lost tonight as well. 3-2 was the final.vs. Iowa.

JT Brown scored with 15 seconds left in the 3rd.

Highmore and D. Silura with the goals.

Rockford lost tonight as well. 3-2 was the final.vs. Iowa.

JT Brown scored with 15 seconds left in the 3rd.

Highmore and D. Silura with the goals.
- Tyler Cameron

Nilsson given a delay of game penalty for a faceoff violation with just over 2 minutes to play and the Wild score with 16 seconds left. What a tough way to lose on a BS call.

I don't know that an average team waxes Philly. They got some nice players over there. Honestly, if Hart holds up strong they can make a run at the playoffs.

Absolutely agree about CDH, I am a HUGE fan of this player. Wanted him last year, Bowman gets him this year, I think he'll pay immediate dividends. And as much as I hated Murphy two years ago I think he showed real growth last year. I am more than willing to change my mind when warranted and Murph was a solid guy last year.

So until 2 of our best 4 defensemen are in the lineup, possibly 2 of our best 3, I will withhold judgement. A huge issue is Keith and Seabs are no longer top paring guys. Duncs is still probably a 3/4 and Seabs is a 6. Lots of cash tied up in them. But more importantly, NO ONE has really stepped up to be the "top pairing" talents they used to be. And that's why our team is struggling. A "top pairing" of Keith and Gus is just horrendous.

Crow was just not good today. Yea, he made several excellent saves, but he used to do that regularly MINUS the garbage goals he did give up (Goal 4 is poop I used to see in low level PeeWee). Crow is better than that and has to be better than that or he'll be watching soon enough.
- kwolf68

Just saw a lot of scrambling and then, standing around. My point being, is how can any team play tentative on opening night? At most times it appears at least, that we are bereft of a game plan going in. On top of it, our hustle level left a lot to be desired. To me, Philly did just enough to win. Had we hustled and/or had a clear plan of attack, that team could have been beaten. At the very least, grabbed a point from them. Without either element in play, there is no way to win.