Off topic, coming into Chicago tommorrow for T Giving, heard it is truly going to be the Windy City tommorrow
- LAHawk

Good luck. Hope you get in early. Delays are gonna start piling up later in the day.

Crow only faced 32 shots. Did they only play two periods?

I'm not defending Peters by any means but the image of an NHL coach kicking a player in the ass makes me laugh.

Verbal and mental abuse would seem to me to be much more hurtful and damaging. So if you believe that like I do, somebody better investigate Scotty Bowman, Punch Imlach, Darryl Sutter, Toe Blake, Mike Keenan, Viktor Tikkanen and a long list of other coaches who spent a long time in the NHL. They may have hurt some feelings along the way.
- RickJ

He booted the guy in the back while he was on the bench and straight up punched another player in the head.

I would really like to see Kubalik with Nylander and Toews. Kubalik reminds me of Hossa in a lot of ways. (Not Hossa's level of course, just the way he plays.) Toews played his best hockey with Hossa on his wing.

ADB Strome Kane
Nylander Toews Kubalik
Saad Kampf Shaw
Carpenter Dach Smith Highmore "The All Centers line" (Caggiula when healthy)

I am not a fan of double shifting Kane so much. I can see doing it in 3rd periods when you are down a goal.

I also do not like your last forward playing 8 minutes per game. Let's roll 4 lines (a little more evenly). If the 4th line is one of our strong points (vis a vis other 4th lines) let's play them a little more. Look at how much trouble the Hawks have had against other team's "energy" 4th lines. They can really change momentum.

Big jump up for the kid to play between Kane and ADB. Thought he handled it pretty well, no real mistakes in his own end.

To use a basketball term I like the kid because he has length like Getzlaf and Lemieux. When he learns to use it properly he will be this team's #1 Center for a long time. Just keep in mind he is only 18, hope he can stay healthy.
- RickJ

This, big jump for the 18 yr old in Game 20. Playing center vs the opponent's top lines in the NHL is a big task and it showed. Like you thought he handled it well, no huge gaffes, but he was overmatched IMO. Looking at his fancies last night is hard on the eye and IMO an extended stay at 2C he'll get exploited at this point (the club needs Strome badly). Didn't think he was tentative per say but thought he lost more pucks than in any game, probably due to the step up in class. ......... At this time IF they must move him into the top 6 I'd prefer wing with Johnny.

Think the defense looks better every game and last night it was pretty good at both ends. As mentioned they engaged in their slot and IMO they had some solid exits, quick and clean many times. Like how Maatta picks his spots as a 4th attacker. Has the IQ to help.

Does this club have a legit bottom 6??? Kampf and Kubalik are great together, lights out when Saad was a linemate, both to the eye and in the fancies. Shaw and his style/skills fit with them. They crushed em in the fancies and were very pleasing to the eye. Helluva line, leave it be please!!!!

Asked if anyone thought Smith looked as fast as he's been as a Hawk, no response. Guy is making plays, taking the correct angles, in the right spots, playing like he's comfortable. That'll make you look fast and allow you to play fast no matter your feet. Love when a guy has center pedigree and is playing wing. Nice fit with Carpenter. That 4th line last night destroyed in the fancies, 7-0 SOG and JC started em in the Ozone 57%, he liked em too.

Here's the fancies. Hawks clubbed em badly except for the Kane-Dach-Dcat line. Check out the Hawks forward lines section: https://www.naturalstattr...eason=20192020&game=20376

Obviously Stan should unload Dach immediately.
- Blackwater13

Dach + Seabrook for Lucic

Great win last night!!! Team really playing better, there is talent there. Don't stop now boys.

Good win tonight .Dach played a very respectable game .Of course Dallas played last night ,or the boy's would not have stood a chance . 3 of 4 points against red hot Dallas. HAWKS are playing all right now .Toews and Seebs had good games .Crow will not give up that net without a fight . Really did not understand all the angst after the game Saturday, HAWKS played a very good game .As Lehner said SO are not hockey ,now if we could just get Buttman and his Hench man to understand this ..
- oldduffman

Crow did look good. This guy is finally getting back in shape, physically and mentally and still needs more time. He is a battler and a great goalie. He really did not play for a year and then last year was like a conditioning stint. unfortunately, the concussion scare lies in the background.

Ahhhhhh, nice to see the ledge is empty and all is great once again at the BOD, one more win and we can start planning the parade, a loss on the other hand .......
- paulr

It's nice to see them play well. Wish they were consistent in how they played each game. Tough stretch coming up. If they take 3 out of 4 points vs the Avs it'll make it even more interesting.

I'm not defending Peters by any means but the image of an NHL coach kicking a player in the ass makes me laugh.

Verbal and mental abuse would seem to me to be much more hurtful and damaging. So if you believe that like I do, somebody better investigate Scotty Bowman, Punch Imlach, Darryl Sutter, Toe Blake, Mike Keenan, Viktor Tikkanen and a long list of other coaches who spent a long time in the NHL. They may have hurt some feelings along the way.
- RickJ

Was watching the Canadian feed of the Bruins vs Canadiens game last night and at intermission they talked about this. Think it was McKenzie who said you have to look at the culture of the TIME/era for context. Just as you are rightly pointing out.

Played em all in the 70's and 80's and with no statute of limitations I'd have 100 lawsuits today as would ANYONE who played. Been kicked in the facemask while my hands were on my knees head down and knocked on my back. Thrown to the ground by my facemask and I played QB!! Double sessions with no water. In a public school grabbed and thrown into the wall by the gym teacher.

That was the culture, to be abusive physically and mentally military style. It's great we've moved away from that but it had its advantages. Like my old man taught me as a 7 yr old, you can fool with the bull but you might get the horns (consequences). Follow the program in life and you're ok but don't and the horns will come. ........ Great kids aren't getting abused today but they're not getting the horns either!

IMO no place for racial attacks now or then but to understand a different era you need context.

Take this for what it's worth, but over on the Montreal blog, a poster mentioned that Canadiens GM Bergevin was at the Hawks game last night.

Hmmm.

Take this for what it's worth, but over on the Montreal blog, a poster mentioned that Canadiens GM Bergevin was at the Hawks game last night.

Hmmm.
- boilermaker100

Toews for Caufiled hey darth?>

Didn't think Dach was tentative per say but thought he lost more pucks than in any game, probably due to the step up in class. ......... At this time IF they must move him into the top 6 I'd prefer wing with Johnny.

Think the defense looks better every game and last night it was pretty good at both ends. As mentioned they engaged in their slot and IMO they had some solid exits, quick and clean many times. Like how Maatta picks his spots as a 4th attacker. Has the IQ to help.
Smith looked as fast as he's been as a Hawkhttps://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20192020&game=20376
- Mr Ricochet

I think it might have as you stated, bt this kid's game and success will be tied to stripping pucks using his size and fluidity and hands, so better we get him in against quality opponents and see him cope.

Even early on, I thought the entire team swarmed and was always close to most opponents in the middle and defensive zones, but got scored on.

I am not saying it is cyclic but the hard work of the system is paying off a bit.

Yeah, I think the Smith Ottawa put on waivers was a banged up one and he seems pretty much in terrific game shape now.

Lots like in their play as a team.

LIked the distribution of D men time.

DeHaan 22 min
Keith 21
Murphy 20
Gus 19
Maatta 18
Seabs 18

Hawks may not have a true top pair in the mold of 2 and 7 of yesteryear, but tonight they put out 3 serviceable pairs.Hope they are finally gelling.
- boilermaker100

Well said, sir. The last few yrs the Hawks have not had 3 pairs that could skate an NHL shift but they do now. The additions of de Haan and Maatta give them that and in theory that will make a Keith better cuz he doesn't have to skate stupid minutes. And add slotting is more in line with the talent and you have an improved group.

Assuming a system is constructed around the talent that is given and not trying to jam a player into a slotting/system his skills can't conform to.

I think it might have as you stated, bt this kid's game and success will be tied to stripping pucks using his size and fluidity and hands, so better we get him in against quality opponents and see him cope.

Even early on, I thought the entire team swarmed and was always close to most opponents in the middle and defensive zones, but got scored on.

I am not saying it is cyclic but the hard work of the system is paying off a bit.

Yeah, I think the Smith Ottawa put on waivers was a banged up one and he seems pretty much in terrific game shape now.

Lots like in their play as a team.
- wiz1901

Yes, especially the bolded. Aggression as a unit (structure). Thought the 3rd line to start the season of Saad-Kampf-Kubalik epitomized this and now the 4th line is showing it as well.

Was thinking about what you mentioned, Dach cope (develop) at 2C. Last night at 2C he reminded me of his play the first 10 games on the 4th line as a C and wing. Tentative, feeling his way, making sure he's on the right side of the puck, (it's in his DNA to be a 2 way player, he can't help it), no mistakes but once he started feeling more comfortable with experience we saw his game and results elevate.

I'm thinking he developed nicely as a 4th liner but can that happen as a 2C now or even this yr? Depending on Strome's availability we might get a 5-6-7 game look but I just don't know. Wing maybe, top 6 C I just don't know. ......... Reminds me a bit of Kotkiemi last yr. 3rd overall, similar in style/size and MTL needing a 2C all yr left him at 3C and he developed nicely.

Funny to me that with a couple bounces our way instead of some of those OT losses, and this team is right in the thick of it in the west with the Jets, Avs, etc.

Remarkable to me considering the fact that almost 20% of our goals have come from one player.

Our goaltending is outstanding. Our defense is significantly improved thanks to newfound depth Stan successfully brought in, and our bottom six is finally a bottom six.

I still firmly believe this team needs another scoring winger, but understand the premium at which they come at and it remains to be seen where our team will be 3 months from now.

100% Rick.

That was a very noticable last night. They need to keep that up.
- Tyler Cameron

If you guys can remember back to 2010. Niemi was a rebound machine many nights. The key was, as a team, we boxed out and allowed very little 2nd chance.
BOTH goalies we have now are far better than Niemi ever was. And, if the Hawks can let them make the first save and then clear the net-front...well, we should do OK. Seems, our team defense is heading that way.

Some good news, since Rinne said that was the easiest win he's ever had vs the Blackhawks, 1-4-1 since.

The BOD is split on Maatta. I would be pro-Maatta. Compared to the "amateur hour" on defense we saw in just about every game last year, this years defense is decent. They are blocking shots, clearing out the crease, clearing rebounds, making the opposition pay for playing in front of our net or below our red line. They have room for improvement exiting our zone, but part of that is a team thing and getting use to each other.

Also the D other than Gus has 9 goals in 24 games (37.5%) this year. That projects to be 30 goals in 82 games, and it could be above that. Last year the D other than Gus had 21 goals in 82 games (25.6%).

Gus had 17 goals in 79 games last year (21.5%) He has 3 goals in 23 games this year. 13.0%. That projects to 11 goals this year. But he got off to a horrible start and is picking up his game in the last 10 games or so, I could see him hitting 15 goals if he stays all season (without too many healthy scratches).

Take this for what it's worth, but over on the Montreal blog, a poster mentioned that Canadiens GM Bergevin was at the Hawks game last night.

Hmmm.
- boilermaker100

Looking for Shaw again????..Does he have another D-cat to send our way????

Also side note, but just as we all predicted before the start of the season, Maatta has more points than PK Subban.

NJ is stuck with that contract for two more seasons after this one. Yuck.

Best back-to-back games of the season for the team. Kampf-Shaw-Kubalik could be a thing, which frees up Saad to play with Toews regularly. Goaltending again was stellar. Big test this extended weekend.

What little I saw of Highmore, I really liked. Nice to have a little speed out there for a change. Wish he would have been allowed to play in the previous game.
- gabriel

Agreed and wish we could see how Sikura has progressed as well. Forward depth could allow a nice trade package to go with Gus in the near future. I still would like another true top 6 forward to help on Toew's line.

Most SOG against, yet top 10 in GAA, i love it goes against the fancy stats

Corey's save % up to .920. Nice comeback after a so so start.
Lehner .938.

I think it is interesting after the games that Crow starts you can see Lehner come up to Crow and it looks like he actually has a conversation with Crow, more than just a "good game". I get the feeling like they are very proud of their tandem, and they are encouraging each other. Also some friendly competition. Of course they are both playing on expiring contracts.