John Jaeckel: Small Steps in Alberta

1st

Small steps. Now lets see a more convincing win vs the Nux tonite.

Good summary JJ. If you are out of town - please enjoy.

Still the biggest concern for me is the blue line. Keith needs a right hander as his partner and Hammer needs to be on his good side.

Shaw is a champ despite to occasional mishap (bad penalty). Heart of a lion. One of the few who has actually showed up during this drought.

John thanks for the quick blog...hope you're enjoying the weather in FLA...
Happy Easter all...

Need two points this evening and hopefully this team continues to trend in the right direction. Couple of small steps in the right direction. Good to see Freddy back last night.

Would love to see Ehrhoff get a chance this evening...unless as mentioned he's dinged up and that's why he's being held out. Also need to get Weise going here - he'll be needed in the playoffs for sure.

Several folks have mentioned no pushback from the Hawks when guys have taken runs, etc...although the Breadman did the other night...and I thought Panik did last night when he was hit in the corner. Outside of that not much.


Van has lost 7 in a row...but will be gunning for the Hawks tonight for sure.

Bottom line is against 90% of the rest of the league last night is another loss.

Any news on Craw?

Good win last night, need to take another 2pts tonight and gain a little momentum.

Can anyone explain the absence of Ehrhoff? There always seems to be a rhyme and reason to Q's line adjustments but this one really perplexes me. With the recalling of Svedberg it's clear (barring undisclosed injury) Q really sees no use for the blue liner in his lineup.

The few games he played he looked good (5gp, 1pt, -1, 14 sog) For a team being outshot consistently as of late, it seems his ability to get pucks on net from the blueline would be welcomed. Any and all thoughts welcomed, go hawks!

Bottom line is against 90% of the rest of the league last night is another loss.
- Alwaysahawk

Agreed. Possession was about even last night when it clearly should have favored the Hawks. Tonight in Vancouver they get a team that is ranked 30th in faceoffs, 29th in scoring chances against, and 28th in high-danger scoring chances against. In other words, this is a team that the Hawks should not struggle to score against.

We are too soft to go up against physical teams like Calgary without Weise in the lineup.

Good win last night, need to take another 2pts tonight and gain a little momentum.

Can anyone explain the absence of Ehrhoff? There always seems to be a rhyme and reason to Q's line adjustments but this one really perplexes me. With the recalling of Svedberg it's clear (barring undisclosed injury) Q really sees no use for the blue liner in his lineup.

The few games he played he looked good (5gp, 1pt, -1, 14 sog) For a team being outshot consistently as of late, it seems his ability to get pucks on net from the blueline would be welcomed. Any and all thoughts welcomed, go hawks!
- cubbfan19

Only Q knows for sure what his issues are with Ehrhoff.
Seems to me that Q's TRUST is hard to earn, especially for newcomers late in the season and this has become crystal clear in the last two springs
i.e. Vermette, Weise and his trust is likely even harder to earn for a defenseman i.e. Ehrhoff.

Ehrhoff is a power play specialist, but with Keith and Seabs manning the points much of the time on the pp, there isn't much room for a one dimensional d-man like Ehrhoff.

I'm watching highlights of other teams and their all going hard to the net. Shooting and looking for rebounds. Defend first, shoot first. Hard to the net. Dere ya go.

GO HOCKS!

Any news on the lines for tonight?

Agreed. Possession was about even last night when it clearly should have favored the Hawks. Tonight in Vancouver they get a team that is ranked 30th in faceoffs, 29th in scoring chances against, and 28th in high-danger scoring chances against. In other words, this is a team that the Hawks should not struggle to score against.
- etchtech

Enjoy the graphs and stats you've been posting. Very helpful, etch........

The top 6 ain't got much going at all lately and as a result the PP either.

Conversely the bottom 6 looks dangerous both on paper and on the ice with Freddy back, Shaw down there and deep too with Weise being a scratch. If (when?) the top 6 gets going this will be a team that can easily roll 4 lines IF Q doesn't outsmart himself and the world.

PK was successful but man the Flames had a lot of excellent looks v that passive PK.

TT had a lot of jump and an active disruptive stick. Nice to see vs a team that came to play physical.

I don't mind Sved at all, Q does with 11:00 TOI, as he has that big stick, at least will clear the crease and love that he gets shots through from the point even if they are wide of the mark due to traffic. I continue to be impressed with his feet for such a big guy. Turns nicely........ IMO he brings predictability that most, other than Erhoff and to a lesser extent TVR, don't to the 4-5 spot.

Any news on the lines for tonight?
- tvetter

Q rarely changes lines after a win so I would expect the same as yesterday..

If the Hawks don't win by at least 3 goals they may be in trouble heading into the postseason.

Svedberg is not the answer. It becomes clear every time he gets called up.

Any hope of a Canuck win tonight? Hopefully Vancouver comes out hard tonight and Darling is tired

If the Hawks don't win by at least 3 goals they may be in trouble heading into the postseason.
- Pres.cup

Regardless of tonight's results, the Hawks are in trouble.

Any hope of a Canuck win tonight? Hopefully Vancouver comes out hard tonight and Darling is tired
- predsfan97

Win. ...
The only hope I have is some type of effort. ..

Win. ...
The only hope I have is some type of effort. ..
- Pres.cup

Canucks played the Preds hard last 2 games, beat them at home for one of their only 2 losses in the last 20 games.

Canucks played the Preds hard last 2 games, beat them at home for one of their only 2 losses in the last 20 games.
- predsfan97

So hard to know who you want to play. Passing the Hawks means Blues/Stars? Is that really better than facing the Kings?

Major loss for the Lightning going into the playoffs:

http://www.cbssports.com/...after-leg-bends-awkwardly

I had expected them to come out of the East -- losing Stralman might make that a bit tougher.

Preds will lose in the first round like they do every year regardless of who they play. Like Groundhog Day for you guys

Preds will lose in the first round like they do every year regardless of who they play. Like Groundhog Day for you guys
- Assman22

They sure did blow it when they made it past round 1- that was the year things fell into place and played Phoenix in the second round- Radulov broke curfew and Trotz suspended him for not 1 but 2 games! Screwed us for sure to make a point.

Weber injury was a big break for you last year. With him we probably win one of the 2 games that went 3 and 2 OTs and get back here for Game 7. Kids are older- Preds are even better than last year.