Mark Lazerus
‏@MarkLazerus
Patrick Kane on the last eight games of the season: "We’re playing in the NHL, we’re playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, we’re playing in front of 21,000 fans every night. That’s enough motivation right there."

about to 7-13-2 @home since jan 1

ok then...cognitive dissonance
- bogiedoc

I'm not sure his fellow vets would echo his sentiment.

@MarkLazerus
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The Blackhawks have given up at least five goals in five straight games, and six of seven.

They've given up five or more goals 13 times in 40 games since Corey Crawford was injured.

and this is not all on the glass, berube and forsberg, they have been avg at best...
but this team has been abysmal for 3 months

The race to win for the scoring title is getting closer afer the past few games played. Both MacKinnon and McDavid have caught Malkin, so a trio sits three behind Kucherov. The Tampa Bay star is three points short of hitting the century mark point. A big game from any of them propels them into a favorable slot for scoring supreme.

Who will win it?

Again this year there might have been a dead heat tie or very very close for same second year players to win the goal.scoring. Mathews was out twice and Laine is out now inj. Mathews won last year; this season it is Laine ahead, 41 - 29.

Who wins it?

even with shot going wide by 5 feet...somehow ends up in the net...

been that kinda year....

the question going through every hawk player: can we go home now and end this thing??

Chelsea Dagger at 3:33 down by three?

gee and i thought the comeback was on after highmore's goal...oh well

‏@PierreVLeBrun
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From Ducks PR: The Ducks are in the tightest NHL playoff race since the advent of the Western and Eastern Conference format in 1993-94. This is the first time since then that 7 teams from the same conference have been within 4 points of the playoff line this late in the season

in all honesty i detest betmans's parity league...

2 games against the Jets (fighting for playoffs)
2 games against the Blues (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Avs (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Sharks (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Islanders (road)


VERY possible the 'Hawks only get ~1-3 points rest of the season. If Detroit and Montreal don't tank as much as we do during these last two weeks of the season, there's a pretty good chance we end up with a top-5 lottery chance.

Gotta think that at that point, Dahlin is quite possible.

EDIT: Hopefully the 'Hawks just shut Toews down for the rest of the season. For all the flak he gets around these parts, without him this team is considerably worse.

Rutta, Gustafson, Murphy and Oesterle are all what they are. If their flaws haven't been corrected by now, its highly unlikely they will be. They are all subpar. Let's realize again that the Hawks have now been blown out multiple times by AZ and PHX and just loss to BUF. In 2018, there is no worse team than the Hawks IMO.
- EnzoD

But let's give Bowman and Quenneville another year !! What a joke if that actually happens.

2 games against the Jets (fighting for playoffs)
2 games against the Blues (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Avs (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Sharks (fighting for playoffs)
1 game against the Islanders (road)


VERY possible the 'Hawks only get ~1-3 points rest of the season. If Detroit and Montreal don't tank as much as we do during these last two weeks of the season, there's a pretty good chance we end up with a top-5 lottery chance.

Gotta think that at that point, Dahlin is quite possible.


- TommyHawk

yep 75 or less is distinct possibility with this mess...

but the wings and habs have to win some games...don't bet on that...

But let's give Bowman and Quenneville another year !! What a joke if that actually happens.
- Hawkytalk

another poor night for stanbows recent extensions with a raise--rutta and gust...

25 and 27 year old never-will-bees

yep 75 or less is distinct possibility with this mess...

but the wings and habs have to win some games...don't bet on that...
- bogiedoc

Detroit and Montreal play each other two more times before the end of the season, so that in itself is going to be a nice boost. Plus Detroit also plays Buffalo and Ottawa, so I think they'll at least be able to salvage one of those two wins. Meanwhile, Montreal plays Buffalo tomorrow, so I think they have a good shot at a win tomorrow which would only put them at three points behind the 'Hawks.

Detroit and Montreal play each other two more times before the end of the season, so that in itself is going to be a nice boost. Plus Detroit also plays Buffalo and Ottawa, so I think they'll at least be able to salvage one of those two wins. Meanwhile, Montreal plays Buffalo tomorrow, so I think they have a good shot at a win tomorrow which would only put them at three points behind the 'Hawks.
- TommyHawk

The Oilers play the Canucks twice also so there will be points there.

Detroit and Montreal play each other two more times before the end of the season, so that in itself is going to be a nice boost. Plus Detroit also plays Buffalo and Ottawa, so I think they'll at least be able to salvage one of those two wins. Meanwhile, Montreal plays Buffalo tomorrow, so I think they have a good shot at a win tomorrow which would only put them at three points behind the 'Hawks.
- TommyHawk

lets hear it for alot of 3 POINT GAMES....so exciting...

‏@PierreVLeBrun
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From Ducks PR: The Ducks are in the tightest NHL playoff race since the advent of the Western and Eastern Conference format in 1993-94. This is the first time since then that 7 teams from the same conference have been within 4 points of the playoff line this late in the season

in all honesty i detest betmans's parity league...
- bogiedoc

To be honest with you. I detest that Anaheim team more than Bettman.

this pic from the aves game says it all for me about this year

foley: "seabrook somehow could not catch up to that puck"

To be honest with you. I detest that Anaheim team more than Bettman.
- jhawk59

i will join you on that...a team of complete jag bags...if they make it...may they be 4 and out...

Dan Murphy
@sportsnetmurph
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Patrick Sharp has been asking for a Sedin signed stick for a couple years according to Henrik. He got it tonight “just in case”. Signed by both.

i think this is very neat...the sedins have taken alot of unfair abuse over the years...

great players in my book...

another poor night for stanbows recent extensions with a raise--rutta and gust...

25 and 27 year old never-will-bees
- bogiedoc

Absolutely agree on Bowman....and I'm still going to jump on Q and his staff as well.

How many times have Hawk forwards or dmen passed up wide open shots to attempt passes that were clearly the wrong play ??? I'd say 40 to 50 times this year. Heck, Nick Schmaltz probably has 20 himself. Vinnie again tonight and called out on it by Eddie.

My question is this.....what the heck does Q and his staff do after the game ? Do they go over the tape ? Do they point out terrible decisions on missed scoring chances ?? Do they TEACH anything to these players that continually make the same poor choices on fundamentals ??
Nothing ever changes.....why do our forwards continually NOT SHOOT for that far pad to have a chance at that easy rebound ?? That is a fundamental play in hockey and I've only seen it once or twice all year. Our guys shoot it right in the goalie's belly.....the absolute worst shot attempt. It is inexcusable how poor this team executes the basics of the game.....and I blame that on coaching.

As for the defensive nightmares on this team......ah forget it.....blame Ulfy, no blame Kitch, no blame whoever other coaches we've had , but bottom line, Quenneville runs the system. The NO CHECK, STICK CHECK ONLY, style of D.
And by no means ever clear a body from the crease. Again.....it's Q's team, Q's staff, and Q's responsibility to take the blame for these disgraceful performances. He gets all the accolades for being a HOF coach and 3 Cups, now he should get all the blame for what's happened over the past 3 seasons.

I don't want to hear a word about CC. That's a total cop out and I'm sick of hearing the excuse from the media already. This team wouldn't have made the playoffs even if he was healthy.
Not a chance !!

listen to jones in the pregame Q/A with boyle...very insightful and dead on...

the hawks can come back and win next year but not with that blue line and not with this goaltending...

cory get well and be safe over the summer...
- bogiedoc

Hope springs eternal. It's been a terrible year. It's a relief that they are now officially out of playoff contention and can be more deliberate about looking forward to next season.

I honestly think 2, 7, 15, 19, 20, 50, & 88 are all going to play better next year. How much better? TBD. 8 & 12 are keepers. 40, 48, & 64 shows some potential. The other defensemen, 29, 36, 91, Rockford guys, college guys, other draft picks,..., who knows?

Add some defensemen, maybe another top 6 guy, some center depth, back up goalie, bring back Wingels, and, who knows? If thinks are clicking by the TDL, maybe add another piece or two for the stretch run. Catch some breaks along the way and anything can happen.

I think that's where we're at. A good year next year is possible, but perhaps not likely. A lot of best case scenarios need to come together for it to come to be; recovery, comebacks, development, acquisitions, surprises, etc. Let's see if any more college free agents get added this season, then the front office and coaching situations need to be settled, then trades, the draft, and free agents; it should be interesting to speculate how it all comes together on the ice next season.

Samuelson's system working is analagous TO
Q having the right players to coach them well

You need to have the right players, or enough of them to execute.
- jhawk59

This. It simply is not a match. Whatever system they are trying to play with the dman caught up ice, they don't have the personnel to be successful with it. It is unrealistic to change all the players, so the system must be adjusted to fit their strengths and weaknesses. So many times this year we have seen dmen in too advanced positions and then unable to turn around and catch up quickly. That is on coaching IMO. A coach cannot make Lidström out of Oesterle & co, but can help cover up their weaknesses. There just hasn't been any progress in this regard.

Is there any relation to this team playing bad and Q getting his "Binny" gig? Do the players resent him being a media star too?
If you really think about it, does it make sense that this team is this bad? Do players just get this bad this fast? I have to believe there is someting else besides "just a bad team". Injuries, league mandate (yes, i do beleive it).

*NEW* blog up: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=91852

This. It simply is not a match. Whatever system they are trying to play with the dman caught up ice, they don't have the personnel to be successful with it. It is unrealistic to change all the players, so the system must be adjusted to fit their strengths and weaknesses. So many times this year we have seen dmen in too advanced positions and then unable to turn around and catch up quickly. That is on coaching IMO. A coach cannot make Lidström out of Oesterle & co, but can help cover up their weaknesses. There just hasn't been any progress in this regard.
- stonefire

Yup. Exactly. Always had loaded teams. StL, Col, and here, never changed a thing other than the lines. Anybody can be a "hall of fame coach" if that coach always has stacked teams. Scotty Bowman always coached stacked teams. But when another team had any success against his team he saw the weakness and adjusted. Scotty Bowman had an open mind. The guy here not at all.

Is there any relation to this team playing bad and Q getting his "Binny" gig? Do the players resent him being a media star too?
If you really think about it, does it make sense that this team is this bad? Do players just get this bad this fast? I have to believe there is someting else besides "just a bad team". Injuries, league mandate (yes, i do beleive it).
- powerenforcer

Mike Ditka syndrome