Justin Lowe: It's Only One Game The Hawks wake up this morning undefeated. A 1-0-0 record to start the year and they should not feel good about it.

The game last night had a lot of ups-and-downs.

Here are my observations

Posted my thoughts on the last blog right when this one went up..

The good and bad last night...

Good

- 2 points
- The offensive dynamos up front were offensive. (19/88/12)
- Shot Advantage 43-25 for the game.
- Jokiharju was decent for a 19 year old playing his first game in the NHL.
- Ward held up when it came down to 3rd, but also the team only allowed 5 shots in the 3rd and none in OT.


Bad
- turnovers and puck management. Not just the young guys, but the vets and "puck control" guys like Kane were coughing it up too. What stands out to me were the drop pass to nobody on the PP. And the couple instances where guys just flat out lost the puck, like Seabs did in the middle of the ice.
- Gus had a really up and down night.
- Rutta seemed to be having issues. Probably his worst game since he came to NA that I can recall.
- Did I mention the turnovers?
- Ward was not composed for the first half of the game. Seems like Ottawa just wanted to throw everything at the net because Ward looked uncomfortable.
- Maybe not a major deal for one game, but Toews was great at the dot, AA was 50% and well...the rest got dominated hard. Schmaltz 21%, Kruger 25%, Johnson 17%.

Can't argue with your observations JL. I think Hayden goes in for Johnson next game, if I were a betting man.

The passing was just not crisp all night. Bank passes off the boards that were way off and just generally looking disorganized. I hope the coaches can get them cleaned up.

I think the third line was okay and probably Kunitz started to show he can still play a bit. What I didn't like about the third line was AA trying to carry the puck after crossing the blue line. I think it happened again like 3-4 times last night, he gets about 5-10 feet into the attacking zone with control, but once the D closes on him, the puck is turned over. He needs support or to dump it to an area for a teammate.

Oh, and Saad/Schmaltz really need to show up soon. Schmaltz started to get there at times later in the game, but the Hawks need those guys to play better start to finish IMO.

What's the over/under for Goals Allowed by Ward against the Leafs? 5 sounds about right.

What's the over/under for Goals Allowed by Ward against the Leafs? 5 sounds about right.
- Beaver-Warrior

I will take the OVER on that one.

My positive on the night was I thought Toews looked wayyy better then he has over the past couple of years. If Toews can keep up that play over the season I like the look of D-Cat & Toews being able to put up some solid numbers.

On the down side, it reminded me too much of many of the games last year....where the Hawks outshoot the foe....tonight was 43 to 25 or something....and yet, can't seem to deliver the solid victory that comes with that kind of shot domination. Seems last year many games like this ended in Hawk loses more that they should, and came close to that tonight.

Better test is Saturday, against the Blows. Let's hope we put in a solid effort and can show we can compete in our Division!!!

What's the over/under for Goals Allowed by Ward against the Leafs? 5 sounds about right.
- Beaver-Warrior

12.

I have a good buddy who's a Leafs plus another one at the office.

Toews was the number 1 star. Then I would say Ward. He kept us alive. Then Joki. It was his first game, he was calm and smart with the puck, and he hit, too, holy cats!

I have to argue with MacKenzie as well, teams hit slumps and win streaks infrequently all the time, especially towards the end of the season where points really matter.

Keep up the blogs and great work, Justin. Appreciate your input as always. "You've really been working for the weekend. And the blackhawks need a second chance." Couldn't resist Loverboy lyrics.

My positive on the night was I thought Toews looked wayyy better then he has over the past couple of years. If Toews can keep up that play over the season I like the look of D-Cat & Toews being able to put up some solid numbers.

On the down side, it reminded me too much of many of the games last year....where the Hawks outshoot the foe....tonight was 43 to 25 or something....and yet, can't seem to deliver the solid victory that comes with that kind of shot domination. Seems last year many games like this ended in Hawk loses more that they should, and came close to that tonight.

Better test is Saturday, against the Blows. Let's hope we put in a solid effort and can show we can compete in our Division!!!
- hawk35

Toews looked great. That line was solid with Toews all-around solid play, Debrincat being dangerous with his shot and Kahun can flat out skate. He skates just as hard both ways... and I like it.

What's the over/under for Goals Allowed by Ward against the Leafs? 5 sounds about right.
- Beaver-Warrior

Not sure, but they good.

I would make sure to dress the fastest lineup possible + make sure Ward (or Forsberg if healthy) are in net. Don't do that to poor Colin Delia.

been stated by others but smaltz played as if it was a non contact game. He played a very soft perimeter game and once again passed up opps to drive the net and shoot...yeah and his faceoffs were terrible. He is not a center now or of the future...woof woof

been stated by others but smaltz played as if it was a non contact game. He played a very soft perimeter game and once again passed up opps to drive the net and shoot...yeah and his faceoffs were terrible. He is not a center now or of the future...woof woof
- bogiedoc

On Schmaltz game.

Kane- real soft. Keith- real soft? Kane- real soft. Keith- real soft! Both- real soft. Real soft.

Posted my thoughts on the last blog right when this one went up..

The good and bad last night...

Good

- 2 points
- The offensive dynamos up front were offensive. (19/88/12)
- Shot Advantage 43-25 for the game.
- Jokiharju was decent for a 19 year old playing his first game in the NHL.
- Ward held up when it came down to 3rd, but also the team only allowed 5 shots in the 3rd and none in OT.


Bad
- turnovers and puck management. Not just the young guys, but the vets and "puck control" guys like Kane were coughing it up too. What stands out to me were the drop pass to nobody on the PP. And the couple instances where guys just flat out lost the puck, like Seabs did in the middle of the ice.
- Gus had a really up and down night.
- Rutta seemed to be having issues. Probably his worst game since he came to NA that I can recall.
- Did I mention the turnovers?
- Ward was not composed for the first half of the game. Seems like Ottawa just wanted to throw everything at the net because Ward looked uncomfortable.
- Maybe not a major deal for one game, but Toews was great at the dot, AA was 50% and well...the rest got dominated hard. Schmaltz 21%, Kruger 25%, Johnson 17%.
- breadbag

Just looking at a couple of points. 2 points is very much appreciated, their heads are hung low today, but not as low as if they would have lost. Regroup and fix those mistakes. When we outshot our opp, we are outplayed or outscored. The first happened, but second could have happened. We don't drive the net, Ott did. We don't always get quality shots, Ott had plenty, off of turnovers. We didn't have redurections or defections, Ott did because they park in front of the net. Ott threw everything at Ward because they were trying to score. It helped due to all of the turnovers in our zone, they weren't tested and went up to Ward, shot the puck, and didn't pass like a bunch of perfect shot looking sissies. PP and PK were not that good. Systems need to change and axe the push em back entry. Team d got better as game progressed. Shots were down, especially quality shots for Ott. Ward got better as game went on too.

I would give the hawks as a whole a C some good things some bad. Yes its only one game lets see after this month where they are. This is just my observation but the hawks need 2 things another playmaking forward on the 3rd line and puckmoving d man, now whether joki can develop into that i guess we will see. Joki did not to bad and for god sakes take Kieth off the power play.

Two things need to change because the league is on to them:
-that stupid lazy drop pass on the PP. Opposing forwards are salivating in anticipation. They started to pick these off last season. Time to change that up.
-Schmaltz and his passes (100% of the time) on the 2 on 1's. Too easy to defend. He was fortunate that AA drew a penalty on the 2nd one.

Speaking of Anisimov, for all the heat he takes on blogs, I liked him in the pre-season and last night. Ruuta is invisible and to think that Moore was available for a few dollars more.

Mark Lazerus
‏
Q on Jokiharju: "I thought he was excellent. He had a tremendous game. All aspects of his game — his gap, his presence in the puck area, his decision-making offensively and defensively, supporting the attack. Looked like he’s played the game for a long, long time at this level."

quite the praise from clue for the young 19 year old..

I would give the hawks as a whole a C some good things some bad. Yes its only one game lets see after this month where they are. This is just my observation but the hawks need 2 things another playmaking forward on the 3rd line and puckmoving d man, now whether joki can develop into that i guess we will see. Joki did not to bad and for god sakes take Kieth off the power play.
- Scott1977

When Keith is on the PP, other teams are not defending his shot. They are defending other aspects of our PP. They want Keith to shoot because it gives them a chance for a puck turnover.

Two things need to change because the league is on to them:
-that stupid lazy drop pass on the PP. Opposing forwards are salivating in anticipation. They started to pick these off last season. Time to change that up.
-Schmaltz and his passes (100% of the time) on the 2 on 1's. Too easy to defend. He was fortunate that AA drew a penalty on the 2nd one.

Speaking of Anisimov, for all the heat he takes on blogs, I liked him in the pre-season and last night. Ruuta is invisible and to think that Moore was available for a few dollars more.
- 67hawks

Arty has been good, preseason and first game. Him, Toews, and Seabs all move smoother. Seabs just needs to work on his play.

In regards to Moore, just because someone was available doesn't mean they want to come and play for the hawks, for any amount of money.

I wonder if Kane and Saad's disinterest stems from Schmaltz's unwillingness to engage. It's like they know their shift isn't going anywhere until their center sells out to make a play.

It was encouraging to see stronger games out of Toews and Seabrook than we witnessed most of last season, though. Overall, I'm assuming the general sloppiness goes away a little as this team gels, but given the state of the defense, the entire season rides on Crawford's health.

Not sure, but they good.

I would make sure to dress the fastest lineup possible + make sure Ward (or Forsberg if healthy) are in net. Don't do that to poor Colin Delia.
- Justin Lowe

Indeed. No need to put the kid in front of the firing squad. Not yet at least.

12.

I have a good buddy who's a Leafs plus another one at the office.
- DarthKane

I see a Leaf sweater at every game I attend. Now that they're good, they'll out number the Nuck sweaters I'm sure.

My positive on the night was I thought Toews looked wayyy better then he has over the past couple of years. If Toews can keep up that play over the season I like the look of D-Cat & Toews being able to put up some solid numbers.

On the down side, it reminded me too much of many of the games last year....where the Hawks outshoot the foe....tonight was 43 to 25 or something....and yet, can't seem to deliver the solid victory that comes with that kind of shot domination. Seems last year many games like this ended in Hawk loses more that they should, and came close to that tonight.

Better test is Saturday, against the Blows. Let's hope we put in a solid effort and can show we can compete in our Division!!!
- hawk35

I still see a bit of a problem of too many perimeter shots with no one at - or going to - the net.

8 is a joke. He might have some skill as a winger, but he has no business at the Center position. And he is comically soft. You can tell he is afraid to go into traffic. We don't need another one of those types. DO NOT resign him. I'm sure he will somehow put up 20 goals and want his new 5x5 contract. No thanks. He needs to go.

8 is a joke. He might have some skill as a winger, but he has no business at the Center position. And he is comically soft. You can tell he is afraid to go into traffic. We don't need another one of those types. DO NOT resign him. I'm sure he will somehow put up 20 goals and want his new 5x5 contract. No thanks. He needs to go.
- z1990z

We need to re-sign Schmaltz. You do not let players like him go. My biggest fear though is that Bowman will over-pay him. If the team is losing, Bowman needs to play hardball with RFA's as I see other teams doing.

The good news is that I watched a lot of games over the last 2 days and many were sloppy, but..........

44 & 23 = really bad
20 = c'mon really?
Power Play = Looks like a high school PP from the 90's, back to point and fire it.

19 = encouraging

Oh well, 1-0, Go Hawks!