Justin Lowe: Hawks v. Blues – 5 Thoughts
It's Thanksgiving here in Canada (Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canucks), so I'll make this short as I'm off to spend time with the family.

The Hawks and Blues battle tonight at 8 pm EST.

Here are 5 quick thoughts leading up to the game tonight.

Le premier! God bless the Black'awks! River scrum shall be set ablaze by the righteous fury of real champions!

Good thoughts, Justin. Stl won't sit back like Ott did, especially after a big loss plus we heloped them not make the playoffs last year. Revenge game. I hope Toews keeps up with his resurgence, I hope Ward keeps up with his good play, and I hope Kane keeps up where he left off in ot. Beauty backhander.

Phuck the Blows....

Hawks better have a better over all effort tonight in all 3 zones, if not it could get really ugly

Go Hawks Go!!!

Does anyone know of an online stream/service where one can watch the full game at a later time?

I'm calling it now - 1st goalie win of the season. Ward will save them tonight.

Happy Thanksgiving Justin and family . Well this was how I thought the goaltending would shake out ,more masterminding buy the king Q . Throw Forsberg to the lions on his 1st start at the home opener ,after not playing for over a week ,Great move . Might as well destroy any confidence the kid got after his last pre season game ..

Hope the kid stands on his head ,he will have to against the leafs .. If not the home crowd will be ready to tar and feather the kid by the 2nd period .. Just stupid Q ..Time for a change

The Hawk pp gets no respect, with Keith doing most of the
shooting other teams can sit back comfortably knowing it
will hit shin pads and clear the zone.

Kane has to distribute more to Toews and Schmaltz has to make
himself available to a pass from Toews. Also Keith has to learn
how to pass to the Cat

So until each cog becomes a threat none will on their own.

One last item it was Boquist running the PP during the pre
season now it's Keith, preseason pp was good, reg season pp
like the one from last year, yes one game but not changing
your stripes after much lackluster performance is what Q does.

Does anyone know of an online stream/service where one can watch the full game at a later time?
- arps714

I use (and pay for) Rogers Gamecentre up here in Canada. It's good enough. Bad viewing experience but they own the NHL rights/half of Canada so i don't have much of a choice.

I'm not worried about Kane. He has looked super-fit and quick overall, not so much in game 1 so it makes sense that he was sick.

When will Forsling and Murphy be back?

Happy Thanksgiving Justin and family . Well this was how I thought the goaltending would shake out ,more masterminding buy the king Q . Throw Forsberg to the lions on his 1st start at the home opener ,after not playing for over a week ,Great move . Might as well destroy any confidence the kid got after his last pre season game ..

Hope the kid stands on his head ,he will have to against the leafs .. If not the home crowd will be ready to tar and feather the kid by the 2nd period .. Just stupid Q ..Time for a change
- oldduffman

Thanks Duffman.

Hey - I was at the Hawks/Leafs game last year and Forsberg was outstanding at times.

It will either be a huge confidence booster for him... or rattle his confidence.

Let's hope the Leafs aren't firing on all cylinders yet. Like I said, they didn't look that strong vs. MTL in their opener. Plus no Nylander yet helps the Hawks to play them at this point in the season.

Justin, was that speculation or did you hear Kane was a little under the weather in Ottawa?

When will Forsling and Murphy be back?
- matt_ahrens

I heard they are banking on Forsling to be back before Nov 1st.

Also heard, he may be plugged roght into the Hawks lineup if he looks good/how the defence looks at that point.

Murphy is more like mid-Decemeber.

I'm not worried about Kane. He has looked super-fit and quick overall, not so much in game 1 so it makes sense that he was sick.
- matt_ahrens

Me neither, Matt.

It was suprisinging to see though that he didn't bring it all game with it being the season opener.

Happy Thanksgiving Justin

Your positive vibes has been to the blog has been awesome and much appreciated. Keep up the good job!!!

Justin, was that speculation or did you hear Kane was a little under the weather in Ottawa?
- EbonyRaptor

Speculation but I honestly asked a couple contacts if he was sick. They weren't aware of anything.

Something looked off to me in his energy, body language and decision making.

Happy Thanksgiving Justin

Your positive vibes has been to the blog has been awesome and much appreciated. Keep up the good job!!!
- glennjpawlak22

Thanks Glenn!

I heard they are banking on Forsling to be back before Nov 1st.

Also heard, he may be plugged roght into the Hawks lineup if he looks good/how the defence looks at that point.

Murphy is more like mid-Decemeber.
- Justin Lowe

They really need both Murphy and Forsling back. I really hope Forsling can step up and become a consistent contributor this season.

quit kissing leaf ass Justin. They have 3 bloggers on here already if you include Tanner and probably a TON more in the closet on here. Lets tone it down a bit. I live in Hamilton and the parade route is being planned as we speak for the leafs. They have proven NOTHING! Hawks take em Sunday at the home opener. Tonight will be very tough but the hawks bounce back very nicely after a loss. In past years anyway.
Ill take a loss tonight and a win tomorrow on thanksgiving day please. Especially since ill be at my moms with about 10 leaf fans talking about how great they are. Hopefully I don't yak up my Pumpkin Pie. GO HAWKS!!! EFF THE LAFFS

I heard they are banking on Forsling to be back before Nov 1st.

Also heard, he may be plugged roght into the Hawks lineup if he looks good/how the defence looks at that point.

Murphy is more like mid-Decemeber.
- Justin Lowe

Happy Thanksgiving, Justin.

That would be great if Forsling was installed into the Hawks lineup soon after getting off the DL. If the version of Forsling we saw during the first half of his Hawks games last season with solid puckmoving and defense, then that would be a plus.

Although it would never happen, it would be ideal for Gustafsson and Forsling to QB the two PP units. Keith is a fixture no matter what so nobody is supplanting him.

Thanks Glenn!
- Justin Lowe

Justin. Tell us all about a typical Thanksgiving at the Lowe family. What's on the menu and TV?

I watched the Hogs season opener at Cleveland vs the Monsters (Jackets farm team) where they lost 4-1. A few notes:

Campbell, Schroeder, and Tyler Sikura are wearing the A's on the road. Broadhurst, Dahlstrom, and Highmore will wear the A's at home. No captain.

Lankinen was the starter and looked strong through 2 periods until he gave up a pair of goals during the 3rd. The 4th goal was an EN.

Berube started for the Monsters.

Both teams were a tad sloppy overall shaking off rust so not many players stood out on either side. Despite the sloppiness and end score, the Hogs were not thoroughly dominated by any means and no one player stood out in a really bad way.

Noel stood out the most. Not the most skilled but talk about sandpaper. Always in board battles, scrums, chirping matches. He agitated the Monsters so much that the other team wanted at him any chance they got. He did get in a fight where the first punch was square to his head knocking his helmet off but they eventually sparred equally and he had the take down.

Dylan Sikura was the 2nd most noticeable forward as he was flying on the forecheck (thought I'd see the same by Fortin but he was kind of unnoticeable). Sikura created a few scoring chances and had a few of his own but did not cash in. He also has a Schmaltz-like knack of getting the puck back near or at the offensive blueline to keep the puck moving towards the O zone.

Ejdsell really does have a nice set of hands compared to his wheels. He's also quite patient with the puck waiting for defenders to commit and looks for options before feathering passes to teammates in prime scoring areas. His set up to Highmore for the Hogs lone goal was a beauty.

New AHL rule that the team on the PP gets to choose which faceoff dot to start from. Isn't the AHL a testing ground for potential rules to consider and adopt in the NHL?

Thanks Duffman.

Hey - I was at the Hawks/Leafs game last year and Forsberg was outstanding at times.

It will either be a huge confidence booster for him... or rattle his confidence.

Let's hope the Leafs aren't firing on all cylinders yet. Like I said, they didn't look that strong vs. MTL in their opener. Plus no Nylander yet helps the Hawks to play them at this point in the season.
- Justin Lowe

I hope so ,would be nice for him to steal one from the leafs in the home opener .Would be a great confidence boost for the kid .Looks to my very wary eye like Q Is setting him up to fail .And at home on top of it ,trying to embarrass Stan . Maybe I should take off the tin foil hat lol

I have to agree with Thoroldbhawk not that you are kissing Leaf ass ,but that the leafs have done nothing .And cap hell is right around the corner .I to would trade a win tonight for one tomorrow .. Way to many overconfident Leaf fans in my zip code area ...GO HAWKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!