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"Not So Bad" Is Not Good Enough For The Hawks....Yet |
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After watching a complete form reversal with Friday night’s victory in Columbus it caused me to wonder. I was questioning whether the inverse performance from one game to the next at a critical time of the Season was just a part of this particular Hawk team make-up. I also began to question how a group could be so lifeless one night and so dominate the next.
I reflected and realized that there are a lot of reasons for the sporadic performances. Most importantly I concluded that in the big picture the Hawks have performed more consistently and have accomplished a better record than many other teams fighting for the last Playoff spot in the Western Conference. It also should be understood that no team battling for Post Season play has done well enough in the last few weeks to separate themselves from the others.
The last 10 games have been of great importance and the remaining contests will carry even more significance. In comparison the Hawks have had a better record in the last ten games than the Canucks, Preds, Coyotes and Blue Jackets. The only teams on the Playoff bubble who have achieved more points in their last 10 games are the Av’s, Flames , Wild and the Oilers.
Many teams have had injuries to deal with as have the Hawks. Sopel, Havlat and Khabibulin are key injuries and there have been a few others. Another factor that should be realized is that considering the nine Clubs still clinging to a Playoff fight in the Western Conference only Phoenix and Edmonton has a younger average team age than the Hawks.
In comparison to just those Clubs in the Central Division the Hawks and Detroit both have attained the highest point total in their last 10 battles. No team in the Central has been able to accumulate more than 11 points in their last 10 games. Speaking of the Central the Blues got a few key injuries and a tougher schedule recently as they have sunk faster than a deck chair thrown off the Titanic. I am sure Hawk Management is hopeful that their boys can sustain enough energy so they don’t finish the Season in a death spiral.
My new found realization concerning the results achieved by the Hawks were better than I originally thought. The point total is not as good as many Hawks fans would have hoped for but in comparison to their competition not too bad. Of the nine teams considered to still have a hope for Post Season play only the Hawks and 4 others have accumulated more wins than losses in their last 10 games played. Many teams including the Hawks can’t get any traction to pull away from the pack. The issue of concern for the Hawks is that they started out behind and are still so as time is running out.
All the more experienced Coaches and Gm’s of the Canucks, Preds, Coyotes and Jackets have had more difficulty rallying their Clubs for the crucial stretch drive than has the tandem of Savard and Tallon. The out come of the Hawks final 10 scheduled contests still has to be determined and they could still wind up worse than any of the other 8 teams fighting for Playoff spots.
My recent conclusion doesn’t mean that the Hawks are a stronger Club than any of the others mentioned as I couldn’t say that yet. As of right now the facts are the facts. The Hawks haven’t been as good as was needed in the last few weeks, but in comparison to others….”not so bad”. The real issue is that “not so bad” will not assure them a Playoff birth for this Season.
The expectation level of Hawk fans has been raised a lot already. They don’t care that the Western Conference is extremely difficult, their focus is on results.
Some random thoughts on the last 2 games…
Although the Hawks were completely lifeless and helpless during much of the Canes game… I still have a hard time viewing Carolina as a strong Playoff Club. I give them high marks as any team who is ranked mid pack on the Power Play and last in Penalty Killing and is still 1st in their Division deserve some praise. I don’t know how they do it but they have the record to prove their achievements. Regardless the Canes have a good goalie and a fine Coach and deserve the credit for what they have achieved. From a distance they are a tough group for me to figure but Samsonov has been great and Ruutu should help them down the stretch also.
If the Hawks don’t capture lightning in a bottle for the last 10 games their Playoff absence will have many causes, none less significant than their dismal Power Play. The Hawks have moved up a couple of spots since the return of Williams and are now ranked 26th in the NHL. That isn’t good enough and their PP will have to continue to improve.
I liked the new line combinations that Savard used in Columbus for a couple of reasons. I think primarily he felt that things needed to be shaken up after the Canes loss. I do think that Bolland can develop into a very good 2nd line Center. I also think that Toews will get more ice time and more 1st line minutes than Bolland in most games. It was apparent that Toews needed a little break as Bolland had about 4 more minutes of ice time Friday night. That increase was also because Bolland is a very good penalty killer and Toews was not out there that much on the PK.
The other reason I liked the line combos in the Jackets game was because Sharp goes back to wing. The Hawks are a better team when he doesn’t have to play center. The Hawks would also be a better off if Bolland could be more consistent at the Dot. A 29% success rate just won’t cut it on most nights although it didn’t matter against the Jackets.
I also think that Bourque deserves a chance to play with a skillful center as his role still needs to be defined. Rene has been more physical this year and I feel he will be able to score more with some skillful line mates.
I was very impressed with Ladd’s performance. He played the way I always hoped Ruutu would, physical but still as an offensive threat. If Ladd can come up with the same type of effort he had against the Jackets only 80% of the time, the Hawks will have acquired a very good big winger.
Lalime was strong against Columbus and although the Hawks controlled much of the play he was the big difference.
When Lalime has a good game most of the defenders also sparkle and that was the case on Friday night. It was nice to see Barker look more aggressive and add some points to
his total.
Hendry was a +3… Where would the Hawks be without this guy?
Sopel might be back on Sunday, if not very soon. That will mean that Hjalmarsson will probably be sent back to Rockford. He was guilty of a few wrong decisions no doubt but as a 20 year old defender he does show a lot of potential.
Keith has been unbelievable this Season. He is the only player to rank in the top 10 defensemen in plus minus who is not on a true Playoff team. This year Duncan is also showing an added touch of offense. I know that I take him for granted too often… he is a special player.
Kane is a special player also and has really stepped on the gas in the last 10 games. When Kane learns to hit the net from 20-25 feet out with his wrist shot, the sky will be limit for the young guy. When that improvement happens the Hawks Power Play will greatly benefit also. Right now the defenders over play Kane to pass so when he starts to shoot and score that will have to change.
In many ways it is amazing that both Kane and Toews are as good as they are now so late in the Season. They had a busy summer and most rookies usually tail off in their last 20 games but these two young men keep bringing it.
The Playoffs will be very difficult to achieve this year no doubt. Before getting too disappointed remember how this Hawk team compares to many of their peers. The challenge for the Hawks next year will be to distance themselves from their Western Conference foes so the Playoffs will be a reality.
A win against the Flames today is needed as no home contest or any game from now on can be squandered. The fans have grown accustom to expecting wins just being close to competitors is not enough now.
What a difference a year makes.
Al’s Shots
The Coach of the Rockford IceHogs should be up for Magician of the Year honors. The Hawks have used 18 different well schooled IceHog players this Season. Rockford is still among the top 5 teams in the AHL’s Western Conference…well done Mike Haviland.
The Hawks are still 7 points behind for the 8h place spot in the Western Conference. They will have to win at least 8 of the 10 remaining games and then hope for a lot of luck.
Even though no one appears as dominate as they need to be in this Playoff fight, time is not on the side of the Hawks.
Big question for Savard today…Will Khabby start in goal? If ready I think so, as he has had a great record versus the Flames.
Williams felt dizzy in the 3rd Period versus the Jackets and did not play, hopefully he will be back in action today.
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