A quick blog from 39,000 feet somewhere over Lake Erie.
RANDOM SHOTS:
- The Hawks saw what happens last night when you take your foot off the pedal. But better to get that reminder now than a couple of weeks hence.
- Marian Hossa's injury is not supposed to be serious at all. Good news there.
- Terrific game by Kris Versteeg last night, especially because he was looking to pass first most of the night.
- Antti Niemi was not great last night. He was OK, and I thought he struggled a bit more as the night went on. Then again, all goalies have off nights, and his are outnumbered by his on nights. Will be interesting to see if Joel Quenneville gets Cristobal Huet a start in Colorado, as I strongly suspect Niemi will face Detroit in the season finale.
- Speaking of which, it's looking less and less like the Hawks will face Detroit in Round 1. The more likely opponents for the Evil Red Menace are either Phoenix or Vancouver. In my mind, Vancouver will present a much tougher test for the Wings. In fact, with home ice, I would pick Vancouver in that series.
(ahhh, back over dry land: Erie PA)
- if there's an aspect of the Hawks' game that's still lacking, it's their power play. Puck movement is not there and it seems to be stemming from the lack of a true PP quarterback. Will Kim Johnsson return in time to spark the man advantage for the playoffs? Right now, it doesn't look promising.
And in that case, Quenneville might need to experiment a bit, with either Marian Hossa and/or Jonathan Toews seeing some time on the point. Both have played effectively there before in their respective careers.
(Forty minutes from landing at JFK, time to shut it down.)
Thanks for reading,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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