I never said anything like that, but it does seem like you ignored everything else I said and focused on one sentence, so I understand the confusion.
- -Ava-

If so, my apologies.

Just saying, if Emery can't be #1, then the FO made a HUGE error re-signing him over any of a dozen or so available bacjkups because #1's get hurt, go into funks, etc all the time.

If he can't handle the job (and aside from the recent injury, there's been no indication he can't), then shame on them.

I have NO IDEA how his hip is or if he'll be able to play. But I have seen nothing this year (at least) to tell me he can't play and play well if he's healthy.

Thanks John, that was really tough to stomach yesterday.

Can't understand the "let's throw our sticks on the ice and they'll simply collapse cause we're the Blackhawks" attitude.

We (finally) see maybe one of the best, clean, hard_separate_the_puck_from_the_puck_carrier_hits from Nik Hjalmarsson yesterday and then he must have gotten a good "talking to" by the coaching staff between periods in front of everyone.

What other excuse could there be? Instead of Nik's "hammer" of Parise (which was simply great BTW -- can we have more of that please?!) being the thing the staff holds up to the rest of the team and says, we want the rest of you guys doing this to their guys, especially Koivu, Suter and Parise -- they must have said, "oh no, can't get yourself out of position by doing that, just use your stick next time to poke check 'em."

I don't know, from my time playing competitive check hockey, getting hit and especially dishing out a big hit was the thing that got me and my teammates stoked to dish out more. What an adrenalin rush! It should be something that fuels the guys -- my guess is, it did -- and the staff took the wind out of their sails.
- savvyone-1

Parise is a tough bird, because he was definitely feeling that one for a while on the bench. I want to see some guys going hard to the net (looking at you Saad, Stalberg, Bickell)

Grt points Al....but the AntiCraw crowd will never buy it. The play was down low..he was down low in a crouch defending the post...the puck got out along the goal line to his stick side and a seeing eye roof shot got behind his back and the post as he could not react fast enough to get more upright on that play.
- bogiedoc

Respect u Bogie...but there is no rational defense of that goal. NONE.

Wasn't sure if anyone saw this, but I think this emobdies the fact that the Canucks are well and truly phucked.

Wasn't sure if anyone saw this, but I think this emobdies the fact that the Canucks are well and truly phucked.


- prd797

wow, typical bush league canucks. they deserve every bit of what they're getting.

Let me name a few from this year's playoffs so far - J. Quick; Carey Price; MA Fleury; E. Nabokov; J.Reimer; C.Schneider.
- RickJ

Exactly and given a choice between Fleury and Crawford the past two playoffs....I take Crawford.

Today's article

Chicago Blackhawks get deserved loss to Wild 3-2 in OT - MY FOX CHICAGO; http://bit.ly/18pnVwV

wow, typical bush league canucks. they deserve every bit of what they're getting.
- Sconnie

What's the real kicker is that after Henrik went to the box, Couture turned around and scored on the PP. Imagine that, a PP that actually produces when the other team decides to rough up top players

Wasn't sure if anyone saw this, but I think this emobdies the fact that the Canucks are well and truly phucked.


- prd797

Bertuzzi II.

Intent to injure. Using your stick as a weapon. If he isn't suspended (or expelled) from the league, then anything should go. No reason to have refs or Shannascam in the league.

Yup. It's as obvious as the Dennis Gentry draw play on 3rd and long.
- Ogilthorpe2

.....nice reference

We let Bickell off the hook for not putting the puck deep when his defensemen are changing? We let Oduya off the hook for backhanding that puck to Zucker? But we bury Crow for an untimely goal in a game that should have been 5-2?

Hawk nation at it's finest.
... I doubt that needs the sarcasm font.

Any puck getting past the goalie from the goal line extended is a mistake. If I'm Q, the next time we go to OT, Crawford grabs some pine.

Craw + OT = mental midget.
- Ogilthorpe2

OK. So you want Emery who is even worse from side to side movement. Got it.

wow, typical bush league canucks. they deserve every bit of what they're getting.
- Sconnie

Who is that swinging the stick?

TKON
Do you really think Crawford was in the correct position there? Why isn't he on his skates hugging the post? I don't think this goal is on him however. To me it starts when Shaw takes the wrong angle, Oduya is stick waving and we have 3 guys down low pretty much doing nothing. Stalberg has responsibility for what's behind him on D pinching and the middle to me. Where that guy went to shoot was a crazy angle. If Shaw and Oduya do their jobs, I don't think it gets to the shooter. So I don't think this is all on Crawford. But I also don't think he was where he needed to be in position.
- ilinkhawk

Fair enough and valid points. To me, that's how all goalies these days play the behind the net situation and that play happened so fast he had no time to even get up and hug it. Who knows...if he was standing they could have gone low glove side.

OK. So you want Emery who is even worse from side to side movement. Got it.
- TKON

I hear this side to side movement thing, but it is totally subjective, and I think maybe a little driven by an assumption based on his injury. Is he slower side to side than he used to be? Absolutely. But he is a different style goalie now, much better positionally and in terms of angles taken.

And I'm sorry TKON, the guy is mentally tough as nails. Corey? Dunno . . .

Here is what I know:

1. 0 for 3 Sunday on the power play with ZERO shots on goal, and 1 for 28 since March 25th.

2. Gave up 40 shots on goal.

3. Crawford was the only guy who showed up yesterday.
- Return of the Roar

He didn't ? You've been spoiled by watching Kipper FADE AWAY for the last decade.

Why the PHUCK is he on his knees ?

And why the PHUCK is he not hugging the post like he's supposed to be doing ?
- philco28

Supposed to be? Name a goalie that stands up when the puck is behind the net these days? Did you have a chance to take a look at my blog I posted? It explains it all from a different perspective.

We let Bickell off the hook for not putting the puck deep when his defensemen are changing? We let Oduya off the hook for backhanding that puck to Zucker? But we bury Crow for an untimely goal in a game that should have been 5-2?

Hawk nation at it's finest.
... I doubt that needs the sarcasm font.


- nathanjf

You play the same rhetoircal game others do. It's either/or.

No it's isn't.

How protected has little Corey been playing behind this defense throughout his career and especially this year? Quite a f---ing bit.

The point is, even the best defense in the league, which, night in and night out, this year's Hawks are, will give up chances.

The goalie must make the easy saves and especially in OT. Period.

We let Bickell off the hook for not putting the puck deep when his defensemen are changing? We let Oduya off the hook for backhanding that puck to Zucker? But we bury Crow for an untimely goal in a game that should have been 5-2?

Hawk nation at it's finest.
... I doubt that needs the sarcasm font.


- nathanjf

Selective reading at its finest.

I think that almost everyone here commented on the plays you refer to, as well as the total lack of commitment by the 18 skaters.

Saw your blog, also agreed and disagreed, but all good and good of you to check in.
- John Jaeckel

Thanks Johnny

Here is what I know:

1. 0 for 3 Sunday on the power play with ZERO shots on goal, and 1 for 28 since March 25th.

2. Gave up 40 shots on goal.

3. Crawford was the only guy who showed up yesterday.
- Return of the Roar

Think they finished the season with two straight games of 2 goals on the PP.

Supposed to be? Name a goalie that stands up when the puck is behind the net these days? Did you have a chance to take a look at my blog I posted? It explains it all from a different perspective.
- TKON

Lunqvist still stands up on those, but you are right - the tactics have changed a bit given the volume of wraparounds that can squeak through if that opposite leg is not flat on the ice in preparation.

You play the same rhetoircal game others do. It's either/or.

No it's isn't.


- John Jaeckel

i think the play was on all of them. all of them. and that's what i think the problem is with your blog today, JJ. you talk about Corey and don't mention the mishaps by Shaw/Oduya/Rozival/Bickell

I don’t find bullsh!t made up comments about anyone’s private life to be humorous. Do you?
- paulr

Those are the best ones!

Worried about the baby looking like Seabs was classic.

I hear this side to side movement thing, but it is totally subjective, and I think maybe a little driven by an assumption based on his injury. Is he slower side to side than he used to be? Absolutely. But he is a different style goalie now, much better positionally and in terms of angles taken.

And I'm sorry TKON, the guy is mentally tough as nails. Corey? Dunno . . .
- John Jaeckel

Agreed Emery is fundamentally better overall from what he used to be which is incredible after what he's gone through.

What people forget is that Emery lets in bad goals, too. I believe he's been yanked more than Crawford this year. ( Don't quote me on that). Either way, Emery isn't even an option right now so unless some want an Icehog goalie in there they'd better suck it up a bit on Crawford .

Maybe a couple playoff series wins for Crawford will allow the Hawks nation to restore or at least have a little faith in him but I doubt it.

i think the play was on all of them. all of them. and that's what i think the problem is with your blog today, JJ. you talk about Corey and don't mention the mishaps by Shaw/Oduya/Rozival/Bickell
- dr_boloney

I think in fairness to JJ, he has admitted as much during the discussion.