Justin Lowe: Westward Bound + Vancouver Primer The Hawks have landed in Vancouver and will take on the Canucks tonight. This will be the 1st of 3 games on their Western swing.

Last year, the Canucks owned the Hawks winning all 3 games:

@ Van on Dec 28th - 5-2
@ Van on Feb 1st – 4-2
@ Chi on Mar 22nd – 5-2

Woof. Not ideal.

Thanks for the good work Justin!

Hawks just HAVE to something with this PP. Last year it was not good, this year just awful. Toews seems to be net front, but way too much perimeter passing and shooting into blocked lanes (Yes, you Duncan...).

Need to be a 20+% power play if we want to compete with the BIG boys. Time to rev it up and pop in a good 2 for 4 or 3 for 5 night.

'Go Hawks!!!

Special teams are very important. Gotta have at least one of PP or PK in the Top 10 to be a serious contender.

Justin Lowe: Westward Bound + Vancouver Primer
The Hawks have landed in Vancouver and will take on the Canucks tonight. This will be the 1st of 3 games on their Western swing.

Last year, the Canucks owned the Hawks winning all 3 games:

@ Van on Dec 28th - 5-2
@ Van on Feb 1st – 4-2
@ Chi on Mar 22nd – 5-2

Woof. Not ideal.
- Justin Lowe

Awesome piece, JL.

It's funny to me in the faceoff department, that we have a 1.1 percentage better than the nucks, and that equates to 8 whole places.

I don't know what to expect from the hawks, a couple of losses, should have the fire, but with a couple of days off, usually slow and sloppy. We shall see...

Was Hagel signed because of talent, Highmore injured, or a little of column a and column b?

There are some good, young pieces on the Nucks, but I say Toews will find his scoring touch again this game. He's been effectively quiet. I'm hoping for some wins, as well as revenge, on this Canadian road trip. PP and PK need to get better, that with better team d are the improvements I will really look to see, those need to be fixed most of all.

Special teams are very important. Gotta have at least one of PP or PK in the Top 10 to be a serious contender.
- 35Tony0

I think the PK is more important, but on the other hand, if you don't have a good power play, other teams won't fear taking penalties as much, and they may grab and hook more, since they know the other team won't score on the PP.

having Seabs and DK on the PP at same time is a complete waste of time!!!

I have no idea what Jokiharju did to lose his spot on the PP??

I have no idea what Jokiharju did to lose his spot on the PP??
- EnzoD

where i sit, Gus and Joki s/b on the PP - DK is just awful

where i sit, Gus and Joki s/b on the PP - DK is just awful
- glennjpawlak22

Seabs is fine, he has a missile shot, DK, I agree, don't like him on the pp.

Amazing, isn't it?

Here's McDavid making Ryan Suter look like a Pylon last night. Yet another reason to marvel at the play of Jokiharju vs 97 on Sunday....28 is a (frank)ing stud!

https://youtu.be/WOfv4tItNG0

Justin with the logjam at not only with the hawks and the hogs in your best estimation is a trade going to occur, because I got to believe something is the works. If so what are the Hawks and hogs looking for specifically? Great work keep it going!!

Seabs is fine, he has a missile shot, DK, I agree, don't like him on the pp.
- I Am The Breadman

I like Seabrook on the PP, too, but not Keith. Jokiharju, Gustafsson, and Forsling (upon his return) are great options to QB.

Seabrook isn't a QB but, like you said, he has a great shot from the point. Just make sure if he's on a PP unit, that a speedy teammate joins him up high in case of a turnover and PK chance by the other team.

Need 2 of 3 on the western Canada swing, and it’s much easier if they get the 1st one.

Need 2 of 3 on the western Canada swing, and it’s much easier if they get the 1st one.
- scottak

Van is slowly building their talent, but to take advantage while they are down and injured will do a lot for the hawks confidence. Especially after 2 losses, one being dreadful.

I have no idea what Jokiharju did to lose his spot on the PP??
- EnzoD

Based on Q’s post-practice presser yesterday, he’s was worried about over-playing Joki and burning him out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back on th pp later in the season.

Here's McDavid making Ryan Suter look like a Pylon last night. Yet another reason to marvel at the play of Jokiharju vs 97 on Sunday....28 is a (frank)ing stud!

https://youtu.be/WOfv4tItNG0
- EnzoD

Joki would have poke checked the puck away from McJesus and hit Kane with a long pass for the goal.

Here's McDavid making Ryan Suter look like a Pylon last night. Yet another reason to marvel at the play of Jokiharju vs 97 on Sunday....28 is a (frank)ing stud!

https://youtu.be/WOfv4tItNG0
- EnzoD

And... #97 was 1:14 into his shift at that point. 21 year olds like him don't get tired that easily. Not many do that to Suter.

Don't sleep on Van. They are young and #40 looks like the real deal! I cant wait for Antoine Roussel to run around like a tool tonight. Maybe he and Hayden can have a tilt.

GO Hawks!

I have no idea what Jokiharju did to lose his spot on the PP??
- EnzoD

He is not Duncan Keith. Have to make sure Keith has his 2-3 goals and 30 assists.

It just shows how IGNORANT you are
- gazza53

That is not what I said. I've said how terrible that was. Obviously genius reading is fundamental. Having any type of political or religious conversations on a hockey blog is not acceptable. Like I said before we all come here to discuss Hawks or Hockey in general to get away from the nonsense that we call this world we live in. Get your facts straight before you reveal how IGNORANT you are.

Here's McDavid making Ryan Suter look like a Pylon last night. Yet another reason to marvel at the play of Jokiharju vs 97 on Sunday....28 is a (frank)ing stud!

https://youtu.be/WOfv4tItNG0
- EnzoD

Ryan Suter - if he is not holding or hacking, does nothing on the ice.

I have no idea what Jokiharju did to lose his spot on the PP??
- EnzoD

Just a guess - maybe they want to limit his TOI so when he does "hit the rookie wall", which is almost certain he will at some point, he won't hit it as hard. But, there's no excuse for not having Gus on PP#1 in a 1D4F format.

And... #97 was 1:14 into his shift at that point. 21 year olds like him don't get tired that easily. Not many do that to Suter.
- RickJ

Even the best get toasted once in a while. Suter lost his edge/balance for a brief moment and that was enough to give McJesus the time to get past him.

Ryan Suter - if he is not holding or hacking, does nothing on the ice.
- powerenforcer

I would guess that is a minority opinion. Like any player advancing in age he has slowed a little, but he is still a quality top pairing d-man.

The mantra of this board typically is how Charmin soft the Hawks D plays, but a guy who engages physically and "hacks and holds" is a bad thing? One mans "hacks and Hold" is anothers "put a body on someone and engage physically"