Well. That was interesting... in a good and surprising way.

I don't know if the Hawks could have been any better to today.

I will have a more in depth breakdown but kudos to Coach Colliton for having a great training camp and getting his crew ready for Game #1.

Maatta and Special K really struggled to get out of their own zone today. They need to be better.

Here are my takeaways.

The Hawks showed the best way to slow down the Oilers PP and that is by being very dangerous on the PP as well. Obviously they don't want to play with fire, but the work in camp on the PP looking like it helped.

Strome scoring the tying goal was HUGE. The Hawks got off to a decent pace and start, but that too many men penalty which turned into a 1-0 lead for Edmonton could have really sunk the team. Strome answering back with the niffy bank in, that was huge!

Glad to be wrong about Boqvist. I like him but was nervous about him playing on pair 1. He did well and I hope it continues because it really helps slot the other dmen.

Speaking of Dmen, there were good examples of what I said the other day about Keith. How many times did he hold the line? One the shot he made the Kubalik tipped in he held it in twice. It's one area where Keith is pretty much best on the team IMO.

Toews (The washed up guy) was there doing what we expect. Solid play from his line and pressure with speed and skill but also winning key draws. This was something I wondered going in, who will Edmonton put against Toews at the dot and they really don't have an counter.

This series is far from over. Crawford was a difference maker and I expect the Hawks will really have to weather a storm in game 2. Glad us fans got lots of goals.

Well. That was interesting... in a good and surprising way.

I don't know if the Hawks could have been any better to today.

I will have a more in depth breakdown but kudos to Coach Colliton for having a great training camp and getting his crew ready for Game #1.
- Tyler Cameron

They can kill a penalty or two. Clear the puck when they get a chance. 2 of the Oilers' PP goals came after guys failed to clear the puck when they had the chance.

Well. That was interesting... in a good and surprising way.

I don't know if the Hawks could have been any better to today.

I will have a more in depth breakdown but kudos to Coach Colliton for having a great training camp and getting his crew ready for Game #1.
- Tyler Cameron

They say in a best of 5, the game one winner wins the series 81% of the time.

Not sure that holds with all games in one place (even Edmonton) and no fans in the stands.

Edmonton doesn’t have to win 3 of 4 - they need to win game 2 to get it to a 3 game series.

It ain’t close to being over.

They say in a best of 5, the game one winner wins the series 81% of the time.

Not sure that holds with all games in one place (even Edmonton) and no fans in the stands.

Edmonton doesn’t have to win 3 of 4 - they need to win game 2 to get it to a 3 game series.

It ain’t close to being over.
- StLBravesFan

I thought I heard it was 87.5% something like 49/56 series. The series is far from over, but the Hawks kind of stole one on the road in terms of the last change and match ups, which does help them.

I think Edmonton will come out better and less sloppy with the puck in game 2. I wouldn't be surprised to see them slide Neal up into the top 6. IMO he always plays well against the Hawks and gets going on streaks when he starts scoring.

They say in a best of 5, the game one winner wins the series 81% of the time.

Not sure that holds with all games in one place (even Edmonton) and no fans in the stands.

Edmonton doesn’t have to win 3 of 4 - they need to win game 2 to get it to a 3 game series.

It ain’t close to being over.
- StLBravesFan

I’m shocked that you’re the one to remind everyone it’s not close to being over.

Didn’t see that coming at all.

I’m shocked that you’re the one to remind everyone it’s not close to being over.

Didn’t see that coming at all.
- SimpleJack

Ok - I’ll ask - meaning?

For a vast majority of the game the Hawks straight up spanked them.

Being 3 strong centers deep + Kamf killing time in the other end is kind of a thing. Dunno how they pay Dom. He's just out there living life a quarter mile at a time.

Wouldn't mind Sikura relieving Nylander and bumping El Gato to the Kane line. Talk about a black hole and turnover machine. The kid is clueless.

Nice to see them win and hopefully Monday is a good game as well.

Well. That was interesting... in a good and surprising way.

I don't know if the Hawks could have been any better to today.

I will have a more in depth breakdown but kudos to Coach Colliton for having a great training camp and getting his crew ready for Game #1.
- Tyler Cameron

Not so sure it was so surprising. From the blue line back the Oilers aren't very good and the speed of the Hawks forwards will give them big trouble every game.

Stay out of the penalty box and they are no worse than even money to win this series.

I agree with the sentiment here congrats to the hawks. I thought boqvist, maatta , koekko and nylander and cat all seemed a bit disappointing.

Nylander imo clearly doesn't do anything to compliment kane maybe cat gets moved up and see if that helps cat. Boqvist maybe it was his inexperience but he seemed a bit shaky.


Maatta needs to stop taking dumb penalties.

Crawford with limited time to get back into the groove he held up hopefully he gets stronger if the hawks end up advancing.


I liked toews not playing in front of the net that seemed to create more scoring chances for him

Power play looked good ok needs to tighten up a bit but overall it's a win

I agree with the sentiment here congrats to the hawks. I thought boqvist, maatta , koekko and nylander and cat all seemed a bit disappointing.

Nylander imo clearly doesn't do anything to compliment kane maybe cat gets moved up and see if that helps cat. Boqvist maybe it was his inexperience but he seemed a bit shaky.


Maatta needs to stop taking dumb penalties.

Crawford with limited time to get back into the groove he held up hopefully he gets stronger if the hawks end up advancing.


I liked toews not playing in front of the net that seemed to create more scoring chances for him

Power play looked good ok needs to tighten up a bit but overall it's a win
- Taylorst1

You named 3 of the 6 defensemen as “a bit disappointing.

They allowed only 34 SAT and 17 SOG 5x5.

How bad could they have been?

I agree with the sentiment here congrats to the hawks. I thought boqvist, maatta , koekko and nylander and cat all seemed a bit disappointing.

Nylander imo clearly doesn't do anything to compliment kane maybe cat gets moved up and see if that helps cat. Boqvist maybe it was his inexperience but he seemed a bit shaky.


Maatta needs to stop taking dumb penalties.

Crawford with limited time to get back into the groove he held up hopefully he gets stronger if the hawks end up advancing.


I liked toews not playing in front of the net that seemed to create more scoring chances for him

Power play looked good ok needs to tighten up a bit but overall it's a win
- Taylorst1

Bovquist was better as the game went on and ripped some nice shots from the point. At least he looks like he knows what he should be doing even if it doesn't get there. Nylander is just baaaaaaad.

I had to listen to the game on Sirus forcing me to the Home feed. The color announcer Bob Stauffer whined, female dogged and moaned for over 2 periods on an alleged missed call on one of the Hawks D against McJesus. At one point when the HAwks were up by 4 this guy had the stones to say that missed call was the difference in the game. FML! those guys in general should be nominated for the NHL Homer of the year award.

Hawks played great and Kane was very average!! Positive sign, because if 88 gets it cranked up the Hawks could really surprise some people, including me!! The Toews-Saad-Kubalik line reminds me so much of Toews-Saad-Hossa line, big strong fast guys that are very hard to take the puck from. Also, Dach is going to be an absolute BEAST, love his all-around game!! Boqvist is going to be a stud as well. Very encouraging Game 1, but got to be focused on Monday as well!!

You named 3 of the 6 defensemen as “a bit disappointing.

They allowed only 34 SAT and 17 SOG 5x5.

How bad could they have been?
- StLBravesFan

And that penalty call on Maatta wasn't a penalty but they still have to kill the penalties, every goal was with a man advantage

Bovquist was better as the game went on and ripped some nice shots from the point. At least he looks like he knows what he should be doing even if it doesn't get there. Nylander is just baaaaaaad.
- fattybeef

Nylander really only had one bad turnover, DCat was worse fwiw

Before the Oil's second goal, the Hawks had a D zone draw, and Colliton sent out 4th line and 3rd pair. This led to a penalty and subsequent PPG after they chased their own tails in the D zone. What was the thinking here?

They say in a best of 5, the game one winner wins the series 81% of the time.

Not sure that holds with all games in one place (even Edmonton) and no fans in the stands.

Edmonton doesn’t have to win 3 of 4 - they need to win game 2 to get it to a 3 game series.

It ain’t close to being over.
- StLBravesFan

Sure but if whichever goalie is in net and the Oil give up a couple of quick goals, this series will be over quick since Crawford having Covid and hardly any time to practice is better than either 1 of their goalies

Nylander really only had one bad turnover, DCat was worse fwiw
- BetweenTheDots

No. Nylander had several that were bad. The kids blade is where plays go to die.

DCat just chased around and dug on the boards which isn't something you want him doing. He has a +40 goal season which does count for something even if he has been off this year.

Hawks still have a long ways to go in this series, but I also like they get the matchups they want when they get “home ice” as well. The Captain and Keith are going to make life hell on good old #97!!

An ode to our favorite 3rd line center

https://theathletic.com/1...-blackhawks/?redirected=1

Well. That was interesting... in a good and surprising way.

I don't know if the Hawks could have been any better to today.

I will have a more in depth breakdown but kudos to Coach Colliton for having a great training camp and getting his crew ready for Game #1.
- Tyler Cameron

At some point can you do a blog on Kubalik + Strome's upcoming contracts?

Who stays and who goes? Price?

Does anybody know, do these games and points count for a players career playoff games played and playoff points?

At some point can you do a blog on Kubalik + Strome's upcoming contracts?

Who stays and who goes? Price?
- RedRevenge

Would say Strome, as Dach can move into the 2nd line pivot spot. Would like to keep both, don’t know if that is possible though. Love our center depth of Toews, Strome and Dach, however hard to keep great depth in a salary cap world.