That goal was on #27. He was supposed to switch sides with Keith and left Mcjesus wide open in front of the net.

Both teams were pretty bad IMO, and there were a ton of fluke goals.
I expect a better effort tonight from the Hawks.

I am amazed how Leon has been a non factor. If I didn't know who he was, I would guess hes just an avg player.
- Boisy12

A lot of talk about a lack of communication on the ice and bench last game: could have been a factor.

Carolina is proving that with a strong defense, you don't need a superstar goaltender to win.

That goal was on #27. He was supposed to switch sides with Keith and left Mcjesus wide open in front of the net.

Both teams were pretty bad IMO, and there were a ton of fluke goals.
I expect a better effort tonight from the Hawks.

I am amazed how Leon has been a non factor. If I didn't know who he was, I would guess hes just an avg player.
- Boisy12

You can thank one Kirby Dach for that. IMHO there's a Selke in his future.

Being as bad or worse than the Red Wings is hard to imagine but I get your point.

The OilCans are beatable but not if the Hawks can't kill a penalty or score on their own PP's.
- RickJ

hawks can't win giving 1 or more PP goals/game. With a team cashing in at 30% on the pp...you just can't go to the box but that's kinda hard to do...

they must win the 5v5 like they did or gme 1 and control the pace...

Colliton continues his long history of questionable decisions.

My biggest disappointment was, as tough the start was, they were able to claw themselves back to a 3-3 tie with 4 minutes left in the 2nd period. They had a chance to win a game they didn't deserve. And they didn't step up, collectively.
- scottak

that neal goal after craw screwup really hurt...they still got 6 min of pp after that but oil was a shot blocking machine and just would not yield

boy do they need a big game from crow and a few others...to state the obvious

Carolina is proving that with a strong defense, you don't need a superstar goaltender to win.
- LAHawk

Too bad the Hawks don’t have a strong defense, or a mediocre defense, or an adequate defense.

boy do they need a big game from crow and a few others...to state the obvious
- bogiedoc

As the old saying goes - their best players need to be their best players.

Too bad the Hawks don’t have a strong defense, or a mediocre defense, or an adequate defense.
- DarthKane

We would be up 2-0 if Sikura was playing and Joki had not been traded.

Carolina is proving that with a strong defense, you don't need a superstar goaltender to win.
- LAHawk

All those guys are super mobile too. They have some big dudes but they all play fast and "small". Kind of like the complaints about Saad except they're on the blue line. They will only be better when Hamilton comes back.

It should also be noted that the Rangers are a pretty abysmal team and in the middle of a rebuild. And the Canes are a 1 line team for the most part and are going to have issues against teams that have a competent shutdown line on the other side.

Speaking of terrible teams the Penguins are 1-1 with a dreadful Montreal team.

Too bad the Hawks don’t have a strong defense, or a mediocre defense, or an adequate defense.
- DarthKane

I think their players are NHL average for sure. Them chasing all over the place like a bunch of 5 year olds playing soccer is kind of a problem.

With the players the Hawks have they should be "packing the box" instead of whatever nonsense they have been doing. Especially with the parity across the league. They'd be in the middle third of the league as a team defense instead of the bottom by a margin.

But, if they can sustain some pressure like they did in GM1 they could still get a good result. If they're chasing the game again and look disorganized then it'll be problematic.

I'll also agree that starting Quenville and changing up a power play that was absolutely lethal the first game seemed a bit silly. Way too much over thinking there (how can Tippet be in his head after one freakin game and a game they handily won at that) and a baffling decision with not bringing in Skiura or literally anyone else to fill that spot. A 7th defender would have been better.

Carolina is proving that with a strong defense, you don't need a superstar goaltender to win.
- LAHawk

Why cuz they beat the Rangers? Let’s see how far they can actually advance and how they look against some of the Eastern elite.

boy do they need a big game from crow and a few others...to state the obvious
- bogiedoc

Crawford and the top paring(Keith-Boqvist) are gonna have to bounce back. Those are the 3 I’ll be looking at most closely. If they all have good performances then I like our chances.

Still conflicted.....

Am I cheering for a few wins, thinking they have a low chance of actually “winning the cup”....

Or the potential for the 1st overall, no lesser than 9th.....

Conflicting.......

We would be up 2-0 if Sikura was playing and Joki had not been traded.
- rpeters01

From the preview on the Blackhawk website:

During the regular season, the Oilers were 29-7-3 (.744) when scoring first in a game, but 8-18-6 (.250) when allowing the first goal.

By contrast, the Blackhawks were 20-7-5 (.625) when scoring first and 12-23-3 (.316) when allowing the first tally.

Carolina is proving that with a strong defense, you don't need a superstar goaltender to win.
- LAHawk

Just a super star forward like Aho who can get the puck tom anyone and can score and play dee at 5 9...

We would be up 2-0 if Sikura was playing and Joki had not been traded.
- rpeters01

And some Brandon Bollig for a little grit.

From the preview on the Blackhawk website:

During the regular season, the Oilers were 29-7-3 (.744) when scoring first in a game, but 8-18-6 (.250) when allowing the first goal.

By contrast, the Blackhawks were 20-7-5 (.625) when scoring first and 12-23-3 (.316) when allowing the first tally.
- scottak

So you're (your) telling me the Hawks should score first?

So you're (your) telling me the Hawks should score first?
- bhawks2241

I just prefer they score most. There are not going to be any style points with this team as is. There are very few "in between" players. They have a lot of vets and a lot of guys with little to no experience.

We would be up 2-0 if Sikura was playing and Joki had not been traded.
- rpeters01

I will agree that we would have put out a better line up
But I cannot go out on a limb to say they would have made a difference between winning and loosing.

Since we made that trade, i am being positive : hoping Nylander becomes a legitimate scorer and responsible checker

And some Brandon Bollig for a little grit.
- Rota's Rooter

Should have signed Buff end of "last season" when Winnipeg cut him lose.

I will agree that we would have put out a better line up
But I cannot go out on a limb to say they would have made a difference between winning and loosing.

Since we made that trade, i am being positive : hoping Nylander becomes a legitimate scorer and responsible checker
- jhawk59

It was a red font post.

Should have signed Buff end of "last season" when Winnipeg cut him lose.
- rpeters01

So he could quit on us?

Last blog there was talk about trading Strome and for whom?

On the trade deadline when the rumor was the Hawks had traded for Sorokin from the Islanders, on their blog a lot of them said it had to start with Strome.

Would you be willing to make that trade? Sorokin for Strome? Add a 2nd or 3rd? Sorokin is signed for 2020-21 for $2,000,000 and then will be a RFA.

The Isles don't have a 1st or 2nd round pick in the upcoming draft either.