BS. It's a power play, so they are down a player and can't simply shadow one player the entire time. On the first one, it was a clean face-off win to the point. puck moves right to the top middle of the ice which the forward shadows. Puck immediately moves back to Laine - at the top of the circle - who immediately places it top corner far side.

Second one, Laine has the puck top of the circle and passes it to the point. The puck eventually gets to the right half board who immediately passes through the middle of the ice (Kampf comes within an inch of intercepting or deflecting it). Laine collects it, dusts it off, skates up a bit to the dot and wrists an insanely placed shot top corner short side (about a 4"X4" window). What should they have done differently on the play? Have one of the defenders simply stay with Laine the entire time?
- Chunk

That is what many suggested. To be fair, Konroyd was one of them.

How about just getting somewhere near the shooting lane, at least the same zip code
- BetweenTheDots

Zadorov did and the board female doged about him screening Lankanin.

So, Claude Julien is suddenly available. I remember when Laviolette was suddenly available and a bunch of posters were pining for JC to be fired and Lavy hired. You know, a real coach....

It is interesting that there hasn't been any posts about The Salad, who is also a real coach.
- mohel

Aren't they about ready for a change in Nashville, Vancouver, Detroit, Buffalo and maybe Calgary?

Zadorov did and the board female doged about him screening Lankanin.
- LAHawk

Here's a cheat sheet for you.....

If Zadorov did it, it was wrong.
If Murphy did it, it was wrong.
If Strome did it, it was right.
If Lanky did it, it was right.

Aren't they about ready for a change in Nashville, Vancouver, Detroit, Buffalo and maybe Calgary?
- RickJ

Maybe Columbus, too. Torts is never far from an implosion.

Here's a cheat sheet for you.....

If Zadorov did it, it was wrong.
If Murphy did it, it was wrong.
If Strome did it, it was right.
If Lanky did it, it was right.
- mohel

I think you messed up #3.

BS. It's a power play, so they are down a player and can't simply shadow one player the entire time. On the first one, it was a clean face-off win to the point. puck moves right to the top middle of the ice which the forward shadows. Puck immediately moves back to Laine - at the top of the circle - who immediately places it top corner far side.

Second one, Laine has the puck top of the circle and passes it to the point. The puck eventually gets to the right half board who immediately passes through the middle of the ice (Kampf comes within an inch of intercepting or deflecting it). Laine collects it, dusts it off, skates up a bit to the dot and wrists an insanely placed shot top corner short side (about a 4"X4" window). What should they have done differently on the play? Have one of the defenders simply stay with Laine the entire time?
- Chunk

Zadorov did and the board female doged about him screening Lankanin.
- LAHawk

Have we become a hive mind? Like the Borg Collective?

What do you mean zero expectations? No goalie, no Toews, Dach, Strome, Nylander, Shaw. Trade Saad for a stiff. Stan sucks at tanking, he is the worst GM ever, and JC isn't an NHL coach either.
- LAHawk

You left out 11teen rookies and Dinky and Kubalik can't skate with the puck.

With the way Vancouver is playing, and blowing a 3-0 lead to the Oilers, that Travis Green still has a job today, or Jim Benning too for that matter

Sure, but the "play" is the same:

*Really good player (right handed shot)* sets up on the left side either at the dot or above it and sets himself for a one-timer. All teams that play them know it's coming. Why don't they just stop it?

I'm not yelling at you, but I just find it funny that people can't seem to accept that there are certain uniquely talented players in the league who simply are insanely hard to stop.
- Chunk

See: "Hull, Robert, SLAP SHOT."

See: "Hull, Robert, SLAP SHOT."
- rpeters01

Or Toews shootout 5 hole?

I think you messed up #3.
- LAHawk

Nope, that's how it is for some.

Zadorov did and the board female doged about him screening Lankanin.
- LAHawk

Whatever Hawks win even though our defense sucked

Gee i sure hope JC can come up with a plan to put more pressure on Laine on the pk, oh that's right many are saying it's not possible, oh well, too bad so sad

Any update on Strome? He needs to get back soon. The offense has cratered without him.

Has he played enough games yet to qualify for the expansion draft?

Second game of watching Highmore and his 8 minutes of stupidity. Might as well go with 7 defenseman, then try to shelter 8 minutes worth of brain farts.

Whatever Hawks win even though our defense sucked

Gee i sure hope JC can come up with a plan to put more pressure on Laine on the pk, oh that's right many are saying it's not possible, oh well, too bad so sad
- BetweenTheDots

Oh for cripes sake, no one is saying that they can't play it better. The point being made is that good players are going to make plays regardless of how they are defended against. Also, shadowing a single player when on the PK is asinine. Can they play it better? Of course. Don't let them make cross-ice passes, or pressure the puck better, or a myriad of other options.

Those goals on the PK didn't come from in front of the net. After I give credit to a 50 goal scorer because that is what he does, i blame the top side forwards. Lets see what adjustments JC makes on the PK the next game.
- LAHawk

When did Laine score 50? You mean in his career? Because , yes he's done that.

Oh for cripes sake, no one is saying that they can't play it better. The point being made is that good players are going to make plays regardless of how they are defended against. Also, shadowing a single player when on the PK is asinine. Can they play it better? Of course. Don't let them make cross-ice passes, or pressure the puck better, or a myriad of other options.
- Chunk

I hear that in the next game, the Beer League Coach is going to launch a new man/zone hybrid on the PK. Two guys will surround Laine at all times; the remaining two Hawks will shut down the other four Jackets. Apparently this ingenious new scheme has never been tried before.

When did Laine score 50? You mean in his career? Because , yes he's done that.
- GPHawksfan

44 is his career high in 17-18, although he had five more in the playoffs. Does this exaggeration change the guy's point?

Theo thank you for pumping out daily blogs. Man do you ever sleep?. I'm glad this team won last night but it does feel like a loss of sorts. This team can't be giving up leads in the 3rd period. Have to keep the foot on the pedal and finish strong I hate 3 point games.

Oh yeah First....
- BGKarras

You bet, BGK.

I live on the West Coast so the time stamp on when the blog is posted is 3 hours ahead of when I do (HB is on EST) but I also have been working late for work.

The blog is actually finished earlier as I burn the midnight oil for work then post the blog before I hit the hay.

Nice to see how it’s bury one like that. One timer, textbook top cheddar.

But man that skating. How was his skating rated in his scouting report? It’s tough to watch at times.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

IIRC, Boqvist's skating wasn't an issue pre-draft and I've been re-watching highights of his year with London and his skating seemed fine. Fluid and agile.

Not sure what the issue may be. Could be confidence. Maybe added muscle and bulk as ChicagoHope suggested. Who knows.

I do like him rattling off shots as much as he can like he did last night. A player of his offensive caliber needs to get in a rhythm of activating and making dynamic plays whether passing and shooting.

In the last Detroit series, I noticed how the Wings were feeding one timers to Zadina as much as they could. Boqvist, Zadina, and other youngsters like them need to get into a groove to maximize their talents.

Sheesh. Relax guys. They won last night. A lot of good things are happening and some things need to be fixed.

That's hockey baby.

That is what many suggested. To be fair, Konroyd was one of them.
- mohel

Konroyd also called last night a goalie win. So, there is that.

Theo,

Have you seen anything about Niklas Nordgren, who was drafted after Boqvist. He is 5-9" 170 when drafted. Reportedly a talented wing who gets injured often. I Iooked at one prospect review a moment ago just to see a quick review. It said he is a boom or bust prospect.
- jhawk59

A brief add-on to what MjulQvist shared, Nordgren has been playing 1st line with the Pelicans in the Finnish elite league.

Nordgren just needs to stay healthy as a first step. He has skill and is still very young. Let him develop and see what happens. Hopefully at least one of he or Wise can break through as both have the same injury plague.