It's just so frustrating to watch the powerplay and penalty kill. They never do anything to change them, but because of the talent they must believe it naturally will get better. It isn't.
- Gasboy

The PK was outstaning tonight until that 3rd goal....even scored a shorty....seems like forever ago!!

He was talking about the Oil double shifting Gagner and company late, trying to run up thir individual point totals instead of rolling all four lines like most teams would win a big lead.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well regaurdless Ogi I think I agree with you......there is no Q in Blackhawks. He led us to where we are now and it's time to find a coach to take this orginization to where it needs to be.

I say we focus the rest of this year on being more consistent. Forget about playoffs or the Cup, it ain't happening if the team continues like this. Think about who you want next year.

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Sharp-?Kruger?-Hossa
Shaw-Bolland-?Hayes?
?-Mayers-?

Keith-Seabrook
Leddy-?
Hammer-Montador

Emery
Crawford

If you can drop Monty or Crow, you should do it I think, but I doubt you drop them easily. I don't think even Tallon will help us with Crow. I think Leddy develops and stays on the second pairing. Hammer just isn't a top 4 defender. He makes more sense as a 5 to me. Yes he blocks a lot of shots, but he plays small, and stick checks, brings little to no offense(if not negative, he always dumps or circles back, its infuriating). Maybe he can play his way back into my good graces we'll see.

Kruger a lazy ass bystander on one of the goals tonight. The kind of laziness that Kane routinely gets destroyed for on ths blog (like yesterday)...but he's not a spoiled rich kid, so I doubt anyone cares.
- Ogilthorpe2

Was it on any of the goals 1 through 5? After that I could care less.

I say we focus the rest of this year on being more consistent. Forget about playoffs or the Cup, it ain't happening if the team continues like this. Think about who you want next year.

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Sharp-?Kruger?-Hossa
Shaw-Bolland-?Hayes?
?-Mayers-?

Keith-Seabrook
Leddy-?
Hammer-Montador

Emery
Crawford

If you can drop Monty or Crow, you should do it I think, but I doubt you drop them easily. I don't think even Tallon will help us with Crow. I think Leddy develops and stays on the second pairing. Hammer just isn't a top 4 defender. He makes more sense as a 5 to me. Yes he blocks a lot of shots, but he plays small, and stick checks, brings little to no offense(if not negative, he always dumps or circles back, its infuriating). Maybe he can play his way back into my good graces we'll see.
- Walky

I am 100% convinced that is on Q and the way he wants all of his D-men to play.

Kruger a lazy ass bystander on one of the goals tonight. The kind of laziness that Kane routinely gets destroyed for on ths blog (like yesterday)...but he's not a spoiled rich kid, so I doubt anyone cares.
- Ogilthorpe2

So was the rest of the team. Difference is Kruger also crashed the net, literally ran the goalie, and won board battles on his own against two Oilers. This is the 6 foot 180 pound kid. Oilers have some pretty big Dmen. How many other players gave that kind of effort?

The thing is, those soft goals just kick the crap out of your team, and it's hard to recover. It's even worse when there is more than one. Dubnyk did his job other than the first softie. But, this has been gone on too long this season, and we really need goaltending help!
- Gasboy

Sure bad goals kill a team on any level of hockey.

But when you have a 2-0 lead on a young team and decide its a game of run and gun shinny and defence doesn't matter to anybody, crap like this happens. Especially when a sieve is in goal for the evening.

But the thing that irritated me the most was Renney was putting Gagner's line out there every second shift at the end and nobody laid a hand on the kid. They were willing to tolerate being embarassed and humiliated. All 20 guys and the 3 coaches. Very, very bad sign.

Was it on any of the goals 1 through 5? After that I could care less.
- nathanjf

There are so many, it's hard to remember. I believe it was the goal immediately following Bolland pulling us back within 1.

Sure bad goals kill a team on any level of hockey.

But when you have a 2-0 lead on a young team and decide its a game of run and gun shinny and defence doesn't matter to anybody, crap like this happens. Especially when a sieve is in goal for the evening.

But the thing that irritated me the most was Renney was putting Gagner's line out there every second shift at the end and nobody laid a hand on the kid. They were willing to tolerate being embarassed and humiliated. All 20 guys and the 3 coaches. Very, very bad sign.
- RickJ

I'll say it again...we were OWNED by the 14th team in the West for the 3rd straight time this season, but Stan BLOW just commits to INERTIA.

Won't happen: can't white-flag it when you're still in 6th, not yet in danger of falling out of the play-off picture.
- StLBravesFan

I know. It is just frustrating watching guys like Scott and Bickell continue to be on this roster when a guy like Hayes comes in and out perform both of them only to be sent down. What answer do we get? It's a contract thing. This game is about winning and putting the best players on the ice that give you that opportunity. Not coddling around a bunch of scrubs because there good at telling jokes in the locker room.

There are so many, it's hard to remember. I believe it was the goal immediately following Bolland pulling us back within 1.
- Ogilthorpe2

If so that stings a little. I can't seem to find the energy to focus my negativity on one player, let alone a rookie...

I get what you're saying though about the Kane focus. I'm sure the analysts that find Kane missing assignments should have no trouble illustrating poor wing play from someone not wearing 88 after this game.

To be honest, I have thought Kane much more engaged post All-Star Game.

So was the rest of the team. Difference is Kruger also crashed the net, literally ran the goalie, and won board battles on his own against two Oilers. This is the 6 foot 180 pound kid. Oilers have some pretty big Dmen. How many other players gave that kind of effort?
- Walky

I know. Just saying...Kane does a lot of good things most nights too, but if he ever coasted back like Kruger did on that play he would be roasted for days on this thread.

Edit: guess I should have said when...when Kane coasts back....

First of all, I'm glad none of you clowns are GMs. This team has the talent to contend with any team in the playoffs, and just because you get blown out in early February you want a fire sale?

stanbo needs to get a stud d-man at any reasonable cost... and I agree with JJ that no one on the farm should be untouchable, neither is anyone not named Toews, Hossa, Keith or Seabrook. Spend the money and get it done Stan.
- busmaster

No one is calling for a fire sale....but the season trends have been established!

One blow out a year...fine. 2 by the same team in their building with all the problems they have....the Hawks continue to take teams for granted and thought they were going to go for a skate after being up 2-zip.

Watching that Q interview....one would have no idea they got dropped tonight!!

Want to make the team better? Dump hjalmasson.... the guy is pure garbage.

He is clueless in his own zone...

If so that stings a little. I can't seem to find the energy to focus my negativity on one player, let alone a rookie...

I get what you're saying though about the Kane focus. I'm sure the analysts that find Kane missing assignments should have no trouble illustrating poor wing play from someone not wearing 88 after this game.

To be honest, I have thought Kane much more engaged post All-Star Game.
- nathanjf

He was pretty active in the first 2 periods including some backchecking. The entire top 6 was playing great in the first 2 periods.

I know. Just saying...Kane does a lot of good things most nights too, but if he ever coasted back like Kruger did on that play he would be roasted for days on this thread.
- Ogilthorpe2

Fact. An especially sad fact, since if that had happened in this game and the regulars came out to lay into Kaner they would be severely missing the point.

Want to make the team better? Dump hjalmasson.... the guy is pure garbage.

He is clueless in his own zone...
- TimThomasLunge

Hjalmarsson is pretty close to the least of our worries. A bit overpaid perhaps, but that's about it.

He was pretty active in the first 2 periods including some backchecking. The entire top 6 was playing great in the first 2 periods.
- Walky

Very true, easy to forget. After the second period I was thinking to myself, ''OK, the PP is garbage and is really hurting us, the PK is playing even (with the shorty), but we look so good 5 on 5 right now, and, we are losing SO much momentum by taking these stupid penalties.'' I think the Hawks took 3 in the second?

I know. Just saying...Kane does a lot of good things most nights too, but if he ever coasted back like Kruger did on that play he would be roasted for days on this thread.

Edit: guess I should have said when...when Kane coasts back....
- Ogilthorpe2

I think part of it is Kane makes the good things he does look so effortless, so we think he's lazy. Watching Kruger, you always know he's working, turning his wheels, and being suprisingly gritty for such a small Swedish forward.

Rinne, Eliot, Quick, Niemi, Thomas - they aren't going to give up the 4 GPG the Hawks will need to win.
- StLBravesFan

BINGO!!

Just saw an interesting stat that says it all. Gagner with his 4 goals tonight has scored as many as Kane in his last 33.

Very true, easy to forget. After the second period I was thinking to myself, ''OK, the PP is garbage and is really hurting us, the PK is playing even (with the shorty), but we look so good 5 on 5 right now, and, we are losing SO much momentum by taking these stupid penalties.'' I think the Hawks took 3 in the second?
- nathanjf

Through two periods, Bickell's PIM time was greater than his TOI. Why did they send Hayes down?

Hjalmarsson is pretty close to the least of our worries. A bit overpaid perhaps, but that's about it.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ya... and a lot over-suckage.

I didn't watch ANY of the game... but its safe to say hjalmarrson was a direct result of every single goal against.

Please don't correct me if I'm wrong

Just saw an interesting stat that says it all. Gagner with his 4 goals tonight has scored as many as Kane in his last 33.


- jhawk159

OUCH!!!!

Just saw an interesting stat that says it all. Gagner with his 4 goals tonight has scored as many as Kane in his last 33.


- jhawk159

I think he also scored more than himself in his last 33. He had 22 points coming into the game and had 8 tonight. Thats >33% of his previous total, so its not like hes been producing when Kane hasn't or something. Also Kane had a few more excellent set ups tonight as well as some take aways. Would still love to see more goals out of the guy though.