Theo Fox: Game 45: Hawks 4, Wings 0
A recap of Subban's 2nd shutout of the season to lead the Blackhawks over the Red Wings and 2 points closer to the 4th seed as the Predators lost.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs OT winner versus the Wolves.

Nice win! Need to take at least take 2 from NSH.

Hinestroza - points in 3 of the 6 games he’s played since he came back.

That’s a more important stat to me than the 5 points in 6 games - it shows a consistency of play, not a skew of production in only a few games.

It is sometimes interesting to get the opponents perspective on the Blackhawks. From the Red Wings forum:

Detroit and Chicago are in vastly different situations. Chicago is clinging to the final vestiges of the championship powerhouse. They have added high power forwards to the mix and look for “adequate” goaltending. I’ve never seen this team care so little about their own end of the ice. All energy is spent on offense and tonight, it worked.

Detroit’s situation will continue to improve, slowly. And, Chicago on the other hand, will continue to degrade. At some point, big decisions will be made by Wirtz and Co that will start more of a full rebuild. They certainly have some impressive offensive assets to create that foundation.

Nice win! Need to take at least take 2 from NSH.
- HawkintheD

Trashville losing last night was great to see. These 3 game's against them is going to be a mini playoff series. Winner gets into the big dance basically. Hawks cannot play lackadaisical against them.

Nice win! Need to take at least take 2 from NSH.
- HawkintheD

Hawks need to win all 3, IMO - they need to get ahead of Nashville before the six straight against TBL-CAR-FLA - and stay ahead of Dallas who next have 4 straight against Detroit.

If they don’t go into their final eight games ahead of both, it will be very difficult to catch up.

It is sometimes interesting to get the opponents perspective on the Blackhawks. From the Red Wings forum:
- Snakebit12

That Stillman guy is making Zadorov expendable the way both are playing. Man was Z lost again. Couldn´t connect a pass to save his life. He is back to his start of the season mode. Stillman on the other hand was really steady and physical in the back end.

It is sometimes interesting to get the opponents perspective on the Blackhawks. From the Red Wings forum:
- Snakebit12

That's funny. The Wings have actually only really started their rebuild and have a loooooonnnnggg way to go.

They were clinging to that string of playoff appearances for about three years there where they should have been in full rebuild.

Not sure whoever made that comment, where they get off.... The Hawks had 5 rookies in the lineup last night (Kurashev, Suter, Hagel, Kalynuk, Mitchell), a few players in their 2nd year (Dach, Kubalik, Stillman), a couple 23 yo's (Cat and Strome) and Boqvist would have been in the lineup had he not been in concussion protocol.

Speaking of, that year he was picked, I was hoping Zadina would fall to the Hawks. So far it's looking like the Hawks ended up with the better player.

That Stillman guy is making Zadorov expendable the way both are playing. Man was Z lost again. Couldn´t connect a pass to save his life. He is back to his start of the season mode. Stillman on the other hand was really steady and physical in the back end.
- MjulQvist

Made a similar comment in another blog. I think Stillman was acquired to see if he could provide some of what Zadorov does. He may not be 6'6" but he's also younger, cheaper and better with the puck.

I thought Stillman was labeled a failure after his first shift?

Ha. Really. No not really an accurate portrayal or analysis. I can understand his conclusion based on the on ice results and lack of understanding by some of our players. However take that approach and I could match his ominous sound with my notes to decry the "dead" Red Wings

Let us remember first and foremost both teams are choosing to try a semblance of competitiveness while in the throes of a rebuild. Chicago in recent years has done more of a rebuild on the fly. Detroit has not added dynamic young talent too much; it has been a slow add on results so far with Yzerman.

Now you could break that down and carefully craft an argument about the amount of blue chip or overall the prospects in the pipelineine for both teams

The facts are undisputable: both teams core got old, became worse talents and moved on, even retired. They have largely not been replaced by even a average players. Maybe you could say average players, ok, but the won loss records for both teams nosedived. So their W-L record past few years is really not very good. Shootout points help to mask the record too.

The determination that Chicago doesn't seem to pay hardly attention to defense is a rotten comment. Try playing kids on defense. Most kids on defense struggle because they aren't yet ready for the NHL. But they show enough promise and so some dmen prospects play NHL in limited TOI. Anyway as far as Chicago goes.

Our defense is bad though also due to players confused what to do in some game situations due to Colliton's system. Recently on this board I have seen comments that explain away my derision about the break out play; forwards don't grasp or are over anxious and are up ice, therefore leaving dmen with poor choices and more stretch passes which most do not succeed.

Well it is a growing process for players to ripen and just for the GM's to add new young promising talent. Certainly Detroit has more veterans with less ability or on the down side of their career.

It is a tribute though that both teams have competed well and given their opponent a good game. Both Chicago and Detroit have won more than expected. I can see clearly more prospects entering the NHL fray soon for both teams

I just don't think it is a fair assessment to say Chicago doesn't care about defense. And we don't possess this great offensive talent still - a couple players and some descent other young players is the apt description he should have painted.

I thought Stillman was labeled a failure after his first shift?
- LAHawk

Then he’s not the worst. I’ve seen some Hawk players labeled a failure before they ever pulled on the jersey.

Hinestroza - points in 3 of the 6 games he’s played since he came back.

That’s a more important stat to me than the 5 points in 6 games - it shows a consistency of play, not a skew of production in only a few games.
- StLBravesFan

Vinnie has certainly been a nice pick-up. I wouldn’t mind seeing him return next season but I don’t expect to see it. Especially if Toews and Nylander are healthy. Vinnie could be a solid depth forward that’s flipped at the deadline.

That being said, the acquisition of Hinostroza is clearly another Bowman fail and he’s a massive bust.

I’ve never seen this team care so little about their own end of the ice. All energy is spent on offense and tonight, it worked.

Seems to me it worked six out of eight games, but who’s counting.

I thought Stillman was labeled a failure after his first shift?
- LAHawk

Stillman has been a surprisingly good acquisition, he’s not a star but a solid d-man. I think he should return as the #7D next season, especially if de Haan is lost in the expansion draft. Stillman has been improving steadily, he won’t be Seabrook 2.0 but he will be serviceable.

That being said, the acquisition of Stillman is clearly another Bowman fail and he’s a massive bust.

Vinnie has certainly been a nice pick-up. I wouldn’t mind seeing him return next season but I don’t expect to see it. Especially if Toews and Nylander are healthy. Vinnie could be a solid depth forward that’s flipped at the deadline.

That being said, the acquisition of Hinostroza is clearly another Bowman fail and he’s a massive bust.
- DarthKane

You could do much worse for a bottom 6 guy. Plus he apparently wants to be in Chicago, so he'll sign for cheap.

Stillman has been a surprisingly good acquisition, he’s not a star but a solid d-man. I think he should return as the #7D next season, especially if de Haan is lost in the expansion draft. Stillman has been improving steadily, he won’t be Seabrook 2.0 but he will be serviceable.

That being said, the acquisition of Stillman is clearly another Bowman fail and he’s a massive bust.
- DarthKane

Why state the obvious?

You could do much worse for a bottom 6 guy. Plus he apparently wants to be in Chicago, so he'll sign for cheap.
- vabeachbear

Stan will find a way to do worse for the bottom 6.

I’ve never seen this team care so little about their own end of the ice. All energy is spent on offense and tonight, it worked.

Seems to me it worked six out of eight games, but who’s counting.
- Angotti

Chuckin darts, and that one hit the target.

Vinnie has certainly been a nice pick-up. I wouldn’t mind seeing him return next season but I don’t expect to see it. Especially if Toews and Nylander are healthy. Vinnie could be a solid depth forward that’s flipped at the deadline.

That being said, the acquisition of Hinostroza is clearly another Bowman fail and he’s a massive bust.
- DarthKane

I'll take Vinny all day over Nylander.

Chuckin darts, and that one hit the target.
- 6628

All i know is i want to thank Philly for looking set on defense, Kalynuk looks solid, here's a kid that shows a lot of promise and i can easily see eating over 20 minutes a night effectively.

That Stillman guy is making Zadorov expendable the way both are playing. Man was Z lost again. Couldn´t connect a pass to save his life. He is back to his start of the season mode. Stillman on the other hand was really steady and physical in the back end.
- MjulQvist

To me they both play a similar game, have a tendency to vacate the middle of the ice to frequently. Stillman being 23 maybe the Hawks can develop him? Sign Z for the 1 yr rfa offersheet, expose him to the expansion draft if not taken trade him at the deadline next season

Another game where the metrics say the Hawks lost.

To me they both play a similar game, have a tendency to vacate the middle of the ice to frequently. Stillman being 23 maybe the Hawks can develop him? Sign Z for the 1 yr rfa offersheet, expose him to the expansion draft if not taken trade him at the deadline next season
- BetweenTheDots

That's exactly what I would do with Zadorov. Anything except a multi-year contract in the 3.5M + range , 1) because he's not worth it and 2) because a longer term contract would be harder to move at the next TDL.

Hopefully Stillman slots in all the remaining games and shows something to make Z expendable.