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Takes One to Know One: Blackhawks-Coyotes Powerplay Woes
Apr 9th
Hard to believe they do this less on the PP than we do.
You know how we’d been used to referring to Joel Quenneville’s blender for the better part of his coaching tenture? The Phoenix Coyotes powerplay selections in recent weeks has made that look like a light blend. Granted the team made trade deadline acquisitions among their forwards by bringing in Antoine Vermette but both he and Gilbert Brule have struggled to find playing partners on the man advantage since relocating to Phoenix. I still think the Blackhawks can match up with just about any team in the Western Conference at even strength. The powerplay woes are well documented for those wearing the Indian Head but somehow the desert dogs make the Hawks powerplay look palatable. Here’s what they’ve been working with up front for the last 10 games on the powerplay.
Hawks vs. Coyotes: Reviewing the Season Series
Apr 9th
Look at those glorious 'staches.
Yeah, I know. Everyone says you can throw out the regular season once the playoffs start. Things begin anew and what happened in the past should stay there.
That’s probably how the Blackhawks should feel after going 1-2-1 against Phoenix, including dropping the final three meetings. While most – including myself – still believe the Blackhawks can – and should – win this series, the Coyotes were a giant pain in the ass in 2011-12.
And a quick “Did You Know?” … Joel Quenneville and Dave Tippett were teammates with the Hartford Whalers from 1983 through 1990. As you can see, Tippett also once had as fine of a ‘stache as his boy Q. That’s cute. If I was their teammate and saw them together, I’d call the duo “Q-Tip.” Jokes. I get jokes.
Anyway, here’s a quick rundown of the season series:
October 18 at Jobing.com Arena
Dave Bolland scored a short-handed goal 2:27 into the third period to put the ‘Hawks up 4-2, and they’d go on to win 5-2 to improve to 3-1-1 on the season. Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Jamal Mayers and Bryan Bickell also scored.
Taylor Pyatt and Ray Whitney had goals for the Yotes.
The Blackhawks controlled the action most of the way, outshooting Phoenix 15-4 in the first period and 35-16 for the game.
Corey Crawford made 14 saves to earn the win, while Jason LaBarbera took the loss.
Waiting on The Captain: Revisiting the ‘Hawks With and Without Toews
Apr 9th
Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images
Now that Jonathan Toews has been cleared for contact, it’s all up to him when he’s ready to don the Indian head once again. While Thursday would be ideal, the Captain has to be sure not to get Sidney Crosby-ed by returning too soon.
It’s a waiting game the Blackhawks have been playing since late February, and 22 games already have passed since Toews last suited up. I’m sure part of you has gotten used to him not being on the ice – especially given the ‘Hawks haven’t been as bad as expected without him – but it still won’t feel right if Toews isn’t on the desert ice in Game 1 against Phoenix.
A playoff series without the captain is probably the worst thing we expected when all of this came to light, and we’re only days away from having to take the ice without the 2010 Conn Smythe winner.
How much will the ‘Hawks miss him if he doesn’t play? Let’s take a look at some team statistics before and after the concussion. The stats listed before the concussion do include Toews missing a Jan. 24th loss to Nashville with an upper-body injury before suffering his concussion.
Desert Dogs it is: Blackhawks Beat Red Wings in Shootout, Will Face Phoenix in Round 1
Apr 8th
Credit: Andrew Weber, US PRESSWIRE
Hopefully those who celebrate are having a nice Easter Sunday, and you’re about to find out what day the Second Season begins in the Second City. You’ll be seeing a lot of posts around these parts in the coming week with a wide variety of things being covered as the playoffs begin.
For the Blackhawks, the quest for the Stanley Cup begins in Phoenix after Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win over Detroit.
Yes, Patrick Kane made a filthy move in the shootout. It had me taken aback, and his smiling face skating back to the Blackhawks’ bench gave me a nice giggle.
But did that meaningless shot simply mask the disappointment we should be feeling after the ‘Hawks blew a late lead for the second consecutive game? If Kane doesn’t make that move and the Blackhawks lose that shootout, aren’t we going around asking questions about how the ‘Hawks are going to survive in the playoffs, especially if Jonathan Toews isn’t quite ready?
Instead, we’re all “excited” to be playing the Pacific Division champion Phoenix Coyotes, who ended the season with 97 points, four fewer than the ‘Hawks. Avoiding Nashville sounds fun and all, but there’s still the fact the Blackhawks let a chance at home-ice advantage in the first round slip away over the past week.
Now the ‘Hawks get to face Mike Smith, who is pretty much the hottest goaltender in the world right now. Forget that he doesn’t have playoff experience. Some guy named Niemi didn’t have any either. The ‘Hawks were less than a minute away from avoiding him and a Phoenix team that has won five straight games barely breaking a sweat.
Bums Gone Wild : ‘Hawks Tie Minnesota (Lose in Shootout)
Apr 6th
"Who's the dead man?" ( Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)
Apologies for the late recap tonight. You’ll forgive me.
Anyhow, do you remember the Wild ever being as douchy as they’ve been these past two games? Me neither. This is a team that used to be content simply existing and would come into the arena, put on their ugly uniforms, get their ass kicked, and then leave quietly. I don’t know if it’s Mike Yeo or just Dany Heatley, but this team’s character has been altered dramatically. They still lose all the time, mind you, but they no longer leave quietly and seemed to enjoy head-hunting more than playing the game tonight. It’s going to be very easy to hate them once they’re in the new Norris Division.
Since it’s late we’ll just give you a quick rundown:
The ‘Hawks dominated most of the 1st period and struck midway through when Jamal Mayers barley buried a nice feed from Michael Frolik (he lives!) past southpaw Josh Harding. Late in the period, the ‘Hawks were given a 5 minute power play after ‘Nobody Nate’ Prosser gave Mayers a pretty obvious head-butt. Take a wild guess on how that power play turned out?
Quick Work: Duncan Keith Returns For Wild Rematch
Apr 5th
Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Chicago never had the lead in their game against Minnesota last Sunday, which isn’t how the Blackhawks play their best game. However they did fight back to erase 3 deficits and force the Wild to a shootout. A shootout which the Blackhawks lost, eventually. But beyond showcasing the pugilistic talents of the bottom-six forwards, this game showed that this Blackhawks team may have a lot more perseverance and “guts” than we saw earlier this season.
The playoffs are right around the corner. The Blackhawks had better get a heaping helping of guts on the menu, and start making quick work of trifling teams like Minnesota, pretty quick. Like, perhaps, tonight.
Some Good, Some Bad, But We’ll Take It
Apr 1st
Photo: ESPN
First thing’s first: with their 5-4 win over Nashville last night, the Chicago Blackhawks have clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s the first time since 1995 that the club has managed this feat for 4 consecutive years.
And there was much rejoicing.
The story of how they got that win, however… Well, I’m going to quote Pat Foley (always a dangerous move, I realize) and say that, “It doesn’t have to be an oil painting.”
Crushing Blow: Blackhawks Get One More Shot At Nashville
Mar 31st
Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Every time the Blackhawks go up against Boris Badenov and the Nashville Predators I find myself sitting there wondering, Why the HELL does Chicago have such problems with this team? Other teams kick the crap out of them regularly, as evidenced by Nashville’s losses to Pittsburgh and cellar-dweller Edmonton just last week. Why, oh WHY, do the Blackhawks usually end up either on the short end of a close game, or being humiliated by a staggering margin against these pukes?
In the 5 games between these teams this season, the Blackhawks have come away with a only one win — and that one went into overtime. Chicago has better records this year against St. Louis, Vancouver, and Detroit (*spitting noise*). They’re laughing at us in Music City, counting the ‘Hawks as an easy win, and hoping that they manage to land Chicago as a first-round playoff opponent instead of the Red Wings.
Nashville fans are laughing at us. That has to fucking stop. Tonight. And that means the Blackhawks had better deliver a crushing blow to this Predators team, and make it clear that taking Chicago lightly will be a costly mistake.
See Ya Later?: Boxing with ‘Hawks and Blues
Mar 30th
Boom goes the dynamite.
Watching this game, I kept imagining what it would be like for the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues to meet in this year’s playoffs.
It’ll likely be extremely nerve-wracking, but no one can deny how hard-fought of a series it would be.
For the second straight meeting, a 3-1 deficit was erased before a shootout decided the outcome, and the ‘Hawks once again came out on top 4-3.
Before getting into the good stuff, I’ll make it known that allowing a goal within a minute after scoring is goddamn annoying, and for it to happen twice makes me want to punt my cat. And blowing a two-goal lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period makes me want to punt my girlfriend’s cat. Neither are acceptable – even with Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith out of the lineup. If you can get a two-goal lead in the third period with both of them out, then you should be able to hold it with both of them out. End of story.
With that said, no real harm done, as the ‘Hawks came away with two points, and giving St. Louis the extra one doesn’t matter one bit given the ‘Hawks have no chance to catch them anyway.
The Blackhawks did their part with a chance to clinch a playoff spot, but San Jose shit the bed once again and got shut out in Phoenix, delaying the inevitable for another couple of days. While the No. 6 seed may not make you feel all tingly inside, whoever comes out of the Pacific Division clusterfuck won’t exactly scare me. If the ‘Hawks pull the “upset” and St. Louis gets by whatever Pacific remnants are left in the eighth spot, us fans will be driving to road playoff games in the second round.
A couple notes before Boxing…
♦ Only 20 shots on goal for the Blues tonight, marking the 10th straight game the Blackhawks have allowed less than 30 reach the net. The ‘Hawks are 20-8-2 when allowing 25 shots or less.
♦ With that said, Corey Crawford can’t allow three to get past him and stop only 17, especially given the first one was pretty soft. He made up for it in the shootout though, which makes it forgivable.
♦ The ‘Hawks are 10-2-2 since beating Toronto on Feb. 29, and that’s with the power play going an are-you-absolutely-fucking-kidding-me 5 for 43 (11.6 percent). Can you image if the Blackhawks were simply goddamn serviceable with the extra man? Christ. Two more missed chances tonight, making the ‘Hawks 0 for 15 over their last four games.
Boxing for ya…
Blues Clues: Blackhawks Try To Solve St. Louis
Mar 29th
Photo: Associated Press
How did the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues two weeks ago? By pounding them into submission? By Jamal Mayers making dents in B.J. Crombeen’s melon? By Brandon Bollig trying to tenderize Ryan Reeves? So many will say ‘yes’, and assert that a physical game will be imperative to beating St. Louis tonight. I’m going to disagree.
Chicago beat the Blues by first of all, recovering from a 3-goals-against meltdown by Ray Emery in the first period; and secondly, by throwing 46 shots at the Blues’ goal while limiting their shots against to just 24.
Tonight will be no different. If the Blackhawks use their speed, press their forecheck, take advantage of a demonstrably slower St. Louis defense, and not waste time and energy throwing the body, they will win. How do I know? One week prior to that game, the Blackhawks managed only 20 shots on goal against St. Louis while allowing 31 shots against. Chicago lost 5-1. And Bollig and Reaves went at it in that game too, precious little good it did.
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