March. Midweek. Meh. : Hawks 3, Stars 2

In a series of games which The Hawks really didn't deserve to win, this one felt like the least deserved.  While there were flashes of competency and brief periods of inspired play, the home side failed to apply themselves any more than absolutely necessary.  Did they need to try harder? Probably not.  Does it matter?  Well, maybe.  I'd hate for them to forget how to do hockey properly just in time for the playoffs.
I'll spend about as much time on this as most Hawks made an effort.
I cannot say that any particular Hawk was terribly bad tonight, but very few were good for more than a few shifts.  Toews played a pretty determined game that was wasted by Hayden & Panik floating too much of the time.  Hoss had a goal and a few more good looks, but could not be arsed defensively. Panarin seemed disinterested in getting into a good shooting position and Schmaltz can abandon that reverse-and-reset thing he keeps trying along the boards, 'cos it ain't working.
TVR is so comically bad it would be entertaining if it weren't so frustrating.  While this idiot stands motionless for much of the game, reacting only after something has already happened, Michal Kempny sits in the press box wondering if he really is a worse defenceman than van Riemsdyk.
Corey Crawford was quite good, making a handful of A+ saves, many of which wouldn't even have materialized if the guys in front of him gave a crap, but that's not for now.
The first couple of power plays were interesting, with The Hawks moving the puck well and keeping their feet moving.  The weird thing is that they failed to generate any great chances.
I dunno about Hartman at 2C and, if this is gonna be a thing, can we get Schmaltz back on Toews' line, please?

ONE Blackhawk played consistently well even if, too often, he was reduced to playing keepaway while his linemates failed to find good shooting lanes and, too often, held the puck only long enough to get it back to Kane.  88 was the best of a mediocre lot, tonight.