The Step And The Walk: Wild 4, Hawks 3 (OT)

A day late due to a late night beer league game, so this will be quickish.

The talking heads remain positive, asserting that The Hawks have yet to lose in regulation.  That's not the same as "unbeaten" however and I believe they can count themselves lucky to not be 2-and-2 right now.  If not for Kane's heroics vs. TOR and DeBrincat having a bit of a time in MIN last night that's exactly how things would stand.
While I'm loving the fast starts to each game thus far, I've been unimpressed with The Hawks taking their foot off the gas before the games are half over.  In Toronto they faced a team that struggles to prevent goals but, given the space, will cheerfully run up the score.  Yet, even after leaping to an early lead, The Hawks stopped pressing the matter and, even more frustrating, it's not because they tightened up defensively.  Last evening they met a team that hasn't been able to score at all, again took an early lead and, facing a determined attack by The Wild, largely collapsed defensively, allowing far too many chances and only mounting sporadic offense of their own.  While Cam Ward did play his best game in his four starts, he's been weak, and the guys in front of him haven't helped his cause a whole lot.
So let's mention the defense.  Breakouts have been undeniably outstanding, better than they've been for two or three years, and that has certainly keyed the offense, giving them the head start they've lacked for some time.  Simple defense in their own end, however, has been lacking, with missed assignments, soft play in front of and behind their net and, most aggravating, d-men needlessly chasing opposing forwards, taking themselves out of position.
The forwards could be doing more to help, as well.  On the tying goal last night, Keith had a man, Jokiharju sort of had a man (he escaped, but that'll happen sometimes) but none of the forwards had picked anyone up at all.  This is elementary stuff that they can and must pay more attention to.

However, based on this morning's practice, the response has been to shuffle the bottom three lines, the highlight there being Fortin being slotted in the 2nd line and Saad moving to the 4th alongside Kruger & Kampf.  Saad has not been great, granted, but I doubt that inserting A Guy in the top six after only one not especially notable game is the solution.

You know those Purina-crunching mouth breathers from Missouri are going to be gunning for a "statement game" tomorrow - The Hawks had better sort themselves out.

The Step And The Walk