Scott Foster, accountant by day and emergency backup goaltender by night, dominated NHL news and even managed to cast a shadow on MLB's opening night. While it was strange, fun and really nice that it went so well for Foster, the whole story sorta underlines the massive problems The Hawks have had with netminding this season. Since Corey Crawford became injured it really hasn't mattered a ton who is in net; on some nights the nominated Guy is okay but, in the main, they haven't been adequate, really. Yes, The Hawks skaters have been defensively inconsistent and offensively impotent, but lemme point out that Crawford owns as many wins as the other five Guys combined, and he's played half as many games.
But Collin Delia was alright until he was stricken by dehydration cramps or fecal peristalsis or whatever was ailing him. He showed good positioning, quick reflexes and appears to handle the puck pretty well. More later...
We had our First Look at Dylan Sikura who was maybe slightly better than "alright" as he picked up a pair of helpies in his debut. He's smallish, quick enough and showed some good vision throughout the game. He didn't win a lot of battles but he didn't back down, either.
Tomas Jurco and Eric Gustafsson both had fine games, with Jurcs enjoying his first two-goal game and Gus consistently pushing the puck north and generating mucho offense, even if he was a little passive in his own end some of the time. Despite The Hawks' fortunes as a group, lately, both of these guys are playing with increased confidence right now, a rare thing on this pretty beaten-down squad.
Duncan Keith was horrifying. He clearly cannot be arsed at this point.
An aside, apropos of nothing: I watched this game on TSN and had to endure The Jets "home" announcer, Dennis Beyak, who is just embarrassingly bad, mispronouncing names ("Ruttu") and spouting stats he seems to have simply made up on the spot. He's not as bad as those guys who do the EDM games, but he's not far off.
With a few exceptions, The Hawks just looked tired after that, and the more COL scored the more tired (of it) they got. Once The Avs tasted blood their speed just stymied The Hawks, only a handful of which really applied themselves in the last 40 minutes.
Delia was less good than in his debut. He started well and, while I'll rarely hold a goalie entirely accountable for a PPG against, I thought he was a bit soft on the first and third GA as well as Andrighetto's late goal. So, one good game and one iffy game puts him in the same company as the other three members of his committee, but it's a small sample so far. Let's not forget that tonight was still only his 36th professional game and that he started the season in The ECHL fer goodness' sake. He's allowed to waver given all of that.
Particularly Poor: Keith who, once again, was missing passes galore, Ejdsell out of position and really just standing around a lot of the time and Hinostroza, still trying hard but somehow accomplishing nothing, lately. For a month or two there, Hinnie looked as if he had found his game and could even challenge for a top six spot. Lately, though, it's been all bobbled pucks and flubbed passes. If he sorts himself out he can stick next season and will contribute, but if his timing or concentration or confidence or whatever continues to fail him it'll be back to The AHL for him.
Bright Spots included Gustafsson, moving the puck well albeit with the usual defensive indifference, Martinsen being a huge pain in the ass in The Avs zone, even if he lacks the vision or hand skills to contribute anything more, Jurco playing with more confidence in each game and Connor Murphy as The Hawks' most consistent defender the last two games.
Foley spoke of Coach Q deploying some players "out of their comfort zones", his example being DeBrincat on the PK. That's fine, but Oesterle on the PK is far from MY comfort zone. Didn't we see that movie already?
Blake Hillman debuted tonight and, to be honest, I hardly noticed him, which probably means he was just fine.
The Hawks have four days off before a possibly very fun home-and-home against STL and a chance to at least spoil The Blues' playoff hopes. At least give us that, willya...
No comments:
Post a Comment