Awreet, since I watched both weekend games one after the other I'm sure I'll get some events mixed up, so I'll just pop in some general comments about both games. It helps that both matches had a similar feel, with many things in common, both good and bad.
- The Hawks needed to come out of this weekend with four points and they managed that but, Sweet Mother of Zuul, they didn't exactly cruise to either victory. That this occurred against two utterly feckless teams is somewhat worrisome.
- I say "somewhat" because we all know that The Hawks can be much better. They seem to have this annoying let-up every March, so there's that, but the time to get serious is upon us, as there is still a dim hope of snagging home ice in the first playoff round.
- Both games "featured" a lot of the crap passing, poor timing and weird choices that we've been treated to over the past 3-4 weeks. Too often a player, mostly but not exclusively Panarin, either hangs onto the puck too long, missing a chance to hit a moving linemate, or hits the eject button too early and either launches a pass toward a colleague who's in no position to accept a pass or misses their mark entirely. There were fewer of these instances this weekend, though, and a greater number of sequences in which The Hawks moved the puck kinda well but, again, consider the level of the opposition before declaring this a turning point.
- Scott Darling was very, very good. I'll try not to diminish his efforts by pointing out (multiple times) that the quality of their opposition this weekend flatters to deceive, but the big guy allowed no soft goals, had decent positioning and a quick glove hand in both games. He spent a lot of time in a semi-butterfly (kinda like in the photo above), though, with his stick flat on the ice, jerking his head back and forth trying to get a bead on the puck. He's a large fella and covers a lot of the lower part of the net by doing that, but I have this niggling worry that if this represents his Plan A he's going to get lit up by teams that are more disciplined and accurate with their shooting (i.e. all the other teams in The West).
- The defense wasn't awful in either game but, again, level of opposition. TVR was actually working rather well alongside Ehrhoff, which was weird because I thought it was supposed to be Ehrhoff that would push the play from the back and jump in on the offense. TVR's first assist was a bit lucky as Flasch was fortunate to corral a pass that hot from so close, but the assist on Teravainen's goal was impressive;seriously, did anyone not expect TVR to shoot? Anyway, good for him but let's not forget he was also alone, standing still when Burrows scored, earlier.
- Svedberg was on the ice for that goal, too, and was just as guilty of loitering as TVR. I'm not sure what Svedberg hopes to accomplish by simply camping out in front of The Hawks' net; he hasn't shown any ability to read the play and lacks the quickness to react to any threat beyond his immediate reach, so he mostly just stands there, being in the way. He was able to use that considerable reach to break up some plays along the boards but, really, this guy shouldn't be playing until his game becomes more active than reactive.
- As ridiculous a job Coach Q has done with the defense at least he had the good sense to immediately reunite possibly the finest fourth line in the league, Kruger, Shaw & Desjardins. These three wasted no time getting back to the task of consistently moving the puck north before handing the keys to one of the other lines and even cashing in a couple of times for good measure. The best Hawks line, overall, this weekend.
- Of small concern is the fact that Andrew Shaw took a lot more faceoffs than Marcus Kruger. This could just be a cautious approach with Kruger just returning from wrist surgery, as he took 3x as many draws in his second game back than in his first, or it could just be a matter of which side of the ice these draws were taking place, as Coach Q seems to always want his centers drawing the puck backhand-style. It actually worked out fine on Sunday, as Shaw inexplicably laid waste to his Canuck counterparts, winning 11 of 12 attempts.
- Andrew Ladd had himself a good weekend after two weeks of just pilin' 'er up and down the wing. He didn't have to work especially hard for any of his goals but that's okay; sometimes the gimmes lead to other things in the near-future.
- Teravainen was alright centering the second line. I suspect that having played center the last few weeks had him better-prepared for the task than the last time he was parachuted into that spot. Amazingly, Teravainen led all Hawks forwards in ice time on Sunday.
- Looking ahead we're off to Minny on Tuesday for a chance at redemption against the eighth-placed Wild. I would half expect Coach Q to come back with the same lineup as Sunday's, but that probably depends on whether Large Arthur was, in fact, out on Sunday due to an injury or if his exclusion was a coach's decision. Weise wasn't bad in limited duty on Sunday, so I see him getting the nod over Panik.
Like it says, I have other things I wanna do, so just some quick points.
- Shots were even and chances seemed close, but The Hawks were simply finishing better, thanks to Petr Mrazek being less-than-average in The Wing's net and The Wing's D-corps leaving The Hawks unchecked far too often. I wonder if Ladd's shot had not gone in how many more whacks they would have let him take.
- When Goose makes passes like the one he sent to Seabrook on the game's first goal it's hard to believe he's ever a healthy scratch.
- Christian Ehrhoff made his Hawks debut and I like what I saw. No red flags thus far.
- Looking ahead, Dale Weise is expected to play in Boston tonight and I assume Scott Darling will start.
Oh, those feckless Red Wings made several Hawks look positively heroic in this one, but the tie breaker gives Seabrook the nod due to last night at least being something other than him standing around looking bewildered. Oh, and he had three points, both assists being actually very fine plays. Also, I stole this image ages ago and have been dying to use it.
They do? I think he looks like a homeless Eddie Munster, but I'm no lady...
Wow, what a fun game, So fast, with chances at either end only moments apart for what seemed to be the entire match. Not a perfectly executed affair by The Hawks, but not terrible. Here's what I think I saw:
- Those Capitals can skate. Well, not Brooks Orpik, so much, but the rest of them are quick and their forecheck is relentless. In the first period, especially, they chased The Hawks defensemen back, back and then back some more until, finally, they either made a poor pass or just flipped the puck into the neutral zone. The Hawks came out for the second better prepared for this
- Only two of our new gadgets played tonight, Ladd & Fleischmann, and they both looked remarkably comfortable straight away. Q even deployed Flasch on the penalty kill. Ladd was right at home on Toews' line, it seemed, and his effort in front of the net on The Hawks' second goal was indicative of why Stan went out and got him.
- It was nice to see the lesser lights, if I can say that, have good games. Desjardins was pesky and well positioned all day and that kick pass by Panik was wonderful. That guy is like a turbine, just buzzing at full chat all the time, not always accomplishing much but it's the kind of effort that can lead to unexpected chances and draws the odd penalty, as was the case today. Rasmoosen ended up with the winner in what may well be his last game for awhile, as long as Weiss' visa gets sorted out soon and, saving the best for last, Teravainen's line with Des and Flasch was The Hawks' best trio today.
- The last time I wrote about TVR I think I said it had been the best game I'd seen him play. Today was the opposite of that. Yes, he notched an assist, but that "pass" could only have been corralled by Kane, let only result in a goal. In his own end he really seemed to have no idea what he was doing, or going to do. When you're killing a penalty one guy is not going to be covered but, when TVR was "killing penalties" two guys were often footloose 'cos TVR wasn't covering anybody, and that's unacceptable.
- Brian Engblom is bad at his job. He called Taylor Chorney "Tom Chorske" at least once, was convinced that Holtby got a bit of glove on the puck that Des clearly plunked off the post, and was under the impression that Matt Niskanen had scored The Caps' first goal. That said, I'll take his cheerful lunkheadedness any day over Milbury.
- One more aside; there are still 16 hours left before the trade deadline. Just sayin'.
Teuvo's pass to Toews for the second goal epitomizes what makes him so great; that rare combination of being able to see situations just before they unfold and having the skill to act on them. Teuvo Teravainen gets The Belt tonight, not only for his efforts. but also to herald the beginning of a legitimate third line.
Se ei ole poro perä.
From blackhawks.nhl,com
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have acquired forward Matt Fraser and defenseman Jay Harrison from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward Marko Dano, Chicago’s first round pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Draft and a conditional pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Fraser and Harrison will both report to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.
Additionally, The Hawks pick up veteran winger, two-time Stanley Cup Champion and jewel of this silly season's rental market, Andrew Ladd.
So, good job, Stan Bowman, you got the guy that everyone that matters wanted.
Tough to see Marko Dano go, even if it was entirely possible that he would never crack The Hawks roster whilst Quenneville has a say-so.
Finally, Jay Harrison is still playing?
I don't usually trouble myself with news items or pre-game stuff but, for some reason, I'm feeling ambitious today. Or procrastinating other tasks. Doesn't matter - onward.
- The Hawks "placed" Rob Scuderi on waivers today, although I believe "hoofed" or "jettisoned" would be more apt. If another team is daft enough to claim the veteran (read: old) d-man The Hawks would have somewhere around $5 million in cap space with which to shop for a decent left winger or another d-man who is able to reach speeds higher than "dead slow" and "stopped". If left unclaimed, which seems most likely, The Hawks still receive some cap relief but probably not enough to splash out for any of the coveted rental players, at least not without giving up a roster player.
- On that tack, the soon-to-be-free-agent wingers that will be in highest demand up until the Feb. 29th trade deadline look to be Andrew Ladd and Mikkel Boedker. Since it's assured that The Hawks would not be able to re-sign either of these players the choice comes down to who can they get, what will they cost and which of these guys would fulfill The Hawks' needs the best. I expect a first-round draft pick would be required and both The Jets and The Coyotes would likely request a roster player, probably beginning with Teuvo Teravainen but more likely to settle with a prospect such as Marko Dano or Ryan Hartman. My personal preference would be Ladd but either of these fellas would be a nice upgrade.
- It's The Rangers tonight who, after an iffy December have been steadily racking up the points and are a distant but semi-comfortable 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers get it done without any true marquee forwards (I consider Rick Nash Off-Broadway at this time) but rather a potent attack of what really amounts to three second lines, their scoring leader being noted Game of Thrones actor Mats Zuccarello.
Tyrion Zuccarello with his linemates.
Their defense is capable if unspectacular, all of whom average 19-22 minutes per game, which reeks of Socialism but appears to be working despite the persistent presence of apparent septuagenarian Dan Boyle. These guys toil in front of still-all-world talent and handsome man Henrik Lundquist and his backup, one Antti Raanta, who really only seems to play well against The Hawks.
- Expect more tinkering with the Toews trio, as Richard Panik is rumoured to have gacked his audition on that line, at least as far as Coach Q is concerned. Who's up next...Sekac? Hinostroza? Noted sniper Mashinter!? Who the hell knows anymore...
