Versteeg could be scratched for Game 1
Yeah, no guarantees, but the prospect of a Sharp-Vermette-Teravainen third line appeals to me a whole lot.
You're Here by Accident. Make the Best of It.
A Mostly But Not Entirely Chicago Blackhawks Thing.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Sunday, 26 April 2015
I Missed it All But it Still Happened: Hawks 4, Predators 3 and Saturday's Big Boy
Unbelievably, I failed to catch even a second of Game Six. These things happen, and so did The Hawks' elimination of The Predators.
Despite missing the entire affair it seems pretty obvious who gets The Belt.
More later, once we learn which team The Hawks will play, next.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Mercifully Complete: Hawks 3, Predators 1
Sunday, 19 April 2015
That's More Like It: Hawks 4, Predators 2 and Sunday's Big Boy
Not perfect but it'll do. What can we take away from today's match?
- Welcome back to the lineup, Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins. Both were effective in their own ways and, I think, an upgrade over the performances of Nordstrom & Teravainen, who they replaced.
- Scott Darling was fine but I fully expect to see Crawford back in situ the moment Darling falters. Which will happen.
- Three goals on screen shots and another goal on a shot that Pekka Rinne didn't even bother to wave at. I do believe that not all is well in Rinne's head right now, and that suits me just fine.
- Bravo to more minutes for Sharp and fewer for Shaw and Versteeg. It was odd, I thought, that Shaw didn't get in on either power play, though.
- Certain Predators became a little unhinged today. If The Hawks keep their feet moving in Game 4 they'll get more looks on the PP.
Right from the opening shift of the match Marian Hossa showed that he was all in today. Go around ya....how about go right through ya? His two primary assists just make it sweeter.
He's coming, he's coming, he's coming.
- Welcome back to the lineup, Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins. Both were effective in their own ways and, I think, an upgrade over the performances of Nordstrom & Teravainen, who they replaced.
- Scott Darling was fine but I fully expect to see Crawford back in situ the moment Darling falters. Which will happen.
- Three goals on screen shots and another goal on a shot that Pekka Rinne didn't even bother to wave at. I do believe that not all is well in Rinne's head right now, and that suits me just fine.
- Bravo to more minutes for Sharp and fewer for Shaw and Versteeg. It was odd, I thought, that Shaw didn't get in on either power play, though.
- Certain Predators became a little unhinged today. If The Hawks keep their feet moving in Game 4 they'll get more looks on the PP.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
One Down, a Bunch More to Go: Hawks 4, Predators 3 and Wednesday's Big Boy
Many hours later and this has been done to death by now, but it's my sacred duty to type some words.
The Game
- Special Teams were expected to be critical in this series and they sure were last night, but not as expected, with 3 PP goals surrendered by a couple of teams that boast pretty good PK Teams.
- Speaking of unexpected, Antoine Vermette being a scratch was an odd choice unless, of course, he's shaking off an injury of some sort. Even if Vermette did play old Q would have plunked him on the wing, anyway, doing nothing to alleviate...
- ...being thumped at the dot. Anyone can grok Shaw being underwater but when both Toews and Kruger have their asses handed to them y'all have a problem.
- Yanking Crawford was for the best even if only to kickstart The Hawks back into giving a damn. Darling, obviously, was excellent, but only the Stalberg goal was Crawford's fault and, even with his error, better positioning by Keith might* have prevented the goal. (* we know Vik is supah-fast but Keith ain't a slowpoke, either...). Darling is good and I like him in the backup role, but let's not expect another 20+ performances like this just yet.
Next
- More about Kane a little further down, but the reunion with Richards and Versteeg was less than magical. All in favour of punting Versteeg for Sharp say "aye".
- One would hope, given the sorry faceoff effort in Game One that Vermette would be inserted, but where? As much as this makes sense, Quenneville won't let Vermette play center, anyway. Who would sit? It would seem that Versteeg is untouchable and Teravainen earned his spot, for now, by virtue of his sweeeet pass to Hjalmarsson. Apart from faceoffs and the usual out-of-position issues Shaw was okay and I assume that Bickell stays in because it's the playoffs. That really only leaves Nordstrom and, while I don't mind the kid, Vermette can easily do everything Nordy does and more.
- Crawford starts Game Two. You don't bench a Jennings winner because of one bad period in Game One.
He's back, baby. I thought Kane looked as if he was hanging back a bit, but I could be overthinking. If that's right, maybe Kane was no better than Versteeg or Richards at even strength but, on those power plays, he was as magical as ever.
More, please.
The Game
- Special Teams were expected to be critical in this series and they sure were last night, but not as expected, with 3 PP goals surrendered by a couple of teams that boast pretty good PK Teams.
- Speaking of unexpected, Antoine Vermette being a scratch was an odd choice unless, of course, he's shaking off an injury of some sort. Even if Vermette did play old Q would have plunked him on the wing, anyway, doing nothing to alleviate...
- ...being thumped at the dot. Anyone can grok Shaw being underwater but when both Toews and Kruger have their asses handed to them y'all have a problem.
- Yanking Crawford was for the best even if only to kickstart The Hawks back into giving a damn. Darling, obviously, was excellent, but only the Stalberg goal was Crawford's fault and, even with his error, better positioning by Keith might* have prevented the goal. (* we know Vik is supah-fast but Keith ain't a slowpoke, either...). Darling is good and I like him in the backup role, but let's not expect another 20+ performances like this just yet.
Next
- More about Kane a little further down, but the reunion with Richards and Versteeg was less than magical. All in favour of punting Versteeg for Sharp say "aye".
- One would hope, given the sorry faceoff effort in Game One that Vermette would be inserted, but where? As much as this makes sense, Quenneville won't let Vermette play center, anyway. Who would sit? It would seem that Versteeg is untouchable and Teravainen earned his spot, for now, by virtue of his sweeeet pass to Hjalmarsson. Apart from faceoffs and the usual out-of-position issues Shaw was okay and I assume that Bickell stays in because it's the playoffs. That really only leaves Nordstrom and, while I don't mind the kid, Vermette can easily do everything Nordy does and more.
- Crawford starts Game Two. You don't bench a Jennings winner because of one bad period in Game One.
Monday, 13 April 2015
Interesting Development
Today's News:
The following statement was issued today by Chicago Blackhawks Head Team Physician Dr. Michael Terry:
“Patrick Kane suffered a broken left clavicle on February 24, and underwent successful surgery to repair the fracture on February 25. Patrick has been working extremely diligently with his rehabilitation and has recently returned to full-contact practice without any difficulty. After discussions with Patrick and the team, and examining Patrick today, we collectively feel it is appropriate, with minimal risk, for him to return to full participation.”
Reckless?
Irresponsible?
Ill-advised?
Just what we need?
Probably all of the above.
I'm for it.
“Patrick Kane suffered a broken left clavicle on February 24, and underwent successful surgery to repair the fracture on February 25. Patrick has been working extremely diligently with his rehabilitation and has recently returned to full-contact practice without any difficulty. After discussions with Patrick and the team, and examining Patrick today, we collectively feel it is appropriate, with minimal risk, for him to return to full participation.”
Reckless?
Irresponsible?
Ill-advised?
Just what we need?
Probably all of the above.
I'm for it.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
Coney Project III: Carrie's Corner
We think this is the only old-timey lunch counter within walking distance of our house, so we limbered up the dog and meandered to Carrie's Corner to continue the Coney Burger survey.
We observed many differences between today's offering and the three Fort William joints we visited earlier in the week.
- While our orders were filled in two minutes or less at the other places it took nearly 15 minutes for our Coney Burgers to be prepared, today.
- On that tack, rather than having the burgers already stewing in delicious, greasy juice as is the style in FW, these burgers were grilled on-demand. Grilled.
- Today's burgers were way bigger, plumper than those in FW.
- The cost was almost double that of any of the FW joints.
- The "Coney sauce" bore little resemblance to what we had already enjoyed this week, being far more tomato-y, more of a spread than a sauce and far less flavourful than its FW counterparts.
The verdict: T'was a fine burger, but not what we understand to be a real Coney Burger. It would do in a pinch but, given the choice, I'll meet you in Fort William, son.
We observed many differences between today's offering and the three Fort William joints we visited earlier in the week.
- While our orders were filled in two minutes or less at the other places it took nearly 15 minutes for our Coney Burgers to be prepared, today.
- On that tack, rather than having the burgers already stewing in delicious, greasy juice as is the style in FW, these burgers were grilled on-demand. Grilled.
- Today's burgers were way bigger, plumper than those in FW.
- The cost was almost double that of any of the FW joints.
- The "Coney sauce" bore little resemblance to what we had already enjoyed this week, being far more tomato-y, more of a spread than a sauce and far less flavourful than its FW counterparts.
The verdict: T'was a fine burger, but not what we understand to be a real Coney Burger. It would do in a pinch but, given the choice, I'll meet you in Fort William, son.
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