Aaaand That's a Wrap

Feeling a bit glum and demotivated due to the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and The Hawks logging off on their worst season in over a decade.  I was fully prepared to just type "tonight was awful and in the same ways that last night was awful" but I just remembered that I took the piss last night and just posted photos of Patrick Sharp, so....

How bad was it?  Well, The Hawks earned fewer points this season than they did in the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season.
These last two games perfectly encapsulated the last half of The Hawks' season; the poorest passing I've ever seen, dodgy positional play and terrible decision-making.  All of this just reeks of a lack of focus and poor attention to detail.
That's all I'll say for now.  Sometime soon I'll do up some player report cards (maybe) and a summary of wants, wishes and needs (definitely) and a short piece on any silver linings I am able to identify.  

Over the years I've often used the phrase "put this one behind us" in reference to a bad game, but I'd never have guessed it would pertain to an entire season.  We'll process and reconvene in a bit.

Thanks, Shooter

As Bad As The Hawks Were Jake Allen Was Worse and That Makes Me Smile: Hawks 4, Blues 3

Brutal, brutal, awful effort from the majority of The Hawks, but I don't care 'cos they fell ass backward into a win and messed with The Blues playoff plans.  If that's mean or petty...I don't give a damn.  There's been precious little to enjoy about this season and sticking it STL is one of the few pleasures I have left, so don't give me that look.
Luckily, Jake Allen was porous, 'cos The Hawks breakouts were terrible, their passing was rotten and, while this has nothing to do with Jake Allen, the defense served up a big stinkeroo of a game.  It's been awhile since I've seen so many lazy, thoughtless pass attempts as I did tonight.  Passes off the mark, to no one in particular (lookin' at you Connor Murphy) or to a teammate who is already under pressure.  Just a lot of dumb choices from the back end.
Rutta was ridiculously, comically bad and Gustafsson treated us to another game in which he was on-point offensively, disinterested defensively.  The rest were unexceptional.
And that stupid push-em-back crap they try to do on the PP....laughable tonight. I'm pretty sure the guy who's been nominated to carry the puck up-ice shouldn't have to skate back to his goal line to retrieve a drop pass to no one.
Corsi was about 7:3 in favour of STL.  I don't think The Hawks won more than one or two draws in The Blues zone.
Yet they prevailed. It goes like that sometimes.  Heaven knows The Hawks have been on the other end of that stick enough times this year.
JF Berubé had a typical Guy night, letting in goals that appeared savable but also making a host of excellent stops, many on second chances.
Dylan Sikura, I think, will be A Thing.  I'm less sure about Victor Ejdsell, but it's early days yet.
Blake Hillman kinda floundered in The Hawks zone for much of the game, but he did score his first NHL goal, and a shortie, at that.  He was no better or worse than the other five D-men.

Okay, that's enough.  Let's hope that The Hawks can bring their C- game again on Friday against Jake Allen's D- game and stick a fork in The Blues' playoff hopes.  Please.

The Goalie Parade: Jets, Avalanche etc

I watched the Thursday and Friday games back-to-back so here's another of my generous two-fers.  Let's start with Thursday and The Hawks' entertaining win over Winnipeg.

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.

In Denver, tonight, things started off well and The Hawks outplayed The Avs comprehensively up until that PPG late in the period.  Then the wheels fell 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...

Almost Got Away With It: Sharks 4, Hawks 3

After only showing up for the first period and overtime The Hawks really had no business thinking about a win tonight, but there they were, hanging in there and making The Sharks sweat a little.
At this point in this season it's the little things that give one hope.
Despite their hideous record this month The Hawks haven't often been kicked around in shots/ Corsi/ chances, but tonight was a night in which they were dominated and shoulda coulda lost badly.
Anton Forsberg, however, had other plans.  Yes, he allowed 3GA and, yes, he was a bit sloppy on E. Kane's goal, but he outplayed the bona fide NHL goalie at the other end and kept his team in it to the end.  Extra credit, too, given the number of A+ chances his teammates ceded to The Sharks.

But you all want to read about Victor Ejdsell, so let's get to that.

The big fella, obtained from NSH at the trade deadline, debuted after playing a mere two AHL games and, in all of 17 minutes, looked okay.
Not great, not terrible...okay.
The first thing you notice is his size: long & lanky, with a vast reach.  He doesn't seem especially quick but he's no slug, either.  Hands seem good and he got a few hard shots off rather quickly.  His positional play was hit-and-miss but, it's his first game, he was thrust onto the top line and played the point on the PP.   Someone might point out that he was on the ice for all three Sharks goals but, to be fair, two of those GA were down to 1) Seabrook turning the puck over (after Ejdsell had won the draw, BTW) and 2) Gustafsson being beaten twice along the boards in a single sequence.  He was clearly not comfortable on the left point on the PP and was a bit out of step during his shift in OT but, he was given a ton of responsibility for a guy playing his first NHL game so I'll not rake him over the coals just yet.
If Edjsell turns out to be A Thing, though, Anismov and/or Hayden had best brace themselves.

And hey, The Hawks allowed fewer than five goals in consecutive games.  That's progress.

No Sleep 'til Brooklyn: Hawks 2½, Islanders 1

Since I watched this one a day after the event I'll keep it brief.

Every Dog Has His Day or Would The Real Anton Forsberg Please Stand Up: As bad as Bergie was in the brief amount of time it took for him to make a big stinky mess on Thursday he was brilliant in this one.  He was in full command, tracking the puck exceptionally well (which has previously been noted as a strength of his) particularly in close when The Isles had multiple whacks at the thing.  While I suspect the real Bergie falls squarely between the disaster on Thursday and the gem last night, it was very good to see him bounce back so emphatically.  And, hey, he didn't let in a softie!
The Islanders Big Line Were Where, Exactly?  In the weeds, mainly, absolutely kicked in while matched up primarily against the Schmaltz - Hinnie - Charlie Bucket line.  It's difficult to say how much of that was due to the effort of that Hawks trio or merely a complete lack of give-a-shit by John Tavares but, even though NYI sport two dangerous lines, as JT goes so go The Isles.
Lookit Jurco, Shakin' Off Checks: Well, there's a first, second and third time for everything, but when Jurc's is able to get around or through a check whatever line he's on is instantly 50% more effective.
Best Of All...with one minor exception I cannot say that any Hawks player stood out as being bad which, I have to say, is all too rare and a pleasure to report.  Only Gustafsson was noticeably naughty; his defensive work was okay but his breakout attempts were poorly executed and his passing a bit yippy.
That's enough high fiving for now and, to be realistic, this win was against a team that is one loss away from being mathematically eliminated from a playoff berth.  Next up are The Sharks, who still need a few wins to seal their playoff berth, so let's keep it real, keep it steady and try to do this again.

Questions Abound: Canucks 5, Hawks 2

Okay, so The Hawks were a bit unlucky in this one, but not to the tune of three goals.  I have questions!
1) Did no one involved in coaching or decision making notice those couple of power plays last week in which The Hawks moved the puck and moved their feet and they scored some goals?
If so, why are we being forced to endure the same old get-the-zone (eventually, if at all) and play-catch-while-we-all-stand-still?  This is ridiculous.
2) Has the so-called Push-em-Back power play breakout scheme ever worked?  This is such a huge waste of time and, almost hilariously, they mess it up half the time, anyway (I'm lookin' at you, Gustafsson).  Yeah, I understand that they want to have Kane, primarily, enter the o-zone with speed, but what's the rush?  IF they manage to gain the zone everyone just takes their positions and stands there, anyway.  It might be smarter to decline power plays, going forward.
3) When was the last time Keith completed a pass?

Otherwise...
The Hawks crushed VAN in Corsi and chances.  Only one Hawks player was south of 50% Corsi, most were 60-70%, yet....
The Hawks' goaltending is garbage, full stop.
Sharp was stymied once and hit a crossbar.
Hinnie had a sure thing tipped away.
Seabrook maybe should have a penalty shot? (which he would have gacked, but that's not for now)
Schmaltz was excellent, so there's that.

But, wow, The Hawks have allowed 26 goals against in the last five games and were -14 in that run.  I need a drink.