4-1-1 Start

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Fantastic game tonight against a hot Colorado team coming off a dominate road win against Phoenix on Tuesday. Toews is scoring while Keith and Leddy both played like the top pairing they are being counted on to be. Was Jesse Rodger's piece about 19 and 2's slow start a bit premature? Probably.

The two losses so far were both very winnable games. The Boston game was definitely the more frustrating of the two even though it resulted in gaining a point in the standings. The Dallas loss was with a goofy lineup filled with bad line juggling (Montador as a forward) that felt way too much like a pre-season game (albeit against a very hot goalie). The Hawks were inexcusably, poorly prepared.

The point of this thread is that the Hawks, despite looking impressive in the two latest games, are under the radar right now. Tonight's win against the Avalanche wont help with that fact (and if they manage to win again on Saturday you can disregard this nonsense completely), but so far everyone seems to be talking and writing about:

-The surprises Dallas, Colorado, Leafs
-The impressive Washington (undefeated), Philly, Wings, Pittsburgh
-he crappy Columbus, Tampa, Vancouver/Boston hangovers

The two losses the Hawks have suffered have really thrown everyone off their scent. If they were 6-0 (which was certainly possible), they'd be atop power rankings and the subject of a lot of analysis. They're big boys and they can handle that kind of scrutiny, but right now, it's gotta be nice to be just outside the spotlight...winning.

Bottom line: Saturday is a biggie. Tonight was a biggie too and the Hawks played brilliantly against a very eager, fast and impressive Colorado team. If they can beat Colorado again on Saturday, they'll be 5-1-1 with back to back wins over an impressive young team.

Their record through the first 7 games of the Cup winning 09/10 season? 5-1-1

 

[Tyler Juranovich]

It's really nice to see the Hawks winning again. They have looked VERY good offensively. I have no worries about the offense as long as the majority of the players are healthy. Crawford, well, just look at his numbers. He's played exactly how we wanted him to. No slump so far.
Life is a little happier when the Hawks are winning.

 

[Dementia]

I feel much better about this team then I did the 09/10 team. Crawford is infinitely better then Huet/Niemi we're during the 09/10 Regular Season. Now our young team is more experienced and we finally have that depth back that we lacked last year.

I don't think we will do as well in the regular season as we did in our cup year because people will be gunning for us but I definitely see a Top 3 seed in the West.

 

[LonghornBob]

I didn't catch all of Pat's comment but it had something to do with the Avs' record coming against less than impressive competition. I think I heard somewhere that they had only beaten one team that has a winning record. Even so, it was an impressive win.

The only thing that stands out to me from a negative standpoint so far is that the off-season signings appear to have been pretty bad. Brunette has been good. I've like him. Mayers has been better than I expected. Unfortunately Montado, Carcillo, and O'Donnell look like they're skating in mud. Montador in particular has just been killing us. He never gets the puck in a board battle, he is always a step behind, and he can't pass to save his life. So far that was a choke.

Oh yeah Olesz... who? Does he even play anymore?

Anyway I liked the game last night, especially that deke badass "I am, I'm not, I just did" backhand shot by Cap, and I'm encouraged.

Dallas will fall apart. Colorado is too young and they aren't a playoff type team. The team that is scaring the shit out of me is Washington.

I'll call my shot: Chicago in 7 over Washington.

 

[tbo41fan]

I didn't catch all of Pat's comment but it had something to do with the Avs' record coming against less than impressive competition. I think I heard somewhere that they had only beaten one team that has a winning record. Even so, it was an impressive win.

The only thing that stands out to me from a negative standpoint so far is that the off-season signings appear to have been pretty bad. Brunette has been good. I've like him. Mayers has been better than I expected. Unfortunately Montado, Carcillo, and O'Donnell look like they're skating in mud. Montador in particular has just been killing us. He never gets the puck in a board battle, he is always a step behind, and he can't pass to save his life. So far that was a choke.

Oh yeah Olesz... who? Does he even play anymore?

Anyway I liked the game last night, especially that deke badass "I am, I'm not, I just did" backhand shot by Cap, and I'm encouraged.

Dallas will fall apart. Colorado is too young and they aren't a playoff type team. The team that is scaring the shit out of me is Washington.

I'll call my shot: Chicago in 7 over Washington.

Carcillo skating in mud? Have you been watching the games at all?


as for Olesz...why mix and match players when the team we have out there is performing well...if I was Q, I sit Olesz and everyone else not playing until we hit a slump

 

[Jntg4]

gonna

 

[BigP50]

Lets Go Hawks!

 

[Captain Iago]

Carcillo skating in mud? Have you been watching the games at all?


as for Olesz...why mix and match players when the team we have out there is performing well...if I was Q, I sit Olesz and everyone else not playing until we hit a slump

This is how Q will do it, most likely. The lineup will remain the same until a loss or injury.

Carbomb has been fantastic! That was a pretty sweet pass from behind setting up Toews on his absolutely slick backhander yesterday.

 

[tbo41fan]

This is how Q will do it, most likely. The lineup will remain the same until a loss or injury.

Carbomb has been fantastic! That was a pretty sweet pass from behind setting up Toews on his absolutely slick backhander yesterday.

i know right?

idk how anyone can say Carcillo looks like he is skating in mud?

 

[Uman85]

Big game tomorrow. A win would be huge. Let's get it done!

 

[LonghornBob]

Got the NHL package at home and the girlfriend's house and haven't missed a game. Maybe I'm high but compared to the rest of the team neither Carcillo, montador, nor o'donnell look like skaters to me...

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Carcillo has actually been playing better than I expected. I think all of the signings look good. I'd take Montador over Campoli right now.

 

[Captain Iago]

Got the NHL package at home and the girlfriend's house and haven't missed a game. Maybe I'm high but compared to the rest of the team neither Carcillo, montador, nor o'donnell look like skaters to me...

You're right; however, skating circles around guys isn't their game.