[A] Dashing Through The Crow: CHI 4, CBJ 1

[Ton]

The Blackhawks have been so hot lately, it melted all the snow away for Christmas in Chicago this holiday season.



For this particular game you might as well throw the stat sheet away, this win wasn't exactly the most spectacular win... unless you love seeing Corey Crawford make Rick Nash and Jeff Carter look like peewee shooters.



Crawford came up with 37 saves on 38 shots and allowing James Wisniewski the lone Columbus goal, typical that a former Hawk scores. In his last 2 starts he has a 1.01 GAA as well as a mint .966 SV% rightfully earning him another start on Wednesday and leaving Ray Emery to keep the bench warm for another stretch here.



Viktor Stalberg also continued his red-hot streak with another two goals, making that 6 points in his last three games. He is only 2 points away from matching his career-high 24 points in 44 less games and has already matched his career-high of 3 game-winning goals. His plus-12 is currently 3rd best on the team, only behind Hossa and Sharp.



Speaking of the baby poppers, both of them continued their spectacular season together with Sharp tipping in the 1st goal of the game off a Hossa feed. After Stalberg's spotlight shined twice Hossa marked a tally of his own from Dave Bolland--who had a pair of assists himself.



The Blackhawks continue to litter the top 5 category in NHL stats:

• Goals: Jonathan Toews [T-2nd]
  
• Points: Marian Hossa [T-4th]
  
• Plus-Minus: Marian Hossa [5th]
  
• Power-play Goals: Marian Hossa [T-4th]
  
• Short-handed Goals: Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland [T-5th]
  

Neither Corey Crawford or Ray Emery crack the top five in any particular goal-tending stat although both have been fairly solid lately.



Although we were badly out-chanced, the team still found a way to win. Not sure to take that as a good sign or a sign of luck.



Needless to say, the Jackets were a team that we needed to beat. No, they are not a threat to pass us in the standings, but they are team that has only been able to grab 9 wins all season. Not to confuse anyone, but that pace is similar to the Blackhawks in 03-04--the darkest years. Two points are huge and the Blackhawks stole them off the table to continue to lead the NHL in points.

BLACKHAWKS STARS OF THE GAME



1. Corey Crawford

2. Viktor Stalberg

3. Marian Hossa​

Click here to view the article

 

[the canadian dream]

I really have a hard time seeing how anyone could really still hate on Stalberg. He said it himself in his interview after the game. Last year was really his 1st full season in the league and he was aware of the things he needed to work on and like any player they need some time to adjust. For a guy that has produced on every line he has been placed on (4th line questionable but he never belongs on any 4th line in the NHL) it's difficult to agree with any Stalberg bashing. Guys giving this team depth scoring that it needs and his speed is such a huge bonus for us. If anything at this point in his career it looks like the Leafs gave up on him way too early.



Anyways despite a dull 1st period (not shocked its the day after Christmas I have a hard time seeing many players being full on to start any hockey game) and a little melt down in the 3rd (which is nothing unusual in any hockey game for any team) the Hawks played a solid team game yet again. Don't care who the opponent in all I ever want to see is a good effort and the Hawks put in a good effort.



Toews + Sharp lead the Western conference in goals? Unreal. Hossa now isn't far behind either. Offense on this team is dynamite.



Nice game by Craw also. Not tested too much but had some good saves.

 

[Ton]

Agreed on all points TCD. Stalberg is on pace for over 20 goals this year and over 30 assists which means over 50 points..



Lets put that into perspective for a second:



Kris Versteeg 09-10: 20 goals, 24 assists, 44 points



Andrew Ladd 09-10: 17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points



Dustin Byfuglien 09-10: 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points

 

[the canadian dream]

I understand what you are doing Ton but i don't think we even should have to go the road of comparing Stalberg to these other players. As far as raw skill levels each player has their own set. But the points are there.



Ladd didn't have the speed but he was strong on his skates and a solid 2 way forward who would go into any dirty areas.



Buff was just size with a good shot and had an addictive character on the ice.



Versteeg is probably the one guy more comparable to Stalberg due to size but at the same time they are also 2 complete different skill sets. Versteeg is a bit more inventive with the puck and a bit more aggressive along the boards.



If we combined all players together we would probably have the best hockey player in the NHL lol. All 3 of these guys would love to have Stalbergs speed though and it is a huge part of his game which he is utilizing.



That's the thing I like about Stalberg he knows his strengths and he plays to them while knowing his weaknesses and trying to play the best he can around those. And he is still learning!!!



I don't need to compare Stalberg to these past Hawks. I don't think that would really be fair to Stalberg either. He's putting in solid efforts and it's paying off. All we can ask of as fans I believe.

 

[Maiden]

I miss Versteeg

 

[R K]

I miss Versteeg

The Versteeg you see now is not the same Versteeg that played here. His game as improved big time offensively. Here he was far too much of a puck hog.

 

[roshinaya]

I understand what you are doing Ton but i don't think we even should have to go the road of comparing Stalberg to these other players. As far as raw skill levels each player has their own set. But the points are there.



Ladd didn't have the speed but he was strong on his skates and a solid 2 way forward who would go into any dirty areas.



Buff was just size with a good shot and had an addictive character on the ice.



Versteeg is probably the one guy more comparable to Stalberg due to size but at the same time they are also 2 complete different skill sets. Versteeg is a bit more inventive with the puck and a bit more aggressive along the boards.



If we combined all players together we would probably have the best hockey player in the NHL lol. All 3 of these guys would love to have Stalbergs speed though and it is a huge part of his game which he is utilizing.



That's the thing I like about Stalberg he knows his strengths and he plays to them while knowing his weaknesses and trying to play the best he can around those. And he is still learning!!!



I don't need to compare Stalberg to these past Hawks. I don't think that would really be fair to Stalberg either. He's putting in solid efforts and it's paying off. All we can ask of as fans I believe.

Agreed. I never got the silly hate Stålberg got from some and whining about a guy making under $1m is a bit dumb if you ask me. How about whining about, say the over $3M player with less points and a minus rating? Stålberg sometimes flubs good goal chances, but so does other players. He has found his confidence level and it shows. The speed he brings will always be a factor, even if he wouldn't bring anything else. He also looks to have worked as a sparkplug to lines that weren't working. For the price and versatility Stålberg has, there should be no cause to whine about him.



BTW; Versteeg is 5'10" and Stålberg is 6'3".

 

[LordKOTL]

My beef with Stalberg is the same with any player...you produce something (even as little as being a decoy for everyone else) fine, but if you're a waste of a roster slot, I'd rather someone else who will do something be there.



Like Bickell.

Like Frolik.



However, all of the team seem to be producing as late, no real complaints about anyone on the team except it seemed we took our foot off of the gas in the 3rd.



Oh, and monster game by Craw.

 

[Ton]

Wait a sec, I don't quite understand what you are saying LordKOTL, are you suggesting Frolik and Bickell are better players than Stalberg?



If thats the case, I disagree.... not just a little but to the fullest extent.



If not, I don't think Stalberg is on par with Frolik or Bickell at all, in fact I think Stalberg is a great secondary scorer, probably the best on the team. More-so than Bolland at this point. Behind Toews, Kane, Sharp and Hossa, I think Stalberg is the next best thing.

 

[R K]

When he's consistent. You have to admit he's blown more scoring chances than Grimson has boyfriends.



Stalberg has won two games so far this year for the Hawks. Both against Columbus, both two goal affairs.

 

[nana]

BTW; Versteeg is 5'10" and Stålberg is 6'3".

I was going to add this as well. I believe Versteeg's height is inflated a bit on the official roster information (as many NHL players are), but I believe Stalberg is actually that tall... making the size differential that much more significant.

 

[LordKOTL]

Not quite Ton. What I mean is that when Bickell and Frolik are mailing it in, I'd want someone in there at least trying to play the role. Bickell had a pressbox stint for that very reason, yet in the past, Stalberg was he who could do no wrong.



And let's not forget "we shouldn't be whining about Bickell who makes sub $1mil...that's dumb." Yeah, it's really dumb to expect someone his size to actually hit.



However, I would agree Stalberg has found a niche as a secondary scorer, and he did look good with Bickell and Bolland. He seems to look good in that role and as long as Bickell is still using that body there's no real reason to complain.

 

[R K]

Rougly half of his goal production has come from two games. Ironically against the same team. Not saying anything against him, just pointing that out.

 

[PatrickShart]

Roughly 1/3 of Kane's goal production came in 1 game vs Nashville...

.

He's played in 33gms...longest streak he's gone without a point was a 4 game stint in Oct



He's 10th on the team in TOI per game - all of his points are Even Strength



He's played and produced on every line he's played on, and has probably been the one player to bounce around on all lines/not have that consistency that most others get (as consistent as you can expect playing under Q). He works hard, doesn't *****/never hear a bad thing about him, and his hard work is paying off.

 

[R K]

And you can not compare Kane to Stalberg. Although I'm not sure if that's what you were doing or not.



He also leads the team with 25ast. Which that is what Kane is. He's a set up man.

 

[PatrickShart]

I know you don't bag on Viktor...but not sure why pointing out or saying that "roughly half" his goals were against CLB mattered. Maybe if he had any PP time, he'd have a few more? Although I don't think he should be a PP/specialty team player...his production vs minutes played is very good, regardless of having 2 - 2g games against Columbus.



He's also 3rd in +/-

38 hits is 4th on forwards

3rd in GWG



His shot percentage is just under Hossa's and has the same amount of even strength goals as he does - (although 2 of Hossa's even strength goals..are empty netters). but Stalberg blows too many chances...or hits the goalie in the chest too much

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Can you imagine how good Stalberg would be if he had good hands? Maybe that's what he's been working recently... he's looked great.

 

[PatrickShart]

Yeah...those 2 posts he hit in PITT...better hands, and those are in.



Or Hossa too...if he had a better shot, he would've hit that open net vs PHX instead of Yandles skate - and the Hawks would have another win at home.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I'm not bagging him at all... you and I both know he's bricked or missed tons of wide open chances and that those misses don't factor as shots for his shooting %.



He's playing great and I hope he continues to improve... doesn't erase the past though.



Please don't compare Hossa and Stalberg... you know that Hossa would have buried most of the wide open nets that Stalberg has missed.



Still Stalberg is playing awesome and the Hawks lead the league in points so all is good in the world!

 

[Ton]

I think Hossa blows a lot of opportunities too.



At least they both are in a position to create the opportunity.



I never understood the whole concept of "he blows too many opportunities" when he is definitely generating a lot of them. I'd rather have Stalberg take 20 chances and score on 1 than Frolik create nothing in 5 games and get one chance and score.