[A] Depleted: CHI 1, NSH 6

[Ton]

The Chicago Blackhawks could not get anything going on either end of the ice against the Predators with a depleted line-up.



Major issues at center and defense were exposed as the Blackhawks were forced to play Brendan Morrison (0, 0, minus-3) and Sean O'Donnell (0, 0, minus-1) in place of Marcus Kruger and Duncan Keith. Although the score was completely lopsided, the Predators really did not produce too much offensively.



Corey Crawford was pulled after allowing four goals, but it wasn't exactly his fault either. Most of the Predators chances leaked through due to wildly lucky deflections including the third goal, which was a slap shot from Shea Weber that happened to snap Marian Hossa's stick in half, ricochet off Alex Radulov as well as Patric Hornqvist and past Crawford.



Ray Emery didn't fair well either, allowing 2 goals on the remaining 9 shots.



It wasn't all bad, the line of Andrew Brunette, Patrick Kane, and Viktor Stalberg continued to show positive strides while the rest of the team struggled. Brendan Morrison was among the worst Blackhawks on the ice, so bad at center that Joel Quenneville was forced to move Patrick Sharp back at pivot mid-way through the game.



Regardless, this game was one to forget. With a depleted line-up missing a top line defenseman along with an elite NHL center is going to hurt any team when they are battling a contender. Not to mention the plethora of depth missing from the line-up. There shouldn't be too much worry over a contest like this, at the same time it would have been nice to see some fight for a closer game.



BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1.Patrick Kane

2. Viktor Stalberg

3. Andrew Brunette



Click here to view the article

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Radulov!!!!!!!!!

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Just one of those games. Man most of those Nashville goals were odd. Oh well, on to NJ on Tuesday.

 

[R K]

They got every bounce they could but holy **** we are WEAK at center. Toews and Kruger out we are fucked. Nice of Q to put SHARP back at Center when it was far too late. Nice of him to pull Crawford too for no fucking reason.



Only bonus was Bollig kicking the SHIT out of Tootoo.



They were all over Kane and appears that was their game plan.



Morrisson and Odonnell, just plain suck. Morrisson 100% responsible for goal #1. Started the end.

 

[R K]

Radulov!!!!!!!!!

**** him. Russian fucking pussy. He should go back to where he came from. Fucking cheaters.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Game was a shit sandwich for sure, but did anyone really expect anything different with the lineup we had to play?

 

[R K]

Game was a shit sandwich for sure, but did anyone really expect anything different with the lineup we had to play?

Exactly, although I did expect them to tire a little in the 3rd and for us not to waffle. You still have a boat load of talent even with the goofy line up.



At this point the next time Q puts Morrisson in the line up should be his last day of coaching. At least give him Pirri who is back now. Oh and put fucking Hayes back in you dick wad. Frolik sucks dick as well.

 

[the canadian dream]

For a guy who was a target all night and who was left off the scoresheet Kane actually had a good game. At times he was the only Blackhawk that seemed alive. That pass he made to Oduya in the 1st period was disgusting. Oduya should have had that..may have dictated the game. I likes Stalbergs game tonight also for some reason. His speed really does always show.



Hossa has to play bigger against teams like the Preds and their style.



Morrison truelly does suck. I see nothing in his game where it says that he is even trying. Game is way past him physically and mentally. Like I said in the gdt. Hawks will never beat the Preds being thin up the middle like they are right now..no team can. They force players out to the perimeter better than any team in the league.



Preds are nasty good. Best iced Preds team yet. I don't think any team in the West wants to open against them. I don't blame any team for wanting not to.



Keiths def missed in games like this also. Not enough speed on the back with him out. Q's stuck with some pretty iffy pairings now. I never liked and never will like Seabs and Hammer together. Leddy and Oduya had moments but not enough good ones. ODonell is just a waste and I feel sorry for Olsen being paired with him. THat's a really slow pairing that one.



Anyways..didn't expect a win in this one. Moving on to New Jersey and a very fucking hot Kovalchuk.

 

[Rex]

Nice of him to pull Crawford too for no fucking reason.

from looking at the internet, you would think every goal he let in was stopable. People turn on Crow so easily, none of those shots he faced he had a chance on, and Roenick is a dick for saying that the third goal (tipped four times) should have been stopped

 

[Ton]

Craw has had to face a ridiculous amount of deflections lately... makes you wonder wtf is going on with the Hockey Gods.

 

[Rex]

Craw has had to face a ridiculous amount of deflections lately... makes you wonder wtf is going on with the Hockey Gods.

I thought it was bullshit too on one of the goals Eddie O shouts "That's a goal Crawford has to have! There's no excuse on that one! Awful goal!" and the other announcer just goes "Eddie it was tipped, it was a tipped shot!"



and then Emery lets in a goal with no fucking traffic what so ever and Eddie says "Emery had no chance on that one!"

 

[R K]

from looking at the internet, you would think every goal he let in was stopable. People turn on Crow so easily, none of those shots he faced he had a chance on, and Roenick is a dick for saying that the third goal (tipped four times) should have been stopped

LOL I didn't hear JR, but that was the PP goal you are talking about. Not only was it deflected three times it was such a hard shot it shattered someones stick on the way. **** the Cupless JR.



There was ZERO reason to pull Crawford. It was the TEAM in front of him. If Morrison is ANY TYPE of fucking hockey player that first goal NEVER happens. If the fucking forwards on the team decided to fucking HIT someone or even put a body near them the 2nd goal never happens either. They allowed them to walk out of THEIR ZONE, un touched, with the fucking puck.



Being down 2-0 to this team, is the kiss of death.

 

[Rex]

LOL I didn't hear JR, but that was the PP goal you are talking about. Not only was it deflected three times it was such a hard shot it shattered someones stick on the way. **** the Cupless JR.



There was ZERO reason to pull Crawford. It was the TEAM in front of him. If Morrison is ANY TYPE of fucking hockey player that first goal NEVER happens. If the fucking forwards on the team decided to fucking HIT someone or even put a body near them the 2nd goal never happens either. They allowed them to walk out of THEIR ZONE, un touched, with the fucking puck.



Being down 2-0 to this team, is the kiss of death.

Jesus we think alike, it's scary. Not only was I cussing out Morrison after the first goal so loud that it scared my kitten, but when Nashville scored the second goal I turned to Emma and said "Might as well turn it off. You score first on Nashville you're good. You don't come back from two against Nashville. It's going to be Trap City"

 

[R K]

Missing Toews, Kruger, Keith and Montedor this team will have issues. That's just far to much on both D and at Center!

 

[Rex]

Missing Toews, Kruger, Keith and Montedor this team will have issues. That's just far to much on both D and at Center!

haven't been a Kruger fan at all, but he's a huge upgrade over Morrison!

 

[R K]

Kruger has been playing very well.

 

[Rex]

Kruger has been playing very well.

lately, he had. He's been on a great line. Though for most of the season he was my "weakest link"

 

[roshinaya]

I don't want to see this team in the first round, so it's good the Hawks lost. Keep staying in the 6th position, even if the Kings might be the opponents in the first round. Let the Wangs wrestle with the Preds.

 

[Rex]

I don't want to see this team in the first round, so it's good the Hawks lost. Keep staying in the 6th position, even if the Kings might be the opponents in the first round. Let the Wangs wrestle with the Preds.

If we have to get 6th seed, I would prefer Dallas or Phoenix

 

[PYsebaert]

Besides some good strides by Kane I didnt see any offence last night. How is our cap situation, do we have enought to bring back Olesz? He looks goos with the Hogs and didnt get a fair chance with the Hawks IMO. Bring up him and Pirri and put Morrison and Frolik in the press box.



Olesz-Kane-Hossa

Sharp-Pirri-Stalberg

Bickell-Bolland-Shaw

Bollig/Heyes-Mayers-Brunette



Let's give Olesz some solid min with an off line and see what he can bring.