[A] Gagner Ties Record: CHI 4, EDM 8

[Ton]

Sam Gagner turned on the jets and translated a 2-0 deficit into an 8-point game, tying an Oiler record for single points in a match dating back to the 80's when Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey dominated the NHL.



Unfortunately, the Blackhawks were on the receiving end of this performance. A lackluster effort on defense killed any chance of mounting a victory in the 3rd period, but offensively the Blackhawks seemed to generate a lot of opportunities and the effort was there. The definition of one dimensional play.



It's worthless to breakdown every single goal scored in the game, we may debate until we are blue in the face, everyone has their own theories. There's one thing you cannot deny--the young Oilers have the Blackhawks number this season and the good news is, it's finally over.



This was a must-win situation for the Blackhawks to stay in contention for the tight Central Division, but also for their own confidence; now going 0-3-1 in their last 4 games. Not only did they fail to get the tires rolling again, but they were blown out. Embarrassing is the only word that can be used to explain the performance tonight, from Corey Crawford to Joel Quenneville.



We'll see how the team responds tomorrow against the Calgary Flames. Hopefully they can put past the All-Star Game mentality and begin to learn the basics of defensive hockey once again.



This could be the most important stretch the Blackhawks face this season, seeing 7 more road games before heading home on February 19th where they will meet the Blues. Stumbling out of the gate certainly hasn't impressed anyone and could be a challenge to rebound, but lets face it, if they can overcome the adversity it will provide a lot of confidence and belief for the remainder of the season.



BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1. Patrick Sharp

2. Jonathan Toews

3. Jamal Mayers



Click here to view the article

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

**** off Hawks.... wow... really. Some soul searching to be done.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

The Hawks big boys should have taken out one of the *** Oilers' skilled players after the absolute lack of respect shown by the Oilers by playing their top line guys in a blowout.



Grow some fucking balls and respect the game.

 

[Variable]

Didn't play like they gave a **** that entire period, why start then? It does nothing other than make how you played the rest of the game that much worse.

 

[MassHavoc]

next

 

[Ton]

The Hawks big boys should have taken out one of the *** Oilers' skilled players after the absolute lack of respect shown by the Oilers by playing their top line guys in a blowout.



Grow some fucking balls and respect the game.

Why even complain about that?



Sounds like the Canucks when they were complaining about us "running up the score" when we beat them earlier this year.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

lol, i was bummed at first that i wasn't going to be able to see the game because I had other plans.



Now I'm glad I decided to miss the game.



Oi vey, glad to see the Hawks play a solid 60 minutes.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

The only bright spot to this game is that we don't have to see Edmonton again until next year.



Pitiful effort again tonight, time for Johnny to have one of his speeches, the boys need to get this thing figured out we're a much better team than this.



NEXT...

 

[MassHavoc]

I blame Morrison for being the d-bag tcd says he is.

 

[the canadian dream]

Im a little shocked to be honest



Conrats to gagne for something you only see once every 25 years (if that). Sucks it was against us.



We all saw the same game. We know what the issues were and some which have been there all season..was not pretty seeing them amplified and magnified like that. Goalkeeping was just the start of the craziness tonight. Too bad because the Hawks looked pretty good until the debacle started. Crawford lost us this game but there were a lot of other uglies rearing their heads also.



Keith and Seabs are going to burn out if it's not starting to happen already. Neither can sustain these minutes anymore. Leddy as talented as he is is not ready for leading that 2nd unit. Not yet. The defensive depth stinks and yes how Q handles it is also poor. Bowman needs to give him a hand though for reals. This isn't a good looking blueline right now. It's not handled well by the coach and it's not helped out by the GM. It needs to become a main focus. The goals for come..the goals agaisnt...oh how they come.



Bolland has to come off that 3rd line. Its been a shitty line all season to be honest. This Morrison at 2nd center is just going to get more aggrivating. Q, Stan who ever is responsible for it...just stop now please. get him on the second line where he deserves to be.



Bickell don't even bother anymore please. Find that team that would take him if you put him on waivers and try to get a 7th round pick. His value decreases daily. If you can't find the taker then just get the waivers over and done with and get him out of here so we can move on. Are we really concerned that he will end up in another teams jersey? I'm not. Get what you can for him and lets move on.



I have no confidence in goalkeeping at the moment. Maybe I should have been more concerned than I have been. I think tonight was a clear example of something I should be very worried about. Not only some of the goals Craw let in but his overall attituide on the ice didn't look good. Worrying about getting a blocker into Hall rather than covering back into the net? That's not acceptable with a sophomore goalie who has been inconsitent all season and who wasn't having a great game. Immature and no focus.



Did Brunette play tonight? Invisible from the start of the game onwards.



I thought the top line looked great until the goalkeeping melt down took the wind out of what appeared to be everyone on the ice. Toews and Kane were looking smart and quick. 2nd line is useless with Morrison centering it as has been stated. Sharp and Hossa need and deserve better. I don't need a 12 game try out for me to know that Morrison isn't going to work there. Sad that it's even been given the chance.



But I do believe strongly that goalkeeping certainly took the wind right out of this team tonight. I rarely blame the goalie right out but Craw was horrible tonight. His inconsistency this season has me baffled and I am sure some of the players feel a bit baffled also.



Hawks also look like they have lost a lot of team speed this season. I think we all know why. Takes one players great skating ability to be missed and change a look and dynamics of a team. While bringing in slower skaters doesn't help. Hawks have gone from one of the fastest teams in the league to an average skating team. Sad.



8 points by one player. Unreal.



On to Calagary. Now that's going to be an interesting game and reactionary one.



yah im frustrated after that one tonight.

 

[MassHavoc]

 

[the canadian dream]

But that's awsome!!!

 

[Pez68]

Crawford should only start on back to backs from here on out. Emery has to be given the job until he loses it. When Crawford was sick or hurt or whatever, and Emery was starting, he should have never lost that job. He was lights out and the team was winning. The Hawks play MUCH better with Emery in net. Where have we seen this story before? Oh, yeah, the last three seasons.



Get your fucking head on straight Crawford, because even Huet would have a hard time topping that abomination of a game.



P.S. Q still sucks.

 

[Larmer83]

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1. Andrew Brunnette

2. Sami Lepisto

3. Michael Frolik



Click here to view the article

 

[winos5]

Craptastic game.



I was doing a facepalm for most of the 3rd period.



Something needs a kick in the ass. Not sure what yet, but something needs to change.

 

[R K]

Im a little shocked to be honest



Conrats to gagne for something you only see once every 25 years (if that). Sucks it was against us.



We all saw the same game. We know what the issues were and some which have been there all season..was not pretty seeing them amplified and magnified like that. Goalkeeping was just the start of the craziness tonight. Too bad because the Hawks looked pretty good until the debacle started. Crawford lost us this game but there were a lot of other uglies rearing their heads also.



Keith and Seabs are going to burn out if it's not starting to happen already. Neither can sustain these minutes anymore. Leddy as talented as he is is not ready for leading that 2nd unit. Not yet. The defensive depth stinks and yes how Q handles it is also poor. Bowman needs to give him a hand though for reals. This isn't a good looking blueline right now. It's not handled well by the coach and it's not helped out by the GM. It needs to become a main focus. The goals for come..the goals agaisnt...oh how they come.



Bolland has to come off that 3rd line. Its been a shitty line all season to be honest. This Morrison at 2nd center is just going to get more aggrivating. Q, Stan who ever is responsible for it...just stop now please. get him on the second line where he deserves to be.



Bickell don't even bother anymore please. Find that team that would take him if you put him on waivers and try to get a 7th round pick. His value decreases daily. If you can't find the taker then just get the waivers over and done with and get him out of here so we can move on. Are we really concerned that he will end up in another teams jersey? I'm not. Get what you can for him and lets move on.



I have no confidence in goalkeeping at the moment. Maybe I should have been more concerned than I have been. I think tonight was a clear example of something I should be very worried about. Not only some of the goals Craw let in but his overall attituide on the ice didn't look good. Worrying about getting a blocker into Hall rather than covering back into the net? That's not acceptable with a sophomore goalie who has been inconsitent all season and who wasn't having a great game. Immature and no focus.



Did Brunette play tonight? Invisible from the start of the game onwards.



I thought the top line looked great until the goalkeeping melt down took the wind out of what appeared to be everyone on the ice. Toews and Kane were looking smart and quick. 2nd line is useless with Morrison centering it as has been stated. Sharp and Hossa need and deserve better. I don't need a 12 game try out for me to know that Morrison isn't going to work there. Sad that it's even been given the chance.



But I do believe strongly that goalkeeping certainly took the wind right out of this team tonight. I rarely blame the goalie right out but Craw was horrible tonight. His inconsistency this season has me baffled and I am sure some of the players feel a bit baffled also.



Hawks also look like they have lost a lot of team speed this season. I think we all know why. Takes one players great skating ability to be missed and change a look and dynamics of a team. While bringing in slower skaters doesn't help. Hawks have gone from one of the fastest teams in the league to an average skating team. Sad.



8 points by one player. Unreal.



On to Calagary. Now that's going to be an interesting game and reactionary one.



yah im frustrated after that one tonight.

Did Brunette play? LOL was it that bad you forgot to watch the game. He left in the first and never returned. Shortening the bench even more. Upper Body.

 

[DBQHawkFan]

Im a little shocked to be honest



Conrats to gagne for something you only see once every 25 years (if that). Sucks it was against us.



We all saw the same game. We know what the issues were and some which have been there all season..was not pretty seeing them amplified and magnified like that. Goalkeeping was just the start of the craziness tonight. Too bad because the Hawks looked pretty good until the debacle started. Crawford lost us this game but there were a lot of other uglies rearing their heads also.



Keith and Seabs are going to burn out if it's not starting to happen already. Neither can sustain these minutes anymore. Leddy as talented as he is is not ready for leading that 2nd unit. Not yet. The defensive depth stinks and yes how Q handles it is also poor. Bowman needs to give him a hand though for reals. This isn't a good looking blueline right now. It's not handled well by the coach and it's not helped out by the GM. It needs to become a main focus. The goals for come..the goals agaisnt...oh how they come.



Bolland has to come off that 3rd line. Its been a shitty line all season to be honest. This Morrison at 2nd center is just going to get more aggrivating. Q, Stan who ever is responsible for it...just stop now please. get him on the second line where he deserves to be.



Bickell don't even bother anymore please. Find that team that would take him if you put him on waivers and try to get a 7th round pick. His value decreases daily. If you can't find the taker then just get the waivers over and done with and get him out of here so we can move on. Are we really concerned that he will end up in another teams jersey? I'm not. Get what you can for him and lets move on.



I have no confidence in goalkeeping at the moment. Maybe I should have been more concerned than I have been. I think tonight was a clear example of something I should be very worried about. Not only some of the goals Craw let in but his overall attituide on the ice didn't look good. Worrying about getting a blocker into Hall rather than covering back into the net? That's not acceptable with a sophomore goalie who has been inconsitent all season and who wasn't having a great game. Immature and no focus.



Did Brunette play tonight? Invisible from the start of the game onwards.



I thought the top line looked great until the goalkeeping melt down took the wind out of what appeared to be everyone on the ice. Toews and Kane were looking smart and quick. 2nd line is useless with Morrison centering it as has been stated. Sharp and Hossa need and deserve better. I don't need a 12 game try out for me to know that Morrison isn't going to work there. Sad that it's even been given the chance.



But I do believe strongly that goalkeeping certainly took the wind right out of this team tonight. I rarely blame the goalie right out but Craw was horrible tonight. His inconsistency this season has me baffled and I am sure some of the players feel a bit baffled also.



Hawks also look like they have lost a lot of team speed this season. I think we all know why. Takes one players great skating ability to be missed and change a look and dynamics of a team. While bringing in slower skaters doesn't help. Hawks have gone from one of the fastest teams in the league to an average skating team. Sad.



8 points by one player. Unreal.



On to Calagary. Now that's going to be an interesting game and reactionary one.



yah im frustrated after that one tonight.

Agree on the goaltending. Crawford is not SC winning material right now. He was all over the place last night. Out of position way too often. Way out of the crease at times. And whiffing on Barker's shot was inexcusable. Not sure why Q even let Bickell skate the 3rd even in a blowout. Obviously the messages they have been sending this kid aren't working. 2 penalties in like 3 shifts. And the one he drew, he hit himself in the face. Morrison was terrible. Totally useless. That was a bad pick-up. And Scott looked even slower last night than usual. Of course by the time he was getting shifts, the game was over and it didn't matter.



On a side note, why was the wrap-around goal allowed. Smyth was in the crease and in a small way preventing Crawford from getting to the other post. Not that he would have gotten there anyway. Highlight of the game was watching Braker trip over the blueline. Hahaha!

 

[fanof19]

Crawford should only start on back to backs from here on out. Emery has to be given the job until he loses it. When Crawford was sick or hurt or whatever, and Emery was starting, he should have never lost that job. He was lights out and the team was winning. The Hawks play MUCH better with Emery in net. Where have we seen this story before? Oh, yeah, the last three seasons.



Get your fucking head on straight Crawford, because even Huet would have a hard time topping that abomination of a game.



P.S. Q McDonough still sucks.

fixed

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Ahhhhhh seems some of you guys are finally waking up and realizing Crawford will not win us a Cup this year. I never liked him and I don't think he ever will win a Cup. I am sick and tired of hearing Oh its his one full year or he did great in the playoffs every goalie has one team that he plays great against, but you need a consistant goalie . He has been in the league for how long know, don't care if its minors or not, he has been called up for years. Im sorry but he is a head case like Huet in my book, you may not agree with me thats fine. Like Pez said Emrey should be allowed to get another streach of games its only fair. I have said the team plays better win he is in net, you can see the difference Im not the only one that sees that. Every time the game starts Craw looks like he is about to take a shit and looks dazed, that is not a player I want in my crease, he was pulled out games ago to work on his game, and its not working, you have to pull the plug before its too late. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM IN NET ANY MORE, only time is when Emery is getting rest.



Now, As much as Crawford takes blame some of it goes on our D that can't seem to figure out how to check. They look lost and look like they don't care anymore either.



Well then there is our coach Q, I think many players are loosing him, they don't care, you can tell when a team gives up in the game and its starting to show once in a while, that is not a good sign.



Finally I had said this team can go 6-2-1 or 5-2-2. I am still sticking by it, IF Emery plays the rest of the way.

 

[Rex]

you think the answer is simply a goaltending swap? Come on man, get your ass together. We could have had Hasek in net last night, and likely got blown out. Story of Crow's season, will make the big save, will face only a few shots in the period, but when the puck gets low in our zone, the D craps out and allows as many chances as it takes to put the puck in the net.



I thought we would miss Campbell, but I honestly didn't think we would miss him this much in the defensive zone.



Also, Kruger shouldn't be on the team right now, especially as a fucking winger. Q needs to get his head out of his ass.