[A] Jekyll And Hyde: Blackhawks Lose 4-1

[Ton]

The Blackhawks started the game with a burst of energy that gave hope for another win but could not continue to push the pace after the Coyotes took over in the second half of the first period.



Crawford simply did not play well, making 17 saves on 21 shots before getting pulled in favor of Ray Emery. A few of them he would gladly like another chance on.



After getting scored on 16 minutes into the first period, the Blackhawks swagger seemed to change and by the 2nd period, the Coyotes found enough confidence to take over the momentum.



Not all the blame lays on Crawfords shoulders, the defense had a hard time the remainder of the night, namely Leddy and Hjalmarrson having the toughest time of the pairings combining for a minus-5 night.



The offense never got rolling, although Sharp finally potted one with 43 seconds remaining in the 3rd period. The rest of the group had their chances but could not get any pucks past Mike Smith; Bolland, Kane, Keith and Hossa sharing great opportunities without the results.



SOPHOMORE SLUMP



You can't blame Crawford entirely for the lackluster performance given by the Blackhawks in their first game back at the United Center, but his performance was another to be forgotten. With 17 saves on 21 shots, Corey gained a .810 save percentage with 4 goals against.



The offense didn't show up, the defense gave a lot of great opportunities, but it's games like this that your goaltending needs to shine. Mike Smith certainly was up to the task



TOP OF THE LEAGUE, FOR HOW LONG?



Only five points separate the #1 seed from the #11 seed, the Blackhawks have to get back on track otherwise they may see themselves out of the playoff picture by Christmas.



BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1. Dave Bolland

2. Brent Seabrook

3. Patrick Kane



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[supraman]

I can't decide if this team is more frustrating to watch this year or last year

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Brutal.

 

[roshinaya]

Saw the first period, didn't like what I saw, went to sleep. Woke up disappointed. What is it with this team that makes them this bipolar? Is it really coaching or not enough guys giving a rats ass? Surely, they must have enough pride in their craft that they wouldn't allow the other team to out-work them. And the only goal I saw was weak from Crawford's part. He might have that dreaded sophomore slump after all. That only means that the defense better start working harder to make his job easier.



It gets slightly frustrating to see the Hawks line up a couple of wins in a row and getting your hopes up that they finally found their stride, only to shit the bed a couple of games later by simply being lazy. The only reason the Hawks have managed to stay on top of the conference is that they have played more games than the rest, who are quickly gaining on them. Before they know it they might be on the outside looking in for Christmas, akin to the dark times when they were out of playoff contention by the same time. Luckily that's not the case here (I hope). A lot of false starts and sputtering is what I've seen by this team so far, and I am not happy. I really believed that this years team would be a force once they got things going, but a quarter into the season I've seen no signs of that being the case.

Bowman, Quenneville and the boys, get your shit together!

 

[bookjones]

Missed the game but I read somewhere that Foley made a snarky joke during the Havi interview about Q to paraphrase, "pulling names out of a hat for line combinations" and I was all Bwahahaha! and OMG, talk about what an awkward TV moment that had to be. They also said Havi seemed frustrated by the Q Random Line Generator of High Panic himself. I don't give Foley credit for a lot these days but sometimes he still pulls out an astute zinger or observation and can use some sarcasm to get his point across. You know a situation has got to be pitiful when fucking Foley can't even ignore the absurdity anymore.

 

[LordKOTL]

Pulled from here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2011112904



Most teams say the first game back after a long road trip is usually difficult, but Sharp wasn’t buying it.

“An excuse, an easy way out,” he said.

“We’ve got to be way more consistent and put a better effort on home ice than that.”



Thank you for pointing that out, Sharp. Now, try to get the rest of the team and coaching staff to buy into it, because that was Calgary revisited on our home ice.

 

[roshinaya]

Talk is cheap. It's what happens on the ice that matters. The players can say all the platitudes they can and are expected to say, but back that up by a performance on the ice, plz!

 

[LordKOTL]

Talk is cheap. It's what happens on the ice that matters. The players can say all the platitudes they can and are expected to say, but back that up by a performance on the ice, plz!

My point exactly.

 

[Tater]

Missed the game but I read somewhere that Foley made a snarky joke during the Havi interview about Q to paraphrase, "pulling names out of a hat for line combinations" and I was all Bwahahaha! and OMG, talk about what an awkward TV moment that had to be. They also said Havi seemed frustrated by the Q Random Line Generator of High Panic himself. I don't give Foley credit for a lot these days but sometimes he still pulls out an astute zinger or observation and can use some sarcasm to get his point across. You know a situation has got to be pitiful when fucking Foley can't even ignore the absurdity anymore.

That pretty much sums up what was said.

The funny thing is, at least at the start of the third the lines weren't changed.

 

[supraman]

The random line generator kills this team. It has always hampered more than helped.



It is one thing to try a different line setup for a few games and see how it plays out but to just constantly shuffle the fucking lines is absurd. Chemistry in hockey is real, we all know it and it doesn't develop instantly, so if you don't give these lines some time to gel together all you are doing is hurting yourself.



the lack of effort right now is the biggest issue. Is it the players are tired of Q's random line generator and hate "coming to work" or are the players complacent since the stars have won their cup?



I can't speak for everyone the board but I don't mind losing if we played hard and still lost a la the sharks game. I have no issue with the loss, sucks we lost but can't say we didn't try to win it. Last night, we didn't try most nights we dont try. I think my brother said it, JT is the only out there that gives a ****.

 

[LordKOTL]

The random line generator kills this team. It has always hampered more than helped.



It is one thing to try a different line setup for a few games and see how it plays out but to just constantly shuffle the fucking lines is absurd. Chemistry in hockey is real, we all know it and it doesn't develop instantly, so if you don't give these lines some time to gel together all you are doing is hurting yourself.



the lack of effort right now is the biggest issue. Is it the players are tired of Q's random line generator and hate "coming to work" or are the players complacent since the stars have won their cup?



I can't speak for everyone the board but I don't mind losing if we played hard and still lost a la the sharks game. I have no issue with the loss, sucks we lost but can't say we didn't try to win it. Last night, we didn't try most nights we dont try. I think my brother said it, JT is the only out there that gives a ****.

I agree, but who gives a **** varies per game. JT may be the most consitstant in giving a ****, but at some point I think his captaincy has to take over and he needs to do something beyond the "Captain Serious" archetype he's known for, and shock the shit out of everyone else to show that he really is pissed and upset that the team is so schizophrenic--unless he really isn't that pissed when we mail in games, and if so then there's a bigger issue.

 

[supraman]

I agree, but who gives a **** varies per game. JT may be the most consitstant in giving a ****, but at some point I think his captaincy has to take over and he needs to do something beyond the "Captain Serious" archetype he's known for, and shock the shit out of everyone else to show that he really is pissed and upset that the team is so schizophrenic--unless he really isn't that pissed when we mail in games, and if so then there's a bigger issue.

I agreed but most nights most of the team seems not to give a ****. Maybe JT needs to yell and scream and kick things or something. I dunno but this is last year all over again, a world beating team on paper and frustrating to watch in reality.

 

[roshinaya]

Who knows what goes on and is said in the locker room during and after the game. But maybe JT screaming and throwing shit around would get their attention. Maybe his captain Serious gameface thing isn't working anymore. They could at least try to emulate his work ethic on the ice.

 

[R K]

Q blows ass.



That is all.

 

[supraman]

Who knows what goes on and is said in the locker room during and after the game. But maybe JT screaming and throwing shit around would get their attention. Maybe his captain Serious gameface thing isn't working anymore. They could at least try to emulate his work ethic on the ice.

Right I don't but he doesn't seem to be the temper tantrum type, but maybe that's what the team needs, I dunno. Something needs to grab their attention and the coach sure the **** isn't doing it. So maybe JT yelling and throwing shit around will get them to notice they suck.

 

[bookjones]

Q blows ass.



That is all.

This. This has always been my meme, heh.

Right I don't but he doesn't seem to be the temper tantrum type, but maybe that's what the team needs, I dunno. Something needs to grab their attention and the coach sure the **** isn't doing it. So maybe JT yelling and throwing shit around will get them to notice they suck.

They had the big closed door meeting amongst themselves last season in ANA didn't they? At one point during the lastseason JT was vocal with and his disgust with effort level was palpable---nothing seems to inspire them for very long. The problem is this shit never lasts for long. I have said it before and I will say it again, Q will be the death of this team and I don't for one fucking moment believe he has their "ears" or "heads" or that anything he says really gets trough anymore. He does however seem to be able to get into some of their ears and heads in all the negative ways to their development detriment I think. I also think he just plays lip service to this mythical "system" he wants them to play. There is no way you could actually HAVE a system and have it succeed as if you knew what you were doing and make the questionable decisions he does about both the incessant Line Generator of High Panic or who he decides to suit up. I also attribute some of the questionable signings the Hawks have made to him---have no proof other than feeling guys are "Q guys" or types he's now infamous for becoming infatuated with. I will say he seems like a perfectly nice, decent guy and I get that outside of the game the players actually really like him but I would wager my 401K on the notion that they have long since tuned his ass out. Perhaps he was needed for some structure for the Cup team since it was so many super young guys and I think in actuality that might be where he is perhaps most successful, in still being able to affect newbies to the team and kids who might still listen to him and actually develop, i.e., Leddy or Kruger but many (not all of course) vets, they seem to wilter, regress, or stall out under his continued leadership. Quite frankly, when they win these days or have a solid to mostly solid showing I feel it's only because they have decided to play for themselves, each other, and pride not because of anything to do with Q's coaching stylings. Much like how I felt they were destined to win the Cup in spite of him because the talent and confluence of events was too great even for Q to **** up.

 

[LordKOTL]

My point was, whatever JT is doing, he needs to do something different. Psychologially speaking, there's no greater wake-up call than someone breaking a previous habit. If JT just sits there with a scowl after a bad period, maybe he needs to mix it up by throwing a trashcan.

 

[roshinaya]

I wholeheartedly agree with what bookjones said. Q was the right guy for the young team that eventually won the Cup, now it's time for a change. I'll think I'll jump on the bandwagon that Q is the main problem of this team. His line juggling must be annoying for the guys, especially when there doesn't seem to be any method to his madness. He seems really obsessed with linematching and at times it has worked wonders, the series against Vancouver in the Cup year comes to mind.



Where is Scotty Bowman in all this? He is supposedly and probably is a hockey genius and I bet they aren't paying him to just hit the links in the sunshine state. Or has time and the game passed him by already? But what if the team suddenly goes on a hot streak and we'll end up wondering what we were all worrying about now? Would that be the doings of Q or the team suddenly starting to play for each other. With the bipolar team it's really hard to tell where this team is at. One thing we haven't seen, is them utterly dominating a team, flashes of it yes, but a whole 60 where the other team was just on the receiving end not so much. Have the added sandpaper that the team thought it was lacking last year really made a difference. It doesn't seem like other teams have such a hard time playing against them. It seems all that is needed to beat this team is simply outworking them and that really isn't a hard concept to grasp is it? Is there a sense of entitlement floating in the locker room? Do they think that the great Chicago Blackhawks team doesn't need to work for their points? With the incestuous vibe of the front office I have doubts if anything drastic will happen to get this team going again. With McD constant strive for excellence, where has that shown on the ice the past year?



This team confuses me and it angers and annoys me greatly.

 

[R K]

This. This has always been my meme, heh.









They had the big closed door meeting amongst themselves last season in ANA didn't they? At one point during the lastseason JT was vocal with and his disgust with effort level was palpable---nothing seems to inspire them for very long. The problem is this shit never lasts for long. I have said it before and I will say it again, Q will be the death of this team and I don't for one fucking moment believe he has their "ears" or "heads" or that anything he says really gets trough anymore. He does however seem to be able to get into some of their ears and heads in all the negative ways to their development detriment I think. I also think he just plays lip service to this mythical "system" he wants them to play. There is no way you could actually HAVE a system and have it succeed as if you knew what you were doing and make the questionable decisions he does about both the incessant Line Generator of High Panic or who he decides to suit up. I also attribute some of the questionable signings the Hawks have made to him---have no proof other than feeling guys are "Q guys" or types he's now infamous for becoming infatuated with. I will say he seems like a perfectly nice, decent guy and I get that outside of the game the players actually really like him but I would wager my 401K on the notion that they have long since tuned his ass out. Perhaps he was needed for some structure for the Cup team since it was so many super young guys and I think in actuality that might be where he is perhaps most successful, in still being able to affect newbies to the team and kids who might still listen to him and actually develop, i.e., Leddy or Kruger but many (not all of course) vets, they seem to wilter, regress, or stall out under his continued leadership. Quite frankly, when they win these days or have a solid to mostly solid showing I feel it's only because they have decided to play for themselves, each other, and pride not because of anything to do with Q's coaching stylings. Much like how I felt they were destined to win the Cup in spite of him because the talent and confluence of events was too great even for Q to **** up.

JT blew up in St. Louis and the Hawks roared back to kick their ass.



Q is not giving players definite roals. He has them blowing all over the place.



Rosh you might have won the Cup coaching that team. That's just how deep they were.

 

[supraman]

I wholeheartedly agree with what bookjones said. Q was the right guy for the young team that eventually won the Cup, now it's time for a change. I'll think I'll jump on the bandwagon that Q is the main problem of this team. His line juggling must be annoying for the guys, especially when there doesn't seem to be any method to his madness. He seems really obsessed with linematching and at times it has worked wonders, the series against Vancouver in the Cup year comes to mind.



Where is Scotty Bowman in all this? He is supposedly and probably is a hockey genius and I bet they aren't paying him to just hit the links in the sunshine state. Or has time and the game passed him by already? But what if the team suddenly goes on a hot streak and we'll end up wondering what we were all worrying about now? Would that be the doings of Q or the team suddenly starting to play for each other. With the bipolar team it's really hard to tell where this team is at. One thing we haven't seen, is them utterly dominating a team, flashes of it yes, but a whole 60 where the other team was just on the receiving end not so much. Have the added sandpaper that the team thought it was lacking last year really made a difference. It doesn't seem like other teams have such a hard time playing against them. It seems all that is needed to beat this team is simply outworking them and that really isn't a hard concept to grasp is it? Is there a sense of entitlement floating in the locker room? Do they think that the great Chicago Blackhawks team doesn't need to work for their points? With the incestuous vibe of the front office I have doubts if anything drastic will happen to get this team going again. With McD constant strive for excellence, where has that shown on the ice the past year?



This team confuses me and it angers and annoys me greatly.

This team flat out pisses me off. We are the top dogs on paper, no one has a better roster than the hawks. Yet here we are full of fucking issues. The team is far better than what we see on the ice night in and night out. I'm going stop being a fan or anything but it is so damn frustrating watching talent not play up to their abilities.