[A] Poor Play Costs Hawks: CHI 1, STL 5

[howcho]

I thought Emery kept things close in the first period. It could have been much worse.

 

[R K]

It is not always the hitting, that shows a team is being physical. The Hawks likely get out hit most every game. It is the contests of strength in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the net, that are not necessarily hits, but yet show a teams physicality. The blues not only out hit us, they 'leaned' on us all night long and imposed their will.



Blues = Dominant

Hawks = Submissive

Agree with this. Our best players were NOT our best players last night. While in Ottawa and Detroit, they were.



If Sharp scores there I think that might have changed, but he didn't.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

A wise man once said................................................(crickets).....................................................................................

 

[PatrickShart]

How has Backes played in the playoffs? Or any of their Dmen? What's Nashvilles playoff record?



Playoffs are a different game...one game at a time. Get a lead on either of them and their offensively challenged.



Those teams don't scare me. Detroit, Vancouver, San Jose are playoff tested and have had actual success in the playoffs

 

[Pez68]

St. Louis doesn't scare you?

At this point, the only team I could see the Hawks beating come playoff time is San Jose. But even their soft team manhandled the Hawks last time they played.

 

[R K]

St. Louis doesn't scare you?

At this point, the only team I could see the Hawks beating come playoff time is San Jose. But even their soft team manhandled the Hawks last time they played.

Best home record in the NHL for a reason. Although last time there we won 5-2. See what happens if and when Toews comes back. To win all three of these games on the road, give me a fucking break debbie downer.

 

[supraman]

Here's the thing about hitting, if you are possessing the puck you can't be hitting. So it is possible to play a physical game and lose the hit stat every night.

 

[Pez68]

Best home record in the NHL for a reason. Although last time there we won 5-2. See what happens if and when Toews comes back. To win all three of these games on the road, give me a fucking break debbie downer.

I didn't expect them to win all three of these games. Quite the contrary actually. I called this loss, as the Hawks cannot seem to string together more than a few games of solid hockey at a time. They looked completely unprepared again last night, and when St. Louis came out hitting, that was it. They pushed back for a little bit, but then just gave up.



What is concerning to me about this loss, is watching a guy like Hossa just give up and say **** it. He didn't even look like he wanted the puck on his stick, and his effort and willingness to engage wasn't there. They weren't prepared for St. Louis and it showed. Again, back to the coaching staff.

 

[the canadian dream]

It is not always the hitting, that shows a team is being physical. The Hawks likely get out hit most every game. It is the contests of strength in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the net, that are not necessarily hits, but yet show a teams physicality. The blues not only out hit us, they 'leaned' on us all night long and imposed their will.



Blues = Dominant

Hawks = Submissive

i agree with this. Howcho finaly says something wise.



One play last night pissed me off. Shaw lost a battle along the boards could have still at least battled back up the ice but he just stopped. Just stopped and watched the blues player skate up the ice. That was in the first period and symbolised everything wrong with the game besides the crap special teams. Nothing pisses me off more than laziness on the ice be it a superstar or a rookie.



Toews is needed back bad. One player who is agressive along the boards can make a huge difference. And i will never understand why a big guy like hossa wont go harder along the boards. Hossa is amazing but if he ever played with a bit of a tougher edge he would be unstoppable. Playoffs he needs to do this. Rough part is right now the hawks need to play every game like it is playoffs. Until that astrix is next to the hawks.

 

[R K]

I didn't expect them to win all three of these games. Quite the contrary actually. I called this loss, as the Hawks cannot seem to string together more than a few games of solid hockey at a time. They looked completely unprepared again last night, and when St. Louis came out hitting, that was it. They pushed back for a little bit, but then just gave up.



What is concerning to me about this loss, is watching a guy like Hossa just give up and say **** it. He didn't even look like he wanted the puck on his stick, and his effort and willingness to engage wasn't there. They weren't prepared for St. Louis and it showed. Again, back to the coaching staff.

See I disagree to a point. First goal soft, downer. Then Sharp hits the post, downer not to tie it up. Until that point it wasn't quite one side or the other.



The Stars were not stars last night. Kane, Hossa, Sharp. Without Toews, those guys must play like they did in Ottawa and Detroit, to keep the game competative. If they don't you'll have games like last night. I figured St. Louis would be fired up last night they've lost the last two too Chicago including only ONE of TWO games they've lost at home since Dec, 3rd. Yea they've lost two games in that building since the Hawks kicked their ass 5-2 and that game is INCLUDED in that two.



St. Louis has ZERO playoff experience except 1-2 players. ANd I'm sorry Andy Mcdonald is NOT a leader. I expect that to hurt them just as it did the Hawks the year they lost in the WCF.



Hawks are without Toews, Montedor, Hjarlmarsson and for half the game last night down a D man when Lepisto went out. Sorry but when you are missing the 1-2 top two way forward in the game and two of your top 5 D you are going to have let downs. Especially after winning IN Ottawa and IN Detroit.

 

[R K]

Here's the thing about hitting, if you are possessing the puck you can't be hitting. So it is possible to play a physical game and lose the hit stat every night.

Technically if your being out hit they are taking the puck away from you. Games like Ottawa where a line like Hossa and Kane is skating like that it's almost impossible.



I also think that come playoff time this team can kick it up a notch. Assuming they make it.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

lol Supra, hits are supposed to be counted if the player getting checked loses control of the puck/ or possession.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Well all three games they were out hit 2 of the games they got W's. Was it hitting or team play? Which is it.



So far 4-6pts in ALL three games where they were out hit.



no sarcasm. Last time they were they were there they were out hit and won 5-2. Wonder how the hell that worked.



How about they score a PP goal, or 2 or 3 in this one?

It is not always the hitting, that shows a team is being physical. The Hawks likely get out hit most every game. It is the contests of strength in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the net, that are not necessarily hits, but yet show a teams physicality. The blues not only out hit us, they 'leaned' on us all night long and imposed their will.



Blues = Dominant

Hawks = Submissive

Howcho hits what I'm basically saying. I will remove the word "hitting" and any form of it as I believe I'm giving off the wrong idea with my posts.



Our physical play was not up to par last night with St. Louis. We showed some good phyiscal play the previous game, finishing our checks, tight defense, not backing down. Last night, the Hawks backed away a lot.



I believe I said this already, but the SHG was all because of the Blues physical style and intimidation that had Hossa looking to get checked instead of the puck. Nichol played bump and run and set up the SHG. Had Hossa been more worried about getting the puck to open ice maybe that SHG wouldn't of been scored.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I believe PuckJim said it on twitter that teams are willing to whack away at the Hawks and take a roughing penalty. We can't score on the PP so what is there to be afraid of?

 

[Ton]

I believe PuckJim said it on twitter that teams are willing to whack away at the Hawks and take a roughing penalty. We can't score on the PP so what is there to be afraid of?

This is what I stated in the original post.



"[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Blackhawks must rely on puck possession and burning physical teams on the power-play in order to force them play cautiously rather than recklessly"[/font]



[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Them, meaning the opposing team.[/font]

 

[Rex]

is it just me, or is Stalberg been playing better lately, even though he's not putting up numbers? He has really been forechecking hard.

 

[xatruio]

yeah hes been forechecking hard and his D game is improving too even. Just gotta get out this mini scoring slump hes getting chances though wchich is great

 

[supraman]

lol Supra, hits are supposed to be counted if the player getting checked loses control of the puck/ or possession.

Never knew that. Thought it was just hitting a player with more than a bump. Learn something new everyday.

 

[R K]

This is what I stated in the original post.



"[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Blackhawks must rely on puck possession and burning physical teams on the power-play in order to force them play cautiously rather than recklessly"[/font]



[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Them, meaning the opposing team.[/font]

That I agree with. It has really nothing to do with the physicality of the team on the ice. They aren't built to win via being physical. Never were, and never will be with this core.

 

[IceHogsFan]

They aren't built to win via being physical. Never were, and never will be with this core.

Okay, then finish this sentence, "This team is built for ........."