[A] Streaking: CHI 1, CAL 3

[Ton]

The Blackhawks have dropped 5 games straight with the latest loss suffered at the hands of the Calgary Flames. No doubt a rush of concern has swept the Blackhawk nation, all for good reasons. Dropping the first 3 games of a 9-game road stand, the Blackhawks have been outscored 14 to 7, largely overblown by the Edmonton loss.



Against the Flames the Hawks had no where to go but up. It was an obvious improvement out of the gate while they peppered Mikka Kiprusoff with 13 shots while Ray Emery only saw 6 pucks chucked his way. Unfortunately, one of them was a prime chance with Olli Jokinen finding enough space at the top of the left circle to blast the puck over Emery's shoulder. Although it was disheartening to see the Blackhawks down a goal with such dominance, they did not fold immediately. Patrick Kane found a pinching Brent Seabrook with precision late in the period and made no mistake with a quick release to beat Kiprusoff.



The 2nd period was a polar opposite of momentum shift. The Flames came out and dominated, slamming Emery with 16 shots while the Blackhawks only mustered 6 against Kiprusoff. Of course, at this point you can guess where this is going. Jay Boumeester was able to solve Ray Emery on the power-play late in the period to put the Flames ahead 2-1, which would stand as the game-winner.



The final frame wasn't much improvement either with Jarome Iginla slipping away from the defense to put the nail in the coffin.



The worst part about watching this game was the tension. It's clear that things just aren't going their way at the moment, but their identity has seemed to have been lost in the shuffle. Who are the Blackhawks?



To see success again, the Blackhawks must find the answer to that question. It starts with simplifying things, keeping things loose, and keeping an even head. At this point, they don't fall under any of these definitions, if anything it's the exact opposite. With every loss they have complicated things further, play too tight, and ride a wave of emotion--which for the most part has been negative.



Two words: Chill. Out.



BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1. Patrick Kane

2. Brent Seabrook

3. Jonathan Toews



Click here to view the article

 

[Pez68]

Emery comes out and plays how he has played most of the season, but it doesn't matter. The Hawks play too conservatively, still give up a ton of shots, but fail to generate any offense. Team loses 3-1. All three Calgary goals coming off of shots from the point that go in because of a screen, are deflected, or the rebound is banged in.

Team is so predictable. You just knew the coaching staff would overemphasize the lack of defense last night(when it was mostly goaltending) and the Hawks would play afraid to make a mistake or take a chance. So I was wrong about how two of the goals went in. Still saw this coming.



P.S. Kitchen should be fired yesterday. That fucking PK is pathetic.

 

[the canadian dream]

This may come as a shock to some and this may create some disgust and bad feed back but im saying it.



This team is worse than last years. Long enough into the season to say it now. Its my opinion and i stand by it until the holes are properly fixed and the system. You can feel it. Still a good team and lots to work with but its time to get serious. Not a whole lot of hockey left in the regular season. Its been a real fast season.



There are a few reasons for that but for a team that can't use the excuse of a cup hangover this year is it really better than last years team? I certainly don't think so.



Bowman has some real work to do now. No more of this Brunnette, Kruger, Morrison type garbage. You stripped this team of Campbell, Ladd, Brouwer, Versteeg, Buff and you haven't really replaced many of them. Seriously you haven't. You think you have but you have actually gut the roster depth of this team over the last 2 years and have replaced it with average to below average roster players. Esp the blueline...you really fucked up our blueline and our team defense..really you did. Q hasn't helped but honestly which defensive forward is yours which you can crown? Which blueliner is yours that you can crown? GET SOMETHING DONE AND TAKE THE GAMBLE..A REAL GAMBLE!!



the Core is the reason why this team still has a winning record. It seriously is. None of those core guys are yours. None of them. Toews is responsible for about 12 points just himself when he was on his tare of the league. He really is.



Im starting to slowly jump on the Q crucifixion wagon also. Im not fully on but my foot is resting on the side boards. Bolland finally gets into the game as a second line center 7 minutes into the 3rd period? Go **** yourself Q.

 

[Rex]

too many glaring fucking holes to even begin. Keith is getting too much ice, and making too many fucking mistakes. Kruger is not a third line winger, to be honest, he should be in Rockford. Why isn't Hayes on the third line wing? And why is Bolland centring Kruger and Shaw? If we picked up Morrison to be a "great depth center with vet leadership" then why isn't he centering the fucking rookies?? Bolland was playing great on the second line. Like it or not, he's the second line center!!



Defensive depth?? Don't act like we have it! If we did, Keith and Seabrook wouldn't be playing half the fucking game!!



I like John Scott, and he's productive with 4 minutes a night, but if you want to give him those minutes, then do it as a fourth line forward, and NOT A DEFENSEMEN!!!



Q is fucked, and Stan is fucked for thinking these big name played out old men can replace Ladd, Versteeg, etc.



Montador for 3 more years?



everything is too inconsistant right now, but I would feel alot better with:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane

Hossa-Bolland-Sharp

Shaw-Morrison-Hayes



than I would with:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane

Hossa-Morrison-Sharp

Shaw-Bolland-Kruger



this is just a minor change, that makes a huge fucking difference.



and the D pairs?



Leddy-Keith

Seabrook-Hammer



FUCKING Special person!!! even if he doesn't want to play Seabrook and Keith together, split it up so its OFD-DFD

Leddy-Seabrook

Keith-Hammer

THAT WOULD BE BETTER!!



you wanna mentor Leddy, play him with Seabrook!! Better mentor, and better defensemen.



what else is there to say? I'm tired, but in a fucking week we have gone from being a Stanley Cup contender, to a potential playoff contender.

 

[Rex]

I never thought I'd miss Kopecky.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Didn't see the game again as the band I'm in was playing a gig down in the city.



Sounds like I didn't miss a thing...

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Time to be concerned, people.

 

[IceHogsFan]

<--- Concerned and frustrated are two words that come to mind.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Its times like this were we all have to hold each other and say its ok....come on who needs a warm hug.....

 

[PuckPowWow]

Not so optimistic anymore?



By the way Rex, I completely agree with your line suggestions. Was thinking the exact same thing myself since getting Morrison. My only lingering thought is to give Frolik another go on the 3rd line for a while, but Bickell is done. Was done a year ago, but we still have to watch him play.



I also agree with the D-pairings whole heartedly.



Emery should have been the starter for a while now.



Yes, Kitchen seems to be a real problem, and Q has no control over his team, and lacks any idea of how to use his players, or which players for that matter. Total lack of a system, and no consistency.



Many players are now underperforming under his watch. Could just be a bad spell, but we all saw it coming, and it just serves to expose holes that have been around for 2 seasons, and even more in some cases.

 

[xatruio]

im not on the fire Q bandwagon, but if it gets bad enough we have Haviland right there no doubt ready to take the next step in his pro coaching career.



i like Q still, but i like Havi better, and plus he'd prolly be able to light a better fire under the kids (BIckell, mainly...) he's coached and then the domino affect on them to those around who jumped straight to the NHL without seasoning from him (Leddy, Kruger...) will like do well, too.

 

[PatrickShart]

What's the guarantee Havi would be better?

 

[Ton]

He already explained that part...

plus he'd prolly be able to light a better fire under the kids (BIckell, mainly...) he's coached and then the domino affect on them to those around who jumped straight to the NHL without seasoning from him (Leddy, Kruger...) will like do well, too.

Not saying I agree but what more did you want?



If this losing streak continues, there's no doubt a change MUST be made and you can't fire the players.

 

[R K]

during the Cup run they had two periods of losses including one in march where they were beaten twice in a row by Columbus, in one allowing them 8 goals. 2-5-2 during the stretch.



Teams go through adversity every fucking year. Each and every one of them. Examples this year would be Detriot, Boston for two which were both early on.



No I'm not worried yet nor do I think they are going to fire Q, or are even near that point.



As for Haviland helping Bickell are you serious? Haviland is already here, and can work with Bickell at any time. Is that any different from Assistant to Head Coach? Bickell sucks, he needs to be gone.



Some of the onus here goes to Stan. He has players on this team who are dead weight. IE Bickell and Frolik. It's time he did his job and made some ROSTER changes.



How soon March of 2010 is forgotten.

 

[R K]

I'm also and have never been a huge Q fan, nor kitchen for that matter. But I find it funny the critisism Kitchen gets but does anyone really know what he's in charge of? When you ask Q or Bowman and they explain what he's actually in charge of then explain your displeasure of him. Until then no one has a clue what he's specifically in charge of. You are guessing.



I will tell you this Q has final say on EVERY aspect with this team and always has. PP, PK, ES, they ultimately do what Q wants them to. He has complete and total final say.

 

[Pez68]

Watch the youtubes of the Florida PK when he was coaching there, RK. Then compare those to what the Hawks are doing. It's OBVIOUS what Kitchen is in charge of. The fucking pathetic PK. Q has final say, but I guarantee you his drinking buddy from days of yore gets pretty much carte blanche to do what he wants with the aspect he's in charge of.



Of course teams go through slumps. Nobody is arguing that. But elite teams, like Boston, and Detroit, go on SERIOUS runs. The Hawks haven't had a serious run of dominant hockey all season. Boston? Yep. Detroit? Yep. Even Nashville, St. Louis, Vancouver. All these teams have had runs of winning a good 90% of their games, and that's the reason they're up there, and the Hawks are down where they are. CONSISTENCY. Something the Hawks haven't seen in the entire time Q has been here. Are Nashville and St. Louis more talented teams than the Hawks? Very doubtful. Are they better coached teams? Absofuckinglutely.

 

[R K]

Again Pez you are assuming. And even worse guessing. Again if you don't think Q is 100% in control you should just stop watching hockey.



Again there are 30 games left. Serious run, maybe they haven't hit their strides. They were 14-4-2 in December. Not a good run? Unfortunately they sit in the most talented Division in Hockey. Detroit had their slump early on. They lost 7 games in a fucking row. Nashville did something similar.



I'm not arguing with you on this you are and have always been a glass half empty. I will tell you Kitchen has NOT been running the PK all year. Haviland was for a good part, and again Q has final say on who, what and where they play at ALL TIMES!



St. Louis in certain areas, as Nashville are definitely as talented as the hawks. No fucking question.



Halak-Ellison



Weber-Suter-Rinnie-Lindback



absofuckinglutely? Not so much there buddy.

 

[Pez68]

Nashville is definitely as talented as the Hawks? Wow. Yeah, maybe if you completely ignore the twelve forwards on the team. Then maybe they're as talented as the Hawks. Forwards don't matter, though. I'm done with this conversation.



I have always been glass half empty(I prefer REALIST) just as you've always been a blind homer. Tit for tat I guess.



P.S. I have no idea what you're trying to prove with the Q has final say shit. Whether he does, or doesn't, it's still his fucking fault.

 

[PatrickShart]

My question is...if everything is either Q's or Kitchen's fault....what exactly is Haviland doing or have done on the bench for everyone to love him? He's coached Bickell...so he'd get more out of him? He didn't really tear up Rockford.



Unless Havi can make the goaltending consistant or add a solid Dman, it wouldn't change anything. He sits in the coaching meetings, and probably has much the same system philosophies, or he wouldn't have been an assistant here the entire time Q has.

 

[R K]

Nashville is definitely as talented as the Hawks? Wow. Yeah, maybe if you completely ignore the twelve forwards on the team. Then maybe they're as talented as the Hawks. Forwards don't matter, though. I'm done with this conversation.



I have always been glass half empty(I prefer REALIST) just as you've always been a blind homer. Tit for tat I guess.



P.S. I have no idea what you're trying to prove with the Q has final say shit. Whether he does, or doesn't, it's still his fucking fault.

On the back end both Nashville and St. Louis are clearly as talented as the hawks. Not offensively but the goal, as you know, is keeping the puck out of your net.



I'd take either of those four goalies over either of the two we have. Any day of the week.



Besides you said last night you were taking the rest of the season off. Me, I'll watch knowing all teams go through slumps. If that's what you call a Homer then here I am. I've also complained about Q for a long time, it's well documented, but here, I just don't think he's totally responsible for the back end he has in front of him. No need to reply "your done with the conversation". Love ya! hahaha