[A] The Panic Button: CHI 1, NSH 3

[Ton]

The Nashville Predators rolled right past the Blackhawks for the second straight time this season. Nashville had come off a back-to-back scenario but the injury depleted Blackhawks had trouble scoring from the start.



Pekka Rinne was outstanding again, playing a major role in both wins. In this case, he made 24 saves allowing only a single goal while Crawford made 23 saves at the other end, only allowing 2 of his own.



Both goaltenders played very well, but the Blackhawks offense could not prevail only netting 1 goal on the night without Jonathan Toews or Patrick Sharp to help provide more shooting options.



Dave Bolland was elevated to 1st line duties but that quickly changed as Joel Quenneville pulled another monkey out of the hat. That monkey coached the rest of the game and boy, oh boy, could he juggle.



Despite all the line juggling, Hossa helped produce the Blackhawks only goal by feeding Bolland. The two of them only played 1.59% of the game together even-strength while Quenneville opted to keep Bickell, Mayers, and Smith together for 11.11% of the game.



Basically, he decided to shuffle the offense on the top 3 lines, moving our only goal scorer through 6 different line combinations while keeping Marian Hossa away from him as much as possible--the only production Bolland has seen this season has come from Hossa. There's nothing basic about it and infact its rather complicated in a time that this team needs simplicity. In a game in desperate need of offense, how does this seem to be a logical choice?



It's not.



Yes, they both played together on the power-play. It was the only production the Hawks had success with. But, Bolland was to begin the game with Kane and Stalberg on his wings. Shortly after Quenneville opted to put Kane with 2 rookies, Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes. Bolland was mixed in the shuffle along with Hossa and Stalberg but despite that fact they only hit the ice together once as they all shared time with the likes of Brandon Pirri, Marcus Kruger, and Andrew Brunette.



All of this might seem confusing because it is. If it's this confusing just discussing it, imagine how the players must feel when they don't even know who their line-mate is for the next shift?



Lets hope Jonathan Toews returns soon, because unlike the Pittsburgh Penguins we do not have Dan Bylsma running the bench. Instead, we have a panic button.



BLACKHAWKS STARS OF THE GAME



1. Dave Bolland

2. Marian Hossa

3. Duncan Keith



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[Chief Walking Stick]

SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!

 

[the canadian dream]

I had to leave watching after the 2nd Preds goal. See I didn't miss much after that.



Anyone else get injured tonight?



Hope to **** the Hawks don't see the Preds in the playoffs. Not sure if they would beat them this year.

 

[PuckPowWow]

Im not sure the Hawks can beat any of their division competition in the playoffs.



In the end, it would be the Hawks inability to win battles, establish a net presence, break perimeter play and find any second chances on Rinne. Pecka is good, maybe the best in the league when he is on, and you just have to bring more against him. The Predators know this, and they are quite comfortable letting the opposition shoot from the outside where they can block shots and pick up anything near the net. The Hawks could learn a few from them.



But, the Hawks did look like they had some energy last night, and besides allowing more goals and making a few too many costly mistakes, looked like the better team as far as puck-possession is concerned.



I thought Emery earned last night's start, but what do I know? That first goal was a gimme by Crawford, despite making some huge saves later in the game.



The Hawks were out their 2 top scorers and had 5 rookies in the forward line-up. Plus, the Hawks don't win without Toews.



Can trades fix everything?

 

[mikita's helmet]

I'm sorry, but was Q behind the bench last night? Seemed like a a pick-up Huff&Puff game last night.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Im not sure the Hawks can beat any of their division competition in the playoffs.



In the end, it would be the Hawks inability to win battles, establish a net presence, break perimeter play and find any second chances on Rinne. Pecka is good, maybe the best in the league when he is on, and you just have to bring more against him. The Predators know this, and they are quite comfortable letting the opposition shoot from the outside where they can block shots and pick up anything near the net. The Hawks could learn a few from them.



But, the Hawks did look like they had some energy last night, and besides allowing more goals and making a few too many costly mistakes, looked like the better team as far as puck-possession is concerned.



I thought Emery earned last night's start, but what do I know? That first goal was a gimme by Crawford, despite making some huge saves later in the game.



The Hawks were out their 2 top scorers and had 5 rookies in the forward line-up. Plus, the Hawks don't win without Toews.



Can trades fix everything?

I would hope the Hawks had energy last night since they had two days of rest, but the results poor in the first and to late in the second and third, while Nashville played back to back games. Again the only player out there that hit and was all over the ice was Hoss. And Bolland at times. Everyone else basically hit the snooze button. Kane as much as I like him....convinced me why he will never be the person you can go to if the game matters unless he us supported by great players. I would have rather seen Scott then Bickell, and I even saw Leddy say sorry on the ice after that turnover. This team needs to stop being cute and play meat and potatoes hockey, that seems to be the winning formula this year, there are no flashy teams this year, not like two years ago. Every team is starting to check and check more except our pre-madonna's. Now on that note, Its still early and as shitty and inconsistent as we have played I may amazed that we are where we are, but this ship is sinking slowly unless we put a 7-8 game win streak, the wings are doing it so is Boston, and NY, why can't we since we have expectional players right? hopefully this break this team can lose that stupid harlem globe-trotter fancy shit and play like a hockey team.

 

[Tater]

I'm sorry, but was Q behind the bench last night? Seemed like a a pick-up Huff&Puff game last night.

Of course. Didn't you see the lines get shuffled up?

 

[howcho]

Getting tired of seeing Kane no contest loose pucks. I thought Hoss played well and Bolland faired ok too. Crawford continues to sink, yes his team turned over the puck, but that is when he needs to shine brightest. He made some outstanding saves yes, but all NHL goalies do from time to time.

 

[LordKOTL]

I can see no way to pin this loss on Crawford. Tretiak couldn't have saved either of those shots.



One thing I did come away with is that Hossa looked good wearing the A. I think he saw a chance to take some on-ice leadership and took it. Same with Bolland (even though he didn't get a letter). The team in the 1st and the 3rd looked energised (i missed the 2nd).



I read somewhere (maybe here, and creds to the person that said it), that this team lives and dies by Leddy/Hjalmarsson. Tonight was no different with Leddy shitting the bed. I think really, those two need to be split up. They've proven they can't handle a pairing on their own. It's running Seabs and Keith into the ground and giving Crawford and Emery PTSD.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Of course. Didn't you see the lines get shuffled up?

That is the one proof of his existence.



Otherwise, never seen such a dead bench.



...Well maybe the Sabres bench last week, but...

 

[MassHavoc]

Until I see them consistently fall on their face with Sharp and Toews in the lineup. I'm not counting them out of the playoffs for anything.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Until I see them consistently fall on their face with Sharp and Toews in the lineup. I'm not counting them out of the playoffs for anything.

hellllll no there not out of it we are 9 points up from the eight seed, This team honestly is only 2 solid players away from getting back to where they need to be...but chemistry is key here. Sometimes I see it sometimes I don't. But Sharp and Toews are a BIG pieace of the Chemistry. Stans #1 priorety is to get the D man or even 2 before you find that center. Man if they can just tweek that D, I swear we would not look back.

 

[MassHavoc]

John Scott > OD



For everyone making fun of John Scott as a difference maker, in this case he is.

 

[puckjim]

That first goal was a gimme by Crawford, despite making some huge saves later in the game.

That would have been a spectacular save by a screened Crawford.



Far from a gimme.

 

[LordKOTL]

I would like to see Scott in the #6 slot. But let's be honest, even if he's dressed, Q will make sure he'll see only 2 minutes of ice time. The result? Keith/Seabs overworked, Leddy and Hammer taking up the slack (and they shouldn't be).

 

[LordKOTL]

That would have been a spectacular save by a screened Crawford.



Far from a gimme.

Exactly, he would have needed X-ray vision to see it.



Now I know it's easy for me to sit here behind my computer and be snarky and sarcastic at everyone (that's why it's one of my hobbies), but really, I supposed some of the Crawford bashers would have expected him to get the 3rd goal by Nashville.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Exactly, he would have needed X-ray vision to see it.



Now I know it's easy for me to sit here behind my computer and be snarky and sarcastic at everyone (that's why it's one of my hobbies), but really, I supposed some of the Crawford bashers would have expected him to get the 3rd goal by Nashville.

You better believe he should have saved the third goal....come on your telling me its impossible to dive out of bench and sling shot your way to the net..or just throw your stick at the goal post to save it.

 

[MassHavoc]

Well if he would have stopped the first two goals the third one wouldn't have happened!

 

[LordKOTL]

You better believe he should have saved the third goal....come on your telling me its impossible to dive out of bench and sling shot your way to the net..or just throw your stick at the goal post to save it.

I have it from a very reliable source (E-20,000,001.5498) that Crawford was under the influence of Comet™ cleanser being adsorped rectally without his consent during a Tupperware party at Kane's place, and as such, his telekinetic abilities were hampered because he killed off his Midichoreans.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I had to leave watching after the 2nd Preds goal. See I didn't miss much after that.



Anyone else get injured tonight?



Hope to **** the Hawks don't see the Preds in the playoffs. Not sure if they would beat them this year.

Without 10 and 19, I'd say you'd be correct.

Healthy + a TDL pickup and the Hawks win in 5-- 6 so we see handshakes at home (I think they will be seeded higher than the Preds).

Rinne is not going to let in just 1 each night.