[A] There's No Toews in Team: CHI 2, DET 1

[Ton]

The Blackhawks were able to eek out a win against the top seeded Detroit Red Wings despite the subtraction of captain Jonathan Toews from the line-up due to an upper-body injury.



One thing that comes to mind right away is Corey Crawford's stellar performance, making 31 saves while facing 32 shots, great enough for a 0.969 save percentage. In his last four starts, Crawford has complied a 0.958 save percentage along with a 1.26 goals against average.



Against the Blues, Quenneville was adamant about Corey's performance stating that it was a "goalie win" for the Hawks. Between the two games, Joel's opinion of Crawford hasn't changed much.



"Corey was rock solid," Joel Quenneville said. "He was big, strong, controlled rebounds. They put a lot of bodies in traffic at the net. They test you on almost every shift. I thought he was excellent."



Along with Crawford, Jimmy Hayes displayed a very strong outing although Quenneville opted to use him for only 15 shifts in the game, totaled for 12:04 TOI. Hayes had 1 goal and 1 assists in the match, along with a plus-2 rating.



Marcus Kruger set the Blackhawks back with a penalty earlier in the game, but was able to make up for it with the game winning goal and thought that it was the Blackhawks patience that was able to let them pull out the win.



"We stayed patient all game," Kruger said. "Even down one goal, we stuck with our plan and found a way to win."



Although Kane was unable to provide a single point in the win, he certainly was a noticeable factor on the ice and provided plenty of offense that just couldn't find the back of the net due to the play of Jimmy Howard. But in reality, the Blackhawks didn't need to rely on their stars tonight, all they needed was a huge team effort, and everyone certainly came through.



Perhaps the Blackhawks latest streak has provided a domino effect for the team, picking off four straight wins. With Jonathan Toews out, the team finally rallied together and perhaps displayed their best team effort of the entire season.



BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME



1. Corey Crawford

2. Jimmy Hayes

3. Patrick Kane



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[winos5]

My 3 Stars



1) Crow

2) Hayes

3) Crow

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

GO GARBUTT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pez68]

This was a mother fucking awesome mother fucking win mother *******! To beat Detroit without Toews, Hammer, and Montador in the lineup is HUGE. Way to prove me wrong. Pass the Crow.(pun intended!)

 

[PatrickShart]

Crawford played well again.



I thought Stalberg was very strong on both the forecheck and back pressure

 

[Rex]

Glad to see Crow getting his confidence and his game back!! Just got in from work, so waiting for the highlights.

 

[the canadian dream]

By the way Kruger is lucky he scored that 2nd goal or he would have been a fucking game goat for sure. Because that lazy penatly he took to start the game was brutal!!!



Still not a Kruger fan but thank freaking god he got the game winner and redemed himself for an otherwise subpar game and a really lazy penalty to start the game.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

By the way Kruger is lucky he scored that 2nd goal or he would have been a fucking game goat for sure. Because that lazy penatly he took to start the game was brutal!!!



Still not a Kruger fan but thank freaking god he got the game winner and redemed himself for an otherwise subpar game and a really lazy penalty to start the game.

GO GARBUTT GO!!!!!!!!

 

[R K]

By the way Kruger is lucky he scored that 2nd goal or he would have been a fucking game goat for sure. Because that lazy penatly he took to start the game was brutal!!!



Still not a Kruger fan but thank freaking god he got the game winner and redemed himself for an otherwise subpar game and a really lazy penalty to start the game.

That was a pretty weak call if you ask me. The call on Seabrook, absolutely BRUTAL. Great play fucked by Auger who I might add might be the worst NHL Official not named Tim Mother Fucking Peel.



2pts is all that matters. Holy Howard, without him this is a blow out by the Hawks. Kaner almost had the 2nd highlight reall of the year for the Hawks (JT's against the jackets being the other) but Howard got it under his pad. What a fucking move by Kaner.



Hayes, how can you not love this kid. Goal #2 has/had power forward written all over it. Glad Kruger could knock it in.



So the Hawks in the last week have beaten the TOP TWO teams in the NHL and one of the other Hottest teams in the NHL in the Blues and just kicked the shit out of the bottom feeder, that by the way smoked the Sharks tonight.



Keep it rolling thursday agains a sub par Stars!!!

 

[PatrickShart]

But....this just masks all the issues with the team that showed during that 9gm streak....I thought....

 

[the canadian dream]

Def love Hayes. Loved him when he was first called up. he should never have been sent down. I made it clear at the time I would have rather had shaw sent down and Hayes remain even though I like them both. Hopefully this time when Hayes goes on a bad streak he wont be sent down too quickly. I want to see these young guys fight through slumps at the highest level.



Looked like a clear trip from my tv angle RK but you had a better one. Maybe embelished a bit but Kruger has lousey stick control. I really didn't care for his game tonight but seeing that the team was down the best center they had and how the team stood up to that challenge it was a good win for everyone.



Yah 2 points is all that matters and Crawford and the Defense both having strong 2 games in a row is bonus. These 4 games are confident boosters. Lets just get JT back healthy and go from there. This is the critical part of the season now. Where teams lose or win playoff spots. The road trip has added some pressure but its good pressure. This teams making the playoffs and its best not coasting into them anyways. The division might be a tough win now but i really could care less about that. I know that if this team makes the playoffs good things can happen and frankly I would love to see us play the Wangs first round (if possible) with Datsyuk or not.



Speaking of Datsyuk. 2-3 weeks after knee surgery? I question that one. Bet he doesn't return to the Wings lineup for a good 4 weeks. I know the guys in good shape and could recover fast but the Wangs aren't going to push him back they don't need to.



PS Kane put on a skating clinic tonight. he should have been rewarded with a couple points but Howard is a really good goalie despite what some would like to think.

 

[Rex]

so is Olsen ready now? 4 straight wins with him pulling in 20+ minutes a night.

 

[the canadian dream]

so is Olsen ready now? 4 straight wins with him pulling in 20+ minutes a night.

Even if he were hes not lasting on the roster once Hammer and Montadore are both back (which is taking longer than I thought it would).



he still needs farm time and to be groomed slowly. no need to rush this kid even though he has shown very good signs.

 

[Rex]

Even if he were hes not lasting on the roster once Hammer and Montadore are both back (which is taking longer than I thought it would).



he still needs farm time and to be groomed slowly. no need to rush this kid even though he has shown very good signs.

it's not rushing him if he is stepping up and playing well. From what I have seen (mind you, I haven't seen each game of the "streak" since I've worked through a few of them) He looks ready, and he's playing 20 min a night. He's better in his own end than Montador and O'Donnell is.

 

[the canadian dream]

Im just saying what the coaching staff will do. They arent going to run with a rookie blueliner when they have Montador available regardless of how well Olsen has been these small handfull of games. I could care less if O'Donell sits as I am sure all of us are. Plus the Hawks need Montadores right handed shot back in the lineup. We have enough lefties and when Hammer gets back there is no room for Olsens left hand unless O'Donell sits..and again that's perfectly fine.



Lepisto is playing okay hockey also right now and theres another leftie. Sit Lepisto and O'Donell and keep Olsen? Im fine with that myself but I doubt the coaching staff goes that direction and send Olsen back for farm times fun fun fun.



Olsen's more than likely going to desend off his current play as most rookies do but you never know. Right now I say you def keep him in the lineup. When the other 2 get back its just going to be hard to keep him on the roster and his minutes will probably fall regardless.



Interesting though.

 

[Rex]

Im just saying what the coaching staff will do. They arent going to run with a rookie blueliner when they have Montador available regardless of how well Olsen has been these small handfull of games. I could care less if O'Donell sits as I am sure all of us are. Plus the Hawks need Montadores right handed shot back in the lineup. We have enough lefties and when Hammer gets back there is no room for Olsens left hand unless O'Donell sits..and again that's perfectly fine.



Lepisto is playing okay hockey also right now and theres another leftie. Sit Lepisto and O'Donell and keep Olsen? Im fine with that myself but I doubt the coaching staff goes that direction and send Olsen back for farm times fun fun fun.



Olsen's more than likely going to desend off his current play as most rookies do but you never know. Right now I say you def keep him in the lineup. When the other 2 get back its just going to be hard to keep him on the roster and his minutes will probably fall regardless.



Interesting though.

Keith-Seabrook

Leddy-Hammer

Olsen-Montador



doable.

 

[the canadian dream]

Keith-Seabrook

Leddy-Hammer

Olsen-Montador



doable.

works for me



up too Q to **** that up.

 

[Pez68]

I would stick with what's working, bumping Lepisto and OD out of the lineup.



Keith/Olsen

Seabrook/Leddy

Hammer/Montador



Line matching at that point is very, very easy. If it ain't fucking broken, don't fucking fix it.

 

[Rex]

I would stick with what's working, bumping Lepisto and OD out of the lineup.



Keith/Olsen

Seabrook/Leddy

Hammer/Montador



Line matching at that point is very, very easy. If it ain't fucking broken, don't fucking fix it.

I like those better, obviously because it's what is working now. Mine are for when Q decides to lessen Olsen's ice time when Hammer gets back.

 

[R K]

Def love Hayes. Loved him when he was first called up. he should never have been sent down. I made it clear at the time I would have rather had shaw sent down and Hayes remain even though I like them both. Hopefully this time when Hayes goes on a bad streak he wont be sent down too quickly. I want to see these young guys fight through slumps at the highest level.



Looked like a clear trip from my tv angle RK but you had a better one. Maybe embelished a bit but Kruger has lousey stick control. I really didn't care for his game tonight but seeing that the team was down the best center they had and how the team stood up to that challenge it was a good win for everyone.



Yah 2 points is all that matters and Crawford and the Defense both having strong 2 games in a row is bonus. These 4 games are confident boosters. Lets just get JT back healthy and go from there. This is the critical part of the season now. Where teams lose or win playoff spots. The road trip has added some pressure but its good pressure. This teams making the playoffs and its best not coasting into them anyways. The division might be a tough win now but i really could care less about that. I know that if this team makes the playoffs good things can happen and frankly I would love to see us play the Wangs first round (if possible) with Datsyuk or not.



Speaking of Datsyuk. 2-3 weeks after knee surgery? I question that one. Bet he doesn't return to the Wings lineup for a good 4 weeks. I know the guys in good shape and could recover fast but the Wangs aren't going to push him back they don't need to.



PS Kane put on a skating clinic tonight. he should have been rewarded with a couple points but Howard is a really good goalie despite what some would like to think.

He called him for holding. Seabrook got the puck thus no trip. Horrible call. I asked Troy on my way out, he thought it was a horrible call as well.



kaner, was all over the place tonight. I was told when I got there before pre skate he was our #1 Center. I was shocked!