[A] Total Collapse in Edmonton: What Kind of Fan Are You?

[Pez68]

The PK is completely mind boggling. Especially using Leddy instead one of the third pairing veterans... A lot of teams play for the shot blocks, but I don't think there's a more passive team in the NHL than the Hawks on the PK. That's the biggest problem I think. If you watch videos of Florida when Kitchen is there, you see the exact same PK. That PK is ALL on Kitchen, and Q for letting it continue.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mApsJRNxUA&feature=player_embedded[/media]



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnU8_iE8NA&feature=player_embedded[/media]



Look familiar?



Their D zone coverage is only good when they simplify things. I don't understand why the wingers are always coming so far down the boards, but it is constantly happening. For a team with so much speed, that relied on the stretch pass so much winning the cup, I don't understand why they aren't higher in the defensive zone.... It's as predictable as the sun rising and setting. The opposing forward comes out of the corner, crosses the goal line, and immediately you see a Hawk winger get sucked down low. Way too low. The puck is then cycled up top to the defense, they walk in and bomb a shot, and the onslaught ensues. Far too often you see the Hawks with 5 guys below the hash marks, and it just makes no sense. Not only does it leave the points wide open, it makes it extremely difficult to break out.



You're absolutely right about bad goaltending and the effect on the team. It completely sucks the life out of the team and it can compound the more the season goes on with trying to play the perfect game.

 

[MassHavoc]

Pretend? Didnt he have like 45 saves? A few were pretty damn good too

He still gave up 4 goals, one short handed. He didn't exactly stone them all game. He was still vulnerable.

 

[PatrickShart]

Vunerable? Absolutely. But he made some pretty big saves as well to keep it 2-0 and give his team a chance to get back into the game - which they did.



It's reminiscent to when they brought in Huet...and the team didn't play with the same confidence it did when Khabibulin was in net. I think they've been losing confidence in Crawford.



And as many disagree with playing Crawford as long of stretches as Q has (me included)...I understand why he is doing it. Crawford won the number 1 last year, had a good playoffs. Is signed for 3 years...and needs to get his game/reestablish it. Short term would be to play Emery more...but it may not help Craws psyche. I've never been the biggest Crawford fan, but I think he's earned the right to be given the long leash to get his game back....but I think he's not and hasn't been doing it all year. Just as Huet lost the team, Turco lost them, Crawford is in great danger in doing the same.



As far as Morrisson getting the time he's getting with Hossa/Sharp? I think its the right thing to do. Play him there and often right away to see what he can do/what they have. It's 3 weeks or whatever to the deadline. Play him there...if he clicks, great...if not...they have time to see what else they can get. He's not costing squat.

 

[Pez68]

I understand giving Morrison a CHANCE between Hossa and Sharp for a few games to see if he has anything left(not likely), but working the point on the PP? Come on... That's just clownshoes.

 

[MassHavoc]

I don't get why he gets so much time to prove it, but everyone else is yanked in less than a period if he doesn't think they are working?

 

[Pez68]

That's Q. Don't try to understand it. Same reason he hates some players, and loves others.

 

[mikita's helmet]

I think Q's lost the the players attention.

 

[R K]

The PP is the A heel of the team? It's 10th, and 6th on the road.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

PMXC, i thought you only played roller in Phoenix. Never knew you played pro hockey and coached...

 

[the canadian dream]

I thought the PK was near tops in the league at one point in the season and the PP was bottom? I may be making that up. But if I am not (which I probably am) how do both swing like pendulums?



I really think I am making this up though.



I recall the Hawks PP being dismal through the regular season 2 years ago also but then turned into a killer during the playoffs. Same with the PK I believe (again I could totally be making this up sometimes I don't remember how to find my own home). Special teams seem to swing back and forth a lot in the NHL.



And I tend to believe a lot of PK consistency also comes with good goalkeeping. You have to have good goalkeeping for a good PK percentage also. It is the last line of defense and should be your strongest on the PK. Ours is not right now. So when you have a defensive system thats not working and a goalie whos not coming up with the big save then that = poop stick. POOP stick.



The pendulum will swing though once we get Brian Campbell back...we are getting him back right?

 

[Ton]

Nope, you are right TCD... the first few weeks of the season (maybe even month) the PK was on fire, PP was not.

 

[R K]

PK went south that first game against Vancouver at home. I believe 5 of 6 goals Vancouver scored were PP goals. Maybe all 6 for that matter without looking up. Then the Alberta trip where 12 of the 20 goals scored were PP goals. Numbers wise that was enough to kill the shit out of the percentage and never allow it to climb to high. Although there have been some stretches where it was very good and some where it was questionable, those THREE games alone skewed the stat. Very similar to the GA's. In those three games, until last night the Hawks gave up 20 goals. Which for the most part was the difference between all but the elite teams in the league in GA's. Those two stats can be fucked after a very few, very poor games. The stats are actually WORSE than the Hawks really are because of that IMO.



The PP is not bad right now. Also last night the PK was facing the #3 PP team in the league. The Oilers are VERY GOOD on the PP.



No excuses but just throwing that out there.

 

[R K]

I think Q's lost the the players attention.

Unlike our discussion yesterday this is what gets coaches fired. I somewhat agree with you but his decisions on line combinations, who plays, who sits, and an example of doing NOTHING last night to try and interfer with that hot ass line of Gagner, somewhat shows it.



Tonight will be interesting.

 

[PatrickShart]

PMXC, i thought you only played roller in Phoenix. Never knew you played pro hockey and coached...

That was my retirement tour...roller hockey

 

[bierboy]

I'm an inconsistent fan....just like this team.

 

[Maiden]

Unlike our discussion yesterday this is what gets coaches fired. I somewhat agree with you but his decisions on line combinations, who plays, who sits, and an example of doing NOTHING last night to try and interfer with that hot ass line of Gagner, somewhat shows it.



Tonight will be interesting.

You've been around the block a few times havent you? This post is a home run.

 

[the canadian dream]

nevermind im tired of talking about it.



Oilers have owned us this year. end of story.

 

[Rex]

Vunerable? Absolutely. But he made some pretty big saves as well to keep it 2-0 and give his team a chance to get back into the game - which they did.



It's reminiscent to when they brought in Huet...and the team didn't play with the same confidence it did when Khabibulin was in net. I think they've been losing confidence in Crawford.



And as many disagree with playing Crawford as long of stretches as Q has (me included)...I understand why he is doing it. Crawford won the number 1 last year, had a good playoffs. Is signed for 3 years...and needs to get his game/reestablish it. Short term would be to play Emery more...but it may not help Craws psyche. I've never been the biggest Crawford fan, but I think he's earned the right to be given the long leash to get his game back....but I think he's not and hasn't been doing it all year. Just as Huet lost the team, Turco lost them, Crawford is in great danger in doing the same.



As far as Morrisson getting the time he's getting with Hossa/Sharp? I think its the right thing to do. Play him there and often right away to see what he can do/what they have. It's 3 weeks or whatever to the deadline. Play him there...if he clicks, great...if not...they have time to see what else they can get. He's not costing squat.

How long do you play Morrison on the second line though? It hasn't been effective at all. Also, him on the point on the second PP Unit? Fucking awful.

 

[Tater]

I think their Dzone coverage is good..when they stick to it. The Hawks do rely on stretch passes/flying the zone....did it better than anyone on the cup year and when on...puts a ton of pressure on the other team/when countering. When off...looks like...well....turnover city. WIth their speed on wings..Hossa, Kane, Stalberg, Sharp...I can see why they like it. Get them on the fly and go/attack.



To be honest...I've never been an all offensive go go go person. It's exciting...I'd rather do that then trap/play for the 1-0 games (NASH).



I think you'd agree that no matter how you're playing as a skater...when your goalie starts letting in weak goals, you try doing too much or not making mistakes. It's deflating when crap goes in, when you feel like you're playing well. I think it's happened often this year and unfortunately magnifies things or puts too much blame on others trying to do too much. Especially on the PK. I think players start thinking they can't let any shot through or have to block every pass.



They're definitely not playing their best - but they're not horrible.



The trade deadline can be interesting. I think they have as good as a chance as any team in their conference to win the cup. Doesn't look like it today...but I don't think this is the team that will be starting Game 1 of the playoffs. But any team with Toews, Kane, Hossa, Bolland, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, Hjarllmarsson.....is going to be a ***** in a 7gm series.

I like the explainatory, detailed pmxc posts better then just the stats posts.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

PK went south that first game against Vancouver at home. I believe 5 of 6 goals Vancouver scored were PP goals. Maybe all 6 for that matter without looking up. Then the Alberta trip where 12 of the 20 goals scored were PP goals. Numbers wise that was enough to kill the shit out of the percentage and never allow it to climb to high. Although there have been some stretches where it was very good and some where it was questionable, those THREE games alone skewed the stat. Very similar to the GA's. In those three games, until last night the Hawks gave up 20 goals. Which for the most part was the difference between all but the elite teams in the league in GA's. Those two stats can be fucked after a very few, very poor games. The stats are actually WORSE than the Hawks really are because of that IMO.



The PP is not bad right now. Also last night the PK was facing the #3 PP team in the league. The Oilers are VERY GOOD on the PP.



No excuses but just throwing that out there.

The PK % has been completely hampered by the VAN game on 11/06/11 and the EDM game on 11/19/11. They dropped 10% in the VAN loss and another 6% in the EDM loss. They were 91.89% on 11/3/11 and 73.44% by 11/19/11. But they were also were giving up a very low number of times shorthanded...and still are (25th in league, 56 less than OTT and 26 more than SJS).



Currently they are at 78.31% on the PK. The Hawks trend for the season has been for a finsh just shy of 81% with those two games Throw those two games out and the trend is 83%. But this shows how much of a hole those two games set for the PK% and how much they have dug out of it (with an increasing number of TS as the season has progressed).





Just for yuks and grins here are some other PK facts:



# Games where PK% Dropped 15

# Games where PK% Increased 17

# Games where PK% Even 19



# Games With 0 PPGA 28 (52.83% of games)

# Games With 1 PPGA 19 (35.85% of games)

# Games With More Than 1 PPGA 6 (26.09% of games)





None of this is to say that there are not issues, but it is not as dire as it may appear.