Blackhawks @ Senators IGT: 03/02/12

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Yea no kidding...maybe it is because the Blackhawks won?

I plan on discussing it here...

I thought the Brunette/Kane/Hossa line was great all night and is the perfect fit for Brunette. Kane is the type of player that doesn't need speed on his line because a lot of the time he posts up and lets the play catch up to him. Hossa is the type of player that doesn't need anyone on his line because he is a beast and somewhat of a puck hog (not that it is a bad thing in Hossa's case because he does it so well). Brunette played great and as long as he is around the net and getting those chances I am happy. I much rather have Brunette in that position rather than a 3rd line checking role or a 4th line role where he absolutely just isn't suited and doesn't help the team.

Good to see the powerplay get a goal and also get one on the delayed penalty with the man advantage.

Bryan Bickell...the guy has remembered how to play hockey over the last month and it is paying off big time for the Blackhawks. If he could keep a fire lit under his ass it will be beneficial to the Blackhawks.

Emery and the defense played very solid last night. And just to think, someone was saying Emery moved like a slow moose and we need to bring up Salak...what a joke. Emery has been a solid back up all season long and has clearly saved the Blackhawks' season in a lot of ways. Emery should get the start on Sunday.

Was very happy with the amount of shots that the Blackhawks got last night and the quality of shots. A lot of second opportunities around the net and two breakaways (+ Sharp's penalty shot). The goalie played well but if you throw the puck to the net as often as the Blackhawks did, good things will happen.

I know Eddie/Pat complimented Shaw in the third...but I felt he was out of position a lot last night and there wasn't enough stop/start in his game and too much looping. Hopefully he simplifies his game once again.

The fourth line of Hayes/Mayers/Bollig looked real good with some nice hits and some nice opportunities. Having a guy like Bollig who can play a little hockey (even though he had a bad blueline turnover in the first) but also play a stereotypical 4th line role should help the Blackhawks.

Need to improve on the faceoffs. That could have easily cost the Blackhawks.

Good game and hopefully the Hawks carry it over to Sunday's match up.

Seriously, what is up with Bickell? It's clear as day that something happened because he's a completely different player lately. Even when he was benched fairly early in the year he didn't come back this strong like we all were expecting him to. Different coaching approach? Whatever it is, it's big because he's actually making a difference when he's on the ice.

Emery... I don't get why he hasn't gotten more respect. He's done everything you could possibly ask for from a backup- including stealing the net from the starter for a stretch. I get why Q has been sticking with Crawford (hoping he'll get things right) but this has to be Emery's net for this final push. I never understood the desire to bring in another guy like Nabokov or Khabibulin.

Sharp now 0-5 on penalty shots and I think like 23% career shoot out.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Then Again, I really like Kane's center line and wish we could keep him there... but that would put Mayers on the bench...

The Kane line can stay with Toews back and Mayers would still be on the 4th... he'd just be on wing with Kruger at center.

That's how they started this year when Kane was lighting it up while centering Hossa on the 2nd line. That magic is clearly back and when Toews comes back- that's a scary top two line punch.

 

[HawkWriter]

^^^ It amazes me that Sharp is that bad but he just can't bury the puck on a shootout/penalty shot.

Some other shootout career notables...

Gaborik - 24%
Ovechkin - 31%
Perry - 30%
Crosby - 40%
Toews and Kotalik are both at 50% with the same amount of attempts
Heatley - 15%...WOW!
Stamkos - 16.7%
Carter - 14%

Clearly a trend here...guys that are snipe shows seem to be brutal in the shootout, really amazing though.

 

[HawkWriter]

The Kane line can stay with Toews back and Mayers would still be on the 4th... he'd just be on wing with Kruger at center.

That's how they started this year when Kane was lighting it up while centering Hossa on the 2nd line. That magic is clearly back and when Toews comes back- that's a scary top two line punch.

Kruger might not be in the lineup by then if he can't learn how to take a hit. There have been so many boarding calls against he other team on Kruger this year...yet they are Kruger's fault for ducking at the last second and taking a blow to the head. I love how hard he works but he needs to get his head up and stop trying to avoid hits like he does because his longevity worries me if he continues down that road.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Here's where I subtly compare my hockey ability to Toews.

We'd always wrap up practices with a shootout and I literally have NO hands but I was decent on the shootout. To me it was always about the shot more than the move. Watch the goalie move as you skate in and then just pick your spot with a quick release. It works every time for Toews. Very rarely he'll deke based on what the goalie is showing him but it's almost always just a quick shot that gets it done.

Stamkos at 16%... I'm guessing that's due to a low amount of attempts? I wonder if he could pass it to him self off the side boards and then rip a one timer :lol: That would be awesome.

 

[HawkWriter]

Stamkos at 16%... I'm guessing that's due to a low amount of attempts? I wonder if he could pass it to him self off the side boards and then rip a one timer :lol: That would be awesome.

All players I mentioned have above 20 opportunities. I believe Stamkos has 24 which means he has 4 goals in 24 opportunities. Stamkos' shot percentage this year? 19.91%...over 3% higher than his shootout percentage!

The best current 0 for nothings are two guys that are 0 - 9. Kobasew and MacArthur

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Man, that's unbelievable

Also unbelievable: how much better the Hawks are when Kane centers Hossa.

 

[DewsSox79]

last post at 12:18 PM CST. hope its ok to close now, if you have anything further hawkwriter please direct it to the player discussion, or if you want to talk more about the sens game I will make a thread for you, since you arent really a "hawkwriter" for the site.