IGT : 2/2/12 Blackhawks at Oilers 8:30 p.m (CT)

[DMelt36]

Watch Corey Crawford play much?

This isn't new.

True, but I don't see a reason to get rid of the guy. Clearly having a rough go of it lately, but he's still a very young goaltender and certainly worth keeping around. Emery's definitely playing tomorrow night and hopefully he'll be on top of his game. But he's not a long-term solution.

 

[DMelt36]

I imagine it's very quiet.

Til Q walks in, I'd think.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

True, but I don't see a reason to get rid of the guy. Clearly having a rough go of it lately, but he's still a very young goaltender and certainly worth keeping around. Emery's definitely playing tomorrow night and hopefully he'll be on top of his game. But he's not a long-term solution.

It's not that Emery is a long term solution or some incredible goalie. He's not.

It's that Crawford has been very bad this year. Like, worse than Huet bad. Sure he's somewhat young.. but this isn't a team that can't dick around and develop a goalie (who already spent a long time developing in the AHL).

He was given a big boy contract because he was set to be the guy. He has not played anything like 'the guy' this year. He's well below average.

This is a team that is set to contend and more than a 2 center and even more than a 4 d-man- this team's most glaring hole right now is at goal.

(and for the record, I was mostly kidding about the Schnieder trade idea. mostly)

 

[Capt. Serious]

paging Ryan Miller. opcorn:

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Til Q walks in, I'd think.

What's he going to say?

Not to keep harping on Crawford, but he's the reason that game got out of hand. He gave up 4 absolutely terrible goals. The Hawks were winning that game until Crawford just folded and let Edmonton roll.

Q can't go into the room and start yelling about that. That's not going to help anything.

He gave them some heat during the time out and during the 2nd intermission I imagine. I don't imagine more of that after the fact is going to do anything positive.

Plus Q has to worry about his own health... don't want that ulcer acting up again.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

paging Ryan Miller. opcorn:

Stan was on the phone in the 2nd intermission :lmao:

 

[DMelt36]

It's not that Emery is a long term solution or some incredible goalie. He's not.

It's that Crawford has been very bad this year. Like, worse than Huet bad. Sure he's somewhat young.. but this isn't a team that can't dick around and develop a goalie (who already spent a long time developing in the AHL).

He was given a big boy contract because he was set to be the guy. He has not played anything like 'the guy' this year. He's well below average.

This is a team that is set to contend and more than a 2 center and even more than a 4 d-man- this team's most glaring hole right now is at goal.

(and for the record, I was mostly kidding about the Schnieder trade idea. mostly)

Fair enough.

The name I've heard thrown around a lot when talking about Crawford this year is Jimmy Howard, who had a rough sophomore season last year. Save % of .908 and GAA of 2.79 in 63 games. This year his GAA is down to 2.01 and SA% is back up at .925.

Crawford this year is GAA 2.86 and SA% .902 in 39 games so far this year (not sure if that includes tonight). I wouldn't want to let him go til he gets a chance to bounce back, even if that waits til next season.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Brunette hurt..hopefully its him retiring.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Fair enough.

The name I've heard thrown around a lot when talking about Crawford this year is Jimmy Howard, who had a rough sophomore season last year. Save % of .908 and GAA of 2.79 in 63 games. This year his GAA is down to 2.01 and SA% is back up at .925.

Crawford this year is GAA 2.86 and SA% .902 in 39 games so far this year (not sure if that includes tonight). I wouldn't want to let him go til he gets a chance to bounce back, even if that waits til next season.

I didn't watch a lot of Howard and the Wings that year, but they still won the Central. The Hawks can't do that with Crawford in net playing the way he has.

Crawford's numbers just aren't as horrendous as the goals he's been giving up (and it's not just tonight). He's constantly giving up back breaking softies and tonight you saw him just scrambling in and around his crease time after time.

The one major positive that Crawford had last year was that he was strong fundamentally. He was always square, he cut off angles and he kept movement to a minimum. Side to side he was incredibly crisp. He played the percentages and limited his rebounds. It worked. He wasn't a reactionary goaltender like Thomas... he was always just in the right place at the right time. Smart goaltending.

This year, when he is in the right place, pucks are still getting past him. He's incredibly not confident with his glove and his rebounds are much worse. He doesn't absorb the puck like he used to. Remember Foley always making a deal out of "And Crawford yields no rebound... again" That's not happening AT all. Hell, he's not even good when he's holding a post... multiple pucks have squirted through him when he's hugging a post. Those can't happen.

I don't know what his problem is, but he's obviously fighting the puck in a huge way. No the defense hasn't been great in front of him this year, but he hasn't done a single thing to help his own cause. I'm not making any excuses for the D-play thus far, but defense does break down on occasion and teams get power plays... these are the times when a goalie has to step up and make hard/improbable saves and Crawford has failed that test repeatedly this year.

He hasn't stolen a single game this year and his play has hurt the team more than it has helped it. Wish I knew what the problem was. I bet Corey does too.

 

[Captain Iago]

Wouldn't mind seeing/hearing guys a bit more pissed off after this second drubbing in Edmonton. Would love to see an infuriated team tomorrow. Probably will see more of what we've seen lately in Calgary, won't we?

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Wouldn't mind seeing/hearing guys a bit more pissed off after this second drubbing in Edmonton. Would love to see an infuriated team tomorrow. Probably will see more of what we've seen lately in Calgary, won't we?

I thought Eddie brought up a great point late in the 3rd while Edmonton was still regularly rolling it's top line. The Hawks should have been pissed right then and that thug line Q was rolling late should have vented their frustration to send a message.

If it's late and the game is well in hand- I don't want to see Kane out there on the ice for that very reason. Obviously Tom Renney does not share that opinion.

Well, either that or he knew the Hawks weren't going to do shit about it. :facepalm:

 

[HawkWriter]

Brunette hurt..hopefully its him retiring.

Pretty shitty thing to wish for.

Brunette is far, far from the problem right now.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

One thing from last night that will go largely unnoticed ... Edmonton was very effective beinging the physical game to Kane and to a lesser extent Toews. Both guys were constantly hounded ans hit when they were near or on the puck in the oilers end.

Very effective and something the hawks d corps is totally incapable of save for Seabrook.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

HockeyBuzz.com - John Jaeckel - Notes On A Trainwreck

I'm usually not a fan of Jaeckels doom and gloom after a loss but I think he makes some VERY interesting points here.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Hawks miss a guy like Burish. Guys like Bickell could learn alot from him.

Burish bled that Indian Head.

 

[DMelt36]

Hawks miss a guy like Burish. Guys like Bickell could learn alot from him.

Burish bled that Indian Head.

Shaw is starting to remind me a bit of Burish. Undersized guy that's always skating a million MPH and will throw his body into any moving target. Also not afraid to take a hit of his own to make a play.

 

[DMelt36]

I didn't watch a lot of Howard and the Wings that year, but they still won the Central. The Hawks can't do that with Crawford in net playing the way he has.

Crawford's numbers just aren't as horrendous as the goals he's been giving up (and it's not just tonight). He's constantly giving up back breaking softies and tonight you saw him just scrambling in and around his crease time after time.

The one major positive that Crawford had last year was that he was strong fundamentally. He was always square, he cut off angles and he kept movement to a minimum. Side to side he was incredibly crisp. He played the percentages and limited his rebounds. It worked. He wasn't a reactionary goaltender like Thomas... he was always just in the right place at the right time. Smart goaltending.

This year, when he is in the right place, pucks are still getting past him. He's incredibly not confident with his glove and his rebounds are much worse. He doesn't absorb the puck like he used to. Remember Foley always making a deal out of "And Crawford yields no rebound... again" That's not happening AT all. Hell, he's not even good when he's holding a post... multiple pucks have squirted through him when he's hugging a post. Those can't happen.

I don't know what his problem is, but he's obviously fighting the puck in a huge way. No the defense hasn't been great in front of him this year, but he hasn't done a single thing to help his own cause. I'm not making any excuses for the D-play thus far, but defense does break down on occasion and teams get power plays... these are the times when a goalie has to step up and make hard/improbable saves and Crawford has failed that test repeatedly this year.

He hasn't stolen a single game this year and his play has hurt the team more than it has helped it. Wish I knew what the problem was. I bet Corey does too.

I think that was the biggest key last year, with emphasis on the "right time." Crawford always seemed to come up with the clutch save in a huge moment last season. Not so much this year.

I've been saying this since after the lockout: you do NOT need a spectacular goalie to win the Cup anymore. You just need a very, very CLUTCH goalie. Chris Osgood, for example.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Shaw is starting to remind me a bit of Burish. Undersized guy that's always skating a million MPH and will throw his body into any moving target. Also not afraid to take a hit of his own to make a play.

Eddie O brought up a great point on Shaw last night after he drew a penalty. The kid needs to be stronger on his feet.

It's impossible to not notice the beating that Shaw takes when he's on the ice. The guy is constantly getting smacked around, falling to the ice after big hits and just generally looking like a whipping boy at times. Eddie went so far to say that Shaw was taking dives which very well may be and it could be why he's drawing so much physical play to begin with.

Yes he works hard and goes to the tough areas... that's his biggest asset. But I think Eddie made a real good observation. Shaw needs to be stronger on his feet.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

I think that was the biggest key last year, with emphasis on the "right time." Crawford always seemed to come up with the clutch save in a huge moment last season. Not so much this year.

I've been saying this since after the lockout: you do NOT need a spectacular goalie to win the Cup anymore. You just need a very, very CLUTCH goalie. Chris Osgood, for example.

I don't even think you need a very very clutch goalie.

I'd say right now you need a strong goalie that most importantly... doesn't let shit goals in. Look at the last two losing goalies... Luongo (well known for his epic mental lapses) and Leighton (the cup winning goal was a softie).

 

[Captain Iago]

I thought Eddie brought up a great point late in the 3rd while Edmonton was still regularly rolling it's top line. The Hawks should have been pissed right then and that thug line Q was rolling late should have vented their frustration to send a message.

If it's late and the game is well in hand- I don't want to see Kane out there on the ice for that very reason. Obviously Tom Renney does not share that opinion.

Well, either that or he knew the Hawks weren't going to do shit about it. :facepalm:

Also, Renney's defense, Gagne was having a historic night and it's not like the Oil have much going for them this season.

The thug line didn't need to start a fight, but I would have liked to see Oilers flattened...even after the whistle, fine. Maybe a fight presents itself, maybe it doesn't. But to do nothing? Yikes.

It was heartless. Also, how in the hell do our guys congratulate Gagne on his great night? Compliment the guy who bent you every which way? C'mon, I'm disappointed in the lack of pride.