Oilers @ Blackhawks Official In Game Thread

[icehogfan08]

Right, because scott is the biggest variable to the hawks success, please.

He's not the biggest asset skill wise. However he is playing smart and fundamental hockey. He's playing 10+ minutes the past three games gets the pucks out of the zone. But I guess he sucks cause he's not putting up a point per game for you cawk brothers

 

[icehogfan08]

your going to actually use that as your arguement, that was all toews....all day everyday.

Still production

 

[HawkWriter]

He's not the biggest asset skill wise. However he is playing smart and fundamental hockey. He's playing 10+ minutes the past three games gets the pucks out of the zone. But I guess he sucks cause he's not putting up a point per game for you cawk brothers

I would say he is playing as smart of hockey as he can.

Last night the Montador/Scott pairing was serviceable. If Lepisto is healthy, I would rather have him out there instead of Scott, 100 times out of 99. I also think O'Donnell is better to have back there, because he plays the PK. He did have two poor back to back games though and then has been sitting out since.

I will say that Scott has actually been surprising me with his first pass out of the zone. If he has his head up he makes a real nice pass. He does make some blind passes though and I really get the feeling that having Scott out there is going to burn the Hawks sooner or later against highly skilled teams. He played terrible against the Blues and okay against Flames/Oilers - and I think there is a reason for that (Blues being more skilled and on home ice compared to the other two teams).

Now is going to be the real big test. On the road where the home team is definitely going to match up their best anytime they see Scott step onto the ice. I'm fearful and not very optimistic. Also, the stat with Scott is pretty meaningless.

 

[HawkWriter]

My thoughts on the game...

Stalberg/Toews/Hossa is turning out to be a great line. Stalberg definitely brings a lot to the table with this line and Toews/Hossa are helping cover up the areas he is deficient in.

Carcillo/Kane/Sharp is working great as well. I still would like to see Brunette up here w/ Carcillo on the 4th (for reasons I'll state later) but it is hard to move Carcillo when he is playing pretty damn solid on that line. The time may come, a poor game or misconduct, when we get to see what Brunette can do. I still think we need one more solid top 6 guy to help round out this team.

Bickell once again just didn't do it for me. He took a whole lot of shots from just inside the blueline that went high and wide. He also has some blueline turnovers. I love the contact that Bickell has, but he is going to be on thin ice and if the Blackhawks do pull the trigger to improve the team at some point - I wouldn't be surprised if the other team wants Bickell.

Kruger is gaining more and more confidence with the puck. Frolik played his regular all around game without potting a goal.

The only big complaint I have after last night is the 4th line. They lack an identity. Olesz doesn't even seem to know what role he should play or what his identity is. Mayers is a gritty tough guy and Brunette is a top 6 skill set guy who lacks speed. This line is floundering - luckily it is the 4th line. Would be nice to see Bolland back so Kruger can step back to the 4th line and I think it would really improve it with Kruger over Olesz.

Keith/Seabrook is playing great...just have to hope that Seabrook isn't out a while. If he is and our bottom 3 is made up of Montador/Scott/Lepisto/O'Donnell - this team could be in big trouble.

Leddy/Hjalmarsson is turning out to be a nice pairing - mostly because of Leddy. Leddy is showing some great confidence with the puck and is providing a great entry when he carries it through the neutral zone. Leddy has also cut down on the turnovers greatly the last 3 games. After watching Leddy being paired with Keith, it almost seemed that Leddy was trying to mimic Keith's game in the defensive zone...which he simply can't do at this point and that was resulting in a lot of turnovers. Now, Leddy is moving his feet and playing very well.

Montador/Scott was serviceable with Montador playing great. Scott has ups/downs in his game and I just feel like it costs us in the long run.

Big game against the Canucks on Wednesday, hoping Bolland/Seabrook are good to go.

 

[icehogfan08]

I just threw the record stat out there because all this stuff goes into Scott hurts the team, blah blah blah, when realistically it is a pointing the finger at someone.

I don't see him really costing the team. Will he make mistakes? yeah, its a given, along with every defenseman. If Scott can play like this every single game he may improve alot. As long as he is just doing his basic fundamental hockey, and he doesn't try to do to much, i'm all for him playing.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Kruger is gaining more and more confidence with the puck. Frolik played his regular all around game without potting a goal.

The only big complaint I have after last night is the 4th line. They lack an identity. Olesz doesn't even seem to know what role he should play or what his identity is. Mayers is a gritty tough guy and Brunette is a top 6 skill set guy who lacks speed. This line is floundering - luckily it is the 4th line. Would be nice to see Bolland back so Kruger can step back to the 4th line and I think it would really improve it with Kruger over Olesz.

Yup, that 4th line really misses Kruger.

Bolland needs to get back soon, if only to get that 4th line back up to par.

 

[Popinski Soda]

Stalberg played a heck of a game. I don't know how you could argue against that.

He's a good fit on that great line of Toews and Hossa. He's pretty strong on the puck and his speed is creating space and making things happen. He just looks good rushing the puck into the zone.

4g, 4a and a +7, all while earning the right to play on the top line after starting the season on the 4th.

So far, so good, so what.

 

[LonghornBob]

I have to admit, I was a hater but Stalberg is getting shit done.

Does he need to be on the 1? Probably not. I'd rather see us get a 2 line center and have Toews, Kane and Sharp on the 1, and say Plekanec, Hossa and Stalberg or Smith on the 2, with Bolland, bickell, and Frolik on the 3.

Still, there's no real reason (other than a few missed empty nets and a few posts) to really criticize the guy. He's had a good year, and a MUCH better go of it than I thought he would.

 

[HawkWriter]

^^^ Except, what are you going to give up for a 2nd line center? A 2nd line center is probably going to cost the Blackhawks more, in terms of players/prospects/picks, than a 1st line winger. Centers are more valuable, more sought after, and harder to find.

Also, with everyone wanting to reunite Toews and Kane...but why? Having center depth is partly what allowed this team to win a Stanley Cup. Separating these two provides a mismatch for one of them. Clearly they are learning to play without eachother and doing it just fine.

 

[tbo41fan]

^^^ Except, what are you going to give up for a 2nd line center? A 2nd line center is probably going to cost the Blackhawks more, in terms of players/prospects/picks, than a 1st line winger. Centers are more valuable, more sought after, and harder to find.

Also, with everyone wanting to reunite Toews and Kane...but why? Having center depth is partly what allowed this team to win a Stanley Cup. Separating these two provides a mismatch for one of them. Clearly they are learning to play without eachother and doing it just fine.

true, but Toews and Kane are natural linemates...thats where they are most dangerous IMO


however....how fucking great have kane and hossa been as linemates? BOSS!

 

[HawkWriter]

^^^ I feel like we/people only say that because those two have been together for the last couple of years.

Hossa works out great with either Kane/Toews - so that just shows me that it isn't necessarily a Toews and Kane thing together - even though Hossa is a beast.

When healthy, having 3 lines of Toews/Kane/Bolland at center is so critical to this teams success. I also think having Toews/Kane on separate lines allows them to have the puck a little more - which is great for the Hawks because Toews is so strong on the puck and Kane has amazing hands with the puck. Almost overkill at this point having those two together - and anyways, they should get around 5 minutes a night of PP time together.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Also, with everyone wanting to reunite Toews and Kane...but why?

I have no urge to see it happen.

It's nice to have it as a possibility when you want to throw a team a different look, but it's never something that has actively crossed my mind this season. Anyone you put out with either of them is going to benefit (aside from Brunette apparently). Stalberg and Carcillo... not usually what you'd call two top line guys but Kane and Toews are so good that they're elevating their games.

Spread it around. And if you really need to load up- that option is always there.