Post-game: Blackhawks @ Stars

[Ton]

Letnogoalsin was a wall, glad the Hawks could punch a couple past him though. Good win all around, glad the Hawks snipers could figure him out. As I said before the game, he could steal it and I'm just glad he didn't.

 

[the canadian dream]

uhhhmm someone please tell me how bad Leddy was in Rockford this year and how he should have been kept there to start the season.



4 games in and Leddy might be the best blueliner on the team right now (arguable). They have all been really good to be honest but Leddy is a step ahead of a few of the guys on the blueline on both ends of the ice...and frankly...hes faster than he was last year.



I really liked Keiths game tonight also. Once again saves a sure goal. We don't need Emery we have Duncs.

 

[CLWolf81]

What a game!

Keith saved that game big time. Wow!

 

[EspoForever]

Letnogoalsin was a wall, glad the Hawks could punch a couple past him though. Good win all around, glad the Hawks snipers could figure him out. As I said before the game, he could steal it and I'm just glad he didn't.

With a goalie challenging as much as Lehtonen was, it's wise to pass it side-to-side and that's how all 3 goals happened, but that pass by Kaner's plan on the winner left me holding my head (phrasing, I know.) 99.999% of people on this earth would shoot when given time and space from the slot, but he said, "nah, I'll make an amazing pass."

I thought the team had a lot of good plays, but made more mistakes than the first 3 games combined, but that may be credited to Dallas pressuring us.

Corey was solid except for the first one when (albeit a breakaway) he backed in and some-crazy-how allowed a shot into his gut into the net...he was solid when we needed him. I still think he'd be more agile and a lot better with goal pads about 2-3 inches shorter.



I guess we might find out if Emery has figured out how to catch a long shot Saturday night in Columbus.



4-0 with 3 wins on the road is a great start!

 

[the canadian dream]

im sure craw wants that first goal back but he redemed himself on that penalty shot. aggressive and confident on that one.



anyone think hes changed his stance a little bit this year? somethings a tiny bit diffrent but i cant put my finger on it yet. his butterfly stance looks slightly wider to me or i might be drunk.

 

[thanson1990]

im sure craw wants that first goal back but he redemed himself on that penalty shot. aggressive and confident on that one.



anyone think hes changed his stance a little bit this year? somethings a tiny bit diffrent but i cant put my finger on it yet. his butterfly stance looks slightly wider to me or i might be drunk.

Hes deeper in his net, more like his rookie year.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

im sure craw wants that first goal back but he redemed himself on that penalty shot. aggressive and confident on that one.



anyone think hes changed his stance a little bit this year? somethings a tiny bit diffrent but i cant put my finger on it yet. his butterfly stance looks slightly wider to me or i might be drunk.

No your right, he's made more than a few save just kicking his pads out these first 4 games. Pat also mentioned he worked hard on improving his agility this off-season, he also changed his pre-game routine from playing that soccer kick game thing they do, to going off on his own.



Things have changed in Crawford land, things have changed.

 

[Ton]

He seems more flexible to me, but he needs to keep working on it, especially when he's in the butterfly. His knees are bent a little bit more though, but his stance isn't any wider, also seems to be playing within the blue paint. At time's his ass is so low he might as well be sitting down. I'm not sure what Waite is telling him, but it doesn't make him look any bigger in the net. Craw has long gangly legs, so I'm not sure if he should shorten his pads anymore than another inch. If anything his pads are too stiff, and needs to find more flexible pads that allow some shape to them -- it would help those "I've fallen and I can't get up" moments. At times he looks uncomfortable and those pads look real stiff. Too stiff. They should be more flaccid. Like Grimson after 2 beers.

 

[xatruio]

also noticing he isnt jawing at himself after every goal like last year. Less pressure on himself. Like his rookie year

 

[Ton]

also noticing he isnt jawing at himself after every goal like last year. Less pressure on himself. Like his rookie year

Great point, more composure. I hope it continues, it's early though. We'll see where he's at at the end of the season and re-visit that thought, lol!

 

[LordKOTL]

I can honestly say that this is about as frustrating of a win as I've ever experienced--maybe because the game was, "The Dallas Stars: 3 goals scored, 2 for their own team."



Offense? Need I say more. I can't even think of a quasi-offensive reference of how "on fire" they are right now. Lehtonen was lights out and amazing and the only think keeping this game from being a complete blowout. I think this part of our game needs no tweaking whatsoever



Crawford, while making some very timely saves and has better poise, needs to re-examine his 5-hole and how Goatse.cx and Huet-like it was this past game. It was almost a problem last night (especially since Norris-level Keith made an appearance), and could be again soon. He's good staying back (better than the Blues game at least), and his position and reflexes look good, so now, he should work that part of his game.



As for the D, I thought Keith and Leddy were monster, Hammer and Odylya were okay-to-good, Seabrook looked a bit off, and Rosival took a slight downturn, but in terms of team D (including the fwds), can we please try and connect with an outlet pass? Just like 3rd period in St. Louis, it looked like they were tyring to force the play and trying to be too cute, which IMHO forced Goal #2 against.



I'll take a win especially against a hot goaltender, but I think we got lucky this game. The offense will not be able to bail us out every night. Dr. Craw needs to fix his 5-hole and stay with the "keep close to the net", and the D needs to get the outlet pass down a bit better.

 

[Ton]

I don't think the offense bailed us out against the Blues, I think so far every win this season has shown contributions from everyone.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Has a team ever won 44 in a row?

 

[PatrickShart]

What about 64-0?



Crawford just needs to make the saves he needs to make. The one at the end of the period sucked...as well as the one Keith saved. But he made some nice saves as well, including the penalty shot. All he needs to do, is be average. I don't expect him to "steal" games and the team won't rely on him to do what Lethonen was doing last night. If the Hawks do...they'll be in trouble.



I think the test for Crawford will be if/when he gives up 3 goals in the first period...will he be able to shut the door the rest of the game, and give the team a chance to come back? Or if/when he plays 2-3 bad games in a row (gives up 4-5 goals, gets pulled)...will he be mentally good enough to forget the game. That'll be the Crawford test, IMO. He proved his rookie year he was capable of being a decent goaltender. Then he had trouble forgetting loses and bad goals last year. The Hawks have always had to offense/firepower to come back in a game..and/or keep peppering/pressuring the other goaltender. The forwards have always had that cockiness/swagger that they can score in bunches. I think Kane said something that it was kind of fun last night trying to get one by a goalie that was on fire like that. But they need a goaltender with the ability to "forget" bad games/goals and not be a mental midget. Someone that will battle and compete if he gives up a bad goal, and have that same swagger/cockiness/confidence.

 

[PatrickShart]

And I thought Hjall has been playing his best hockey since I can remember. I think playing with Oduya is much like playing with Campbell. A mobile defenceman, that can move the puck..Oduya may be a bit more responsible in his own zone and not take as many chances offensively as Campbell would. Their communication in game has ben very noticeable on their outlet passing to each other.



Leddy...has been ridiculous. That rush was insane. And there was a turnover in the third in the neutral zone where he caught Ericcson (I think) from behind when he had a few steps on him.



Stalberg has been fantastic as well. Thankfully the Hawks have let him develop and understand it takes a few years. Hopefully Scooter can get him signed to a cap friendly hit.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

And I thought Hjall has been playing his best hockey since I can remember. I think playing with Oduya is much like playing with Campbell. A mobile defenceman, that can move the puck..Oduya may be a bit more responsible in his own zone and not take as many chances offensively as Campbell would. Their communication in game has ben very noticeable on their outlet passing to each other.



Leddy...has been ridiculous. That rush was insane. And there was a turnover in the third in the neutral zone where he caught Ericcson (I think) from behind when he had a few steps on him.



Stalberg has been fantastic as well. Thankfully the Hawks have let him develop and understand it takes a few years. Hopefully Scooter can get him signed to a cap friendly hit.

I said it two years ago when he came up, wouldn't it be great if Leddy morphed into the second coming of Keith. And although its way to early to say anything, his play in the first 4 games has been unreal. If he stays like this he'll be on many all-star teams in the coming years and the Hawks will have a lot less problems overall.



Still can't get over how great his defense has been, just earth shattering compared to him figuring it out the past two years and playing WAY too much for a 19 year old D man on a cup contender.

 

[PatrickShart]

Maybe playing way too much as a 19yr old helped get him to this point. While some players develop better in the minors...some of the players have the mind to grasp the game at a higher level. And while his results may not have been there as a 19-20yr old with him not being there physically, he has had the mental aspect to play the game at this level. And the organization realized that. It can be the same with Saad. While either of them may not put up the massive numbers in the AHL - that may not be the best development for that individual player. They both "think" the game at a high level.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Maybe playing way too much as a 19yr old helped get him to this point. While some players develop better in the minors...some of the players have the mind to grasp the game at a higher level. And while his results may not have been there as a 19-20yr old with him not being there physically, he has had the mental aspect to play the game at this level. And the organization realized that. It can be the same with Saad. While either of them may not put up the massive numbers in the AHL - that may not be the best development for that individual player. They both "think" the game at a high level.

Probably, I think the biggest thing maybe his half a year being the guy to look up to in Rockford this year.

 

[R K]

uhhhmm someone please tell me how bad Leddy was in Rockford this year and how he should have been kept there to start the season.



4 games in and Leddy might be the best blueliner on the team right now (arguable). They have all been really good to be honest but Leddy is a step ahead of a few of the guys on the blueline on both ends of the ice...and frankly...hes faster than he was last year.



I really liked Keiths game tonight also. Once again saves a sure goal. We don't need Emery we have Duncs.

Leddy sucked ass in Rockford this ENTIRE season.



But playing there has obviously helped him here playing with much more talented players around him. Has to be it.

 

[R K]

Maybe playing way too much as a 19yr old helped get him to this point. While some players develop better in the minors...some of the players have the mind to grasp the game at a higher level. And while his results may not have been there as a 19-20yr old with him not being there physically, he has had the mental aspect to play the game at this level. And the organization realized that. It can be the same with Saad. While either of them may not put up the massive numbers in the AHL - that may not be the best development for that individual player. They both "think" the game at a high level.

Unfortunately part of Leddy's deal in Rockford was his head and thinking he probably shouldn't be there. That said the consistent ice time did one thing for him, and that's make him game ready for here right off the bat.



He coughed up the puck last night and raced down to save it when he was five feet behind to start. Wheels!