TGDT 2/5 - Blackhawks (7-0-2) @ (7-1-1) Sharks 9:30PM CSN

[PatrickShart]

Props to Q for sticking with Crawford with the shaky start as well. It was a good test for CC...and a good response by him to fight back and turn it around/get the win. They didn't get that last year from him.

 

[R K]

Props to Q for sticking with Crawford with the shaky start as well. It was a good test for CC...and a good response by him to fight back and turn it around/get the win. They didn't get that last year from him.

I was going to point that out as well. Last year he'd have yanked him and blown any confidence he had, and did several times.



Hawks team is good. They can come back no matter what they are down, again. Similar to 2010.



I did not like the way they were being out hit early in the game with no push back. Not hitting is one thing, and I don't think you need a hugely physical team but NOT responding is another.



this team responded and the Sharks did not like being hit back. Great game by Bickell using his body and I thought a key to the coming back in the game. Those early hits, Shaw, Keith, certainly threw the Hawks off their game/momentum they started off with and led to them being down 2-0 IMO.



You don't have to out hit the other team, but you DO have to respond to them when they are taking your players out.

 

[PatrickShart]

Craw didn't get pulled last year until the december-ish ...the goalie has to have confidence in himself if he wants the coaches/team to have it in him. At times last year, he'd let bad goals effect the rest of his game...where so far, he's been battling more this year, it appears.



I think most all teams are going to come out trying to hit/intimidate the Hawks by hitting them - and let them. They'll be the ones to wear down. They Hawks don't play scared - they keep coming. Their speed creates so many turnovers - more than running around like a bunch of meatheads trying to retailiate or match hit for hit. I think 2 of those goals by SJ Craw would like to have back (Wingells and Handzus).

 

[bierboy]

...Match penalty, I don't think so, IMO it was not a head shot. The 3 penalties above, it was all three.

Not a direct head hit, but, from what I saw in slowing down the replay, Desjardins hit Mayers' shoulder then delivered, what I would call, a glancing blow to his head...

 

[chasman]

great to see them come back from 0-2.

had me very worried , but they responded very well.

 

[R K]

Craw didn't get pulled last year until the december-ish ...the goalie has to have confidence in himself if he wants the coaches/team to have it in him. At times last year, he'd let bad goals effect the rest of his game...where so far, he's been battling more this year, it appears.



I think most all teams are going to come out trying to hit/intimidate the Hawks by hitting them - and let them. They'll be the ones to wear down. They Hawks don't play scared - they keep coming. Their speed creates so many turnovers - more than running around like a bunch of meatheads trying to retailiate or match hit for hit. I think 2 of those goals by SJ Craw would like to have back (Wingells and Handzus).

I'm pretty sure he was pulled twice on the CIrcus trip.

 

[PatrickShart]

He replaced Emery in EDM....in that 9-2 game



The first time he was pulled was at home vs PHX after it

 

[PatrickShart]

When Carbomb comes back...that 4th line forecheck will be even better - Carcillo/Kruger/Frolik

 

[R K]

I still think we should listen to David Kaplan and trade Kane for a goalie. Crawford certainly can't win anything for us.



after all kane is the only expendable asset we have.

 

[PatrickShart]

I think Rosenbloom said the same thing...

 

[R K]

Two complete idiots. Although I sent Kaplan right under the bus to the guy he was trading for a goalie. Just cause I can.

 

[bierboy]

When Carbomb comes back...that 4th line forecheck will be even better - Carcillo/Kruger/Frolik

I was wondering myself where Carcillo fits in when he comes back....has Q said anything, or is that pure speculation?

 

[Ton]

I like that line.



I kinda wanted to see Carcillo with Shaw though. I don't know how that would work with Bickell/Stalberg having to move lines, but it would be an interesting pair to watch. Not a big fan of line juggles so maybe putting Car bomb with Kruger/Frolik might be the easiest way to get him in the line-up without disturbing much and could be a pretty damn good line.

 

[xatruio]

wasnt a hit to the head but he did leave his feet, and i think not because of the impact, he jumped a tiny bit before shoulder contact.



even though it has always been legal, i also hate those blindside hits. Sure, you gotta keep your head up, but for the split second you gotta catch an outlet pass because you dont wanna turtle a hit then turnover possession, i think is too sensitive and are disrespectful on the checker's part.



Taking a hit along the boards is a different story, being pressured to take an open ice hit in a situation like Mayers just so you dont turnover is uncomfortable to me; the faster game makes those hits dangerous in my mind, whereas in the older slower clutch days, those hits were good to stand a guy up and force turnovers, but now it is just... blah.

 

[R K]

Blinde side hits are no longer legal.



I think Carcillo replaces Bollig if he returns but I bet Bollig stays up with the team.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Nice to see Crawford settle down and rebound big after the weak start (thought Q would pull him after the 3rd goal, glad he didn't).



Bolly turnover in front of the net was almost a game killer.



Bickell's hit on Murray was just what the team needed in response to the Sharks early physicality (Funny that the Sharks withdrew back into the themselves after the Hawks started responding).



Nice to see the 3rd & 4th line chip in with big back-to-back goals - when the team really, really needed it - put the Sharks back on their heels and changed the game's momentum.



Dumb penalty by Niemi, to terminate the Sharks PP early in the 3rd, but it was forced by excellent Hawk forechecking (which Hawk was it?).



The bad ice screwed up two nice chances by Toews & Keith, both wide open in the slot, that could've put the game away earlier in the 3rd.



While not Calgary Flames comeback worthy, being down 2-0 & 3-1, it was nice to see the team comeback and win an early important test (The Sharks 3rd goal, so quickly after the Hawks making it 2-1, would've sunk most teams).



Wonder what Toews/Thornton chippiness was at th end of the game (prolly Toews tellin Joe the Sharks'll always be chokers)?

 

[R K]

"Joe, for some reason when I had the Cup for two days I couldn't find your name on it". "why is that"?

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

great to see them come back from 0-2.

had me very worried , but they responded very well.

wouldn't have happened If I had time to make a pizza.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

I still think we should listen to David Kaplan and trade Kane for a goalie. Crawford certainly can't win anything for us.



after all kane is the only expendable asset we have.

Kane for Mason...we'll throw in RK...and his ball.

 

[Pez68]

The hit on Mayers, much like the hit on Toews a few years back, had a lot to do with their teammate putting them in a really bad spot. You CANNOT pass the puck to a guy in a completely vulnerable position like that. There's a reason it's called a suicide pass. Not only that, Keith put the puck right off his skate, so Mayers had absolutely no chance to defend himself.



I think it was Brouwer that passed the puck to Toews on that Mitchell hit?



Yeah, Desjardins left his feet. Yeah, it was technically a blind side. But, that's because Keith hit him in the foot with the pass. In that situation you have to put the body on the guy that is receiving the breakout pass to slow down the rush, and maybe cause a turnover in the offensive zone. I don't think the hit was dirty at all. It's a hit that's been in hockey forever, and one that guys make ten times a game with little to no attention given to it.



Keith should know better.



P.S. The match penalty was rescinded, as it should be.