Blackhawks at Nashville - Loss Recap

"Luck Ain't Even Lucky"



I honestly don't think my brain is going to stay intact, until the trade deadline. The delusions of grandeur are just stupid, and every "Tom, Dick, and Harry" thinks they are an NHL GM. This isn't even entertaining. Anyhow, the Hawks had more immediate problems to deal with, in Music City. Eight losses in a row, and a tough Preds defense didn't exactly spell "slump buster". While the Preds were 1-2-2 in their previous 5 games, they haven't been as bad as the Hawks. If you remember correctly, the Avalanche were just as cold before THEY beat the Hawks. Nothing is a sure thing, as things sit, and the opening two losses of this streak were against Nashville. Would the third time be a charm for the Hawks?

The Hawks opened up the game at a fever pitch, which was nice to see after such mediocre efforts, lately. The game was tied at one after the first period, but the Hawks out shot Nashville 10-4. A bad turnover ended up in the Hawks net, but they rebounded and tied the game back up just a few moments later. As the Hawks luck would have it, even though they out shot the Preds after two periods, they were still outscored 1-0 in the second frame, to go into the third down by a goal, on the road. The Hawks tied the game in the third period, but, once again, the Hawks were on that wrong end of some luck, as the Preds scored a late deflected game winning goal. Third time was, in fact, a charm; for Nashville.

The Good

• MegaMayers made a smart shorthanded play to open the first Preds powerplay of the night. He rushed up on a 2-on-2 with Lurch, and sent a laser beam at the Preds goaltender. He didn't score, but it took time off the clock and he didn't force a bad pass, which is the Hawks M.O. as of late.
• One Trick Bick tied the game up shortly after Suter put the Preds ahead, and continued his slight resurgence. Ryan Suter allowed him to get off his "worlds longest set up", and backed his ass right into his own goalie. So not only to do let BRYAN BICKELL get his three day long shot off, but you screen your goalie. Major fail by Suter, after scoring the first Preds goal, he truly dicked-the-dog on that one, but finally something promising for the Hawks.
• The Hawks defense looked extremely aggressive through the first half of the game, pinching early and often, to keep the plays alive. I can't say I wasn't enjoying it either. Nashville didn't know quite how to handle the pressure.
• Boss 81 answered my pick to click by scoring a huge third period goal to tied the game back up at 2. Deuce threw him a chest high grenade, at the Preds blue line, and he was able to cradle the puck in his body, spin, and drop it on his stick while keeping it away from the Preds defender. He headed for the net and snapped it past Rinne's stick side.
• The Hawks didn't score any powerplay goals, but they DID have serious pressure. They also didn't give up and power play goals against, so those are both promising.

The Bad

• El Capitan cost his team the first goal of the game, late in the first period. He had possession of the puck at the red line, and couldn't control it. The Preds knocked it free and carried it into the Hawks zone, clowning the Hawks defense in the process. You could just feel the panic when the Preds took possession of the puck. I'm not really sure just what Razor was doing, but he was shuffling around the crease on his knees, and just wasn't in great position to make the stop. Id I question any of the three goals, this is the one. He had a good look and wasn't in position.
• Nick Spaling put the Preds up 2-1, with two and a half minutes left in the second period, on a redirect of a Ryan Ellis point shot. Again, not a whole lot a goalie can do when an 85mph shot is redirected 10 feet in front of you. As usual, the play started with the Hawks not controlling the puck after a Bolland faceoff loss.
• Ryan Ellis got another deflection goal, but this time it was off a Hawks defenseman, with 5 minutes left to go in the third period. What originally looked like a bad long range goal turned out to be another deflection. The Hawks couldn't clear the puck when they had possession with Dylan Olsen blindly backhanding it up the boards. The puck worked its way around and across the zone to Ellis, who played the carom off the boards and one timed it towards the net. About half way to the net, Deuce's stick got a piece of the puck, and ever so slightly, changed the direction and speed of the shot. More bad luck, and that kind of stuff isn't helping your already shaky goalies. 3-2 Preds.
• When you out shoot a team 32-19 in their own rink, you win that game 98% of the time. This was one of those games in the 2%.
• El Capitan was the only Hawks Center with a faceoff percentage over 50%, and the second goal was as a result of a faceoff loss in the Hawks zone. They need to get better in this area, too.

The Ugly

• The usually level headed El Capitan took a questionable penalty in the first period, running over Pekka Rinne to negate the first Hawks powerplay of the game. While he was pushed a little, I fail to understand just what he was doing. He looked confused. I'm dumbfounded on that one.

Here are your video highlights:

Blackhawks vs. Predators - Loss Recap

"Ain't Got Time to Bleed"


"EVERYBODY QUICK! Derp Face Party, On Three!"

After getting their asses kicked back in Nashville the other night, the Hawks were back home for the ass end of their Home and Home series, their last game at home in 3 weeks, and the last game before the All-Star break. While I'm sure the Hawks were looking for revenge, they were going to have to accomplish this feat without 2 of their captains, Sharp and Toews. With a week off, and an extended road trip coming up, a win in the United Center would be a great way to get the fans fired up. With El Capitan out nursing a sore flipper, this was Dave Bolland's time to shine, moving up to center the first line. If he could make a good showing here, this could quiet the masses calling for a trade for a second line center, and take pressure off Stan Bowman. The deadline is creeping ever so close, and there is no way the Hawks will be able to give enough away to compensate for a #2 center. AnyWHO...

Just when you think the kids might lend a young energy, the Hawks open up the game with two fatal turnovers to go into the first intermission down 2-0. It could have been at least 3-0, or 4-0 with the good scoring chances the Preds had, but if the Hawks had opened up the scoring when they had momentum things could have played out much different. The second period was a little more even with power plays each way, but no goals, and the pace slowed down a bit. The calm before the storm? A third period against a suffocating Preds defense and a world class goalie isn't an easy feat when you're down 2 goals. To the fans delight, the Hawks came out and got a goal in the third period and had some serious pressure, but that one goal was all they could muster up. In the end, the Hawks were sent into the All-Star break with a tough loss.

The Good

• The Hawks kids had a lot of energy to open up the game but they just weren't able to cash in. We all know how that ended up when the defense let them down.
• To make up for a first goal that was pretty soft, Crawford make a highlight reel glove save on Mike Fisher in the third period. Nice to see him fight back after a tough first.
• The Hawks finally scored on the powerplay, and my pick to click, InvisiBolly, was the trigger man. Hossa danced around the zone like a magician and faked like he was going to drive hard to the net. Once he did that, Bolland was left wide open for the one timer past Rinne. 2-1 Preds.
• While he didn't stand out, per se, David Bolland showed that he CAN be a top 6 guy with the Hawks only goal, on the powerplay, and winning an unbelievable 17 of 20 faceoffs. This was a promising sign in an otherwise shitty game. It's time for him to become that second line center, and save his GM a boatload of cabbage.
• Furthermore, All the Hawks centers won 50% or more of their faceoffs. Good, no?
• Marian Hossa was a beast the entire game. Period!

The Bad

• As luck would have it, when the Hawks open up with energy and don't finish, Craig Smith jumped on an O'Donnell Sean turnover and scored a fairly soft goal. Crawford was screened on the shot, but the shot was low and to his stick side, which he was favoring already. Huge momentum grabber.
• Just previous to the second goal, Crawford had trouble with yet another long dump in. He stopped it, but didn't seem to know what to do with it as it lay on the ice right in front of him, which led to puck almost ending up on a Preds stick. After a short panic scene, the puck was controlled by the Hawks, but it made everyone's blood pressure rise.
• Mike Fisher made it 2-0 when Nick Leddy did a little deju vu move from Saturday night, and turned the puck over to Hornqvist, again. Hornqvist was able to nicely kick it out in front to a wide open Fisher, who beat Crawford. Pirri got caught in the corner, Lurch got caught behind the net looking for the pass, and Crawford looked unsure whether dive out at Fisher or stand his ground which is how Fisher ended up so wide open. Crawford showed a rare case frustration, after the goal, by two handing the crossbar with a $200 stick. I can't blame him, because he got handcuffed, and the defense let him down, as well.
• The obligatory shorthanded chance against came on the second period Hawks powerplay, when Leddy was caught deep and Halischuk raced in on Crawford. Luckily, Leddy's speed allowed him to catch Halischuk and was able to tie up his stick, cleanly, from behind.
• Right when the Hawks had all the momentum and caught some luck, they were slapped with one of these lovely penalties below, to kill all chances and momentum for the Hawks.
  
• Colin Wilson drove a Chelsea Dagger in the Hawks chances with an empty netter to finish the game.
• I don't get bringing Ben Smith up for 4:47 of ice time. While he's not the messiah, he has a place. The Hawks weren't killing penalties all game, and Smith is much better than the John Scott treatment. What gives?

The Ugly

• Our good friend Lurch opened up the game a lovely minus 2. He got a little better as the game went on, but the first goal was a direct result of his turnover. Take note, Stan.
• Once again, a fight bites the Hawks in the ass. Montador and Yip decided to scuffle in the second period, which is all good and well, but the Hawks had a 2-on-1 at the time. Scoring chance averted. Can they just scratch fighting off the list for good? More often than not, the fights turn momentum in favor of the opposing team, or the Hawks get caught for some stupid instigation penalty.

Here are your video highlights:

Blackhawks at Nashville - Loss Recap

"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"



Back to back nights of hockey, and the start of a Nashville "home and home" are what the Blackhawks were up against, Saturday night. The Preds come in just 6 points behind the Hawks, and hungry to move up. With players like Mike Fisher, Shea Weber, Pekka Rinne, and Patric Hornqvist they are a very dangerous club. Even their second tier players like Dave Legewand, and Martin Erat are enough to hurt you. After a solid win against Florida, and some travel problems the night before, the Hawks were going to have to keep the spirits high, to head into Nashville and come out with a win.

The Hawks opened up a little light in the shot count, with a little help from 2 Preds powerplays, but still managed to finis the period tied 1-1, despite being out shot 7-2. The Preds owned the second period scoring 3 goals, and having another one disallowed. The late night the night before was starting to show. Each team scored in the third, but it was too much for a team that looked tired and out of sync. In the end, the Preds sent the Hawks home 5-2 losers.

The Good

• Boss 81 completely undressed the All-World Shea Weber to score the opening goal of the game on the SECOND SHOT of the game, with 5 minutes remaining in the first period. The play started with a nice touch pass from Shock&Shaw to Hoss, and Hoss used his speed to blow around Weber.
• Forty eight seconds into the third period Hoss brought the Hawks back into the game with a partial break-a-way, and beating Rinne 5-hole. Having nothing to lose, they took a chance and it worked out. No matter the outcome, its nice to see the Hawks not completely give up.

The Bad

• As you would expect from team that had a late game the night before, and had travel issues following the game, the Hawks started out very slow. They were only able to manage 1 shot in the first 15 minutes of the game.
• The Preds scored on their second powerplay of the game, with Craig Smith picking up a rebound in front, and stuffing it past Crawford. Deuce floated out too far in the slot, and his guy, Smith, was left all alone to poke the rebound in. You have got to stay tighter on the penalty kill.
• Leddy and Hammer got worked over for the Preds 3rd goal of the game. Leddy couldn't clear the zone, and the puck ended up in the back of the net. Leddy forced it up the boards where a Hornqvist was waiting for the puck. Legewand ended up with the puck on his stick, and fed it over to an open Colin White. Sloppiness in your own zone, Gents.
• Kostitsyn put the Preds up 4-1 late in the third period after Deuce got caught up the ice and never recovered. Crawford was juked out of his jock on the play, as well, just basically flopping on the ice. Quenneville had seen enough of Crawford, who's weak goal against earlier took all the wind out of the Hawks sails.
• Patric Hornqvist took the momentum back for the Preds after the Hossa goal, scoring on the redirect of a long Klein slapshot from the blue line, to put the Preds up 5-2. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but when you change the direction of a 90-100mph shot, 4 feet in front of the net, it's hard to adjust. You can't really hang that on a goalie.
• Clearly the biggest story of the night is the absence of Capitan Jonathan Toews, in the third period. One has to imagine that this is a lingering issue from the whack he took in the UC, against the Panthers. If he's genuinely hurt bad, there is some reason to be concerned. He's been the first half MVP of the entire league, and it'll be quite a challenge to even attempt to fill that hole.
• This is splitting hairs, but maybe making the 40 year old defenseman play two nights in a row after a late game the night before, isn't the best idea. He didn't really cost the team, but it would have been nice to have the ability to have the third pair take some of the strain off the top 4.

The Ugly

• The Preds caught Crawford napping in the second period and went up 2-1. It was a BRUTAL goal by Klein from center ice, that bounced about 60% of the way to the net. That one is ALL on Crow. Konroyd can make all the stupid fucking excuses he wants, but a wrist shot from center ice that bounces, needs to be stopped. If Corey stays on his feet, that shot is a non issue. PERIOD.
• Those fucking Tootoo whistles the fans kept blowing are absolutely ear splitting. Maybe the most annoying sound ever heard.
• Immediately after Crawford was pulled for giving up 2 weak goals, the first shot Razor saw was a break-a-way from the Preds blue line in. Welcome to the game, Razor. Let me address this Crawford hate, too. Crawford was one of the hottest goalies in the league before this game, so anyone spouting bullshit about him needs to calm the hell down. He had a bad night, yes, but it's one bad game. Repeat this; "ONE BAD GAME".

Here are your video highlights:

Blackhawks vs. Predators - Win Recap

"If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It"



Monday's game was going to prove to be much more difficult than the Saturday tilt with Columbus, even though for the first 2 two period, Columbus kept up with the Blackhawks. Nashville, as we all know so well, is a hard hitting defensive squad with a top notch netminder, in Pekka Rinne. On defense, it doesn't come much better than Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, who is the nephew of former Blackhawk defenseman Gary Suter. Offensively, the Preds aren't really much to sneeze at. Dave Legwand is leading the team, and former team scoring leader Patrick Hornqvist has had a slow start, with only 2 goals. This was, most likely, going to a defensive game, but anything can happen on Halloween, as we saw.

The Hawks wasted no time giving the Preds a lead with under a minute gone in the game, and the Hawks were able to tie it up with under a minute left in the first. Considering all the chances, this was not the boring Hawks/Preds game we were use to. The second period was a little less successful for the Hawks. The gave up two goals and were only able to answer one. Third period, one goal, Same ol song and dance. The Hawks were able to take the lead, and then relinquish that lead in the third but they dominated the period. All that got this game to overtime where the Hawks pulled out a dramatic win. Happy Halloween, Chicago!

The Good

• The Hawks finally got some sustained powerplay pressure early in the first and were moving the puck fast and furious, but they couldn't finish. It still looks like a failure on the score sheet, so they need to not only move the puck, but hit the back of the net. This is not going to do. I can't hate on the powerplay, even though they went 0-fer forever. They moved the puck and got plenty of huge chances, but Pekka Rinne is just inhuman. The Hawks would have scored at least 3 more goals, had it not been for Rinne. He's simply a bad ass, and as much as I love Crawford, if the Hawks could get Rinne, DO IT. He's a franchise player.
• The Hawks got on the scoreboard in the first period with under a minute left in play. Sharpie and Hoss dug the puck loose in the corner and Kaner played a little give-n-go with Shooter. Once Kaner got it on his stick in he slot, just to the left of the net, he ripped it 5-hole on Rinne. 1-1.
• Three-Times-a-Leddy was able to tie the game back up for the Hawks with 8 minutes left in the second period. Patty Kane reversed the puck around the net after a Leddy dump in, and fed it back to an activated Leddy, in the same general area that Kaner scored, who put a half back swing shot through Rinne. It helped a little that the Preds Smith was interfering with his own netminder, as Sharpie stood safely outside the crease watching. No denying this Leddy kid can play in the opponent's end.
• The Preds Shea Weber made a beautiful play on a Shooter/Kaner 2-on-1, that resulted in them not even getting a shot off. Those are two GRADE A players he stuffed, there. That guy is a STUD! Plain and simple.
• The Hawks opened the third period like they were HUNGRY for a goal, but like their powerplay chances, they weren't able to finish until Kaner tied it up, with 5 minutes gone in the frame.
• Speaking of Kaner's second goal, The Hawks tied up the game ONCE AGAIN in the third, when Shooter, Hoss, and Kaner worked a 3-on-3 to perfection and Kaner took advantage of Rinne's rare poor positioning, by beating him between the blocker and his ribs.
• As absolutely stellar as Rinne was in the third period, Crawford made a HELL of a save on the Tootoo breakaway. That could have ended ALL Hawks momentum, and now that I've brought it up, Brent? Sami? Could ONE of you keep an eye on that Tutu guy? I have to blame Seabrook on that one, since Pistol took the shot that was blocked.
• One-Trick-Bick did exactly what he does, on a great feed by Frodo to put the Hawks up for the first time in the game with 7 minutes left in the game. Frodo fought through two players to control the puck and hang on to it long enough for Bick to curl around in the slot. Fro put it right on Bick's stick, and he lasered one of his patented long setup, wrist shots into the back of the Preds cage.
• For all those bagging on Pick-to-Click Vik, he shut their collective mouths; for a second night. In OT, he shot into overdrive and took advantage of his stellar speed rushing up the right side of the ice. Once he got deep in the zone, he cut across the middle similar to the goal he scored the other night, but let the shot go much sooner and beat Rinne low glove side. Game; Set; MATCH! I realize this guy is a tweener, but I don't get all the hate on him. He MIGHT be the fastest guy on the team, and he's willing to muck it up, if need be. Three goals in two games, and could have easily had another had he hit the net on his break-a-way. That's not too shabby. Not to mention, word on the street is that while practicing shootouts he was MONEY. He's a decent role player.

The Bad

• It certainly didn't take long for the Hawks to give up a lead. Less than a minute in, Crawford went behind the net to play a dump in attempt, and it took a silly bounce off the boards between his legs. The puck came out to a Preds player along the boards who threw it at the net, and the rebound off the side of the net was easily poke in by Hornqvist. It doesn't get much easier than that.
• The Hawks are losing track of guys coming out of the penalty box FAR too often. In the heat of the game it's going to happen once in a great while, but this is really getting silly. This time it was Seabrook and Leddy. Wake up fellas, this is the big leagues. I'm quite sure everyone on the bench was yelling about it.
• The Preds went ahead of the Hawks, again, almost midway through the second period as Bruno, Frank the Tank, and Sami Pistol all got misty eyed by the puck carrier, Erat. Erat then dished it to a late driving Craig Smith, who cleanly beat Crawford. That is what a sniper SHOULD do when he's one on one with a goalie that is not set, and trying to move across his crease. Shame on those three Hawks, though.
• I'm quite certain that Shooter is wearing a hole in the boards to the left of the net, because he unloaded at least half a dozen shots in the first half of the game that hit that precise spot. Could we move the net over a foot or so? Anyone?
• Well, you can't really expect an IF on a 5-on-3, rather a WHEN, unless you're the Blackhawks, that is. Anyway, the Preds scored on a 5-on-3 advantage when Shooter took a dumb interference penalty in the offensive zone, and Bolly was the unfortunate party to airmail a clearing attempt into the crowd. Patrick Hornqvist took nice feed and beat Crawford on a long snapper. The breaks just weren't going the Hawks way, at this point. Each time they clawed back, the Preds would answer.
• Just a minute and a half after the Hawks took the lead, in the third period, the Preds took advantage of a makeshift 4th line. Tootoo took a bad angle shot was banked off Crawford's pads, and shot directly out into the slot area. The rebound squirted just past Seabrook, and MegaMayers conveniently floated past the puck, as well. Legwand jumped on the free puck and fired it past Crawford. That's a SLOPPY goal to give up when you have momentum.
• This was a VERY interesting night for faceoffs, and here is why. Cappy Serious put on a clinic, going 20-for-25, MegaMayers went 5-for-5, Sharpie went 4-for-4, and Bolly went a very average 9-for-19. BUT, Kane and Kruger got mushroom stamped at the dot, going a collective 3-for-14 (21%). That would be enough to tell me that Mayers and Sharpie should be taking the draws, when they are playing on the same lines as Kane and Kruger.
• That being said, I'm officially claiming that Kruger looks like an NHL player. I'm not saying he looks like a GREAT one, but "of NHL caliber". He is making quicker decisions with the puck, and definitely moving around better. He has even dished the puck fairly well, and absorbed a hit or two.

The Ugly

• This could be INFINITELY HUGE, but if the Hawks lose Deuce, because of the injury he sustained, for an extended period of time, this could make things VERY interesting. Even when he's bad, his speed is invaluable. He didn't see the ice after the 8:01 mark of the second period, so it must be semi-serious.
• I've beaten this to DEATH, and even I'M tired of it, but this Big Slow ordeal not only boggles my mind, but boggles EVERYONE'S minds. He had one shift each period for a total of 2:45. Now, I get that they like his cheap rather large tuchus on the roster for the occasional slugfest. I can accept that, and he's a cheap alternative for that. What I cannot understand or accept is that you have a WELL paid Rosty Olesz dressed in a suit, watching this guy do NOTHING. Let me remind EVERYONE why Big Slow was brought here. TO FIGHT! He has yet to do that, not that he could catch an opposing play to accomplish that, even if he was allowed to carry a lasso. He had a prime chance to absolutely blaze a Nashville defender behind the Preds net, last night, and barely smooched the guy. Jiminy Christmas, he might as well blast the guy into next week, because that is ALL a John Scott has the ability to do. Make it worth it, you big goon! While I'm on the subject of those two clowns, what is the problem with Olesz? I mean REALLY. I have to know. Some beat writer needs to earn his money, and flat out ask Joel Quenneville, "What the fuck is wrong with Rosty Olesz?". TELL US! As stupid as Florida was, you don't give a guy that is apparently THAT bad, over $3 million a year. According to what they have given us, this guy isn't even an NHL quality player on ANY level. He's done NOTHING on the ice to tell me that he is any less deserving than Big Slow. Really, just put him out there. Let him cut his own throat. SHOW ME what is so undesirable. It's the fucking forth line, for fucks sakes, they barely play anyway. Rosty Olesz scoring the first goal of the preseason is 10x more than I've seen Big Slow do.

Here are your video highlights:

Mr. Crawley, It's Symbolic of Course

Couple of days off, Coach coming back, rumored deals, and just another division game for the Hawks. This is one of my favorite times of the year, as far as the NHL goes, and it is going to be an interesting weekend. Last night was only the beginning. The first period was moving at a good pace, but the scoring chances were fairly limited. It took eighteen minutes for either team to score a goal with the Hawks taking a 1-0 into the first period intermission. Games like this are really boring as far as recaps go, especially when you have periods like the second. A couple of chances either way, but no scoring, and little major action. The third was pretty much more of the same, until the Hawks scored the huge break-a-way goal to ice the game, on a fatal Preds turnover. Big win on the road, and big shutout.

The Good

• Frolik and Brouwer showed a little chemistry for the first time, as Fro-do poked a puck to T-Brouw who ended up on a break-a-way but went a little too far past the net trying to outwit Rinne, and tried to bank it off Rinne. That was the best chance for the Hawks in the entire first period, outside of the goal.
  
• Finally, a Tomo-Kop sighting. He rushed out on the ice as a 6th attacker, with the Preds on a delayed powerplay, and picked up a great pass from Shooter. He took a second to settle it down, and roofed it over Rinne's blocker for a Hawks 1-0 lead. I would gather he was a little excited by that goal; just a hunch.
  
• Hoss came up with two HUGE plays in a matter of 6 seconds, as he deflected a pass by David Legwand enough to send himself racing the other way and raced in on a break-a-way to put the Hawks up 2-0, LIKE A BOSS.
  
• The combination of Toews, Bolland, Dowell, and Johnson at center is growing on me. It's amazing what happens when you have guys that are centers by trade and can somewhat do what a center needs to do. Dowell deserves the promotion and Johnson has been a solid faceoff man.
  
• Shooter iced the game with his second point of the night, as he scored an empty netter in the closing seconds of the game.
  
• Mr. Crawley was on fire all game, and got a WELL deserved shutout with 31 saves.
  

The Bad

• Tomo-Kop made a great long, backhand pass to Ryan Johnson, who went hard to the net and tried to sneak it past Rinne. I was pretty shocked to see a pass THAT nice off Kopecky's stick.
  
• It's OK, Sharpie, we weren't feeling that first period powerplay, anyway.
  
• The negated goal by the Preds was really iffy at best. Legwand really barely touched Crawford, but it's about time a call went the Hawks way.
  
• Hendry only played about 5 shifts in the second period, Hammer had the same amount in the third, and Leddy only had about 8 in the second. It looks like they are going to ride the horses hard.
  
• Despite the win, all of the Preds centers were all around 60% at the faceoff dots, and all of the Hawks were at 40% and under.
  

The Ugly

• Kane had enough of a step on two Preds D-men to warrant a call, and possibly a penalty shot, with about four minutes left in the third. That was a "makeup" non call for the waved off goal.
  

Here are the video highlights for your viewing pleasure:

Third Period Delight

I promised a recap tomorrow but since we're all on a roll, I figured I'd wrap it up tonight. The Hawks started off on a bad note in the first period giving up two powerplay goals, and scoring one goal of their own. The Shots were only 8-6 in that period. The second had slightly less action but a highlight Dave Bolland goal. The Third period went ALL Hawks. They outshot the Preds 18-5 in the period and scored 4 goals to finish off a productive third period. A very nice way to go into a six day break.

The Good

• So, One Trick Bick has been proving me wrong with his play, lately. A few minutes after the Preds got their first goal, Bickell made a steal deep in the preds zone and muscled to the net. Once he was free of the defender he fed Invisi-Bolly for an easy tap in goal. That play was ALL Bickell there.
  
• I love watching Boss 81 get serious and absolutely dominate everyone else on the ice. I just wish I was seeing him do it more. When he decides he wants to be the man there is nothing people can do to stop him.
  
• I might have to retire the nickname Invisi-Bolly with that highlight reel goal he scored. He took a pass at the blue line, waited for Ryan Suter to crossover, and toe-dragged the puck around Suter, and then beat Lindback 5-hole. At no point can I say anything but the fact that that goal was a BEA-U-TY. Looks like he's finally found his stride. This deserves a special showing:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• We've been waiting all night for a powerplay chance that the Hawks could jump on, and it happened on the goal by Troy Brouwer. Brouwer mucked it up in front of the net, picked up the Lindback rebound and stuffed it in.
  
• Forty seconds after the Brouwer powerplay goal he skated through the slot area, and took a Bickell like wrister that ended up going in. For the first time in the game, the Hawks held a lead.
  
• All those times I cursed Brian Campbell the last two years, can officially be put to rest. He showed, once again, how important he is to the scoring of this team singlehandedly setting up One Trick Bick, right in front of the net, and Bickell buried it. The shift before, Campbell was hit hard in the corner and had a hard time getting off the ice. Anyone who knows anything was holding their breath on that one, because if he goes down, the Hawks are in trouble.
  
• A little cherry on top of the game was Jonny B Goode's 100th career goal. He just skated up the right side, uncontested, and buried a wrist shot past Lindback. Congrats, Captain Serious.
  

The Bad

• Sixteen seconds into the game and the Hawks are already on the penalty kill. We've seen this story before, and the Hawks putrid penalty kill yielded another PP goal. Not like Turco played that really, either. More fuel for the "burn Marty down" campaign.
  
• Deja Vu all over again with the second Preds goal, as Campbell blocked the original shot by Shea Weber, and Marty Turco went down early, leaving a dribbling for JP Dumont to put into the net. Penaltykill Suckasaurus Majora. At this rate there is going to be a burning cross waiting for Turco in his lawn when he gets home.
  
• Just last night we saw the Hawks lose a faceoff deep in their own zone and it quickly ended up past Crawford, and the same thing happened to Turco in this game. Former Hawk JP Dumont got his second goal of the game one timing it off the faceof, right through Turco.
  

The Ugly

• The Hawks took WAY too many pointless penalties in the first two periods. It's obvious frustration, but this has to change, because they can't kill a penalty to save their lives.
  

Here are the rest of the video highlights for your viewing pleasure:

Finish Him!

The first period had a good deal of physical play last night, and the Hawks scored the only goal on a powerplay. The second ended with the Hawks up 2-0 and pretty much outplaying the Preds, getting 23 shots to the Preds 12. On their way to a big win right? Yeah, think again. If you watched the first half of the third, you might have turned it off figuring that the Hawks would win. Well, right after Jordan Hendry got planted on his ass, the Preds showed signs of life and turned the game around scoring two goals to put the game into overtime. Epic choke. The OT wasn't without chances, but the Hawks couldn't cash in. The good thing is that the Hawks got a point out of the game, but the bad thing is that the Hawks threw away another point.

The Good

• You really don't normally notice it, but watching the game without the audio because of the technical difficulties for the first five or six minutes really makes you have to pay much closer attention.
  
• It never fails. Just when I'm thinking to myself, "God DAMN, Kopecky sucks on the powerplay", he picks up the puck and scores a pretty nice powerplay goal. Shea Weber left a fat ass rebound after blocking a pass and TomoKop actually looked like a talented NHL forward for the first time in quite a while.
  
• Pick-To-Click Vik FINALLY scored a goal and it was of the bizarre nature, for sure. He was behind the net and banked it off Rinne's back side and into the net. He can't get a goal straight on, but he can apparently do the trick shot. As a Goalie, those ones make me cringe, but as a fan, I had to laugh.
  

The Bad

• Eddie and Pat pointed out before the game how well Leddy and Hendry have been playing. My question to them is, if the Hawks have such a great front office and coaching staff, how does it take 40 games to figure out that Hendry and Leddy are better than Boynton and Cullimore? We're not talking quantum physics here. I don't care what they want to claim; It makes me seriously question the whole team's ability to evaluate talent.
  
• One Trick Bick had a prime chance on a back door one timer, about halfway through the second to put the Hawks up 3-0, and send the Preds into oblivion and shot it right into Rinne's bread basket. Bet you want that one back, don't you, Bick?
  
• Late in the second Sharpie had a wide open change on the powerplay, and he tried to make some dumb ass pass. In no situation was that a good idea. Jam the damn thing in the net and quit trying to be so fucking cute. Kaner threads a pass through to you and you act like you've never seen a puck or where it goes. I'll bet you'd like that one back too, wouldn't you, Fancy Pants?
  

The Ugly

• At 10:14 of the third is where the wheels and the Hawks wagon started to wobble. The combo of Leddy, Hendry and Brouwer somehow let the Preds forward slide in between them, take a pass, and score. The momentum was gone after that. The game is 60 mins, guys, not 49. The way Pat and Edzo were talking before that, the Hawks had already won.
  
• Just under three minutes later the wheels just plain fell off. Shea Weber got lucky with Corey Crawford getting handcuffed, and the "domination" was gone. It's sad that one softy by Crawford could lose the game for the Hawks like that. I have no fucking clue what Toews, Pat and Eddie were bitching about on that faceoff. Pat and Eddie rambled on and on, and on about it without having any clue what they were questioning. That had to be the most bizarre exchange I've ever heard, because Eddie was just making things up to talk about. Preds won the faceoff, Weber out it on net, and Crawford screwed up. Honestly, shut up, guys. You're creating imaginary excuses, and it's embarrassing.
  
• Sharpie had the game on his stick once again in OT, and he stuffed it right into Rinne's pads. That's at least three solid chances they squandered. Roof the puck, Sharpie. For the love of god ROOF IT!
  
• One last thing...Hey, Hawks?
  
  

The Shootout

• Toews was stopped by Rinne
  
• Goc was able to beat Crawford
  
• Kaner was beaten by Rinne's glove
  
• Crawford shut the door on Erat
  
• Sharpie made it a hat trick of missed chances on Rinne.
  

Here are the video highlights for your viewing pleasure:

To Catch a Predator

Two days before Christmas and what is our gift? A game that will most likely be low scoring and close. As advertised the first period was exactly that, as Bolly netted the only goal and the Hawks outshot the Preds 13-9. The second was more of the same, with Skillington denting the net, and the Hawks going into the locker room up 2-0. The third period had slightly more action with the Hawks scoring 2 and the Preds getting one on the powerplay. Not the most exciting game, but effective and productive. I'll take 6 more months of these games, if we get the same result.

The Good

• Well, what do ya know? Invisi-Bolly decides to make an appearance for Christmas. What did we do to deserve that? Not like Lindback really gave him much of a fight. After he completely shit the bed on that pass, his ego was so hurt he just fell over in front of Bolly. Just for good measure, Invisi-Bolly assisted on Skillingtons goal. Why Bolland drew three Nashville defenders is beyond me. Davey gets three and Skille gets none. Makes perfect sense. Don't call off the Amber alert yet, because he's bound to disappear again.
  
• FINALLY, Skillington showed he has a little sniper in him by roofing that goal over Lindback's glove shoulder for a 2-0 lead. Look at that, Joel, he CAN play on the powerplay, eh? Don't know WHO has been screaming about that all year long.
  
• Skillington showed a little, yes I'm going to say it, Bryan Bickell with his snapper halfway through the third to pretty much put the game away. I'm not sure just what the Preds bring out of him, but I like it.
  
• I keep saying it, but Crawford has been solid in a non spectacular way. Another great game. He needs a nickname soon, so that's my New Years Resolution.
  
• After three games the "faceoff artist", and "penalty kill virtuoso" Ryan Johnson finally made an appearance on the penalty kill. He blocked two shots, and I guess I'm supposed to be impressed. As of right now, I'm still not impressed, nor will I be. Three forwards are scheduled to come back and there are only 2 "expendables", Big Show and Hendry. Guess who loses that 3rd spot?
  
• One Trick Bick hit the score sheet again with a nice little headfake and snap shot. It's odd to see him actually score inside the circles, for once, but lets ride this wave. I saw someone comment on the Madhouse Enforcer and say that Bick reminded him of Brett Hull. Let's not get crazy now, that's just silly talk. Anyway, Game icing goal...Merry Christmas.
  

The Bad

• Crawford's shutout bid ended when the Preds scored on a slow deflection at the top of a powerplay. Once again the penalty kill unit failed. This needs to change NOW!

The Ugly

• No real ugly for two games in a row, so Merry Christmas...
  
  

Here are the video highlights for your viewing pleasure:

Screw the Chopa, the Sky is Falling

Linesman Pierre Racicot took the night off to referee a midget wrestling match

It just continues to get more and more frustrating for the Hawks, and I've run out of patience. The core of the team continues to sleep through the games, and the people like Skille and Stalberg continue to surprise. Unfortunately, that's not enough, and the Hawks gave up another lead. You have to have your money guys on the score sheet. I do like the new line configuration, because they don't include John Scott. Only four shots in the third period, guys? Obviously, that's not going to do it.

The Good
Jon Toews looked like he cared for one of the few times this season, at least in the first half of the game. He really disappeared when they needed him. Would have been real nice to actually score one in the shootout, wouldn't it Captain Serious? Stellar!

Jack Skillington FINALLY finished a play. Lets home he has as much luck with the ladies. He was seriously overdue. His first goal was on a nice little feed from Campbell. His second goal was even better than the first. Jake Dowell set him up beautifully and he made no mistake. I could not be happier to see him finally get the forth line monkey off his back. I hope this is going to be the start of some more of Skillington in the coal column.

Pick-to-Click Vik had a rocket of a wrist shot for a goal. You couldn't place that any better. Just a reminder, that Kris Versteeg has a grand tot al of 2 goals, 5 assists and Vik had 5 goals and 4 assists. This trade has been a pleasant win, thus far.

Bryan Bickell had a highlight reel hit on Patrick Hornqvist. I love to see Bickell use his size to absolutely railroad someone with their head down. He was where he belonged, last night; the forth line. I really like this combination of Skillington, Dowell, and Bickell, even though Skille belongs higher on the depth chart, but for the moment, it'll do.

The Bad
Dave Bolland returned from injury? Could have fooled me. Apparently, they didn't remove his head from his ass, like originally thought.

Turco didn't have to wait long for his first huge save. 15 seconds in and he had to make a post to post stop. The rest of the night pretty much went the same way, as the Preds crashed the net hard all night. I think the D needs to come up with a new philosophy, that includes not letting people bowl your goalie over. Just a thought.

The Shane O'Brien goal was setup very nicely by Marcel Goc, but Pat Kane really just decided that he is far too important to play defense. For all you young hockey players out there, that is not how you cover your guy. That'll be one of the easiest goals O'Brien will ever score, and he can thank Kaner for that. I'd prefer that Q kicks him in the ass. Maybe Kaner needs some time on the bench too.

The Nashville PPG by Shea Weber wasn't exactly a thing of beauty. Turco got a piece of it, but it squirted through, and into the net. That's one he has to have back, and as usual, that cost them.

The Ugly
Eddie and Pat continue to point out that if a team doesn't score on a 5-on-3, they generally don't win, and the Hawks continue to support that. The NEEDED to put the game away with that 5-on-3, and they couldn't finish. Same story, different day.

The Refs really neutered the Hawks by giving Kaner that tripping penalty in the OT, because there is zero chance you're going to get some quality chances down the ice when you're killing a 4-on-3. I will give the boys credit, though, and Turco played like a man possessed. It was all for naught, because of the stupid shootout. Fucking shootouts!

EXTRA TIME
Toews missed the net
O'Reilly beat Turco (contrary to Pat's call, it was not 5-hole)
Kaner was stopped by Rinne
Sullivan was stopped by Turco
Shooter looked like Kovalchuck and couldn't even get shot off.

(Vomit)Preds win, kill me now!

Here are the video highlights:

Get to the Chopa!

That could have been one of the most boring games I've watched in a long time, and poor Corey Crawford can't catch a break. That game had such long periods of nothingness happening; so much so that I was literally falling asleep. Anyway, this will be brief, but here we go:

The Good
Kaner is simply on fire. He's ripping off shots nightly like the legit NHL sniper he is, and they are finding the net. Only Hossa, who assisted on the Toews goal, has been hotter. It is was nice to see Captain Serious finally net one, after a 3 game slump. The Powerplay hasn't been AS BAD, lately. They are the definition of hot and cold, though. One minute the powerplay is absolutely dominating, and the next, they can't get across the center line. The bottom four D-men didn't play all that bad, which is relieving.

The Bad
The goal that Sullivan scored in the first was a complete breakdown. The play turned out to be a 4 on 3, with Bolland heading to the bench because of a broken twig. Noted sniper, and former Blackhawk, Stevie Sullivan ripped a shot over Crawford in the first. That's that NHL snipers do; use mismatches, and find open spaces. Other than that, they were playing against a backup goalie in his NHL debut. You have to create more traffic at the net.

The Ugly
Once again this is obvious. The Hawks were 26 seconds from OT, after Nick Boynton's delay of game penalty, and they breakdown to leave Joel Ward open. That folks is the game. Not to mention that at the end of this very important kill the D-men you have out there are Nick Leddy and Jordan Fucking Hendry. Seriously? That's a matchup from hell. Neither of those two are what you would call stellar in their own end. Well it cost them, and they lost.


Here are the video highlights: