Blackhawks v. Predators: Super-Toews to the Rescue!
Jonathan Toews proved early on in the first period of tonight’s Hawks/Preds match-up that he’s worth every red cent of his new 5-year deal when he pulled off what we in my household call a “Superman” goal. You know, the goals scored out of nowhere, faster than a speeding bullet, and in this instance, in midair? (And yes, Tazer’s goal may remind old guard hockey fans of that famous Bobby-Orr-in-midair photo, and rightly so.)
Tazer deftly maneuvered the puck through heavy traffic, around opponents, and faked out Preds’ goal-tender Dan Ellis who went low, as Tazer went to shoot upstairs. Ellis tripped Toews but could not deter his shot up high as Toews went down. (And Stan and Rocky could sit there with a grin on their faces and say that’s why they now pay Tazer the big bucks. Although, let’s face it, Toews from the beginning was always worth the big bucks. He’s just now getting paid what he’s worth.)
Unfortunately in both goals scored by the Preds in the 1st and 2nd periods, the shots on Huet were screened by a Hawk. (Cam Barker for the first, and Niklas Hjalmarsson for the second.) I understand that defensemen need to back up their net-minders, but perhaps they should also learn to get out of the way. Things deteriorated in the 3rd period when the Preds scored two additional goals within seconds of each other. The Preds took the Hawks, 4-1.
Honorable mentions in this game go to Niklas Hjalmarsson for a skillful block of an attempted wrap-around goal from the Preds (and some “hammer”-worthy hits); an easily shaken off hit on Troy Brouwer that was so hard it shook several panes of the glass (and probably Brouwer’s teeth); and a ghastly shot of the puck blocked by Brent Sopel’s knee, though he continued to play through the pain while limp-skating.
On a happy note, I love the power-play unit combination of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marian Hossa. I think once these guys gel together, it will improve the PP-unit’s percentages.
December 4th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
The 2nd (and winning) Preds goal I blame on Campbell. In the Preds zone the Hawks had something going and Campbell, at the blue line, completely missed a dead-on pass from Kane. The puck exited the zone and less than 5 seconds later the Preds had a 3 on 1 going and scored. Another opposition assist for Campbell.
And Barker, not wanting to be shown up by Campbell, contributed at least 3 neutral zone turnovers tonight as well.
All in all, the Predators played really well tonight, especially with their back-checking. Ellis was amazing. They fought hard and earned the win. A little help from our worst two defensemen aside.
December 4th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Yeah, I’m trying to remember if Cam Barker was always this bad or if this is a new thing. I think, much like Hjalmarsson does for Campbell now, Matt Walker may have hidden Cam Barker’s shortcomings last season. I distinctly remember, however, that Cam Barker had a +/- rating of -6 in the playoffs last year.
And I have made my thoughts about Campbell well known on this site. I guess I don’t mention Barker or Soupy anymore in the game recap because it’s just assumed that they suck and that their missed opportunities and multiple turnovers are a given.
I’ll say it again, the Hawks’ ‘D’ has got to be their #1 priority now, and tonight’s game showed precisely why that is.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Did you see Bumbling Byfuglien have a blowout trying to stop himself late in the 3rd? Typical Buff, but it was freakin’ hilarious :D He wasn’t even on the puck!
December 5th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Yes and did you also see him in the 3rd period lose his stick and charge a Pred, hitting him from behind on the boards. The resulting boarding call was quite deserved obviously. So, down by one, should Buff have been so careless?
And Goon Squad, cause I know you’re going to read this, you talk about dirty hits all the time. Surely you wouldn’t condone Buff’s bad behavior on this one would you, hitting a guy from behind like that on the boards?
December 5th, 2009 at 7:07 am
No. of course I don’t like the hits from behind.
I haven’t actually seen the hit yet, as I was catching the last period and a half on the radio, but I’m sure it wasn’t very good.
Do you see what I mean about Buff needing to work on using his brakes?
Is it possible that the players you say suck know they are on the potential chopping block are sucking even more in the hopes that they won’t get the ax just so they can stay here?
I wonder sometimes.
There are also 19 other guys capable of scoring goals and defending the net.
It’s time to get the production outta those you deem to be favs. Leaving it all up to Tazer isn’t fair.
Tonights game, to me anyways, is gonna be the biggest test of their skills so far this season.
Our D has some gunners to shut down, a good D to get around and a goalie who really really likes to win.
I hate cry cry baby fans more than I hate the Sharks, and my pride is just DYING to rub a killer win in their faces.
This evening we’ll see if what coach Q did to them after the game worked, cuz I’m sure he wasn’t very happy last night…
December 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Yes I totally agree Buff needs to figure out how to put on the brakes. Maybe he needs a toe pick. :D (Sorry. Couldn’t resist.) But last night’s hit was intentional, and intentionally dirty. I’m not going to ignore that simply because he’s a Hawk. What I would like to see is players policing themselves for dirty hits so that the NHL doesn’t feel the pressure to create new penalties with higher fines or more minutes in the box or ejections from the game or something.
And I think you’re right Goon Squad. Buff is trying to fill a new role, but he’s bumbling badly. I hope he figures it out soon.
I don’t understand. If a player sucks, and they know they might be on the chopping block, how does sucking even more help them to not get the ax? Seems their sucking would guarantee their being traded. Why? Because they’d be less marketable?
And yes I know there are other people on the team. And yes I know Tazer can’t do it all himself, despite what he thinks. (Note I call him “Super-Toews” in the title of this post.) He was so out of breath after the 1st period that in that interview with Sarah Kustok he could hardly speak. Poor kid. But I’m confused, you say the favorites need to start producing? Hjalmarsson’s my favorite d-man, and I don’t think he can do anymore than he does. He’s everywhere that Soupy isn’t. Toews is my favorite forward and he is killing himself out there. Sopel took a bad shot to the knee defending the net. Troy Brouwer got fly swatted on the boards. So I’m trying to think of who you’re thinking should be more productive other than the people I complain about all the time. Or are you talking about other people’s favorites like Patrick Kane? Please tell.
December 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Perhaps I can help you out on calling out who’s not contributing. I went down the roster and looked at the stats of some of the forwards. (I think we’ve covered the defensemen adequately enough dontcha think, although Duncan Keith is still playing 28-29 minutes a game.)
In the last 3 games: Ben Eager had 4-7 minutes of ice time and had a +/- rating of either 0 or -1. Colin Fraser had 7-8 minutes of ice time and was 0 or -1 (-2 for the season so far). Tomas Kopecky had 5-7 minutes of ice time and is 0 or -1 (-7 for the season so far).
So I think you see the problem. They should have more ice time; should be contributing more while on the ice, but they’re not.
December 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I’m glad to see that you are doing your homework.
The Buff and his bad brakes comment wasn’t about him boarding that guy.
I was referring to his blow out that Cakes mentioned earlier.
BTW, The Cry Baby Kid won’t be in the line-up this evening.
It seems that for the second time, his balls got sore right before he was due to face the Hawks.
I didn’t know they had that kinda effect on the worlds greatest players.
I can almost hear it now, after we win of course, ‘they got lucky cuz we didn’t have Cindy!’
Boo – Fricken – Hoooo!
Grow a pair, boy, and ice ‘em up!
I am the Goon, and I approve this message. ;)
December 5th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I could do a run down of all the stats in all my posts, but that gets kind of boring and lame dontcha think? Besides, the newer hockey fans may not understand +/- ratings and may get lost and I don’t want to do that to them. Lots of people complain about +/- ratings too saying they don’t tell the whole story. Normally I’d agree to an extent, but with Eager, Fraser, and definitely Kopecky, I think their stats say quite a bit. The question remains, are they doing it on purpose or are they just that lousy?
Yes, I heard about Sidney Crosby and his groin pull and I’m disappointed. I wanted to see how the Hawks would do against all of the defending champs. Honestly, I’m nervous with or without the Kid. The Hawks are not as well put together as they were last season. Has it occurred to anyone that they lead the division only because everyone else in the division is kind of shaky too?
And thanks Goon, for giving us that lovely run-down of how to go about icing down your marbles. ;)
December 5th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Too bad Crosby won’t be playing tonight, I’d like to see as even a matchup as possible. Actually, I would just like to see the game period. I live just outside the Chicago viewing area, so I don’t get the games on WGN-TV :( Thankfully, the Icehogs are playing tonight so I’m taking my 4 year old son to see them play against Lake Erie tonight (gotta get my daily hockey fix!)
Eager, Fraser and Kopecky are 3rd and 4th line guys for a reason. They are not going to score alot of goals; they are out there primarily to give our 1st and 2nd lines a breather. Not every team uses a 4th line on a regular basis, so we are lucky to have 3 guys who can go out there and give our better players an extra 20-30 seconds of rest between shifts. If anyone on our 4th line scores, it’s a bonus.
One guy who has really caught my attention as of late is John Madden. It seems like he has taken things to a new level, starting on the circus trip, and it has continued at home, as well. I can’t really put my finger on what it is he is doing better, except I have noticed a lot more hustle than I saw from him in the first 15 games of the season. And, of course, his faceoff win percentage has been impressive ALL year.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Yes, Eager, Fraser, and Kopecky are 3rd and 4th line guys and I get that, but even for that, they’re not as good as they were last year. They’re playing less and scoring less, and they’re not giving the 1st and 2nd lines enough of a breather. Yeah, it may be a relative argument comparing last year with this year, but our best guys, like Dunc, are still playing for too much of the game to make up for them. Tazer is out of breath at the end of the 1st period like I’ve never seen him be winded before. So, the 3rd and 4th lines need to start pulling their weight.
And Madden? Well, I’m not sold on him yet. I know he’s a veteran center, but he’s still kind of hit-or-miss. Again, this is why I’m frustrated because the people that should be putting in their fair share aren’t, and that makes people like Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, and Niklas Hjalmarsson have to work harder to compensate.
December 5th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Tazer, Kaner, Ho$$a and Keefer have MILLION$ of rea$on$ to play their a$$e$ of and pull the extra weight if need be!
Plus, it’s Tazer job as the captain to lead by example.
He’ll jump on these fools when he has to, and get that fire lit back up.
Give ‘em time.
Think about the guys who helped us get to the playoffs, and then kicked ass in the playoffs.
They worked hard too, and now here they are watching all of this money being handed out to just a few guys, and that may have killed their confidence.
I’m telling you, knowing that you might be moved, or not seeing any monetary rewards for your efforts will do horrible things to you psychy. (spelling?)
Now, knowing that there isn’t any money left because of the cap, you have little reason to give your all.
And EVERY team has some issues, and ours are relatively minor, compared to those who are REALLY struggling…