Blackhawks v. Sabres: Cuts Like a Knife
Coming into tonight’s Hawks/Sabres game there was a lot of talk about the Hawks going up against their old goal-tender Patrick Lalime, which was weird because Lalime has been out of Chicago and in Buffalo for two seasons now. On the flip-side, Brian Campbell has been out of Buffalo and in Chicago for three seasons. You’d think that would be long enough for the Buffalo crowd to forget about him and not boo him, but apparently not. (Chuckle)
Within two minutes of the initial puck drop, Kris Versteeg charged the net with the puck and was tripped. (That would be one of many penalties that should have been called on the Sabres that wasn’t.) Then Jonathan Toews attempted to follow through for the goal with one of his signature “Superman” moves, but was denied by Lalime. Lalime would shine again, when, about seven minutes into the 1st period, it was a 4-on-3 in the Hawks’ favor and still the Hawks power-play unit could not get the puck past him. While Lalime was exceedingly good at blocking shots, he allowed many rebounds, so the Hawks should have scored on that 4-on-3 at least. Clearly the power-play unit still needs some work, though the penalty-kill unit is still in rare form.
Seems the Hawks may have a slight problem in general with follow-through, however. While the Hawks outshot the Sabres 17-11 (in the 1st period, that is), they still did not score. Perhaps the Hawks should’ve watched the Sabres for tips on follow-through as Buffalo turned it around in the 2nd period, outshooting the Hawks 17 to 7 and scoring the sole two goals in two periods.
Early on in the 3rd period, the Hawks seemed to turn it around again when Patrick Sharp scored a little over a minute into the period thanks to Dustin Byfuglien forcing a turnover. Meanwhile, the Sabres appeared to be a different team entirely only getting one shot on goal for the first half of the 3rd period. And even though the Hawks outshot the Sabres 16-5 in the 3rd, Lalime and the Sabres turned it on again in the last 5 minutes to hold on for the win, 2-1 over the Hawks. Overall, the problem for the Hawks in this game was follow-through; they just didn’t have it.
There were also many avoidable penalties on the Hawks in this game, including one in the 2nd period where Patrick Sharp flagrantly held Sabres’ defenseman Steve Montador around his middle and threw him to the ice. Add to that another avoidable penalty with that too-many-men-on-the-ice call, also in the 2nd, and the Hawks were too often working in a deficit. And worst of all, Duncan Keith got called for hooking in the last two minutes of the game. (And yes, despite what Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk said, Duncan Keith did hook, and before he hooked, he high-sticked but was not called for it.) In a game where you’re having trouble getting shots on net as it is, is it really a good idea to be a man down? (even though your penalty-kill unit is one of the best in the league?) Relax Hawks. Don’t do it. When you want to commit needless penalties.
But then, maybe the Hawks’ problem was that they were too relaxed in this game. In fact, some might say the Hawks were downright lax.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Another fast start, another 2nd period disappearing act. It seems like the Hawks always get off to a fast start, and when they can’t score on that initial 10-minute push, they lose a little confidence and back off until they fall behind. That seems to be the story for the last few games since the circus trip.
The main problem I saw tonight was a lack of net presence. Lalime was good, but he was also able to get a real good look at about 36 or 37 of the 40 shots he faced. He was not being screened. Byfuglien, Brouwer, Kopecky…these are guys who NEED TO PLANT THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF THE NET. NO EXCEPTIONS. When your shift starts, go to the net. When your shift ends, go to the bench. Very simple. ;) Even a backup netminder with exactly ZERO wins is going to stop everything when he can get a good look at every shot. Lalime could have stopped 78 of 80 tonight without any big bodies in front if him.
A second consecutive rough night for Dunc. His overall game was better tonight than Wednesday against the Rangers, but that hooking penalty was very uncharacteristic for him. It was untimely, and it hurt.
I’m not sure what the problem is with the boys’ offense right now. I didn’t get to hear what Coach Q had to say after the game, since I am boycotting Chris “Peanut Butter” Boden, but I am thinking some line changes are in order. I can’t tell you who belongs on a line with who right now, I’m not a coach ;) But something needs to change line-wise. I would also like to see something a little more dramatic happen, something to push the non-producing guys on the team. This would be a good time to make a trade, bring in a new forward, put some pressure on the Eagers, Kopeckys, and Ladds on the team. Or better yet, bring up either Skille for a couple games and sit Kopecky, or bring up Bickell and sit Eager for a couple games. Those two guys are playing their ASSES off right now for Rockford and deserve a chance, and I think either one would be a nice spark plug for what is a ho-hum team as of late.
Something Goon Squad mentioned a few days ago has REALLY been on my mind lately, and I think he made a good point: Are some of the guys like Eager, Fraser, etc. lamenting the fact that Toews, Kane and Keith just got BIG money, and therefore aren’t producing like they could be? If so, those guys need to have the heat put on them to produce, ala trade or bringing up a kid from the ‘Hogs.
Special mention: Did you see Madden earn himself a nice breakaway chance tonight? I’m telling ya…he’s been a horse lately!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
It was another strange game. The Hawks seemed to have trouble opening up any lanes and getting scoring chances, like you said. I saw Byfuglien attempting to screen a time or two, but not being successful. Yeah, I don’t think bringing Brouwer up (was it from the 3rd line?) was a good idea, but a nice try all the same. And I don’t know that Kopecky has ever done what he should.
And I think Lalime should really get his due on this one. He was clearly motivated to beat his former team, especially after the press hyped him being in net against the Hawks so much. He may have been in a slump, or maybe a downward spiral is a better way to put it, but tonight he had some pretty spectacular saves.
Don’t know about the salary issues. It’s weird that Dunc would sign that long contract and then start having problems. I suppose some of the guys could be on a performance strike in protest of them not getting paid what they think they deserve. Stranger things have happened. And what got into Sharpie tonight? That was very uncharacteristic of him to slam a guy down on the ice like that.
I saw two Madden breakaways. Wish they’d have produced a goal but I think the Sabres got away with a lot of uncalled penalties.
And yes, I’m with you on the Rockford thing. If they can keep scratching Jordan Hendry, I think they can further make a statement by bringing up Bryan Bickell. (And I only say Bickell instead of Skille because he’s supposedly cheaper, but both Bickell and Skille are aces in my book!)