Speaking of getting it right, the Hawks couldn’t in tonight’s shutout by the Avs. I don’t think we have ever seen Captain Serious, Jonathan Toews, so frustrated. In the dwindling moments of the game, Toews was slow to get up after having been knocked once again to the ice, and he just never seemed to recover his will. When the game was over, Toews uncharacteristically was one of the first off the ice to the dressing room, foregoing his usual fist bump to each of his teammates. I can only imagine what he had to say to his teammates once off the ice. Hopefully he angrily yelled at them and said something like, “I can’t carry an entire team by myself. So if you don’t have the heart to get out there and do your best and stop bumbling around with the puck, then what are you doing here???” Toews had every right to take a breeze on his team after the game was over; they took a breeze on him while the game was still on.

Yet, O’Halloran, undeterred by his comeuppance, switched the focus of his ire to Patrick Sharp in the 3rd period.  Goony Stars’ forward Steve Ott had delivered a cheap shot high-stick to Sharpy late in the 2nd period, and Sharpy, having had enough of Ott’s gooniness, retaliated in the third with a cross-check to Ott, for which Sharpy was penalized.  That, of course, was the correct call, but past the midway point of the 3rd period, O’Halloran slapped Sharp with a bogus tripping call, and when Sharp protested, O’Halloran threw him out of the game!  Now, if you were to ask anyone — whether the Hawks organization, Hawks fans, or even hockey pundits outside of Chicago — who the most subdued and easygoing players on the Hawks were, you would probably hear Patrick Sharp first followed by Jonathan Toews.  So it is even that much more suspect that O’Halloran targeted them both for bogus calls, even throwing the most easy-going of the two, Patrick Sharp, out of the game!  Of all of the players least likely to mouth off to a ref, Sharp is not only the least likely suspect on the Hawks, but one of the least likely in the league to mouth off to a ref.  Isn’t it well past time for the NHL to censure Dan O’Halloran for his repeated biased calls against the Hawks over several seasons???  The NFL’s referees’ calls are reviewed every week, so I have to believe the NHL’s refs’s calls are reviewed also.  How could any audit of Dan O’Halloran’s refereeing miss his bias against the Hawks?  And what do the Hawks organization, the players, and the fans have to do to get the NHL’s attention about what a problem O’Halloran’s subjective calling is?  If you can’t fire the guy, then at the very least don’t let him call Hawks games anymore!

On a happier note, it’s so great to have Dave Bolland back!  Bolly and his line were awe-inspiring tonight.  Bolly has, for many seasons, kind of flown under the radar, but comparing last night’s game with tonight’s game, you can so clearly see the value-add of Bolly’s line against a team with good D.  The combination of Bolland, with Michael Frolik, and Bryan Bickell was fundamental to the win, no doubt.  It has also been great to see Bryan Bickell get back on the body again, and out of his quasi slump.  And Frolik has always been a steady and physical player, so the combination of these three on a line…well…you can take it to the bank.

Also key to tonight’s win, as he was in last night’s effort, was Nick Leddy.  So far, Leddy has been the Hawks’ shutdown player, which is an amazing thing to be able to say about a 20-year old kid.  Just imagine what Leddy will be capable of once he matures.

And while we’re on the topic of maturity, it’s amazing how little Adam Burish has matured since being traded from the Blackhawks to the Stars two seasons ago.  Everyone knows Bur is an instigator, but in tonight’s game he was like the little red-headed stepchild desperate to get the attention of his former teammates.  I couldn’t tell if Burish was trying to get any attention, even negative attention, or if he was just trying to show the Hawks that it was a mistake to get rid of him two seasons ago.  I cannot ever recall Burish working so hard to get on an opposing team’s radar.  He picked a fight with Jamal Mayers in the 3rd after Mayers accidentally knocked off Bur’s helmet (which was simply not strapped on tightly enough, which I made a point of mentioning to my friend before the game even started), and he picked a fight with his former teammate Dave Bolland of all people.  You wouldn’t have thought Bolly and Bur had ever been teammates to look at them.  And watching former Hawk Jake Dowell go at it with current Hawk Jamal Mayers was a little bittersweet too, but it was especially hard to watch Burish get sent to the locker room for a game misconduct after instigating in the last few seconds of the game.  You know I started wondering about Burish’s character after he publicly dissed his former teammate Martin Havlat several seasons ago after Havlat got traded to the Wild, but seeing Bur’s antics tonight was just sort of…well…pathetic.  If Bur proved anything tonight, it’s that the Hawks were right to get rid of him.

And speaking of exits, the Hawks sent Brandon Pirri back down to Rockford and brought Marcus Kruger up.  I see Brandon Pirri as the next Jack Skille or Bryan Bickell, so I think Pirri is certainly worth the investment in time and is deserving of a chance.  Hopefully the Hawks will bring Pirri up to the bigs more often so he can work on his game.  If his pre-season contribution is any indication, Pirri will make for a fine sniper one day.

The Hawks could use a good sniper on their power play unit, though the Hawks were obviously improved over last night on the power play.  Andrew Brunette was able to score on the power play, but for the only power play goal of the night, which was better than the goose egg the Hawks had on the power play the night before.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that the power play unit didn’t score on a 5-on-3 late in the second, and we all know Joel Quenneville’s theory about that.  I mean, how many times has Q said that if you don’t score on a 5-on-3 you’re probably not going to win the game?  Well, the Hawks won but clearly the power play unit still needs some work, though the penalty kill unit killed off all but one penalty.

Also needing improvement was Patrick Kane as center.  Kane won two face-offs, but lost four, leaving him with a face-off win percentage of only 33%.  Kane also had one giveaway, three shots on goal, and three misses which points to his difficulty in taking it to the net and following through once there.  Hopefully, over time, he can improve these numbers.

Still, tonight’s game was really exciting.  It gives me hope, and it shows that the Hawks are able to pinpoint their mistakes, learn from them, and improve.  If the team is able to stay healthy, the Hawks could have a good shot this season.

Related:

Oh Snap! Dan O’Halloran Gets Plugged on the Boards by Big Buff!

How Ya Like the Hawks Now Danny Boy???

So, as they say, let’s go to the film.

Despite the commentators in the above YouTube video obviously stumping for a suspension and purposely not seeing what was right in front of them in a slow-mo, slow-frame replay, this was NOT a dirty hit from behind.  It was a side hit, and probably a hard one, but Hjalmarsson didn’t even throw an elbow, again, despite what commentators were saying (and the commentators are suspect in this case because they knew that, upon review, the NHL would hear their comments and be swayed by them). 

So, with hindsight being 20/20, what the NHL should have seen is that while there was an injury, it was as a result of a clean hit with unintended consequences.  I mean, seriously, are there no accidents anymore?  No, really, how much of an example is the NHL willing to make of a player?  How intensely are they willing to scrutinize hockey ’til it’s nothing resembling the sport we all came to know and love?  And what’s next, no-tackle football? These contact sports — like hockey and football — are dangerous.  Yes, you can make rules and punishments to deter dirty play and prevent injury, but you can’t prevent all injuries.  You just can’t, at least not without ruining the game.  So, I have to ask, is that what the NHL seeks to do?  Are they trying to ruin hockey by so overly scrutinizing it that no one will want to watch?

And before critics accuse me of being blinded by favoritism, since I have always been a big fan of Niklas Hjalmarsson, readers should remember that I came to the defense of Alex Ovechkin for his hit on Brian Campbell last season.  I did not think that a dirty hit either, at least not intentionally, but it was a hard one. (Although I think the entire hockey community, including Ducks fans, can agree that James Wisniewski’s hit last season on Brent Seabrook was pre-meditated, given the charging from across the ice and his leaving his skates to deliver that knock-out hit, and deserved the suspension Wiz got and then some.)  So, believe me when I say, if a Hawk is guilty of a dirty hit, you won’t see me defending them just because I’m a fan. I was certainly not shy about criticizing Dustin Byfuglien for instigating with goalies last season, so neither would I defend a dirty hit, no matter if it was from a Hawk or an opponent.

So just to sum up, the NHL needs to unclench.  Punish true offenders and stop tarnishing the reputations of good hockey players who are just doing their jobs. (Poor Niklas Hjalmarsson looked like he’d been flogged after he was suspended two games he was so dejected.)  I’ve spoken my piece, now I’m going to crawl back into my hockey withdrawal.

P.S. Just so this post isn’t entirely negative, I was pleased as punch to see that the Hawks had signed Bryan Bickell and Jack Skille.  These guys more than proved their worth to the organization last season and so it’s good to see them rewarded, though I’m not quite sure Corey Crawford is ready for the bigs.

It’s lame enough to grab a guy by the hair, but by the beak???  Really?  Isn’t that a little like grabbing a guy with a piercing by his nose ring in a bar fight?  Or kicking a guy in the cubes?  It goes against the bro code and it’s a cheap shot.   Ok, so the Blues are out of playoff contention and have to act as the spoilers.  But no respect can come from cheap shots.  Still, I think the Hawks had plenty to say by scoring four goals in the first period.  Ha!  Take that baby Blues! (And in the coming periods it would be nice to see the Hawks have a go at T.J. Oshie and David Backes.  They’re just crying out for a comeupance!)

P.S. Way to go on that goal Bickell the pickle!  Same for Duncan Keith, Ben Eager, and Kris Versteeg who all scored in the first period.

P.P.S.  Loving Dustin Byfuglien as a d-man.  I know he used to be a d-man and I’m wondering why anyone would ever have made him a forward.  Let’s keep this guy on D.  Seems that’s where he’s most at home.

Ben Eager and Canuck Rick Rypien scrapped early in the 1st period after some late smacking around of Tomas Kopecky.  I was certain that Dustin Byfuglien and any of a number of Canucks were going to go at it late in the first period after Byfuglien was called for holding, you know because the Canucks have a long-standing hatred of Buff.  But Buff quietly slunk off to the sin bin. (By the way, it wasn’t holding.  The correct call would have been either tripping or interference.)  Canuck Steve Bournier also caused a ruckus late in the 2nd period and while not a bench-clearer, it did draw a crowd of Hawks. (Say, does anyone enforce the third-man-in rule?  Just curious.)

And though admittedly I was a little worried about Antti Niemi in net tonight (seeing as how Roberto Luongo was at the other end) he blew everyone away blocking 30 shots to Luongo’s 17. In one impressive save, Niemi reached up to the sky and gloved the puck as if he were a baseball catcher catching a wayward pitch.  Niemi was simply spectacular which of course is why he was the player of the game.

Apparently impressiveness was contagious as Bryan Bickell was back on the ice tonight despite that hard hit to the head he took last night after his open-ice check on Oilers’ Dustin Penner.  Bickell’s tougher than I thought. (And I thought he was pretty tough!)  Clearly this kid has a lot to contribute, but if that hard hit last night on both Penner and himself didn’t prove it, the one and only goal scored in the game by Bickell (a redirect goal scored off of Jonathan Toews early in the third period) sure will!  Hopefully management takes note.

And also of note, if you’re a Canucks fan, is that the Sedin brothers were back together after brother Daniel’s recent trip to IR-land.  There were definitely some sweet, you-complete-me moments upon Daniel’s return, but really, who cares?

Weee, what a fun Circus Trip we’re having! On to the next!

P.S. This is the second game in two consecutive games where there has been a problem with the clocks.  What gives?  Please clock minders, mind your clocks better!

Also how many interference calls were missed?  I think I counted two times when I looked up and one of the Oil was holding a Hawk against the boards. Those are pretty obvious penalties to miss, if in fact you’re just missing them and not, say, overlooking them altogether.

And in terms of overlooking things, it’s really too bad that Bryan Bickell overlooked his own safety while open-ice checking Oiler Dustin Penner which resulted in Bickell slamming his head on the ice after tripping over Penner.  It’s never a good sign when two of your own teammates (in this case Niklas Hjalmarsson and Troy Brouwer) have to help you off the ice.  Bickell got his bell rung but good and is certain to have a substantial concussion.  I hope that the Hawks management will remember how Bickell took one for the team and ask him back up when he stops seeing double (or triple or quadruple).

Ok that was the bad, now for the good stuff. How much of a nail-biter was it when Cristobal Huet made that awesome save in the 2nd period by coming out of the crease so far he was halfway to the blue line!  At the same time you have to cringe because of course you never want to see your goalie that far out.  Yikes!  (It was good that Huet was performing so well last night and that Khabibulin was not in net for the Oil because seeing those two go head-to-head just feels really wrong somehow.)

Huet would again star in another nail-biting moment later in the 2nd period.  With the clock showing 0.1 seconds left, Oiler Shawn Horcoff supposedly scored a goal.  It wasn’t a pretty goal and had it stood it would’ve been called a garbage goal, but the War Room ruled a ‘no goal’ determining time had run out before the puck went in.  Once again, Huet had another great night.

Jonathan Toews too had an excellent night. He had two goals — one in the first period and one in the third on a power play — and an assist. (Also to score were Kris Versteeg, Patrick Kane, and John Madden.)  Tazer’s forechecking is now back to his pre-injury caliber so it’s nice to have him back all the way.  It’s nice to have this team back…finally.  Now, if the Hawks can keep up their winning streak on the road, they will make Hawks fans some very happy humans (as Pat Foley would say).

It was also nice to finally see the refs, in last night’s game at least, differentiating between roughing and fighting instead of carte blanche just calling a 5-minute major penalty for “fighting” whether the gloves were thrown down or not.  I want to see more of that proper kind of officiating, you know, where it’s a 5-minute major penalty for a real throw down (i.e. actual fighting); the kind that potentially draws blood.  That’s what a 5-minute major fighting penalty should look like.

As for last night’s game, it wasn’t Jarome Iginla instigating for once.  Last night, it was Dion Phaneuf who kept picking fights, some he was called for and some he wasn’t.  Even Brent Seabrook got into a scrap last night as did the Hawks’ little coming-along enforcer, Colin Fraser.  Hey, why not?  The Hawks were up by several points, why not throw down the gloves a time or two, because the Flames kept trash-talkin’ and instigating.  Perhaps the Flames should have spent less time jawin’ and scrappin’ and more time on their defense.  And perhaps they should have pulled Miikka Kiprusoff earlier. (A .750 save percentage over 40 minutes of play? Ouch!)

While we’re talking goal tenders, Cristobal Huet had another stellar night with a .964 save average.  I really do hope I get to eat crow over Huet.  It would be nice if he became the consistent, reliable goal tender we’ve always been told he can be.

And the goals were spectacular last night with Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Patrick Kane, and Ben Eager all scoring.  Versteeg scored twice, and Ben Eager netted his first goal of the season.  It truly was a sight to behold.

It was good to see Bryan Bickell again last night, too.  He only had a little over 11 minutes on ice, so it will be interesting to see how he does with a little more ice time.

And once again, the contributions of Niklas Hjalmarsson cannot be ignored.  It was Hjalmy’s stone-cold hit on Rene Bourque that amped the Hawks’ offense, inspiring them to score 5 times in the 2nd period. The only one that could’ve deserved that bull-dozing hit more than Bourque was Jarome Iginla.  Still, watching Hjalmy take out Bourque was like watching a Great White Shark breach the water and connect with massive, brute force with its intended target.  That would explain Hjalmarsson’s toothy grin while watching the replay from the bench.  This kid only gets better.  And so do the Hawks.  For the first time this season I have hope.  Actual hope.

And, you don’t see this often, but Brent Sopel scored a goal late in the first period. Sopie’s screener, Bryan Bickell, would go on to screen the second goal as well which was scored by Patrick Kane, on another set-up by Jonathan Toews, in the 2nd period. (Hmm, Patrick Kane sure does score a lot when his contract is about to be renewed.)

Speaking of you don’t see that often, Sharks’ Manny Malhotra had a go at Brian Campbell of all people.  Someone shoulda told Malhotra that Soupy ain’t on the scrappin’ list.  Ben Eager is on the scrappin’ list however, and so when Eager and Doug Murray went at it shortly after the Malhotra/Campbell kerfuffle, gloves were actually dropped.  For some reason, Ben Eager got an additional 2-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the reason why is anyone’s guess. (Looked like Eager may have taken a cheap shot at Sharks’ goal tender Evgeni Nabokov.)  All of that scufflin’ made for an exciting start to the 2nd period, though.

Also, I just can’t stop talking about Niklas Hjalmarsson.  His battles for the puck, particularly in the corner, are epic.  This kid is a legend in the making, no doubt, so it was great to see him finally get some recognition as the second star of tonight’s game.  Bang on Hammer.

Now, on to the Circus Trip.

P.S.  How great was it to see Bobby Hull and Chris Chelios on Jeremy Roenick Heritage Night?