Quenneville downplays 500th win
For Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets in a key Central Division game Tuesday night was more important than earning his 500th career victory.
But Quenneville certainly won’t forget his 500th since it took the Hawks 11 rounds of a shootout to turn back the Jackets 4-3 with defenseman Brent Seabrook finally netting the winner.
Quenneville became the 14th coach in NHL history to reach 500 and the third fastest to get there behind Scotty Bowman and Toe Blake.
Quenneville’s career record in the regular season now stands at 500-311-132 for a .601 winning percentage.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Quenneville said. “I’ve been in a lot of great places and worked with a lot of good teams and great players. Certainly I fell fortunate to be part of this team because it’s a fun situation to be in the upside is huge.
“It’s certainly a milestone, but in our business we’re happy to win the next one so that’s kind of where we’re at.”
Quenneville now has a spot in an elite club with some of the greatest coaches ever.
“I don’t exactly know some of the names, but I know some of the guys that are in the league who have been in it,” Quenneville said. “I don’t know how many hundreds I’m behind Scotty.”
That number would 744, which is how many more wins Quenneville needs to catch all-time wins leader Bowman at 1,244.
Did anyone see how Foote handled Ballard after he took out his goalie Anderson last night? That's the kind of toughness we need on our blueline!!
Congrats to Q, he's done a great job !!
Ballard did not intentionally run the goaltender. He was playing hard and driving to the net, like all hockey players should. He lost his edge and crashed into Anderson in an almost feet first position. Stupid move by Foote to attack a guy while he's down. The toughness will be there once Burish comes back.
This Ballard doesn't seem to like goalies much does he?
Nothing!!!! Only costed the Avalanche by giving up a powerplay to Florida. And do you really think players are going to stop running the goalie or being a force around the net because Foote (or any other tough guy) is on the ice. And the Avalanche lost the game. It would have been interesting if Ballard would have come out on the ice to participate in the shootout event. lol
There are ways for payback - jumping on top of the guy when the guy is down. Is not really one of them. Ballard turtled like a little baby. Foote was throwing haymakers - i am surprised he didn't get an instigator and fighting major. Which would be an automatic suspension - not sure how handled in OT. What would have happened if Ballard got hurt seriously.
I just don't think Foote's action was very smart - but sticking up for his goaltender was a nice gesture.
I agree. Sharp was the only decent player on the team when 19 and 88 arrived in Chicago. I think he means a lot to those kids. Send Buff somewhere out East, he's an underachiever who only plays hard when he feels like it, which is about once every three games. We can dump Barker for some picks, and buy out Sopel if nobody want's him.
I know that guys have to go and they even may have to go as early as tonight. But for my money there is no way that guy is Patrick Sharp. He is a true leader on this team, a great guy "in the room" by all accounts, and a damn fine two way Hockey player. Whatever moves they need to make it better not include him. Barker? You can have him. Big Buff? Ok, fine. Versteeg? I would hate that but would move him before Sharp. You win Stanley Cups with guys like Patrick Sharp and I sure hope that Stan Bowman knows that. I hope the plan is to keep as much of this group together for the rest of the year and then make the needed choices in the offseason. If we need to make a move now then get rid of Sopel and move on..Who cares about our 2nd round pick as it will be a late one anyways....The future is so bright and it may never be a better time to be a Hawks fan
TSN reports signing of Toews/Kane signing identical 5 year contracts @6.3 ave and Keith a 13 yr/70mill ave 5.5!
They also report we are 1.25mil under the mandated salary cap before those deals!
So who is going? sopel?
It wasn't pretty. Hawks came out firing in the first minutes, hit a few posts, and then fell into a rut. Whoever that versus play by play man is.......needs to go. That was horrible.
HUET: Bad game until the shoot out. All 3 of Columbus's goals should have stopped. Puck bounces out of the glove, he gives the guy the entire short side of the net, and gives up a 50 ft slap shot in the 3rd.....However, he was unreal in the shoot out. Very impressive. He made up for the 1 pt he gave away in regulation. Looks to be fighting the puck a bit, and maybe a start by Niemi on Friday should be in order. Let Christo sit and focus on the Pens on Saturday. That should be a great game if matches last year's shoot out at home.
I'll tell you what...Hossa is unreal. To be able to glide down on a breakaway and fire shots off posts without deke-ing, hasn't been done here in a long time. Just wait until he gets his legs underneath him better.
Can't really say anything bad about this team. Not saying they're without flaws, but once we get to see this team as close to 100% as possible, we can start discussing additions at the trade deadline. My vote still is for Barker to go and to keep Sharp and Versteeg. Barker does nothing for me. Slow, and everytime he gets the puck in his own end I cringe.
So . . . well . . . schooled.
I didn't know until last night his dad was a coach, much less the Slovak national coach, but I am not surprised.
Look at his hands on breakaways and shootouts, out in front of him, shooting position while handling the puck, he sees the spot, flicks the wrist, goal.
His work habits, discipline and knowledge of the game will help kids like Versteeg immensely if they want to learn enough.
Money. With those hands, the guy is just money
since he won a lengthy shootout earlier this year with clutch goal vs the Avs. 16 made a physical mistake....i was po'd when i saw it too...but it all worked out.
Props to Q though for getting the milestone win. He's been a dynamite bench boss since taking over in Chitown. Duncan Keith said in the postgame....'he's very fair with us' and we were happy to get this win for him. Fairness is in my mind, one of the best traits a human being can have. Well done Q !!!!!
Fitting his 500th win plays out in a hard fought victory! Versteeg`s two way game is gonna pay off with game changing goals like this.....Andrew ladd`s failed SO attempt cracked me up!
17-6......
How about that double toe drag that he pulled of? What a sweet move.
That's the skill that Versteeg brings, that can't be coached. That's why I really hope the Hawks hold on to him and deal Barker. Versteeg is really coming into his own this year. His pentaly killing has been a huge bonus. Both him and Brouwer.
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If we were interested in our jobs do you think we would be blogging all day?
I thought following the Hawks through the long hockey season was a job...lol
We need to find a way to get paid for this.
Wouldn't that be sweet!
and too true LOL