Hawks fail to take care of business
It's hard not to get excited about Saturday's game between the Blackhawks and the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in Pittsburgh, a game now of more importance to the Hawks following Friday's 4-1 dud of a loss to Nashville.
The Hawks claimed they weren't looking ahead to the Penguins.
"We know not to look ahead," Patrick Sharp said.
"We've got to be respectiful of the game we're playing," coach Joel Quenneville said.
The Hawks were just lousy against the Predators, who are now only 3 points behind first-place Chicago in the Central Division.
If the Hawks don't play better in Pittsburgh, the Penguins will chew them up and spit them out.
Could this be a preview of the Stanley Cup Finals? It's possible. Certainly it's a meeting (the only one of the season) between two of the best four teams in the NHL, if you consider San Jose and Washington also among that group, as I do.
"It'll be a good test," Quenneville said. "We're looking forward to that matchup and that challenge. We were hoping to get a chance to play them last year late in the year, obviously, in the playoffs."
The Penguins are one of the hottest teams in the league at the moment with Sidney Crosby at the very top of his game.
The Pens (20-9) have won 6 of their last 7 while Crosby has 11 points in the last three games and is now third in the league in scoring with 36 points.
Here’s a real head scratcher, though: The Penguins are 28th on the power play despite the presence of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. It was obvious they missed power play point man Sergei Gonchar for a spell, but he has returned to the lineup.
Quenneville hinted against after Friday’s loss that backup goalie Antti Niemi would get the start in Pittsburgh.
Niemi hasn’t played since Nov. 22, when he shut out the Canucks 1-0 in Vancouver. Cristobal Huet’s start Friday against Nashville was to be his 11th in the last 12 games.
How would that be against me? I'm not an irrational cheerleader. What you just wrote was completely honest and objective. I totally agree! (this was meant to go under jackuels post)
Buddy of a buddy is the Pen's trainer...Crosby is definitely out
Just three short seasons ago this organization for a lack of a better term 'SUCKED'. I have watched the best and worst of the Blackhawks since I have been a fan since 1959-60. I have lived and died with the Blackhawks and for a long time ashamed of what they became a laughing stock a model for how not to run a organization.
Remember not so long ago we had to pay for radio air time and we were on page 13 of a 12 page sports section somewhere around high school volleyball. When they were on TV they were not worth watching because they were so bad. I would watch till I couldn't stand it no more and they couldn't give tickets away for the home games.
They were so out of touch that there were probably two generations that missed out on the best game on the face of the earth. There is no better game to watch then a live hockey game especially when it was played in the "OLD BARN" and now in the UC.
I would like to thank Bobby, Stan, Tony, Savvy, for a lot of good memories. To the current team keep up the good work boys and bring Stanley back home to Chicago. Not to forget the current management team I say a heartfelt "thank you" for making this franchise worthwhile again and for making me proud to be a Blackhawk fan. Most of my dreams have died but, one is still alive and I live it over and over in my head when they call Jonathon Toews to receive the Stanley Cup that will be a special time for me.
Looks like he is sitting this game out with a sore groin.
I consider myself the most fun to sit next to at a game because I boo when it's bad and cheer when it's good. I buy.
In my mind I invented the "Give it to a kid" Cheer when a big guy gets a puck and we shame them into giving it to the nearest kid.
In my mind I created "Rats on Sinking ship" When the guys in the first row would leave with 10 minutes to go with Calder and Bell trying to get two to even it up.
At home it tough for me because my Wife says I don't know what I'm talking about because I made her get up and leave with me at the Draft event because the Hawks picked Kane over Brandon Sutter.
I'm going to try to be more positive now: Aren't the Hawks jersey's great? Forget the insensitivety to Natives.
And I am greatly offended by white oppression and secular beliefs!!!!!!!!!!!
Death to the White Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goodness, everyone is so damn sensitive.
Make clear, accurate, yet not positive comments about the Hawks and holy crap!......The ACLU and some sensitivity czar are on your doorstep.
See my comments below about the Dark Cloud Club.
Hey, me, too, Swiss.
I'm a mutt with a significant amount of Ojibwe blood burning in my veins.
You?
Coincidentally, I got my MA at Central Michigan University, who call themselves the Chippewas with the cautious approval of the local tribes.
Some Native mascots are clearly offensive, at least to me, but the Hawks never bothered me (obviously) because they've always carried the crest with class.
Racism is all about intent.
I am a mutt too.
Yaqui blood in my veins.
Hey, let's pool our resources and go open a casino at Meigs Field.
Now that's creative- had to laugh. Really not sensitive just a diehard and hate boobirds. I'm not going to say you're booing anymore but I'm excited and snap back when I feel that Tim is getting flak that's unwarrented. I also think that blind faith is ignorant. Go Hawks!
Everyone is going nuts over a lackluster performance and deservedly so. But the thing that most stuck out for me, other than Kane was the best player on the ice again, was that Huet was calm & poised. The last goal went under him, but it was an odd man rush and really didn't matter at that point. When it counted, he was as automatic as I have ever seen him be. Relaxed, no frantic motions at all. One of the guys posted a couple of days ago about Huet being Jeckyl & Hyde. I totally agree. But if he can just calm down like he did last night, he might not be the biggest question mark.
So glad you piped in. You are the biggest crier on this blog and in the articles. You are probably just a BLAST to sit by during games. You bitch and moan at every turn. I'm sure you're front and center in booing your Chicago teams. You just could not be more negative. Join JebJeb and Swisscheese in the dark cloud club.
Dude take a chill and look at reality before insulting everyone who simply states the facts.
1. The Hawks have played like crap this week and can't find the net against below average teams.
2. Despite playing well the first 1/3 of the season, the Hawks have 8 teams breathing down their neck and are only 2 wins out of the last playoff spot.
3. We have a heavy dose of elite teams from the East the rest of this month which don't make matters easier.
This team is a blast to watch and no one is claiming they don't have talent but when everyone calls the Hawks the measuring stick for the rest of the league you need a dose of reality.
Nothing against you, Chuck. But I think everyone in Hawk Nation needs to take a hard look at this team and ask the question: is it really that much better than the one that got bounced in 5 games in the WCF (and maybe didn't really deserve to be there). Hossa and Madden make this team better, but not terribly much when you subtract Havlat and maybe Bolland.
The Wings will be healthier and ready come playoff time and they know where this team's weaknesses are: too much fancy stickwork, not enough patience, defense over-playing up ice, defensive zone miscues, etc.
I am actually not putting this on Brouwer of Buff. I know how they can play and they will. Buff was not bad last night either. Brouwer has been invisible lately, but that's unusual.
I still think this team has too many small, finesse forwards and not enough (to borrow one of Wiz' old terms) All Terrain Forwards. I wish we could clone Toews or trade for Rod Brindamour and put him in a time machine. We need more of those types of players.
Everyone's in love with all these young "stars." But some of them are going to have to go anyway by next season. I'll say it again, too many small, finesse forwards and a slow third pairing on D.
Same as it ever was.
How would that be against me? I'm not an irrational cheerleader. What you just wrote was completely honest and objective. I totally agree!
OK if what you're writing is factual than cite your facts. They sure sound like opinions to me when people start yapping about fighting for playoff spots and falling to sixth in the conference. Are those the facts you're speaking about pal?
I know newspaper circulation is down so it may not show up on your door step every day, but you can go to www.nhl.com or any other major site to find out tons of insightful FACTS like results for the past week (Hawks are 1-2-1 and averaging 1.5 goals per game playing crap teams), current league standings (we are 6 points out of missing the playoffs) and upcoming schedules (not a single losing team rest of the month and our opponents have a combined W% of over 65%. Thats the fact Jack!
You're right about the Hawks being 6 points out of missing the playoffs but the Hawks are also 6 points shy of the best record in the league.
It is clear you're a reader. What isn't clear is why you're using the past few games to encapsulate the entire season.
Man you are doom and gloom, is it always raining at your house. What crap teams are you talking about? Anaheim might have a bad record but on any given night they can beat any team in the league. LA and Nashville would be in the playoffs if they started today, So what teams are you talking about? I thought you were done posting (as you wrote) because of the crazy stuff you wrote several weeks ago, guess not...Those teams we play all month, have to worry about the same thing, they have to play us, were not that bad!
Well said Moots- doom and gloom is what I'm saying. The sky is falling as Big Pete wrote- who I think got sick of this mentatlity and split. (Which is getting more tempting all of the time.) Maybe Hockeybuzz is the way to go. These guys are total downers and "harshing my mellow" as one poster put it!
Everyone?? everyone said they are the measuring stick? I think Tim's point was that teams get "up" for playing them now -no more no less. Take a chill yourself.
No one said you aren't entitled to your opinion. You yap about your opinions enough without being challenged. You're just so very negative. This team has a been a ton of fun to watch and you and a few others can't seem to stop complaining. Just because the majority of others don't B&*tch and moan doesn't mean that they're drinking the Kool-Aid. It means that we're encouraged and excited about the way the team is going. We don't pretend to be experts like you who know better than management- which is a far far cry from blindly following them. You're entitled to your opinion. It's just very annoying to read the childish crying day in and day out for a team that's very exciting to watch and cheer for. Go Hawks!
And there isn't a guy who blogs here that couldn't have run the franchise better than it's been run since 95. Maybe even earlier when Keenan was fired.
I know it's in vogue to credit Rocky with the revival and sliced bread but how hard was it to put the games on TV? The rest is marketing over substance and I'm into wins not conventions.
The contracts they have been handing out may cripple the franchise.
If they win the Cup they will get a 15 year break from me.
If they don't I am going to keep blogging till my negative, know it all fingers fall off..
If it's done in the right way I believe in keeping them honest too. I believe I've gone on record several times about not trusting McMarketing. I think there is a difference between unneccessary blasting of the team and being realistic. That's my opinion. Peace. Sorry if I get personal also.
The team will get better when he does. He was super his first game back and now is probably going though that "dead leg" phase you get in training camp. You can tell the last few games he is very slow and not strong. He did demonstrate that dynamite shot of his in the shootout the other night though. No dekes or fancy moves-he just skated straight in and shot an unstoppable shot about 200 mph over the goalie's shoulder!
He always seems to address everyone on this blog.
When someone writes dissent and gets blasted, he pipes up about the blasters.
When someone writes 'Kool-Aid' stuff, he pipes up about the 'Kool-Aid' stuff.
I quote Santayana and discuss NHL superstition, and I get blasted.
Enter Southpaw, revealing both sides to the issue and making sure everyone is not on a Tilt-O-Whirl.
Someone pass me a Hamm's and a diaper.
Fair and balanced thinkers.
This is the dark cloud club- for sure.
I wish I could look through rose colored glasses all the time, too.
However, most of us have seen this Chicago Blackhawk organization:
1. Blow the Cup in game 7 at home despite being up 2-0 midway through the 2nd (1971).
2. Let the most popular player in the history of the franchise get away.
3. Go into a tailspin that left the Stadium empty for most of the later part of the 1970's.
4. Have to play home playoff games on the road wearing home sweaters because the ownership thought so little of the team, they booked other engagements at the Stadium come playoff time. (late 1970's.)
5. Never go that extra step to gain talent to compete with the Gretzky Oilers of the 1980's despite having Savard, Secord, Espo, Doug Wilson etc.
6. Win 11 playoff games in a row, only to lose 4 in a row when it counted the most. (1992 Cup Finals.)
7. Win the President's Trophy in 1991, then lose in the first round with Cup tickets and celebrations all planned out.
8. Hear Bob Pulford tell an audience of writers and fans that Wayne Gretzky does not fit into the orgainzation's plans when he was a free agent after his short stint in St.Louis.
9. Hire Mike Smith and Alpo Suhonenen. (sp?)
You want me to go on?
Sheesh!
If you are a real Hawk fan you know this stuff.
You are also smart enough to not start spouting about how great the Hawks are; how they are the standard to be measured against; and "wait until the Cup champs get a load of us", before:
A. the season is half over, and
B. playing a very good division rival.
It's OK to get exicted about a very, very good Hawk tream.
But for goodness sakes, like the Santayana history thing; remember the past before you spout of the current.
We all know the history, but to blast the Host of the blog for 2 weeks about writing dumb and igorant blogs is uncalled for. 3 weeks ago you are crying about the loss of respect for players on players, fans on fans and so forth. Does that not pertain to you! I guess you can spout off all you want, hiding behind your keyboard. The lack of respect starts with you buddy..Starting with your swisscheese moniker, you show a lack of class. I would like to see Huet take you behind the wood shed and beat the snot outta you.. Now that would be a good Blog to write about...
You have a problem, sir.
Sorry, but that is obvoius by your gun comments, fighting at games comments, drunk behavior comments, egging on opposing fan comments, and so on.............
At no time have I ever and I mean ever, been disrespectful of Tim Sassone.
You can look it up.
Proof?
Despite my criticizing his blog comments, I call him a very good writer, perhaps the best in the business. I mention how he has nailed many other hockey topics dead on. (But you probably did not read that far into it, did you?)
Proof #2?
I have been calling Huet's performance very good lately. Very good.
You can look that up, too. I also did it last year when my screen name was Swisscheese38 and he was playing well, mid season..
So explain how that is disrespectful or shows no class?
A smart person might argue that it shows tremendous class, with the ability to disagree without getting personal.
(Screen names and nicknames are fun, man. Sheesh!)
At no time have I ever lowered myself to saying someone is 'hiding behind a keyboard' or some really uneducated comment about woodsheds.
Sir, as of right now you are displaying odious behavior.
Or as they say in my old neighborhood.....Tu eres a pandejo!
Now I could make a comment about my male prowess and some other beer muscle stupid crap, but I won't. It is pointless and it is the Christmas Season.
Wise Up Sir.
Merry Christmas
I'm all for peace bro and we are cool. However I do have to say that while you defend calling Tim a great writer out of one side of your mouth you keep blasting him from the other. This is uncalled for and really pretty silly. You're comments towards Tim sent a lot of us running in his defense.(and granted some to yours) I think the biggest tell is the the man himself got on here and told you to back off.
All those who want to complain about the team and where they are- go ahead that's your right. Rant about being "6 points out of a playoff" spot. Go ahead. It just looks ridiculous. That is opinion not fact. I do believe that the majority of us are die hard. I just have a hard time swallowing that if some of us disagree with negativity then we're drinking the Kool-Aid. If that makes me self-righteous then sorry.
No worries.
I thought it was interesting that Sassone told me to cut him some slack, but then changed the title of the blog from a 'Can't Wait For Penguins' theme to a 'Hawks Fail to Take Care Of Business' theme.
You can disagree all you want, man. That is cool. I don't call it Kool-Aid to disagree.
Like I said before...I will call something dumb if it appears that way. But I will not call the person who wrote it dumb. There is a huge difference.
I will call it Kool-Aid to think the Hawks are the best team in the league and a measuring stick.
I will not call the person who wrote it a Kool-Aid drinker.
The real measuring stick currently plays in a weird shaped stadium in Western PA.
Isn't that where the Hawks are tonight?
Who is spouting? Tim? Me? Who? Cite it! Tim because the wrote about how a coach commented that the Hawks are a good team and good to compare his own team to. Is that the huge out of control spouting? I'm glad you can cite 9 terrible tragedies that have happened to the organIzation. I'm sure all of us die hards can and many more examples. I'm sure if we got together we'd have a laugh and quit "spouting" off on here. We're passionate fans! It is annoying though when people are unneccessarily negative- which is my opinion. (obviously)
Regarding spouting:
Many bloggers parroted Sassone's 'measuring stick' blog, and the 'look forward to Penguins' blog.
You can reseach those blogs and find the comments I mention.
Maybe 'spout' is too harsh a word. How about 'spew'?
FYI.
I have watched this organization a long time.
Since 1966 as a 5 year old watching on TV (road games only of course) with my dad and Lloyd Pettit.
Regarding organization failings, I can mention at least 6 more really dumb things in 30 seconds. So obviously I am guarded about how 'great' the Hawks are.
If they win the Cup, I will have to take heart medicine, throat lozenges, and a 10 week vacation to recover.
I was born a week or so before the Hawks last hoisted the Mug. You?
(BTW, I didn't mean to jump all over you re: Tim in the other blog, but I did think it was a little out of line. And I say that because I know the position Tim is in. He can't really defend himself from stuff like that on his own blog. Nothing personal.)
I was born 3 months after they hoisted their last Cup.
I was at game 7 as a kid in 1971, when they blew the 2 goal lead to Montreal and lost the damn Cup.
Sassone did defend himself.
He told me to give him a break.
I think the guy is a very good writer. A very good writer.
I don't think he is a dummy by no means. I have told him that.
Geez, I even defended him when he wrote a fluff piece last year because he had nothing new to report and a deadline approaching.
I just think that those two 'Hawk Trumpet' blogs he wrote were dumb. Not him. Just his 2 blogs.
Hey Merry Christmas.
Stan Bowman has made it very clear that trades are unlikely until after the season. “We can play with this team for the rest of the year, and may choose to do that. We've been saying all along that we'll have some work to do in the summer, and we'll have to make some tough decisions. By the summer we'll know more. We don't have the full picture yet.”
The Blackhawks have all the talent they need to be successful. As Tim says, last night they were outworked and outsmarted by Nashville, a less talented team that knows it must give its maximum in every game to have a chance.
Hopefully, this loss is just another step in the maturing process. It's all in their heads now; if the Hawks really and truly want to be Champions, the only thing that can stop them is themselves.
Of course, THAT part of the process is the most difficult.
Champions know that you give everything to win, and then give what you didn't know you had.
Are the Hawks there yet? Are they ready to go there? Those are the questions that remain to be answered, to a man.
They will meet a team that has answered those questions in the affirmative, tonight.
You and I both know Bowman has left the door open on deals this year.
If he isn't, he's a fool and not qualified to be a GM in the NHL. No GM should categorically rule out moves to improve his team, especially not a team that has yet to win anything except a couple of rounds in the playoffs.
Guys, three years ago if anyone had said the Hawks would be where they are at right now we would have told them they were crazy. Some are in a state of euphoria about this team. That's understandable as the Hawks have been mired in the NHL version of the Dark Ages until recently. Others have moved past the euphoria stage and are now looking at this team with a critical eye. Nothing wrong with that either that just means that the Hawks have moved past the "hey we're just happy to be there" stage to "hey this is getting serious they have a shot". The Hawks have their flaws as do other teams. There isn't however that dominant team out there that we could say would be a sure thing to win the cup. The Pens have the highest point total at 40 followed by five or six teams between 36-38 pts ( Hawks included ) There is no dominant Oiler team like the teams of the 80's and Detroit is hurting from free agent defections and injurires. The Hawks have as good a chance to win this as anyone else. That's where the critical thinking comes in. What do they have to do to improve their chances? That's what we are seeing on the blog now.
For all the Cub fan references out there and yes I'm one too it's not the worse thing in the world to have that kind of following. If the Hawks were only drawing 12 to 15 thousand do you guys think the "Big Three" get signed to those extensions probably not. I've been critical of McD as much as the next guy but as long as he is figuring out ways to keep the fannies in the seats from the marketing end he's got an owner who is not afraid to spend the money to make the team a cup contender so i'ts a win-win situation for us Hawk fans.
Hawks, 15-2, behind Pitt, Wash and San Jose. Always follow the money. The Hawks are a work in progress. And by no means a Shoo-in. One Goal or no.
If the Boys at 1901 W. put more into marketing and Love Fests than in making a committed effort to winning a Cup this year, fans have a right to start calling for some heads, and buy less tickets.
Think I'm exaggerating? Tell you right now what I'm hearing from season ticketholders: their tickets are not in as much demand or for as high value as they were last year. The Bloom is already off the Circus Trip Rose, after nearly losing to Columbus and last night's stinker.
The Hawks better deliver big tonight and get their overall game in shape from here on out, end to end and horn to horn, or the natives (no offense, Swiss) will start getting restless.
And trades might be in order.
1901 W. Superior Street where I was born?
I really didn't think the Hawks played that badly last night at all. Yeah they only scored 1 goal, and yes they are getting too cute at times, but from a puck possession, scoring chances, and shots on goal standpoint they carried the play all night long. Did you guys not see that penalty kill where it looked like the Hawks were the one's on the PP? That is pure talent showing through. If they can control the puck like they did last night on a consistent basis, they will win a lot more often than not.
My biggest complaint is this team's tendency to make one too many passes, and pass up opportunities to get pucks on the net. They need to start taking advantage of all their puck possession time and just shoot the fricking puck please! I know Kaner is a play maker and he likes to pass, but even he needs to shoot the puck more, because if he does, it will open up those passing lanes even more. If Kane (or any of the Hawk skilled forwards) would just make the D respect the shot a little more, maybe some of those pretty pass plays would start connecting with more frequency. It's pretty simple, get the puck to the net and good things will happen.
Spot on! I think the Hawks try to get to cute sometimes. Nothing wrong with a goal bouncing off a player in the slot. Last I checked those count too. Just shoot the puck guys!
If the guys the hawks have think they are too "skilled" to do their jobs in the corners to fight for pucks, color them gone, and no Cup.
Are we all stepping in a time machine with us wanting a line up change the day after Lil Scotty can't even bend to ties his son's shoes without the Cap space closing?
They got their chances last night and didn't finish.
They three many many hits, albeit most in their defensive zone.
There are still being patient to see Hoss and Toews and Sharp adjust to each other while the puck magicain Kane is trying to pull rabbits out of line w/o a true centre.
It is time for the catering to Hossa to end and Kane goes back with Tazer.
It is just difficult to say, "Sorry, Marion, we don't have a true centre to get you the puck and we know you can still get us 30 + but can you do it w/o a real centre?"
Bolland is walking like he won't be playoff ready but to me this team reminds me of one that is full of guys sort of waitibg for a trade to shake down and out, that they are trying but know it is the regualr season, and I don't want to get hurt, and I don't know about the future.
Ben Eager watch: I cannot wait until he returns to add quality nastiness and speed and timely hits when he returns. Oh, he has?
Playoffs need timely goaltending up top too. (Someone accuse me of re-hash the already documented Huet weaknesses. Don't have to. He did 4 U.)
Would Niemi playing have tighten them up defensively?
(or is he hurting from practice?)
(or is he going to be baptized against Pens, b/c it is only Pre-post-season and losses now don't put the team behind any eight balls... )
Versteeg's a great one on one player, and winning faceoffs is a plus, but instinctively, he is not a ceneterman
Toews, Kane, and any forward were clicking before Hossa came. Bickel did well.
The big problem with the Versteeg, Kane and the Buf line is - Buf sucks and Versteeg needs a little more time to learn that center position. Remember Buf is not a forward by nature and still learning the position. Why not try Versteeg with Hossa and Brouwer or Sharp and move Buf to the checking line or the fourth line where he can learn the position. Buf has many chances to finish or position himself for a good opportunity - but he is out of position most of the time.
Coach Q didn't handle the goalie situation well last year and continues with his pathetic oversight.
Kind of funny, but there's alot here on this board of what I've been saying is missing on this team (along with many others).
NASTINESS
ONE GOAL! GO HAWKS!
What happen to the Penguin titled blog - wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tim - I guess you realized the title was not appropriate.
Because the Hawks were looking ahead and not taking care of business. The Hawks didn't play terrible last night and Huet played solid except for the last few minutes. The Hawks just seemed to be a little off and Nashville played excellent and executed a solid game plan. The Hawks did not get those bounces last night. Again, Nashville played the night before and the Hawks should have out skated them and dominated the game. At least score more than one goal. I am not sure what the Hawks game plan was and i couldn't believe the Hawks only got one pp playing against a tired team. Can you say that Ellis stole the game for Nashville? Hmmm Not really. He played solidly. He got a few lucky bounces. But it is easy to make saves on pucks that hit you in the chest or from the perimeter.
what happen to the Hawks fourth line this year? Last year - i look forward to that line on the ice - they were nasty and fast and seemed to chip in some timely goals.
And what happen to the Hawks offensive power? Just frustrating!!!! Oh - sweet move by Toews!!!
I know we're barely into December but I'm already getting the feeling that nobody is going to run away and hide in the Central like Detroit did last year. Even St Louis is over .500 now and suddenly is only ten points out of first. I think the Hawks better gear up for a tough road. And I'm sort of glad we're done playing Nashville for the year at the end of the month. Between their rock solid defense and solid goaltending they really give the Hawks fits offensively.