Where are the power plays?
The NHL can deny it up and down, but it is clear referees have been told to ease up on calling stick-related and interference penalties.
Power plays are down, way down in the case of the Blackhawks, who have the fifth lower numbers of power plays in the league despite being one of the best skating teams.
Referees are allowing players to be whacked more with sticks on the way to the net. That was an automatic penalty as recently as last season.
And on dump-ins, interference is being let go more and more. Before on a chip in the attacking player couldn’t be touched. Now a bump the slightest hold up apparently is OK.
“It’s been getting a little worse as the season goes on,” Hawks winger Patrick Kane said. “It’s surprising to see it let go sometimes, especially a guy like (Ben) Eager chips it in and they just hold him up for a second. Usually you weren’t allowed to touch him at all.
“It’s surprising, especially the way the new rules came in. Obviously players have adapted to the new rules, but at the same time I think a lot of getting let go especially with our team because we have the puck so much. It’s pretty frustrating.”
Tonight’s game…
Colin Fraser will be back in the lineup against Phoenix with Tomas Kopecky sitting out.
Fraser, who was a healthy scratch for the first time on Wednesday against St. Louis, likely will skate at right wing on the fourth line with John Madden at center and Ben Eager at left wing.
The expected forward lines:
Brouwer – Toews – Kane
Ladd – Bolland – Hossa
Versteeg – Sharp – Byfuglien
Eager – Madden – Fraser
Cristobal Huet starts in goal against a Coyotes team that is only 5 points behind the Hawks.
“They’ve done an amazing job,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “They’ve got a lot of good things going for them. They give themselves a chance game in and game out. I think it’s one of the top surprises in our conference with L.A. as well. They look like they’re going to be around at the end.”
The Hawks will be trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season and now trail San Jose by 5 points in the Western Conference standings.
“They’re kind of pulling away a bit so we want to slow that down,” Kane said.
Barry Rozner said in his column that the Hawks are talking to the Ducks about a Barker for Wizniewski trade. What do you guys think?
I like it as wis is a RFA next year but I am one of the only backers of Cam B on this board and I like his potential ....
Having said that (credit to Larry David) as a 4/5th def his salary outweighs his potential!!
another but... Im not sure Wis is what we need IMO
The officiating is getting lax little by little. Remeber Eddie O describing a penalty as getting a stick Parallel to a player? I am seeing stick on body contact all day long. The little slashes Chelios used so effectively for years. I am worried about slowly slipping into the old NHL. I hope it does not happen.
Hooking is getting called pretty consistently but the stick on body has loossened up big time and it is a concern.
This just doesn't look good, fans. I understand Tim's point this morning about not caving in to panic, but c'mon, Tim, this team is a shadow of its former self right now. I just don't see the passion and energy. The poke check save by LaBarbera on Hossa's shoot-out attempt was the icing on the cake. You've got to get a little more fired up, Marian, on those game-deciding shots. Where's the urgency, boys? Look out, here come Nashville and Detroit. Get well soon, Burish. We need your grit. Throw Bickell into the mix while we're at it. Oh, that damn Minnesota game!
This team peaked early and is now fading fast. 1-2 goals a game against back-up goalies and non-playoff teams doesn't cut it. Our best players won't have time to rest during the Olympics and the games will get even tougher after the break. This team is looking more and more like the 2008 Cubs......tons of talent, great regular season and a big early exit come playoff time. Can anyone honestly see this current team beating Vancouver, Detroit or San Jose in a 7 game series? A healthy Detroit, Jimmy Howard in net and a few deadline additions will destroy the Hawks. I hope Bowman is smart enough not to mortgage next year at a slim chance at the Cup this year.
Typical panic stricken fan. Every team in the league goes through slumps. Heck, Pittsburgh wasn't even in the playoff picture this time last year. The Hawks have dominated San Jose and Detroit all season. We've proven we can beat Vancouver. I'd rather them slump now then April.
You ask "Can anyone honestly see this current team beating Vancouver, Detroit or San Jose in a 7 game series?" My answer YES. The Hawks, in my opinion, can beat any of those teams and can also handle a healthy Detroit. I fully expect them to go to the conference finals with a excellent chance of advancing to the Cup. They have the talent. Yes I believe. I would not bet against this team.
In fact I don't think they really need to make any moves to get playoff ready. I'd like to see a better 6th D man. If that is your biggest concern you are in good shape.
As for goaltending. Yes its a concern but they can win with an average Goalie. Huet is average.
timmy, this time of the year the refs let more stuff go, so the little smurfs have to come in off the boards ,go to the front and crash the net or atleast make an attempt to. hopefully stan will address that also. howmany times this year have we heard the radio and tv guys say after a loss "we just didn't get dirty enough tonite,didn't pay the price"! isn't that what saavy was talking about awhile back> hopefully we get on another roll. other teams are starting to get intense and heat up, putting streaks together, i hate to say it but watch out for detroit!all their guys are almost back!LET'S GO HAWKS!
His first year at Rockford he wound up playing a lot on a line with Fraser as his center. He was selfish and I think Savard had a problem with his attitude. Skille thinks he is this big scorer, an he isn't. He does have some ability, maybe as a checker he could score some. But his size and his skating is his best asset. Know this: any NHL team knows after a couple of training camps and many recalls if they have a bluechip prospect. He isn't. He was Tallon's mistake at # 7 overall. Tallon should have gone european in that draft.
There isn't anyone knocking down the door to grab him from Chicago.
Now Makarov, if he is offered enough money and wants to play here, he can score if he is skating with talented players. There's your next forward who can light the lamp.
I don't know if you went via that link and got up in the middle of the night and watched any of those russian league games, but Makarov as been less than ordinary.
Pay him ENOUGH money?
let him decide he wants to become an NHL level player and work his way through the different checking and after a couple if he proves he is a scorer, then maybe "enough" money."
Instead of the teaparty sites go watch the Russian games.
Have you watched him play in Rockford? What are your views on him..
I get what everyone is saying (thks) but I see a different game from him and i cant believe there isnt a market for a 22 year old with his skills despite his attitude.
There has to be something more than just word on the street.
I guess I'm not too surprised at the new guidelines (acknowledged or not by the NHL), especially on a bit of interference on chip-ins. With the size and speed of oncoming forwards, the defenseman going back for the puck was live bait bleeding in front of a shark (no reference intended).
Given our d-men aren't the biggest, if the rule is called equally, we may actually have a slight advantage over time.
Great comments about expectations. We've been starved of hope for so long as Blackhawk fans that we clutch and grab, hook and hold at any glimmer.
Are you going to Nationwide Sunday? Bringing your lady?
I'll be there...sans lady, I suspect. She's the latest in a long string that's made the mistake of saying, "hockey's only a game."
You mentioned earlier about no one being interested in Skille and this sounded like inside info!
He is an RFA after the year and is only 22 and is having a very good year in Rockford! He looked good in his recent call up (although 1 game)
if its is embarrassing or will slight him than forget it but what is your take on him please????
Yea he is having a good scoring year in Rockford but is well down the team's list in plus-minus -- makes me wonder if he's being seen as less than a complete 2-way player.
I think he looked really good in that one game awhile back but he was properly motivated since he had to impress that day.
He's right about Skille. At BEST a Kris Draper type player and only if he realizes that is his NHL role.
There seems to be more here, maybe some issues that are hush hush like attitude! With the year he is having you would have to think their would have to be some interest. He is young, cheap and I see some goal scoring potential. .
I dont see Kris Draper from him..that is interesting what makes you think of him as an energy pest type?
He lets in too many bad goals,doesn't win enough games on his own. I think he really benefits from a strong defense because it seems whenever they make a mistake it's in the net. He was a second stringer the last part of last season and that's what we got this season. He will be our weak link in the playoffs. It scares me.
The first-timers board is at chicagotribune.com
Amen
Ill go but who are you gonna have around here to defend Huet and make life interesting?
Without me this board will be like a bunch of old woman (orchard creek and Yellow pages) sipping banana daiquiris and whining that their hubbies never take them out anymore!
Why do you need to resort to personal attacks?
I have never met you and you know nothing about me.
I just like to have fun, offer an opinion like everyone else and point out the absurdity once in a while. Call it drivel if you like, but why get personal?
Boldi, can you not recognize that everyone else here has the right to offer their opinions with taking it as a personal attack on you?
Give it a rest. Enjoy life.
You are welcome to lick my balls if you'd like...
freshen up your Daiquiri???
The officals aren't calling it, but also I think players are learning how to dance the line and get away with more. I think the Hawks should be able to draw more, but they play such a clean skating game, even most of the rough teams step away from their game and stay out of the box. The Hawks don't aggrevate them into taking more.
Did anyone see him bust in all alone on a wing, off a great pass vs St.Louis and not get a shot off?
Package him up in any upcoming trade nd be done with the experiment. Especially with Burish coming back.
A lot of healthy scratches seem likely in Kopecky's immediate future.
...remember, we are talking about a guy who doesn't seem to be able to skate all that well.
He did fall down on a shoot out attempt earlier this year. He got the shot off and then fell, like he always does.
The guy isn't bringing much to the table that you can't get from a call up.
All of the talk of late seems to stem from one thing, expectations.
We all know how this works. You come home at 9:00 PM and you are either in trouble or not depending on if you were expected to be home at 8:00 or 10:00. Time is relevant and expectations are too.
Well, we all have really high expectations this year. Right or wrong, many expect a Cup or at least an appearance in the finals. Pretty lofty and very iffy even for a team that is hands down a favorite or President's Cup winner. Too many variables stand in the way.
A consequence of this is the expectations placed on players.
When expectations are not being met people get upset. That is what I see in many of the comments, mine included.
Perhaps we have untenable or unreasonable expectations.
I had very high expectations of Patrick Kane last year and was critical of him for falling short of them. I also expected the coaches to address his shortcomings. This year I am extremely impressed with the positive changes to his game - too many to mention - although he still needs to get rid of the pacifier.
So, was I unfair in expecting more? I think not, but perhaps I should have been more patient or trusting of the coaches.
I do not expect the Hawks to win the Cup. But if I were a betting man I would put them in a group of 4 teams that I would bet on.
are you for or against not enough power plays?...lol
You were expecting me to comment on the post, eh?
Actually, what Tim cites will cause people to be upset if they expect a penalty to be called and suddenly it isn't. Lots of whining to come.
I think the NHL could do away with some of the stick-related calls. The criteria should be if they actually impeded the player versus just bothered him.
And you know what I think of that trapezoid thing - if the goalie leaves the crease he should be open game. That will fix the problem with how and where they play the puck.
Or maybe im dreaming of posting on this board today...yes you heard it right in my dreams you agree with me!!!
settle down ladies...or get a room!
He lost his virginity. No one has ever agreed with him before (LOL)
A grand father can be a virgin, nice one sparky!!
unlike you i dont need to be daily affirmed for every post!
Through skating and hard work this only hampers teams like us!
I usually can go on quite a "boldirev" like rant about the refs especially when Bolland was cross checked in front of the blues net However there have been times over the last few games were i cringed thinking that was a penalty on us but it didnt get called,
so I dont know what to think!
I watch a lot of Classic NHL and in the 87 Rendezvous series, NHL vs Russia, I watched Doug Wilson crosscheck Sergei Priakin multiple times from the blueline to the corner on a centerline dump in with out looking or facing the puck!
I had a good laugh... But Tim, This is major sticking point every year when the referees supposedly slack off on the calls!