Niemi to start against Kings
The audition continues.
Joel Quenneville’s quest for either Cristobal Huet or Antti Niemi to take over the No. 1 goalie job moves to Wednesday night when Niemi gets the net back against the Kings at the United Center.
Read into this what you wish. Huet started the last three games and went 2-1, but he was pulled in Sunday’s loss to Detroit.
The Hawks have a heavy schedule coming up, including sets of back-to-back games this weekend against Philadelphia and Washington and next week against Anaheim and Los Angeles, with Quenneville saying both goalies likely would get some starts.
“Antti gets a chance to get back in the net and we’ll see how he responds,”
Quenneville said following Tuesday’s practice.
Quenneville repeated he wanted either Niemi or Huet to assert himself down the stretch here to make the decision on a playoff starter easy.
“It’s important that somebody establishes himself and takes charge in the net,” Quenneville said. “I think both guys can play. We’re not blaming Huey last game.
“We’ve got back-to-back games on the weekend, we’ve got a lot of tough opponents as well and we’ve got a condensed schedule so they’ll both see some time here. We’re looking for both of them to take charge.”
With only 17 games to play time is running short for a No. 1 goalie to emerge.
“We went last year real late in the year,” Quenneville said of the competition between Nikolai Khabibulin and Huet, eventually won by Khabibulin. “They basically all year were alternating. This year it’s been more Huey than Antti, and now Antti is getting more of an opportunity at the end here. We’ll see how it sorts out.”
All signs pointed after practice to Adam Burish returning to the lineup. Burish has missed all 65 games of the season after suffering a torn ACL in the Hawks’ second exhibition game.
Both goalies have had their chances to run with it now and neither has really done much. Not everything falls on the goalies the way the defense has been playing, but the goalies also haven't stepped up to save the day either. I think Q and company wants one guy to elevate his game and rise to the occasion, but lately both of these goalies are cold.
Can we send Huet to Rockford and clear his cap hit? I know this was discussed earlier in the year and this must be the only reason Bowman did nothing at the deadline. I know Wirtz has no problem eating this contract next year if it means he can ensure a real chance a Cup. I still can't imagine how dominant this team can be with a stud goalie facing a league low number of shots per game.
Sign Rosie O'Donnell, put the pads on her and she can cover 20 square feet just standing there. If the opposing shooters can snipe the four corners, so be it.
Other possibilities:
--Flounder from "Animal House"
--The latest evacuee from "The Biggest Loser"
--Ted Washington
--Mr. Belvedere
--Delta Burke
--Morganna
--John Kruk
--Saint Nicholas
--Oprah
--The lady who replaced Shelly Long on "Cheers"
--Sally Struthers
--Newman
--Kevin Federline
--Jessica Simpson
Add Chris Farley to Nomask's grand list.
You know that scene at the end of Good Will Hunting where Robin Williams tells Matt Damon that its not his fault and Damon breaks down crying. Sometimes I think Williams is Quenneville and Damon is Huet.
I'll take a drunk and injured Khabibulin at this point.
Datsyuk, Orpik, and Chris Drury to skate on the ice with Toews and Keith.
That way when Frenchie lets in softie number 189, no one here can grouse about team defense in front of him. Maybe then those folks will finally see the Hawk goalie situation for what it really is.
Crapola in a big brown bag.
Tasty, tasty, tasty.
Read the papaers and find the trade deadline date.
TIM these trade scenarios need to be pulled from the blog,
as we all prefer profanity, and religious persecution, to past history GMs....
First off everyone has the right to write what they want. Second, I think this person is just making the point that the problem is the goalie not the players in front of him. So having Datsuyk, Drury, etc would show that. I don't think it's serious trade wishes.
Whatever happens with our goalies, we MUST finish 1st or 2nd to ensure home ice in the playoffs for as long as possible. Pressure is on everyone not to slip to 3rd. Can't fold now.
Maybe it's time to give him another shot?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Glad you enjoyed that one, Corey.
Tim
Who sits with Burish coming back?
sits
Gotta be Kopecky. Right? Seems pretty obvious based on results.
Sit 82 and 55 for a night or two and get Burish and Frazz back in. Fraser is one of the best character guys i've seen on the Hawks in a long time. He needs to play every night.
Put Frazz on a line with Burish and Eager/and spell Eags with Kopecky from time to time.
I agree with you Philco. Fraser has a lot of heart and does so many little things and gets no recognition. He's good on the PK and although he's not much of a fighter he seems to get under the skin of the opposition. I think a fourth line of Eager, Fraser and Burish would be effective and bring all kinds of energy !
How about if we replace the goalies with a lawn chair.....and tighten the D up we'll be fine.
A shooter tooter would work. It has less room to hit the net. Or maybe those boards they use for the fans to shoot on between periods with the little mouse holes as targets. Or they can put those 4 plates on the net for the shooters to hit for it to count as a goal.
On a previous blog I voted for a King Kong Bundy cardboard cutout. This would be sufficient.
We have to face it, the Hawks do not have a #1 goalie. They are good for a game or two. Alternating is the only hope. they have to be more aware of stupid give aways at either blue line. we can still win with puck possession and smart hockey.
If the defense keeps playing the way they have lately no goalie is going to prosper. What is going on? I can't seem to find one area but the Datsuyk and Williams goals alone were ridiculous D let downs.
Where is Campbell lately? This guy is so up & down.
OK, then how about one less defenseman and 2 goalies? That should fix the problem.
Can we just play 3 defensemen and 3 forwards? How about we replace the goalie with a Sweeper like in soccer?
This would address the whole argument about the quality of play in front of the goalie.
Please note I am purposely being absurd. Boldi, put the keyboard down and back away slowly and no one gets hurt ;-)
...I hope Q gives Niemi a fair chance to take charge. Let him play 4-5 straight games and maybe 7 of the next 9. At that time, if he isn't getting it done, you basically know you will have to go with Huet the rest of the way and into the playoffs.
Stop dilly dallying around and shifting back and forth with the same adages "We don't blame the tender" but then later continue with the "One of these guys has to establish himself" nonesense.
Name Niemi the starter. Make it official, and then roll with that goalie the rest of the way.
And Niemi pooped his pants. His 5 games in a row certainly weren't of the sterling variety that would inspire any more confidence in him. Huey hasn't fared any better.
How 'bout us fans get the boys some big pampers -- strap enough of 'em on and maybe they CAN'T drop down as easily, huh? :-P