Tough to blame Flyers loss on Huet
It would be wrong to lay all the blame on Cristobal Huet for Saturday’s crushing 3-2 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia.
The Hawks fell apart defensively in the final 2:04 of regulation when the Flyers scored twice for the stunning victory.
Maybe Huet could have challenged Scott Hartnell more on his goal to the short side that tied the game with 2:04 to play. But how does Hartnell get position on defenseman Brent Sopel and a path to the net at that point in the game with the Hawks trying to protect a 2-1 lead?
On Chris Pronger’s winning goal with just 2.1 seconds remaining, the Flyers had a 4-on-2 when forwards Jonathan Toews, Troy Brouwer and Patrick Kane were caught up the ice. Then Brent Seabrook doesn’t pick up Pronger flying to the net down the left side for the tap in.
Toews looks to have hit somewhat of a wall coming back from the Olympics. He was minus-2 on Saturday and is minus-5 in the last three games.
Seabrook hasn’t played well either, for that matter. Or Kane. Hockey Night in Canada showed a replay of Pronger's goal and Kane was going for a line change instead of backchecking with six seconds remaining after the play had gone the other way. Not smart.
Sunday’s game against Washington suddenly looms very large for the Hawks, who then take off for a three-game West Coast trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Forget it, this is an average team that can't beat anybody now. When they do win, it's not pretty. That loss was as pathetic as it gets. Elite teams don't lose like that.
and you guys won't listen...they played in Wrigley field. They slept with the cursed. McDonough's a Cub.
It kills me to say this stuff, but it can't be overlooked.
Mike,
If they blow game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in the last minute because someone on the team has a meltdown and the coach isn't smart enough to call timeout and try to stop it I'm with you.
there's plexiglass around the rink so some poor guy with headphones cant be blamed on them blowing it.
Brouwer got caught up ice and left the 2 d-men alone with a 3 on 2. How can he be charging the Flyers blue line when there's only 10 seconds left hoping he can break up the pass????? He missed and left the 2 d-men to defend a 3 on 2 and a rushing Pronger down low. I don't put that on Seabrook. At that point in the game, as well as the Flyers 2nd goal, you have to KNOW the situation. You're not trying to force offense at that point in the game. You're #1 job is to protect YOUR end of the ice.
I didn't see the replay on the 2nd goal so I'm not sure if Sopel was slow coming off the bench or if he was beaten because he's slow in general. If that's any of the other d-men other than Sopel, they could have caught Hartnell and not allowed him position to drive in and score. Even with that said, I think Huet was suprised as well because it sure didn't look like he came out to challenge Hartnell at all.
JJ the Philly coverage didn't show a replay that had a wide enough angle to see if Sopel was slow changing, or what.
From the replay they showed, it did appear from the angle Sopel came into the picture at, that he might have been late off the bench, whether because he's not fleet-footed, or the guy going off was late. I just couldn't tell from what was shown.
Toews, Kane, Keith, and Seabrook are completely shot, and Quenville and Bowman are to be held responsible. These guys all should have been given the following 2 games off after that break.
Don't look now but the Coyotes, Kings, and the rest of the pack are coming fast,,,while we are trying to put band aids over the leaks in the Dam.
Wake up call: 11:30 am Sunday Morning boys.
Huet played well enough to win most games.....just not this one. And it was more how they lost than anything else.
Let's face facts. The Olympians have not been the same since that tournament ended. I know Kane had another 9 game point scoring streak but his overall game has taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Toews has been a shell of the guy that led Team Canada to the gold. Only Hossa has played well and that can probably be attributed to him missing the first two months of the season and being better rested.
I know the players want to play and Q is on record as saying that he expects them to play every game but it might be time for him to revisit this. Why not let these guys miss 2-3 games to rest?? Big deal if they lose a game or two and Vancouver or someone else drops them into third place in the conference. It is far more important that their best players start playing like their best players again. I believe he rested Toews, Keith and one or two others the last weekend of the season last year so resting players isn't an unseen decision.
Either way the rollercoaster team play has to settle down soon or we won't be seeing the Conference Finals again, let alone a Cup sipping ceremony.
I keep seeing chinks in Q's armour. How does he not have the team tightened up late in the period with a one goal lead and then with the game tied late? On the road, how are you supposed to play? We played the last half of the period like a preseason game. Isn't it supposed to be one guy deep and one guy, at least, back, almost like a 3rd defenseman?
Usually, we see him over coaching. Today, it was no coaching.
Unless Captain Limo and his Sidekick, Captain Gay Sunglasses, aren't listening (which is my theory).
Up 2-1 with four minutes left you play it smart. They didn't.
Tied 2-2 with two minutes left, you play for the road point and take your chances in OT where you're 6-0 on the season.
Dean, going to the game on the 25th?
I'll be there Jac
I am new here, but have read many posts, and watched hockey a long time.
Many, many posters think Huet stinks and point out his bad form, and puck awareness. (Someone named him Flour Dough.)
Others never seem to fault him when he is terrible, but are quick to finger the Hawk defense.
From a newbie's perspective, Huet is simply is not a playoff caliber goalie, and the game against Philly proved it beyond all doubt.
Yeah, the Hawks defense fell apart late vs the Flyers.
So what? That happens sometimes in hockey, and a money goalie is usually there to bail his defense out.
Huet was very good today.............................................for 58 minutes.
But when his team absolutely, positively needed a big, timely, money save from him....he failed yet again.
He has done this repeatedly this year. Lousy Hawk defense or no lousy Hawk defense.
That is not what a playoff caliber goaltender does.
So I throw my stake in with the crowd that makes argument of the Hawks not winning a Cup with Cristobal Huet playing goal.
repeating........teams amp it up for the stretch run! todays game looked like a bunch of scared ballerina's afraid to go to the net! how did the flyers get their 3 goals!...by charging the net!! kane got ran? where was buff?..running the other way!seabrooke?? for weeks now, actually longer, when they gave him #7, the second coming of chris chelios?! bullshitte! change the number kid because right now you can't even carry chris's jock! redwing or not!marion hossa looks lost because he has no one to be a playmaker with him, i love troy brouwer, but with hossa, he looks like a club foot,no chemistry! switch him and versteeg, put ..16,11,22,& 36,81,32!!???,bryan campbell and a couple of others on D made of glass?,bring up nick boynton for a look?! i knew the vancouver game was too good to be true! the outside perimiter puck possesion control game works for the wings ! but maybe not here! i agree no way you hang this one on cristobal today men!.i said it 9 million times! this team plays too fricken small even though they are not! what should of happened at the deadline besides the net?? how about a fricken playmaker to go with hossa and a real hammer onD! oh please don't even tell me seabrooke is that, no way!.get your shitte together boys or it's 1 and done! no more excuses! boy will the marketing geniuses have egg all over their faces if these guys get nailed in the 1st round after parading these kids all over the place all season like they won 6 titles, not to say here comes the increase for next year!! laugh some more scotty, your kid better get busy the minute the season ends and re-tool this team into a bigger more intimidating team! like i said before boys, don't mean to be negative, but we are settling for no less than a long run ending in mid june!! just incase it don't happen, roll it into next year!!one more time buff is a pucci!and where was the mighty adam and ben today??!
Obvious you don't like this team, so why are you worried about a ticket price increase (which you never fail to mention)?
If they're so bad, don't watch, and certainly don't pay to watch.
And they must be really bad. How else to explain 93/132 points, and 15 of the last 20?
That' sure a mark of a terrible team, right.
Try being a Blue Jacket or Oiler fan in their city. You have some points but even the good teams do not win them all. Flyers are a pretty good hockey team and they were coming off a stinker against the Bruins. The Hawks I will agree are pretty cocky with the likes of Kane and Versteeg in particular. Kane usually backs it up as he is an unreal talent but what was he thinking going for a line change with 5 seconds on the clock, that looked pretty bad. However, we have a pretty solid team that just looks a little tired right now. All the players that participated in the olympics seem to be struggling a little and it could very well be mental and physical fatigue. Also Leighton was superb and really stole this game, we will be fine. Go Hawks!
I'm wondering if the goal right after wrap-around attempt was a bad wrap around that turned into a lucky pass or if was actually a pass. Huet had the post covered and there was nothing he could do, pass or flubbed shot.
I don't understand why the 'Hawks were all so deep in the offensive zone with the game tied and seconds to play. Isn't the thing do at that point play a center ice game, guard against the odd man rush, hope for the opposition to make a mistake and if needed take the point and game into overtime?
I try to watch the for 5 game rolling trends, and I don't like the trend.
C'mon Hawks!
on Philly's first two goals, he could and should have done much better. That said,
The Sieve had one of his best road games in awhile and gave us every chance to win. The LOSS isn't on Huey, but on the first goal, he just passively lets the guy center the puck and once again failed to use his stick properly. Billy Smith would have used his twig to stuff, jam and reject any centering pass but not Huey. Then on the 2nd goal, yes Sopel and the Hawks got caught on a bad line change, but Huey is camping out on his goal line for Pete's sake. Come up and challenge 39 ! Stop retreating. Hartnell had a ton of twine to shoot at because Huey was in full retreat mode.
I can see why Q's never advanced beyond the 3rd round. Hawks took another too many men penalty. That's about 8 by my count this year. BRUTAL.
Hawks played well enough to win this game but once again, they didn't play 60 minutes. It pains me to say it, but they look more and more like pretenders.
That was actually a pretty good game to watch. Philly played great. Yhe Hawks played good too !! Huet had a good game , cant blame him. Where the heck was Buflugien all day . Hardly saw him at all -terrible for a big guy , with all the hits on our guys ! Pronger nailed Kane with about 7 mins to go , and then Seabrook nailed a few guys with awsome checks. In the long run , as long as there are no injuries , this stretch of games will make us a better playoff team . We have been playing too soft for a long time , until the last few games.
Too bad games are a full 60 minutes! Huet stood on his head today and was the best I have ever seen him, no chance on any of the goals. JT and Kaner were far from the hawks best players today and this game could easily have been a 7-7 game. Very exciting game to watch with a shocking ending. Let's rebound and zap the Caps tomorrow.
If you're going to blame Huet for this loss, then I think you have to say Hossa's goal should never have gone in. Leighton got beat from far out, compared to the last two Philly goals.
The Canadian Olympians look lousy right now--Kane too-- and I think Philly was having the same problem until Pronger's goal today. At least that's what their announcers were saying.
I guess a medal hangover is hard to avoid, but they need to get back to form, and soon. If Seabrook and Keith keep playing as our weakest pairing, there's no way we get past the second round, and probably not the first.
They don't really need to peak until April, but they do have to get out of the doldrums in the next couple games.
This team needs to a wake up. For far too long they have been going through the motions and just expecting to win by showing up. They give up these many chances tomorrow by making stupid decisions on pinching, and the Capitals will put up 8.
I thought Huet played outstanding today. Can't blame him for any of the goals. If he plays like he did today, the Hawks will be fine. He made some huge saves, and was in position on redirects. Maybe this competition with Niemi is exactly what he needed to refocus.
Sopel got outworked, and the shot was perfect.
Seabrook.....just a horrible game, and this goes by what has been said for the past few weeks. This guy is just brutal right now. Not only is it the constant turnovers, but on the 1st Philly goal....what the hell is he doing sending a weak backhander to Keith with a guy in the way? THe safe play is off the boards and out....This guy is killing this team. He needs to find it quickly, because when Eddie O even starts to ride you, you know you are brutal.
Hawks better show up tomorrow. 8 pts is a nice lead for the 2nd position but a loss tomorrow, and suddenly that lead isn't so safe.
100% agreed.
I was actually pleasantly surprised to see Huet rebound like that. The ONLY goal I fault him on at all was Hartnell's and that WAS a great shot. Tip your cap to the Mullet Man.
Seabrook was running around like a Chinese Fire Drill.
I also blame the coaching staff or certain players who are not listening to the coaching staff. On the road, up 2-1 late, you don't get caught up ice like that. And even tied 2-2, you play for the road point and OT, where you're 6-0 on the season.
Kane looked like he took a limo ride the night before. By the way, who was the player trailing Pronger on Kane's side of the ice? Brouwer.
With Kane going half ass back on the Pronger goal, and Brouwer busting his to cover it up. Just like the OT winner for Detroit in Game 2of the WCF last year.
Yeah, I was confused as to what they were doing late in the game. The game was so tight, that any stupid decision would be exploited and that's exactly what happened.
I'm also growing a little weary of Quenneville. He really needs to re-evaluate his defensive pairings. Keith proved in Vancouver that he can be elite without Seabrook. Maybe it's time to give somebody else those minutes until Seabrook figures it out. Also, if Sopel is NOT going to be a huge asset on the PK, then I don't see any reason Hendry doesn't play. Sopel is slow and that's a recipe for disaster in the playoffs.
Huge game to see how this team bounces back, and how far they've come in righting the ship in their own end. Ovechkin will be firing from all angles, so Niemi better be ready.
Today's loss was a complete embarrassment. Giving up a 2-1 lead with 2 minutes to go to any team especially an average team is inexcusable. This Hawk team has been just an average "barely make the playoffs " team the last several weeks (before & after the Olympics.) Keith & Seabrook are no longer dominant, miss assignments, lose the puck, etc. Coach Q needs to do something drastic to wake these guys up. He also needs to wake himself up and come up with a modern strategy for their embarrassing 5 v 3 power plays. They have all 3 forwards in a straight line across the goal. This doesn't even resemble the formations that more successful power play teams run.
The Flyers are not an average team, if not for one horrendous 20 game stretch they would be right up there with the Pens and Devs. Since Hot Lava straightend them out they are something like 21 wins and 8 losses, much better than average. So keep in mind it was a tough loss today to a tough hockey team and you need a full 60 minute effort because they are not going to quit. Agree Coach Q is a good coach but not the best as he needs to dicipline his stars that are not starring and he is overplaying Keith to the point I think he needs a rest.
That was by far Kane's worst game. I thought Mike Imren's article about Kane needing to grow up in his free time may have some validity to it afterall. I mean he looked like he took a hit from a bong before he played this game. Did he always need to count to "three" before doing something with the puck? Can't he see good things can happen when you just make the simple play or the quick release like Hossa had on his goal? This isn't "NHL 10" out there, pucks won't magically find there receiver with every pass he decides to make.
Huet played great but like one poster said, the great goalies find a way to save that third goal instead of laying flat in their crease with two seconds remaining.
If this was last season Coach Q might be thinking about benching Kane and Seabrook for a game to get their heads on straight. Not sure why he doesn't do that anymore.
I am updating my blog and game story because it was Kane getting caught up the ice on Pronger's winning goal with Brouwer and Toews and not Hossa.
In fact, Hockey Night in Canada showed a replay of Kane going for a line change with six seconds to play and Hossa jumping on well after the play had gone the other way.
A line change with six seconds left? My goodness.
Tim, if that's the case, Kane SHOULD be sitting in the press box against Washington no doubt. But something tells me that won't happen.
I don't blame Huet for the loss. He played well enough to win. I think Q has got to get these guys thinking defense first. The forwards get caught too deep too often and give up way to many odd man breaks. Kane tries to make plays that aren't there resulting in turnovers instead of getting the puck in deep when there isn't an option. At some point in a 1 goal game you have to start playing to protect the lead. This is exactly the type of game they will have to win in the playoffs. While the Hawk offense can be potent the Oilers of the early 80's they are not. The defensemen even seem to think offense first and it seems they get themselves out of position too much as well. Fortunately this wasn't a playoff game so maybe Q can use this as a teaching moment. I don't know about you guys but I'm glad the playoffs haven't started yet.
Passing up shots, running into traffic and not getting the puck down low. Lots of circling. I can't think of another player who invites so much criticism while on a 10-game point streak.
Sharp and Campbell looked good. Didn't seem like the 4th line was out there much at all.
the 4th line?? figure it out,playing philly, in philly and daniel carcillo was on the ice! called selective trash talking big time when A) i am at home B) when i am not in danger of getting my ass handed to me! ....37.????,i like 37 but i would love to see carcillo on the same line as 37&55! anybody see the scrap between neil and rypien tonite?? buff take some lessons from them 2 even though they are 1/2 your size!
I was going to post the same thing, Kane needs to stop trying to make the cute plays and shoot the freaking puck!
is not on Huet whatsoever, he was great today and showed up. Cannot say the same for Seabrook who continues to really struggle. He was beat twice today, and was not in the right position for the game winner. This is starting to become alarming.
Tim S is right: tough to blame Huet - except that with 2 minutes left, Stanley Cup goalies somehow make the stops (at least the tying goal).
But again: goals in quick succession (2 in2 minutes) and goals at the ends of periods.
spot on for goals 2 and 3.
Brouwer got caught up ice when he could have peeled back and made it a 3-3 or 4-3. Huet was fine. Not a good sign to blow it in the last 2 min.
3rd seed remains a possibility if they are not careful.