'Q' pushes the right buttons
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is in his playoff mode. Now it's up to the players to follow.
Quenneville's decision to come right back with Antti Niemi here on Wednesday was the right decision on so many levels, and the first-year goalie responded with his seventh shutout in the Hawks' 4-0 win over the Wild.
Quenneville has been reluctant to start Niemi in back-to-back games, but the dice needed to be rolled with the guy who is going to lead the Hawks into the playoffs.
Niemi is the No. 1 goalie and Quenneville made the statement loud and clear instead of giving Cristobal Huet one more chance to contend for the job. That competition is long over.
For those who were waiting for Quenneville to throw all his support and confidence behind Niemi, it happened on Wednesday.
"He's playing well and it's nice to show him some confidence as well," Quenneville said after the game that snapped the Hawks' three-game losing streak. "He responded with the game we were looking for."
Quenneville's line combinations and defense pairings also were solid.
Putting Dustin Byfuglien instead of Brent Sopel with Duncan Keith worked well. Meanwhile, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson are getting better together every game.
The line of Dave Bolland, Patrick Kane and Troy Brouwer was also in interesting mix that showed potential. Let them play together for a few games.
Marian Hossa with Jonathan Toews has the potential to be lethal. Leave those together going into the playoffs.
Everyone is pumped up by the results of Wednesday. Before we claim the Stanley Cup, lets see how they react today and Sunday. If they come out tonight against the Devils and lay an egg, we're right back to where we were earlier in the week. However, if they can show us the same effort and determination (particularly the 4th line), maybe we are turning the corner! If Calgary wins tonight against Colorado, Sunday's game could be an all out war. You will see a very desperate visiting team in the UC on who needs every available point. Certainly a playoff game for Calgary Sunday (and tonight). If Colorado wins tonight, that may be the final blow to Calgary, and they come in here mentally defeated. Either way, the Hawks need to string together consistent efforts like they did Wednesday against Minnesota. The fear I have is with 6 games in the next 10 day, we're bound to see Huet (probably in Dallas on Tues?) so we better get 4 points this weekend so we can all breathe a bit easier as we come down the final stretch.
With the onslaught of games thru Arpil 11th, here's hoping the NHL scheduling Gods have the Hawks playing Game 1 on Thursday, April 15th as opposed to a night earlier. I'd like to see them have a few days off before the playoffs. Mabye we need the divine intervention of Scards here! Good news is the Bulls won't be occupying the UC after the 13th...probably no playoffs for them anyways, so no conflicts in scheduling!
Roberta let in 8 goals last night...just thought I'd share that in case someone wasn't aware.
Roberta's about the closest thing out there next to Huet when it comes to mental toughness. I think that he's Italian - fra-gee-lay.
Actually only half Italian, his mother's Irish.
What is the deal with him? Will he be back this year?
I think it's poetic that Brower, Bolland, and Kane are now on the same line. Bolland and Brower respectively tore up the OHL and WHL Canadian junior leagues in 2005-2006 (Bolland - 57 goals - 73 assists - 130 points) / (Brower - 49 goals / 53 assists - 102 points). Kane earned his right to be first pick overall by destroying the OHL in 2007-2008 with 62 goals and 83 assists for 145 points - omfg .
I hereby dub the line of Brower, Bolland, and Kane (should the line remain in tact and accomplish something great - like winning the Cup) as ...
THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT LINE
Jal line for Junior Achievement line, but I suspect there will be a lots on in and outs during the first playoff round.
I suspect because he is such a generator, that Kane will play with everybody if it gets them going...
the Blues or Bluejackets tonight. Can anyone throw a bucket of water on the red hot Redwings? RWs play the Preds this weekend....pulling for Pred victory. They only have 3 games left. Be nice to see LA knock off the Canucks later tonight.
Looks like tomorrow getting at least 1 point would be big. Hawks have not won in NJ since 1997....soooooooooo its about time. With 6 games left they are going to need at least 6 or 7 of those 12 points to hang on to the number 2 seed.
Yeah Niemi with 7 SO in 33 games is very impressive. But he could have had least 2 more: Against Pitt they scored with a minute left in the game and the Hawks won in OT 2-1 and against Anahiem he gave up to very late goals with less than 3 minutes left as the Hawks got lazy with a 5 goal lead.
Niemi has 7 shutouts in 33 games played. Brodeur leads the league with 8 shutouts... in 66 games. Amazing!!
Ek's latest predictions...(April Fools joke?)
West
1. Sharks
2. Blackhawks
3. Canucks
4. Coyotes
5. Red Wings
6. Kings
7. Predators
8. Avalanche (Flames almost in a dead heat)
East
1. Capitals
2. Sabres
3. Devils
4. Penguins
5. Senators
6. Flyers
7. Bruins
8. Canadiens
Today's Matchup Cup
Sharks def Avs
Hawks def Preds
Canucks def Kings
Pho def Det
Habs def Caps
Bost def Buffalo
Phi def NJ
Ott def Pitt
Sharks def Phx
Chicago def Van
Ott def Mtl
Bos def Phi
Chi def SJ
Bos def Ott
Chi def Bos
Hawks win the Cup
I take that back....he's still a moron! when's the last time any of his so called predictions came true? With this being the case...this is really scarry!
Jacukel, what do you think of your fellow HB Blogger?
Eklund that is.....I read JJ's blog, but I don't pay the fee anymore. The nail in the coffin? When Eklund proclaimed in all his wisdom that Huet was getting traded at the deadline because the Hawks got NIck Boynton. How sure was Eklund? He said "90 percent". In fact, some guy on TSN said during their LIVE blog on deadline day that if you wanted to read about the trades that will not happen....go read Eklund.
Last year, he had the Hawks falling all the way to the #8 seed in his little BS predictions.
Save yourself the time, and skip his articles, rumors, predictions. You'll never get that time back, that you wasted.
I'm sure he's got 100 Vinny to Montreal articles ready to go in preperation for the draft.....that's an E5, by the way...
I'm pretty new to this blog but have come to appreciate it as a place to air my frustrations, post my opinions, and to basically shoot the shit with other guys who love the Hawks.
Have you guys ever thought of having a banquet or dinner of some kind so that people who frequent this blog can meet and have some fun taking about the team they are so passionate about?
Just an idea that I thought I would throw out there. I check the blog out all the time and, although I don't always agree, I always end up learning something new here.
You get Scards guaranteed, I think you'd have to rent out the U.C.
I thought Scards could do the invocation and warm up the crowd for headliner Foster Brooks.
Hilarious...Scards will be in rare form after this game, since the Hawks are playing that D word team....
Just imagine if we played the "hockey team from NJ" on Easter!
What would his reaction be?????
I want to play the role of either Dean Martin or Foster Brooks
I'm up for it, and hey, I dig your stance on needing more of a physical presence. I believe this recent swoon went hand-in-hand with getting pushed around and killed (Campbell and Seabrook) and having no discernible answer for it. It was unsettling to say the least.
Apparently that win against the Wild had greater effect outside the team. :)
I love you mangs!
Great win last night. I know I've been critical of this team lately....but that was fun to watch last night. Hope the same effort comes through in NJ tomorrow.
SwissCheese surfaces for one comment before returning to self imposed asylum:
Coach Q has been searching for a winning combo since the Olympians came back from Vancouver, totally out of gas; just as predicted they would.
(Ow! I hurt my arm patting myself on back.)
Maybe he found it by:
1. Sitting 39 and keeping him on the end of bench; thereby giving team sense of finality to the 2-headed gila monster goalie situation.
2. Pairing Bolland with Kane and Brouwer.
3. Putting 33 with Keith.
That last one is intriguing on many fronts.
Keith, tired and out of Olympic gas, is always getting run hard in his own end by opposing forwards.
Enter 33. Big butt and all. When the game comes to him, he is a crushing hitter, a good puck handler, and insurance against a zealot forward looking to put Keith in the 5th row behind his own net.....Nobody in the league wants any part of an angry Dustin Byfuglien.
(Key word, Angry.)
This man swings hard and has body slammed the big men in the league when he fights.
So maybe there is hope when the real season starts in two weeks.....
OK. Down periscope.
Obama is coming my way telling me what I want for my healthcare.
Dive! Dive! Dive!
See you on gameday; Round 1. Game 1.
When Aetna comes and tells you that you don't have any healthcare anymore, I wonder how fast you'll be listening to anyone who'll give it to you. Thanks to the CIC.
Don't pat yourself too hard on Bolland with Kane and Brouwer. Altho Tim thinks that's working, I'm not sold yet. One guy does not make a line.
I miss that man....classic.
Looking forward to another resurfacing in a few weeks.
Q deserves some credit (after getting hit pretty hard this past week) for finding some quality combos . . .
I like Buff on D . . . with Keith. This works.
Boynton and Burish will need to continue to sit. The Kopecker should remain in the lineup for a while as he appears to have found chemistry with Eager.
Madden really seems to have little left in the tank at present. Versteeg is welcome to buy into the team concept sooner rather than later. Watching this guy can be really painful at times.
Eventually, some of those Buff blasts from the point will find the twine.
My impression is that he is trying to play the same game as Kane. He attempts the same play coming into the offensive zone .... he just doesnt seem to have the same skill level as Kane and it looks bad at times.
Although Kane will make a bad turnover once in a while - he also makes great plays being on the edge that way. I also notice with Kane many times - he is about to turn it over and has the knack (skill) to flip it in deep to avoid the turnover. Versteeg tries the same thing and it is a turnover most of the time. Not sure if he needs to model his game after a different player.
Who is the odd man out between Sopel and Boynton if we assume Q sees what we all see and he leaves Keith with Buff and Seabs with Hjammer? I don't think you can put Sopel and Boynton as the 3rd pairing because then you've got two pylons on the ice together and, therefore, you need Hendry's mobility on the 3rd pairing. If Johnnson comes back, he replaces Hendry and then, in my opinion, with Boynton or Sopel, you've got a pretty solid 6. I like what Boynton brings over Sopel but Sopel continues to make a case for getting dressed each night.
Among the forwards, with Kopecky playing his best hockey, Eager showing some offensive ability and Fraser proving, what I've believed for a while, that he needs to be on the ice, does Burrish continue to sit or does Q feel he needs him as a gritty agitator? I like the combination of Hossa, Toews and Sharp as the #1 and think the rest of the combinations should stay as they were last night. Does Q continue to tinker or does he see if he can build some momentum?
that's who is out the guys that bribg you the least chance of winning.............
Has Burish added anything other than the first shift he had this year? He yaps a lot, but doesn't scare anybody. Fraser fills a role, and has consistently done it, so why not keep him in the lineup. Then let Burish, Eager, or Kopecky sit.
He hasn't been yapping at anyone lately. That first game was all adrenaline. You knew he had to crash down at some point. Keep in mind, he's coming back from a MAJOR knee injury. This is essentially his training camp all over again. I know it's easy to jump on him for not "bringing it" every night but you've got to keep that injury in perspective. Hopefully he'll be up to full snuff and full agitator mode come playoff time.
Didn't Burish come back at the earliest of his predicted rehab times?
May have been a bit too soon.
And Bolland too.
...we need an agitator right now, probably more than any other aspect of our game.
But since Burish has come back I have seen a lot more show business than hockey business, and the fact that his butt has been on the bench alot lately makes me think the coaches might have seen the same thing too.
Hope he ramps it up from here on out. We're sucking wind in the physical player department right now...
After this roller coaster ride since the Olympics, as a fan, I'm just ready for the playoffs to begin. Let's just hope the win last night starts them in the right direction and they begin to peak going into the playoffs. The way the standings are right now, with the Hawks playing the Kings and Vancouver playing Detroit, works for me. The Kings are good, but young, and the Hawks methodically dominated them in L.A. a couple of weeks ago, so I like our chances. If the Sharks can finally win a series and Detroit wins, with the reseeding, San Jose would play Detroit and we'll play Phoenix/Nashville winner. I like the matchups. I agree with Philco, bring Beach up for the playoffs, if they can contracturally. He can sit and watch.
Lets first lock up #2 and then focus on Round 1. Everything else will play itself out.
Based on your culc, given that Hawks lock up #2, if Sharks were to lose in the first round to #8, Hawks would not play Detroit/Vancouver in round 2. They would play the team that beat Sharks.
Are you back to sniffin' glue again?
>Having Fraser back as the 4th line center really opens things up -- he's always sound positionally and reads the play well
>Bolland was better but still needs to take his play up to another level
>Toews was excellent, Madden good -- center play is a real key to the Hawks style
>Keep Kopecky and Versteeg as wings where they belong
>Very impressed with the confidence Hammer is playing with -- obviously the D pairings worked very well
>Putting Buff as a D-man in front of the net on the PP also showed some creativity -- think the PP is close to getting on track
>Nice to see the "old Blackhawks" back
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2010/04/april-fools-nhl-style.html
Tim you gotta go talk to whoever authorized that billboard, seriously what on earth are they thinking??
after this Spokane Chiefs were knocked out in 7 games. Beach scored again, his 7th goal of the series, but it wasn't enough.
GET HIM UP TO THE BIG CLUB ASAP. Even if he just watches for awhile...but GET HIM UP.
He's earned it. Including playoffs, he scored 59 goals this year.
I believe he has to get called up by Rockford first....Not 100% sure on that, but I thought that was the case.
Hopefully, Aliu and him can NOT get into a food fight at dinner this year.
But Aliu then needs to go to Rockford. Aliu was practicing constraint and learning the team game. Early in this season he would sit most of some games, as a lesson to buy into what the team approach is. Aliu appeared to be learning the lesson well. Then, after some minor league veteran types began to show well, it was determined to let Aliu get regular playing time and to score some points, let him see he can score at pro level. Not that I think he doubts it. He has 4 goals, 13 points in 11 gp at Toledo ECHL. Aliu was the man among boys at last prospect camp and has more pro experience, so one would figure Beech has to play at lest a handful of games in the AHL late this year if he then might be considered a depth /reserve for NHL playoffs.
You should bet on both forwards on the recall often next year. Skille is likely out of the organization. The remainder of this blog is devoted to the numerous defensemen prospects in the system-- their development. Oh, Makarov -- he has the skill and enough grit and would most likely score when playing with top NHL players -- but until he wants to come here and take whatever money is offered/might as well not include him for now. It's too long an explanation for this blog, but don't take much stock in his stat's in Russia this year. And those two quick, small centers who were seniors this year, Auger and Leblanc, I suspect they aren't really more than marginal NHL prospects. Perhaps about what Radna was, only Radna was not as fast.
Carlsson and Danis-Pepin are also now at Toledo. You can expect those two will be looked at a lot and hopefully both at Rockford next year. But the thing is, there is going to be a lot of young "D" somewhere next year, and the preferance is not all at one location. Stanton, the junior signed a few weeks ago, Zahn, more a tough type and reliable/leader type, & Lalonde along with Connelly -- that is six young d-men to compete at Rockford and looking eventually for an NHL third pair spot. Obviously Johnsson (salary) and Sopelk (salary and too slow) will be gone and Boyton same. Bowman will bring in someone less expensive; Hendry will stay and be fine.
Lavin is a really nice prospect who will have the opportunity to really step out as a senior next year at Notre Dame (I Cole, # 1 St Louis, signed is now at Peoria). I liked Birch two years ago at rookie camp; he'll be a soph at an Ivy league school. Gleason is really small but can skate like crazy all over the place. Not sure how he has progressed in WCHA. But of course maybe in two years who knows maybe Olsen will be very close to stepping in as a regular on this defense. See Olsen and Leddy for yourself at this year's prospect camp. According to HockeyFutures.com, Leddy put on 15 pounds of muscle and still skates great. He has some really exciting skill and perhaps he has started to develop nicely second half of WCHA season.
I've been watching the Rockford prospects in Toledo (where I live).
>Not sure Carlson is ready for AHL.
>Danis-Pepin definitely has an advantage with his size and reach. Doesn't play real physical though for being so tall.
>Aliu shows tremendous smarts with the puck. Seems to get lost a bit without the puck. He skates really well and puck handles incredibly for a big guy. Have to say I was a bit disappointed in his physical aspect. He doesn't finish all of his checks and has a habit of floating from time to time. Just gotta wonder why we can't draft a big guy who's got some grit and meanness to his game.
>One guy who I think is in his last year as a Hawks prospect is defenseman JC Sawyer. This guy is terrible in his own end and Rockford would be in dire straits if they called this guy up. He has a bad habit of pinching in at terrible times and couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. There have already been numerous times the goalies have barked at him for horrible defensive coverage.
>As for Beach, I would LOVE to see him come up and get a game or two in with the Hawks just to watch him play and see the desire and attitude he brings to the game. It would be SOOOOOO nice to have a guy who has some offensive skill and also isn't afraid to play ugly and get nasty from time to time.
Boy, you said a mouthful in terms of us not seeming to have a big, nasty kid or two in the pipeline. With all the little fast blue chippers we have, you would think we would have invested a pick (or trade) or two to protect them and balance our team a little.
3 months ago I was all over Buff for not being physical enough, not being consistent enough, yadda yadda. Today, I thank God we have him. Sometimes I think he is the only reason 2 or 3 more of our guys aren't in the hospital.
That's the catch for the Hawks...I think moving forward they have enough little, skill guys if they hold on to Versteeg, but they need to get some big guys who can score but also know their main job is to be physical. It just seems that too many times this year Brouwer, Buff, and some 4th liners were more concerned with scoring and not playing physical.
The Hawks are a much better team when Brouwer, Buff, Ladd and Eager are taking the body.
Anyone else notice how Buff always moves to the front of the net on D when the opposing team has the puck in the Hawks' end? That is a GOOD sign. If he keeps other guys out of there, that will be HUGE for Niemi. I also like the way he is activating on the offensive end. He can do things with the puck in the offensive zone better than any other Hawk d-man. That's a fact. And Keith is the BEST d-man the Hawks have to cover the point and get back if necessary when Buff does that.
Then Seabrook playing with Hjalmar can keep his game simple and more defense oriented.
But if Buff stays at D, it means Brouwer, ladd and Eager MUST really step it up physically and pound other teams' d-men.
I never expected it this soon, but is Hammer the best defenseman on this team? Seems absurd at first glance, but the gap is closing between him and #2. A bit more confidence offensively and he'll remind us, more clearly, of another Swedish defenseman.
The most steady, responsible and positionally sound. Notice how he takes basket case partners (Campbell last year and Seabrook this year) and settles them down. Always in position and makes the smart, responsible play.
His upside is as he gains confidence and jumps into plays more.
He gets banged up a lot, which perhaps is somewhat responsible when he isn't playing well. But it is a team game, team defense, each player has responsibilities, so you have to see where each player is on ice when we are scored upon. Hjalmarsson played like half a game and paced himself, as "the man" at Rockford. I know he can step up offensively and he is willing to throw some hip checks. But those checks take a lot out of a player in terms of it wears you down/tired. I compare Hjalmarsson smarts and effort on PP and, in terms of offensive contribution, to Kronwall on Detroit. This speaks to Hjalmarsson's game when at Rockford. So we might just see him become a very solid #2. The playoffs can be grueling and players often perform at less than 100% due to injuries. So I'd just expect that if he isn't playing well, it may be due to injuries. Overall, however, the team defense has to be strong. Players who don't want to bring checking and physical play consistent in regular season, they have to be willing to step up in playoffs. At times this season offenders who now must step up includes Ladd, Brouwer, Bufuglien. It was very encouraging to see Eager appear close to old form the past two games -- not bouncing off players when he checks. And Fraser is valuable for what he does well. But it still kills me having two slower skaters in Brouwer and Fraser. Oh well, please no more slower skaters up front -- we'll be taken advantage of if more slow guys than that are up front. You'll see next year trend continues for energy guys, young guys proving themselves, players receiving an opportunity on bottom lines due to salary cap restriction. And those players more and more can skate and have good size. Makes it tough each year for a Fraser type to hang on. RealWiz and I have gone back and forth on that. Fraser is fine -- for now.
I love smart players who know what it is like to play in big games since they were midgets, and both theses guys bring that with them when the REAL season starts.
Hjarlmmer has a way to go to be considered a future top two.
...I've been hearing that Hammer is a very good open ice hitter, which is a component that we lack on this team. Remember Bryan Marchment, and that little edge he brought to the ice against more physical teams? Guys were always looking for him, which opened up the ice for us .
If Hammer starts to jump up a little more as his confidence grows, like you said, wouldn't it be great to have a dangerous open ice hitter again?
That and a big edgy forward or two would make this a whole different team, and a safer -- and more productive -- place to be for guys like Toews and Kane.
Hammer is not nearly as fast as Keith, and probably not as skilled, but the kid is fearless.
Unlike Keith, he is not terrified to get hit and may be the best shot blocker on the team.
I think his upside is enormous. Hopefully he fills out a little as he gets older.