Limping Into the Break: Hawks 0, Blues 2
Man, that sucked.
The Blues and Hawks hooked up for the second time in 5 days, and once again, the Hawks were outplayed by the Blues. But this time, they couldn't scratch out the win. When a bad team is slumping, this is the kind of game they would look for silver linings in: they battled back to generate some offensive chances, they managed to put together a nice power play effort in the second period, they killed off a major penalty. The Hawks aren't a bad team. They're young and they're having a rough patch, but this team is now past the point of moral victories. The All-Star break has mercifully arrived, and the Hawks need to take a few days, rest, lick their wounds and come out in the 2nd half with renewed purpose. Let's hope they do.
THE GOOD
The 3rd Period: The Hawks finally got their legs under them and generated some decent chances, unfortunately Chris Mason played well over the final 20 minutes and made some good saves. Note to the Blackhawks: it's a lot easier for a goalie to stand on his head for 20 minutes than for a full 60.
The All-Star Break: The team needs the time off.
Havlat-Bolland-Kane: This line had a good shift.
Cristobal Huet: Good game from Huet. He did what he could to steal this one for the Hawks, but the offense just didn't cooperate.
That's it for the good. I can't think of anything else that was more than mediocre.
THE BAD
The 1st Period: The Hawks were completely outplayed in the first period (outshot 16-3). The Blues are a last place team. It's cute that they come out all angry against Chicago, but the Blackhawks need to get points from teams like this.
Cam Barker: Would Barker still be in the lineup if he didn't have the status of being a No. 1 pick? I'm starting to wonder. He hasn't done much for the power play lately, and at even strength he's becoming a detriment. He took a dumb major penalty in the first period and later, Brad Boyes made him look silly with a move that led to the Blues 2nd goal. I've got more faith in Wisniewski at this point, and if Niklas Hjlamerson shows he can stick, Barker might find himself back in Rockford when Duncan Keith comes back.
Dumb Penalties: Patrick Kane opened the game with a bad tripping penalty. Add on Barker's major and Wiz's 2 minutes for flipping the puck over the glass, and the Hawks were lucky to get out of the 1st period down only 1-0.
THE UGLY
Kris Versteeg fell and seemed to hurt his arm. Until that point, he'd been one of the better Hawks on the ice. Hopefully this is a minor injury and not a broken wrist.
Don Koharski: You fat pig, have another doughnut.
The Blues and Hawks hooked up for the second time in 5 days, and once again, the Hawks were outplayed by the Blues. But this time, they couldn't scratch out the win. When a bad team is slumping, this is the kind of game they would look for silver linings in: they battled back to generate some offensive chances, they managed to put together a nice power play effort in the second period, they killed off a major penalty. The Hawks aren't a bad team. They're young and they're having a rough patch, but this team is now past the point of moral victories. The All-Star break has mercifully arrived, and the Hawks need to take a few days, rest, lick their wounds and come out in the 2nd half with renewed purpose. Let's hope they do.
THE GOOD
The 3rd Period: The Hawks finally got their legs under them and generated some decent chances, unfortunately Chris Mason played well over the final 20 minutes and made some good saves. Note to the Blackhawks: it's a lot easier for a goalie to stand on his head for 20 minutes than for a full 60.
The All-Star Break: The team needs the time off.
Havlat-Bolland-Kane: This line had a good shift.
Cristobal Huet: Good game from Huet. He did what he could to steal this one for the Hawks, but the offense just didn't cooperate.
That's it for the good. I can't think of anything else that was more than mediocre.
THE BAD
The 1st Period: The Hawks were completely outplayed in the first period (outshot 16-3). The Blues are a last place team. It's cute that they come out all angry against Chicago, but the Blackhawks need to get points from teams like this.
Cam Barker: Would Barker still be in the lineup if he didn't have the status of being a No. 1 pick? I'm starting to wonder. He hasn't done much for the power play lately, and at even strength he's becoming a detriment. He took a dumb major penalty in the first period and later, Brad Boyes made him look silly with a move that led to the Blues 2nd goal. I've got more faith in Wisniewski at this point, and if Niklas Hjlamerson shows he can stick, Barker might find himself back in Rockford when Duncan Keith comes back.
Dumb Penalties: Patrick Kane opened the game with a bad tripping penalty. Add on Barker's major and Wiz's 2 minutes for flipping the puck over the glass, and the Hawks were lucky to get out of the 1st period down only 1-0.
THE UGLY
Kris Versteeg fell and seemed to hurt his arm. Until that point, he'd been one of the better Hawks on the ice. Hopefully this is a minor injury and not a broken wrist.
Don Koharski: You fat pig, have another doughnut.
Campbell and Byfuglien both played like shit, I thought. Neither of them seemed able to hold on to any passes, and Buff missed a wide open net by about 5 feet in the first period from point blank range. Campbell also missed a goal in the third because his damn stick wasn't down. I'm kind of down on Howdy Doody right now, but I'm sure Keith's absence is really what is contributing to a lot of bad play.
Kane's penalty was preceeded by his nonchalant effort on a pass, which he flubbed out of the zone. Even though St. Louis didn't score, that set a pretty bad tone. Kane has done very little on offense since that he hit he took from Dan Cleary. 12 games without a goal, and 6 without a point I think. Sharp also needs to get going again.
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Kane, Toews and Campbell should all take the full week off, instead of going to the All-Star game.
Depending on how bad VERSTEEG's arm is, he and Bolland are also scheduled to go to Montreal to play the YoungStars game.
I'd much rather they all take the week for a breather.
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This team needs a break in the worse way. With the ice-show road trip coming up, they need to pick it up or risk being a 7 or 8 seed. We'll see what they are made of.
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Depending on how bad VERSTEEG's arm is, he and Bolland are also scheduled to go to Montreal to play the YoungStars game.
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