Good Start: Hawks 3, Predators 1
Well, they can't all be thrillers I guess.
The Hawks beat the Preds tonight in fairly dull game. Part of the problem is Nashville themselves - they've been terrible this year and they looked awful again tonight. The Preds have to be one of the most offensively inept teams I've ever seen. Despite being unable to make even the simplest passes cleanly, they kept trying to make fancy passes instead of shooting. Anyway, the Hawks looked like a tired team, but they still had enough in the tank to dispatch the Nashville to improve to a 5-1-1 start - their best in 30 years.
THE GOOD
Cristobal Huet - good game from Huet tonight. He made some very good saves and played an all around solid games. It helped that the Preds look lost on offense and the Hawks actually showed an interest in playing defense in front of Cris tonight.
Dustin Byfuglien - Big Buff must be in better shape this year, as he didn't look affected at all by playing in back to back games. Buff scored his 4th goal of the season and was active all night.
Troy Brouwer - I know I'll take a beating from some people on this, but I like what Brouwer brings to the rink on a nightly basis. He's got no points, but he leads the Hawks in hits and plays a solid defensive game. Granted, he's got terrible hands, and it's frustrating to watch him blow chance after chance, but the fact is he gets himself into position to get those chances, and he's going to convert some of them. And frankly, to get angry at Brouwer for not being a scorer is a little like being mad at Brian Campbell for not being a shut down defenseman.
THE BAD
Nashville - see the introduction. Watching these guys play offense was brutal.
Dave Bolland's penalties: Bolland's quest to lead the team in PIM continues. His penchant for taking bad tripping penalties in the last 2 minutes of close games is getting frustrating.
THE UGLY
Did anyone catch the hair on the woman who was sitting right behind Barry Trotz? They ought to put that hairdo on Ben Eager when he comes back. I guarantee he'll never have another concussion.
The Hawks beat the Preds tonight in fairly dull game. Part of the problem is Nashville themselves - they've been terrible this year and they looked awful again tonight. The Preds have to be one of the most offensively inept teams I've ever seen. Despite being unable to make even the simplest passes cleanly, they kept trying to make fancy passes instead of shooting. Anyway, the Hawks looked like a tired team, but they still had enough in the tank to dispatch the Nashville to improve to a 5-1-1 start - their best in 30 years.
THE GOOD
Cristobal Huet - good game from Huet tonight. He made some very good saves and played an all around solid games. It helped that the Preds look lost on offense and the Hawks actually showed an interest in playing defense in front of Cris tonight.
Dustin Byfuglien - Big Buff must be in better shape this year, as he didn't look affected at all by playing in back to back games. Buff scored his 4th goal of the season and was active all night.
Troy Brouwer - I know I'll take a beating from some people on this, but I like what Brouwer brings to the rink on a nightly basis. He's got no points, but he leads the Hawks in hits and plays a solid defensive game. Granted, he's got terrible hands, and it's frustrating to watch him blow chance after chance, but the fact is he gets himself into position to get those chances, and he's going to convert some of them. And frankly, to get angry at Brouwer for not being a scorer is a little like being mad at Brian Campbell for not being a shut down defenseman.
THE BAD
Nashville - see the introduction. Watching these guys play offense was brutal.
Dave Bolland's penalties: Bolland's quest to lead the team in PIM continues. His penchant for taking bad tripping penalties in the last 2 minutes of close games is getting frustrating.
THE UGLY
Did anyone catch the hair on the woman who was sitting right behind Barry Trotz? They ought to put that hairdo on Ben Eager when he comes back. I guarantee he'll never have another concussion.
Posted by CT at 10/15/2009 9:29 PM 
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Game Notes
Tags: Cristobal Huet Blackhawks Barry Trotz Nashville Predators
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Game Notes
Tags: Cristobal Huet Blackhawks Barry Trotz Nashville Predators
Men Of Hockee Night, a fine job by you-all once again.
Monsieur Huet has been doing some off-ice work with Cirque Du Soleil. Hence, the improvement, however slight, in his performance tonight.
That extended left leg pad save early on was tres acrobatique, n'est-ce-pas?
Of course, having only 13 shots directed towards La Cage Aux Hawks helped somewhat.
Q, always looking to raise the bar, has decreed the Blackhawks will now do full practices with an empty net, the objective being the lower that to no enemy shots per game.
As for The Talented Mr Bolland, he had to do SOMETHING to make this snoozer interesting. Which he did.
5-1-1. Not too shabby, eh.
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I mentioned in my post tonight how the Blackhawks are dominating the third period and overtime. Tonight they got another third-period goal to provide some breathing room. This team is dangerous, especially when it gets to the later parts of games.
And you're right, that bitch's hair was out of control. Ha.
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You are dead-on with Brouwer's play. He played very well last night.
His only issue is that he's regularly placed in the first three lines, and he doesn't have top 3 line offensive skill.
I'd much rather see Brouwer on the fourth line. He no doubt has NHL skill, but his offensive touch is sorely lacking.
He does all of the small things...and that's why coaches love him, but the 'hard luck' has transferred to 'no production'.
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