Nut Punch: Hawks 2, Flyers 3
Fuck this shit.
This recap will be abbreviated because Quickblogcast ate the fucking thing when I hit save. Now I have to relive the events of today's game for a 3rd time.
Here's what you need to know: the Hawks outplayed the Flyers, but Michael Leighton stood on his head. Cristobal Huet played a good game, and Chicago took a 2-1 lead with about 7 minutes left. Then, in the last two minutes, the Flyers took advantage of two defensive fuckups to score the tying and winning goals, the winner coming with 2 seconds remaining on the clock.
THE GOOD
Kris Versteeg: Steeger's going to get that exclamation point back yet. Kris scored the Hawks first goal (on the power play, no less) and got himself several other chances. He also played a good physical game and made a general pest of himself. If Versteeg can bring an element of scoring to the 3rd line, he'll make the Hawks that much more dangerous in the playoffs.
4 on 4 hockey: The two teams closed out the 2nd period with a 4 on 4 sequence that featured some awesome run-and-gun hockey. When Flyers scored the winner, they didn't just rob the Hawks of a point, they robbed all of us of the chance to see more of that in overtime.
THE BAD
The last two minutes: Two bad breakdowns, the first when the Flyers managed to catch the Hawks in a line change which resulted in Scott Hartnell taking a long feed and getting behind Brent Sopel for the tying goal. The second came in the final minute of the game when, with two of his teammates still in the offensive zone, Troy Brouwer inexplicably decided to try and step up and steal the Flyers breakout pass (I'm still trying to figure out what he was doing, as Brouwer had clearly had no chance), resulting in a 4 on 2 in which Brent Seabrook managed to lose track of a 6'6" 220 lb behemoth who skates like the Tin Man. Chris Pronger got to the back door and tipped in a cross ice feed for the winning goal.
Patrick Kane: Shoot the damn thing, Patrick.
THE UGLY
The Flyers: Jesus, this has to be the ugliest collection of hockey players I've seen since the last Sutter family reunion.
Up Next: The Blackhawks vs. the Capitals at the United Center tomorrow at 11:30 am. Remember to turn you clock forward this evening. Or just stay up all night. Whatever works.
This recap will be abbreviated because Quickblogcast ate the fucking thing when I hit save. Now I have to relive the events of today's game for a 3rd time.
Here's what you need to know: the Hawks outplayed the Flyers, but Michael Leighton stood on his head. Cristobal Huet played a good game, and Chicago took a 2-1 lead with about 7 minutes left. Then, in the last two minutes, the Flyers took advantage of two defensive fuckups to score the tying and winning goals, the winner coming with 2 seconds remaining on the clock.
THE GOOD
Kris Versteeg: Steeger's going to get that exclamation point back yet. Kris scored the Hawks first goal (on the power play, no less) and got himself several other chances. He also played a good physical game and made a general pest of himself. If Versteeg can bring an element of scoring to the 3rd line, he'll make the Hawks that much more dangerous in the playoffs.
4 on 4 hockey: The two teams closed out the 2nd period with a 4 on 4 sequence that featured some awesome run-and-gun hockey. When Flyers scored the winner, they didn't just rob the Hawks of a point, they robbed all of us of the chance to see more of that in overtime.
THE BAD
The last two minutes: Two bad breakdowns, the first when the Flyers managed to catch the Hawks in a line change which resulted in Scott Hartnell taking a long feed and getting behind Brent Sopel for the tying goal. The second came in the final minute of the game when, with two of his teammates still in the offensive zone, Troy Brouwer inexplicably decided to try and step up and steal the Flyers breakout pass (I'm still trying to figure out what he was doing, as Brouwer had clearly had no chance), resulting in a 4 on 2 in which Brent Seabrook managed to lose track of a 6'6" 220 lb behemoth who skates like the Tin Man. Chris Pronger got to the back door and tipped in a cross ice feed for the winning goal.
Patrick Kane: Shoot the damn thing, Patrick.
THE UGLY
The Flyers: Jesus, this has to be the ugliest collection of hockey players I've seen since the last Sutter family reunion.
Up Next: The Blackhawks vs. the Capitals at the United Center tomorrow at 11:30 am. Remember to turn you clock forward this evening. Or just stay up all night. Whatever works.
Posted by CT at 3/13/2010 5:01 PM 
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers
Tags: Blackhawks Flyers
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers
Tags: Blackhawks Flyers
Sure seems to me that opposing goalies stand on their heads just about every game...starter, backup, reserve or call-up doesn't seem to matter. Or perhaps the hawks are a collection of offensive talent that simply cannot finish enough plays. 40 SOG and 2 goals won't get it done most nights, especially with the lousy defensive zone coverage of late.
The Hawks need closers and they need them fast, or they'll be golfing not skating this May.
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Hockey players make pretty good golfers.
Apparently, CT is busy working on booking the teetimes.
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Thanks for that reply Dave, you made me laugh, which is something we all need after that final 2 minutes.
I've been in a foul mood all afternoon.
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Hey now, don't confuse my disgust with the loss today with me throwing in the towel on the rest of the year.
I have made a standing tee time for the Blackhawks at Cog Hill for late June.
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Worst thing about this game was, Huet was finally "stealing a game" for the Hawks until the Hawks stole it from Huet.
As for finishers, the Hawks have as many goals as San Jose, with their feared firepower. They've got finishers.l
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Huet can't get a break of late. When he struggles, the Hawks don't score enough, and when he's good his defense screws the pooch. The man must be miserable and dreamin' of Grenoble.
And perhaps I expect too much, but I still feel the Hawks lack closers. It's not how many, but when you get them. I hope the team regroups, but I'm not confident. It's time to fall back on a Doug Bufone quote from several years back...as a fan "Don't think, just hope."
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Rob, I have it from my usual impeccable sources that Cristo is in fact arranging for a transfer to the Swiss League.
Being the team guy that he is, Monsieur Huet had indicated he wished to relieve Stanley Bowman of the considerable fiscal burden engendered by his contract.
Unfortunately, this transfer--rumored to be to the Lausanne squad, nicknamed 'Les Mangeurs de Bandes'--was not possible for the 2009-10 season.
Thus cap relief, not to mention Hannu Toivonen's triumphant return to the NHL, have been deferred.
I am also happy to report I have just received a text message from Cristo. He thanks you, and especially Fork (who is of Swiss descent, hence his predilection for Ovaltine), for your support.
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He's not the only one! I had no idea there were so many folks of Swiss extraction in the Chicago metro area. Truth be told, I'm only half Swiss. Perhaps that helps explain my quietly rooting for Hiller and the rest of the Swiss team several weeks ago.
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A team consisting of Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Jonathan Toews is not a team that lacks in closers. If they're not leading the Western Conference in goals for as a team, then they're pretty darn close.
In 2005, the Hawks lacked finishers when it was Marty Havlat and a travelling band of gypsys. I couldn't find any compliation of team shooting %'s, but it's my guess, as a team, the Hawks are probably middle of the pack in that category.
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Apparently, the red wings are trying out Steve Passmore, Jeff Hackett and Thibault in case they play the hawks in the playoffs since the hawks can't score on former hawk goalies save for the ones that soon will be in prison.
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What, no love for Darren Pang?
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