WHERE'S THE HUNGER? Coyotes 5, Blackhawks 4 (SO)
Shit.This game was the Hawks' for the taking.
Twice, the Hawks had 2-goals leads, once at 2-0 and once at 4-2. They just couldn't close out the once-hapless Phoenix Coyotes, who are now riding the wave of an eight-game win streak and are hot on the heels of the San Jose Sharks for the top of the Pacific Division.
The game ended not with a bang, but with a whimper, as the Coyotes stole this one from the Blackhawks 5-4 in a shootout. The Phoenix Coyotes just seemed more hungry than the Hawks did for this one.
Let's get to it:
THE GOOD:
The Committed Indian/Second City Hockey Roadwatch at the Bottom Lounge. They had a great crowd there - as much as we love Whirlaway, the fact might be at this point that these events have outgrown that venue. There were well over a hundred people there, including some people who apparently bailed on a wedding at the restaurant next door to come watch the Hawks. The food looked pretty good too - at one point the barmaid put down a burger for one of SCH's Matts, and I damn near heisted it, since a) he wasn't around and b) I can take him, easy. Next time they have one of these, I highly recommend coming down.
Patrick Kane. Another goal and assist. Only an unconscious save by Ilya Bryzgalov kept Kane from having a three goal game and being a hero. In fact, Bryzgalov's save absolutely stunned Kane, whose knees buckled in disbelief at being denied, and you could see him saying, "wow" after the save. Still, damn fine game.
The third line, again. Andrew Ladd ripped a shot from above the circle that Bryzgalov never saw. Kris Versteeg is on the cusp of having his capital letters and exclamation point restored. John Madden got caught in a Malachi Crunch along the boards, went down to the ice, and never missed a shift. They're playing some damn fine hockey.
THE BAD:
Nick Boynton. Granted, the only reason he's on the blue line is that 50% of what should be the Hawks' blue line is on the shelf. I take full responsibility for this, as my complaints about Brent Seabrook not playing to his usual standard gave the fates cause to remind me what a really shitty defenseman looks like. He's getting beat into the corners, can't clear screens, and is just generally awful at the game of hockey. The sooner Seabrook and Kin Johnsson come back and Boynton is either in the press box or Rockford, the better for all concerned.
The Blackhawks allowed 2 goals by Lee Stepniak and one by Adrian Aucoin. Three goals by players of this caliber is inexcusable. Sure, Stepniak has suddenly found an instruction manual for his skates and stick, but the Hawks should be exposing these guys, not letting them add to their myths.
THE UGLY:
Gail Fischer, what the hell happened to you? The penisloaves at Fifth Feather (who actually showed up at Bottom Lounge) are saying Gail is pregnant. I consider this a credible source only because I'm fairly confident one of them is the father.
After leaving Bottom Lounge, we passed a doorway there some amorous youngsters were enjoying each other's company. However, the female half of the tandem had dropped trou, and was giving yours truly an look at her sizable derriere in a red thong. Ho. Lee. Shit. That ass looked like one of those big balls of cheese that hang in a Salumeria. Fitting ending to a shit sandwich of a game.
Next up for the Hawks is a game at the United Center against these same red-hot Coyotes Tuesday night. Hopefully Seabrook and/or Johnsson are ready to go for this one.
Posted by Forklift at 3/20/2010 11:59 PM 
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Game Recap
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Game Recap
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks
I first spotted Gail Fischer about 12 years ago being a sports anchor for a TV station in Rockford. She was fine all the way through. But for some reason in that last four or five years, she has went "Kirstie Alley" on herself. If she is pregnant, she needs to stop trying to hide it.
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Sorry Fork, can't agree with you hanging Nick Boynton out to dry.
Boynton's a reserve defenseman suddenly being asked to play close to Top 4 minutes (he and Buf played 24 and 25 shifts last night). What do you expect? He can only do what he can do. He was pretty good against the Kings, he was average against the Yotes.
The Hawks losing 3 top d-men is devastating. Take any NHL team and take away three of their top 4 and see what happens.
Without Campbell, the transition game and the 4 on 4 are severely compromised.
Without Seabrook, Keith doesn't have the leeway to do what he does best. And he STILL has to play almost thirty minutes.
This game wasn't the Hawks for the taking, not by any means.
Thanks to the exceptional skill of Kane, Hossa (whose playmaking continues to be outstanding) and Sharp, the Hawks got three goals. (And Brouwer going to the net for once.) Ladd's goal was a gift from Izzy Bryz.
Eager cost his team momentum at critical times with truly idiotic penalties. If Q could have nailed his ass to the bench, he probably would have. Gentle Ben doesn't make it into the 'Ugly' column?
With three top d-men out, the Hawks were a three-legged dog against a fast, well coached Coyotes team.
And you may not think much of Lee Stempniak, but he's flourishing under Dave Tippett. Have you forgotten how good Tippett's Stars teams were for many years? On this Yotes team, unlike the mess under Gretzky, each player has a specific role and they execute their tasks. See Andrew Ladd's post game comment about the Yotes being 'a model team'.
Yeah, Keith and some of the others talked about how this was 'embarassing' and 'we have to play better'. Of course. They have pride, and this one hurts. It should.
Yeah, the Hawk forwards could have backchecked better. Easier said than done.
And you know what, if the shootout goes the Hawks' way, we'd be talking about how gutsy this effort was.
This was an exciting game, and it could have been a W. But they got a point on the road. And they're still in 1st place.
But the reality isn't encouraging.
Going .500 from now to season's end will be an accomplishment--unless Seabrook and Johnsson make miracle recoveries.
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Hey kids.
Isn't Johnsson coming back soon? If they have Seabs and Johnsson it isn't that bad...if not...it's really bad.
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JD, Johnsson has already missed four full games...he was apparently injured in the Philly game, leaving after just ten minutes on the ice.
(His injury may have been a factor in the Hawks losing the lead, assuming his loss obliged Q to overtax his defensive pairings.)
The injury is being called 'upper body', so who knows what that means.
Seabrook is now nursing his second concussion of the year, the first one coming in late October.
Who knows when either of them are back, and at what level they'll be able to perform.
As for Campbell, an article in today's Chicago Tribune suggests he may be done until next year. While Dr Terry said "7-8 weeks", the prospect of him returning from broken ribs and a broken clavicle to be fully effective in the take no prisoners world of the playoffs, has to be optimistic.
BTW right now I'm watching NHL Classics on the NHL Network...the Cup Final between the Leafs and Hawks in 1962. You know, the year Bronco Horvath played for the Black Hawks.
Clarence Campbell is sitting in the stands watching.
Boy, has the game ever changed.
.
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