Garbage In, Garbage Out: Hawks 2 Blue Jackets 4
Well, this doesn't look promising. The Hawks were supposed to be picking up some easy points against Columbus during this stretch drive, and instead Chicago has turned in two of the suckiest games we've seen since Michael Blunden played for our team. Instead of tuning it up for the playoffs they're trying to find the mojo they've lost. Most of the team sleep-walked through the first 50 minutes of the game, then tried to pour it on at the end. It wasn't enough, and that type of effort rarely is.
Unfortunately, the other thing we're finding out is just how much Brian Campbell means to the Hawks offense. Without Campbell and Kim Jonsson to transition the puck, the Blackhawks' offense is stagnating. I wonder if all the dopes who wanted Campbell shipped out at the deadline for cap space still feel the same way?
THE GOOD
RJ Umberger: What the hell? Umberger had two assists tonight, which gives him 14 points in 13 career games against Chicago.
Penalty Kill: Good news, this thing is still great. In fact, the Hawks regularly generate better pressure offensive pressure on the penalty kill than they do the power play.
THE BAD
Dustin Byfuglien: Between the 2nd and 3rd period, Steve Konroyd was saying how much he liked seeing Buff back on the point. Maybe he was watching some old AHL game I wasn't privvy too, because I think I might prefer seeing Nick Boynton out there. Byfuglien's got a plus shot sure, but watching him spin around like top on every opponent's rush is already getting old.
Power Play: Forget it. I'm not going to talk about this anymore, it's just going to linger in THE BAD until further notice.
Kane/Toews/Hossa/Keith: This bunch were invisible for the first two periods. They picked it up in the 3rd, but when a team is in a funk like this, they need their best players to help pull them out. Oh, and Patrick Kane's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 4:30 left didn't help matters. Expect to hear from Barry Rozner on that one, Patrick.
THE UGLY
Dave Bolland's Goal: Bolland got the credit, but this was really an own goal by Columbus. If Columbus reacts like Colombia, Antoine Vermette should watch his back when he gets home.
Unfortunately, the other thing we're finding out is just how much Brian Campbell means to the Hawks offense. Without Campbell and Kim Jonsson to transition the puck, the Blackhawks' offense is stagnating. I wonder if all the dopes who wanted Campbell shipped out at the deadline for cap space still feel the same way?
THE GOOD
RJ Umberger: What the hell? Umberger had two assists tonight, which gives him 14 points in 13 career games against Chicago.
Penalty Kill: Good news, this thing is still great. In fact, the Hawks regularly generate better pressure offensive pressure on the penalty kill than they do the power play.
THE BAD
Dustin Byfuglien: Between the 2nd and 3rd period, Steve Konroyd was saying how much he liked seeing Buff back on the point. Maybe he was watching some old AHL game I wasn't privvy too, because I think I might prefer seeing Nick Boynton out there. Byfuglien's got a plus shot sure, but watching him spin around like top on every opponent's rush is already getting old.
Power Play: Forget it. I'm not going to talk about this anymore, it's just going to linger in THE BAD until further notice.
Kane/Toews/Hossa/Keith: This bunch were invisible for the first two periods. They picked it up in the 3rd, but when a team is in a funk like this, they need their best players to help pull them out. Oh, and Patrick Kane's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 4:30 left didn't help matters. Expect to hear from Barry Rozner on that one, Patrick.
THE UGLY
Dave Bolland's Goal: Bolland got the credit, but this was really an own goal by Columbus. If Columbus reacts like Colombia, Antoine Vermette should watch his back when he gets home.
Posted by CT at 3/28/2010 7:57 PM 
Categories: Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks
Tags: Blackhawks Blue Jackets
Categories: Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks
Tags: Blackhawks Blue Jackets
That was a turd sandwich of a game.
This team will get smoke in the first round if they don't step it up. The star players need to lead at this point.
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Dennis, I understand your frustration, but what do you expect from the team now that they are trying to play without Campbell and Johnsson?
Those are two MASSIVE losses.
The Hawks can't play their transition game, they can't control the tempo with puck possession, and the whole thing has a domino effect.
Byfuglien's back on defense, so he's not up front to crash the net or bring a physical presence to the offensive zone.
The stars can lead all they want. But you don't just magically compensate for losing two top blueliners.
It's obvious the Hawks are playing in a very tentative way...so opponents are going to take advantage.
In the meantime, forget this game. It's a meaningless stat in the loss column.
The challenge now is for Q, the staff and the team to try and figure how to adjust by the time the playoffs start.
If they can go .500 the rest of the way, chances are they'll keep their lead in the Division, and a number 2 seed.
BTW, I addressed the possible playoff matchups on my article at Hockey Independent. If the Hawks play the Kings or Avs, they CAN survive the first round.
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dave i agree that campbell and johnsson are two big blows but these are just not playing with full effort,they drop like flies when they are touched and slow coming back on defense, teams are getting odd man breaks all night long if they play the way they can i have no doubt they win most games. they can win without soupy. one man does not make a team he sure would help but these guys are not crashing the net like they did and this has been going on since january. i think they should get buff back on foward to just plow thru to the net because this is when buff starts to shine when the playoffs are a few days away
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Vito>agreed...the physical play has been inconsistent for some time.
But don't forget it's not just losing Campbell...Johnsson, whose experience and puck moving ability was already making a positive difference is another key loss.
As we can see, losing two top d-men is worse than losing a d-man and a forward. This takes away the balance on the back end--where the offense starts--from the team dynamic, and forces everyone else to overcompensate.
It doesn't help that the 4th line--supposed to be the 'energy' line--brings no energy.
The Blackhawks right now look like a team that doesn't quite know what to do. They look like they don't want to make mistakes, so they're thinking instead of just playing.
Reminds me somewhat of what they looked like two years ago.
That said, they seem to know if they all play their best they can win. They did in LA and against PHX. Maybe the road trip, as Patrick Sharp suggested in his post game interview, will be a good thing.
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dave thats true balance is not there and its noticed but if johnsson comes back they will be fine if they play hard like troy murray said last night teams are bringing their A GAME when facing the hawks and thats tough to match all 82 games, you know detroit last year rolled in the early rounnds of playoffs without rafalski but then again thats the wings. lets hope they step it up at least the last few games before the playoffs like last year. better to have a slump now than in the playoffs and every great team suffers these trends every year even the oilers of the 80's did towards the end of the season. jud on radio made some good points last night about players learning to adjust their game when they go thru these times and they are still learning as a young team better to learn now before the playoffs
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Dave,
I get that they are missing two D-men, but we have been hearing a lot about the depth they have as an org-an-iza-tion.
Fact is they seem flat. I think some of it is fatigue and certainly the loss of Campbell didn't help, but at some point Hossa or Toews need to have a four point night so they can win a game 5-4.
I am a Chicago sports fan, so bear with my natural pessimism.
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Dennis, the Hawks are indeed flat, or at least faltering...at the moment.
Part of it is mental fatigue...the pressures of being constantly hyped in a major media market where the fanbase and the media are increasingly demanding, plus the incessant marketing and image grooming, has taken a toll on young guys who just want to play hockey.
The physical grind is what it is...no one is spared.
Taking Campbell and Johnsson out of the lineup compromises what Hossa, Toews and Co can do. Opponents don't have to worry about the offense coming from the blueline.
There is depth at forward, but the reserves on defense are clearly thin, and have been for some time. The prospect pipeline also needed to be addressed: that's why Lalonde and Olsen were drafted, and Bowman traded for Leddy.
As for your natural pessimism, that's totally understandable.
Look at it this way..at least you're a Chicago sports fan. Here in Ottawa, there's precious little sport to get excited about.
Like I say, it's simply survival mode through season's end. Then, the real crunch time starts.
And if expectations are lowered, maybe not a bad thing.
BTW Belmont Sports in Vegas still has the Hawks as 5-1 Cup favorites...along with the Pens and Sharks. Caps slightly better odds at 4-1.
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Today, QStache had Byfuglien skating up front, with Boynton on the blueline. Johnsson's still not skating.
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I think Johnsson could be done for the year.
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That sounds ominously accurate.
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Saw the highlights of the game. It didn't seem to tell the whole story how this team is playing.
I think this team is just exhausted mainly the defense. I don't know if this is the right thing to do or not. But maybe sit Seabrook a game or two. Sit Keith a game or two and just go down the list of defenseman. I am not sure if there is anybody waiting in the wings in Rockford but something has to be done.
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Danny Richmond and Jassen Cullimore are both waiting with eager anticipation to get called up.
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