Get used to it.  It's going to be like this for the rest of the season.  I don't like it.  You don't like it.  The Hawks sure as shit can't like it.  But it's clear we're now going to white knuckle this thing out right into April.  The Blackhawks need to pile up wins down the stretch, and while they're too talented to be counted out of any game, we've also seen enough of this squad to know that no lead is comfortable.

So, with those cheery thoughts out of the way, let's get on with...


THE GOOD

Marian Fuckin' Hossa - remember back in October when Marian couldn't find his way off the good list?  Well, we saw that guy again tonight.  He was moving, he was hitting, he was getting his shot up and only by the grace of Jose F. Theodore was he held off the scoreboard (though he did have 2 assists).  This cannot be a one game thing.  The Hawks need this Hossa to show up for the rest of the year.

Corey Crawford - Early in the game, the Hawks couldn't get their heads out of their asses long enough to do anything but turn the puck over in their own zone and Crawford held them in with several point blank stops.  Good game, kid.

THE BAD

Turnovers - it's one thing to turn the puck over under duress, but there were several instances in the first period where a Hawk facing little pressure simply threw the puck straight to a Wild forward.  Per the above, Corey Crawford saved their bacon, but it was extremely disturbing to see a team that needed a win so badly play so carelessly.

Nick Leddy - This isn't a complaint so much about Leddy's play tonight, but his handling by the organization.  To echo others around the net, is it really worth the extra couple of bucks saved off the Hawks cap space to send Leddy to Rockford instead of having him practice with the team?  I didn't think it was as big a deal when he was skating third pair (I thought it was bad for his development, but didn't hurt the team much), but now he's often skating at even strength with Duncan Keith, which means he's going to be playing important minutes, and it's vital to the team's play that he be allowed to develop some chemistry with Keith if they're going to be effective.

THE UGLY

This thought: is Joel Quenneville really sick, or is this just his last ditch motivational ploy?

No, I don't believe that.  But I guarantee you somebody somewhere does.

Up Next:  The Blue Jackets on Friday at 7:30.  NEED.  POINTS.