Well, that turned into a bit of a crazy day from nowhere, huh? As you probably know by now, Ilya Kovalchuk has “retired” from the NHL to go back to Russia, where no one really doubts he’ll sign with St. Petersburg again and for more salary than he was getting from New Jersey. That’s why all this “Oh what a man he walked away from $77 million for his family and I think I’m getting moist…” hokum is just deliriously funny. And yes, that is the first time I have ever used the word “hokum.”
It’s difficult to not be supremely overconfident after watching the Blackhawks pick the wings off of the…ahem, Red Wings like a demented child would to a harmless fly but I will give it a go. It’s why they pay me the big bucks.
Well, that’s that then. An underwhelming series came to what was pretty much an underwhelming end. Sure, it looks glossy to have an emphatic scoreline, but I find the most encouraging aspect of the whole thing to be Quenneville’s quote that he wasn’t too thrilled with the last two games and feels that that there’s a few levels the Hawks are going to have to reach before we pack up the cats for the summer.
And I have to agree.
The Hawks weren’t great tonight, just as they weren’t great in Game 4. They did enough, some players more so and some less. And though it’s easy to say that you only have to pull out enough to win to beat the Wild when you’re Milton Berle, I don’t think it’s so simple as to just turn it on when you feel the challenge is up to your standards.
@ 
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, TSN, CSN, WGN-AM 720
Holding On: Defending Big D
Fresh off from showing that skill is an ultimate trump card, the Hawks head back up 55 to face the Stars who have been patiently waiting for them here in Chicago. This is a Stars team that’s quite different from the one we saw a month ago as the Hawks made sure DLR was up and ready early on as they cruised to an 8-1 victory. Things hadn’t been going the Stars way for most of the year and it seemed as if their front office realized it. So gone are Michael Ryder, Brenden Morrow and of course Jaromir Jagr. In came a few pieces and parts that could help the Stars in the future.
And just like that, the Red Wings are no longer a division rival (unless there’s a playoff matchup… which would be a pretty awesome send off). Sadly, this game didn’t quite have the energy of the March 3rd back and forth playoff-like battle.. and it wasn’t the pantsing that we say last time they met. But it’s another win. And it clinches the division. And that’ll do.
Also, I really like this game picture because it looks like they’re playing with a huge novelty sized puck.
Once again, our boy at HockeyProspectus.com Robert Vollman has dropped some knowledge on us:
Some quick notes on this. The ones in red(ish) are those in the negative for shot differentials when they’re on the ice. Blue is those in the positive. The size is obviously how big the difference is.
So what do we learn?
So there it is. The Hawks officially have the longest points-streak (or unbeaten streak) to start a season in NHL history. This one isn’t even tainted by the NHL’s new-ish format (mostly), as the Hawks haven’t lost in OT even. Under the old system — y’know, one that made sense — the Hawks would just have three ties to go with their 14 wins.
It’s cool to say now. I guess I’m glad it happened. But in a few months, it’ll either be a nugget that goes along with something we’ll remember much more fondly and distinctly, or it’ll be a marker for what could and probably should have been. It’s a record that is designed to be buried by what comes after it. After all, can you name who has the most wins to start an MLB season? You can’t. It’s the ’82 Braves and ’87 Brewers. And I had to look that up, because neither went on to win anything.
You watched the game. You saw what happened. Let’s get to it.
–The theme of this win comes down to the Hawks fourth line so that seems as good of a place to start.
Marcus Kruger is continuing to impress. Kruger has definitely added lower body strength this season. While he was getting pushed off the puck in the corners and along the wall his first couple seasons, it’s just not happening as much this season. And the result is added time for him to make his patented nifty passes to open linemates.
You know how I get. It’s not the blowouts or the last second wins that get me excited about the long term prospects of this team. Though I do enjoy the exhilaration of those, or the immediate release of jubilation, it’s the games where you exhibit a superiority that portend to what you might do in the future. At least in my eyes it is.
Tonight was one of those nights. Though the Sharks are probably no longer a conference power, they are not a conference also-ran either. And the Hawks simply outclassed them tonight. Out. Classed. It’s a term we haven’t been able to use very much the past two seasons, if at all. But outclassing means that at no point did you think San Jose could get the best of the Hawks with everything being equal. Every time the Hawks threw out a line or unit, it was better than what they faced. And tonight, it was.
Sure, this Sharks team is in a tailspin, but they never looked a threat. And the Hawks coasted. Let’s see why.
Yep, it’s back. And won’t this one be fun? Let’s kick this pig!
The Dizzying Highs
Samoans Do The Humpty Hump – There’s little I can add to what Patrick Kane is doing. There are few sights in hockey more exciting than when Kaner is feeling it and unafraid to try anything. Literally anything could happen. It’s complete anarchy. Spin-o-rama pass right on the tape through three defenders? Sure, why not? Dance two or three checkers into a fucking hole? Check. Egregious turnover in own zone? Might happen! Only Tomas Vanek’s insane game in Boston is keeping Kane from atop the charts in points and goals, and good for him for being honest about wanting to win the scoring title. Just like when Derrek Rose admitted he wanted to win MVP, and then went ahead and did it. They both know that if they accomplish these individual goals, it will be good for the team.
