Eat my Dust: HN
Too Much:LGH
The Doghouse should be demolished and burned (my opinion):BU
5 Things:CSN
Somehow I am not surprised: CBS
Oh I can’t wait:PD
This is such a strange team at the moment. The Hawks were certainly the better team in the 1st period as the Islanders basically treated getting out of their zone like Joe Walsh treated getting out of a party and Michal Neuvirth handed them two goals. From there, the game pivoted on the five minute major stemming from possibly Andrew Shaw’s dumbest moment in the NHL (and that’s saying something). The Hawks killed off a major with only one shot against, and you knew from there the Hawks would find another goal and basically end this as a contest. Hossa was able to one-time a very rolling puck into the top corner and… ballgame.
What makes them so strange is they still gave up 39 shots. While they never looked truly in danger, the Islanders without two of their best possession drivers were able to press and press. Was it because the Hawks were up early and could just play Cover-2 for the last 30? Was it because they were defensively deficient? Honestly, I have no idea.
What I do know is that Corey Crawford is the best Hawk right now, and it isn’t even close. Let’s get to it:
The Two Obs
-We knew that it was only a matter of time before the first line popped off. It only took Kris Versteeg not being there to turn pucks over at the blue line for it to get there. They were a combined +37 in Corsi with score adjusted. While Fifth Feather rightly wondered if there was something wrong with Toews the past couple games, when faced with another premier center tonight Toews swallowed Tavares whole and spit out only most of his bones. Give him something to prove, and Toews will get into you up to the elbow.
-Crawford created some of his own problems tonight with some slightly wonky rebound control, but obviously made up for it on his own. Name a goalie playing better right now not named Devan Dubnyk. You can’t do it.
-I really have enjoyed watching this Islanders team all year, and not just because their jerseys are the balls. There’s no bigger Nick Leddy fan than me, but when this game was still in the balance they looked completely lost without him and no team should count on him that much. The turnovers in their own zone felt like a bit.
-Once again, Kimmo Timonen’s possession numbers are ugly, But I see a slow arc up, though I’ll admit it might be because I want to. Timonen wants to play the game the Hawks need. That is, high pressure at both blue lines. Pinching to keep attacks going in the offensive zone, not giving up the Hawks’ line easily in the hopes of turning around play quickly. It’s his natural instinct. Right now, he just doesn’t always get there in time to do so, though that ratio is starting to lean in the right direction. I hope it gets there.
-Doesn’t Kris Versteeg look better when he’s playing 4th liners? When he’s not turning pucks over at his own line, that is.
-I think it’s somewhat odd that Antoine Vermette hasn’t been used on any special teams. During a five minute kill, the Hawks stuck to Kruger, Saad, Hossa, and Toews, and only Desjardins and Versteeg got a shift during it. Vermette has been killing penalties his whole career. Then again, when things have gone this smoothly with what Q knows, I get it.
-We worry and are paranoid, but after Shaw was ejected the right wing to take most of his shifts was Teuvo Teravainen. Q loves this kid, he’s not even hiding it any more, and we should trust his handling of him from now on.
-The Hawks sit four points back of the Preds, but have three games in hand. It’s gone from loosely in their hands to tightly. That’s the nearest target. Those games in hand are in April, but tomorrow is a good start. The Hawks have been piss poor (by their standards) on the 2nd of back-to-backs this season, and tomorrow sees them taking on the best the East has to offer. We’ll know where the recovery is when it’s over, methinks.
This is such a strange team at the moment. The Hawks were certainly the better team in the 1st period as the Islanders basically treated getting out of their zone like Joe Walsh treated getting out of a party and Michal Neuvirth handed them two goals. From there, the game pivoted on the five minute major stemming from possibly Andrew Shaw’s dumbest moment in the NHL (and that’s saying something). The Hawks killed off a major with only one shot against, and you knew from there the Hawks would find another goal and basically end this as a contest. Hossa was able to one-time a very rolling puck into the top corner and… ballgame.
What makes them so strange is they still gave up 39 shots. While they never looked truly in danger, the Islanders without two of their best possession drivers were able to press and press. Was it because the Hawks were up early and could just play Cover-2 for the last 30? Was it because they were defensively deficient? Honestly, I have no idea.
What I do know is that Corey Crawford is the best Hawk right now, and it isn’t even close. Let’s get to it:
The Two Obs
-We knew that it was only a matter of time before the first line popped off. It only took Kris Versteeg not being there to turn pucks over at the blue line for it to get there. They were a combined +37 in Corsi with score adjusted. While Fifth Feather rightly wondered if there was something wrong with Toews the past couple games, when faced with another premier center tonight Toews swallowed Tavares whole and spit out only most of his bones. Give him something to prove, and Toews will get into you up to the elbow.
-Crawford created some of his own problems tonight with some slightly wonky rebound control, but obviously made up for it on his own. Name a goalie playing better right now not named Devan Dubnyk. You can’t do it.
-I really have enjoyed watching this Islanders team all year, and not just because their jerseys are the balls. There’s no bigger Nick Leddy fan than me, but when this game was still in the balance they looked completely lost without him and no team should count on him that much. The turnovers in their own zone felt like a bit.
-Once again, Kimmo Timonen’s possession numbers are ugly, But I see a slow arc up, though I’ll admit it might be because I want to. Timonen wants to play the game the Hawks need. That is, high pressure at both blue lines. Pinching to keep attacks going in the offensive zone, not giving up the Hawks’ line easily in the hopes of turning around play quickly. It’s his natural instinct. Right now, he just doesn’t always get there in time to do so, though that ratio is starting to lean in the right direction. I hope it gets there.
-Doesn’t Kris Versteeg look better when he’s playing 4th liners? When he’s not turning pucks over at his own line, that is.
-I think it’s somewhat odd that Antoine Vermette hasn’t been used on any special teams. During a five minute kill, the Hawks stuck to Kruger, Saad, Hossa, and Toews, and only Desjardins and Versteeg got a shift during it. Vermette has been killing penalties his whole career. Then again, when things have gone this smoothly with what Q knows, I get it.
-We worry and are paranoid, but after Shaw was ejected the right wing to take most of his shifts was Teuvo Teravainen. Q loves this kid, he’s not even hiding it any more, and we should trust his handling of him from now on.
-The Hawks sit four points back of the Preds, but have three games in hand. It’s gone from loosely in their hands to tightly. That’s the nearest target. Those games in hand are in April, but tomorrow is a good start. The Hawks have been piss poor (by their standards) on the 2nd of back-to-backs this season, and tomorrow sees them taking on the best the East has to offer. We’ll know where the recovery is when it’s over, methinks.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 6pm
TV/RADIO: WGN for those ’round these parts, Sportsnet for those around the moose, WGN Radio
Robert Moses’s Wet Dream: Lighthouse Hockey
The world tour-de-force continues tonight out past the bright lights of New York and on Lon’ Gisland, where the Hawks will be another test for an Islanders squad that fancies itself party crashers into the NHL’s penthouse. They’ve had a few of those lately, and they haven’t gone so well for the Blue and Orange.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 6pm
TV/RADIO: WGN for those ’round these parts, Sportsnet for those around the moose, WGN Radio
Robert Moses’s Wet Dream: Lighthouse Hockey
The world tour-de-force continues tonight out past the bright lights of New York and on Lon’ Gisland, where the Hawks will be another test for an Islanders squad that fancies itself party crashers into the NHL’s penthouse. They’ve had a few of those lately, and they haven’t gone so well for the Blue and Orange.
Guess the NYE hangover hadn’t quite cleared.
The Hawks were pretty much where they needed to be in the first, smothering most Islander threats and outshooting them 12-5. Sure, a silly pass from Johnny Oduya to a covered Bryan Bickell at the red line and Bickell being forced into a turnover while Bangkok Dangerous marched off into the sea of green let Casey Cizikas in to give Long Island the lead. But the Hawks could feel good about how they played.
But for the last 40, the Hawks were all over and left far too much space for an Isles squad that isn’t bereft of weapons. The two goals they gave up from there came to the top line, which is exactly what you can’t do against this team. Sure, they fought back to tie it but were always asking for trouble in just being all over in their own zone. Not shocking the game ended when Patrick Sharp came too far over to deal with John Tavares, and left US-snub All-Star Kyle Okposo to rifle one home. That’s how the Hawks had been in their zone all night.
To the notes:
Guess the NYE hangover hadn’t quite cleared.
The Hawks were pretty much where they needed to be in the first, smothering most Islander threats and outshooting them 12-5. Sure, a silly pass from Johnny Oduya to a covered Bryan Bickell at the red line and Bickell being forced into a turnover while Bangkok Dangerous marched off into the sea of green let Casey Cizikas in to give Long Island the lead. But the Hawks could feel good about how they played.
But for the last 40, the Hawks were all over and left far too much space for an Isles squad that isn’t bereft of weapons. The two goals they gave up from there came to the top line, which is exactly what you can’t do against this team. Sure, they fought back to tie it but were always asking for trouble in just being all over in their own zone. Not shocking the game ended when Patrick Sharp came too far over to deal with John Tavares, and left US-snub All-Star Kyle Okposo to rifle one home. That’s how the Hawks had been in their zone all night.
To the notes:
vs. 
PUCK DROP: 6pm Central
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio
A THREE HOUR TOUR: LIGHTHOUSE HOCKEY
Well, the Islanders are actually leaving the Island in time. Somehow won’t be shocked if it’s next year but it’s scheduled for the one after that. And then being in Brooklyn could very well lead to the most obnoxious fanbase in hockey.
Anyway, the Hawks kick off 2014 after a glorious and somewhat beyond belief 2013 at Nassau County Coliseum, which is probably the opposite of glorious and certainly is beyond belief in the other fashion. Careful in the bathroom is you’re going. They’ll take on a car wreck of an Islanders team there.
Nikolai HarveyBirdman’s return to the red sweater’s was just about what we expected from these two teams, except I didn’t realize he was sitting at 332 wins, meaning we were forced to listen to the “tree-turty-tree” nonsense before the game even started. The Hawks and the Isles traded the north and south game they both prefer to play. While the action swung from one end to the other with quick transitions and counterstrikes, it was clearly dominated by Chicago for much of the period. When the Hawks got on a roll, there seemed to be nothing the Isles could do but wait for the inevitable goal.
