Post-Game Talk: Game 8: Penalty Kill It With Fire | Blackhawks @ Devils | 6:30 CT (WGN)

[featherhawk]

He looked smoother this game.

agreed, seemed to me like he was smooth or fluid, no hesitation, looked to be in a rhythm and that is great to see...

now the hawks need to stop taking idiotic PIMs and fix the PK and find a top 6 winger

 

[ChiHawks10]

Nah, you can see this across the league with teams that had more than a few players partake in the World Cup of Hockey. The preseason is important to get players used to each other and the system and when many of your players aren't playing in the preseason, they'll have to figure out during the season.

While you would normally see teams starting to figure it out right around now, it's going to take a bit longer this season. The Hawks have it especially difficult, seeing as they have so many new / rookie players on the team. Give it time, they'll get there.

Many people just don't seem to understand any of what you said... chemistry takes time. Doesn't happen overnight

 

[Kshahdoo]

Toews and Kane didn't look great together. Have they lost all the chemistry? I mean, when Kane is on the ice with Panarin and Anisimov, it immediately becomes obvious, they're clicking. When he's on the ice with Toews, it's still a total chaos and randomness. Of course, it's just one game...

 

[Gooner]

Nah, you can see this across the league with teams that had more than a few players partake in the World Cup of Hockey. The preseason is important to get players used to each other and the system and when many of your players aren't playing in the preseason, they'll have to figure out during the season.

While you would normally see teams starting to figure it out right around now, it's going to take a bit longer this season. The Hawks have it especially difficult, seeing as they have so many new / rookie players on the team. Give it time, they'll get there.

I hope so, but the process isn't pretty to watch. And even if I think this is more of a system issue, be it the players needing time to gel or a coaching failure, I still am concerned about Toews and Keith in particular. Toews hasn't looked like a Top 5 center for a long time now and Keith hasn't been all that good either, both of them have struggled for over a year now. People seem more forgiving with Keith, probably due to his insane playoffs 2015 and his contract being cheaper, but he hasn't quite maintained his admittedly sky high standards either. If those two are actually declining, the Hawks are in trouble, because even though Kane is probably the most talented of the three, this team goes as 19 and 2 go.

 

[Stu Cazzo]

I'll accept these points.

Good job Panarin

 

[JaegerDice]

Toews and Kane didn't look great together. Have they lost all the chemistry? I mean, when Kane is on the ice with Panarin and Anisimov, it immediately becomes obvious, they're clicking. When he's on the ice with Toews, it's still a total chaos and randomness. Of course, it's just one game...

Given the CF% of Toews and Kane on the ice together thus far this season is a ludicrous 81.25%, Id say their chemistry is fine.

 

[Idionym]

How were they?

 

[Gooner]

Toews and Kane didn't look great together. Have they lost all the chemistry? I mean, when Kane is on the ice with Panarin and Anisimov, it immediately becomes obvious, they're clicking. When he's on the ice with Toews, it's still a total chaos and randomness. Of course, it's just one game...

They excelled together when they had someone like Bickell doing the dirty work in front of the net and allowing them to play off of each other, not too dissimilar to Panarin and Kane, only with Toews not playing on the perimeter, but rather in the slot. Toews doesn't play like that right now though, the creative spark has gone missing from his game, when was the last time he really awed the crowd with a slick move, or an amazing pass?

 

[featherhawk]

Toews and Kane didn't look great together. Have they lost all the chemistry? I mean, when Kane is on the ice with Panarin and Anisimov, it immediately becomes obvious, they're clicking. When he's on the ice with Toews, it's still a total chaos and randomness. Of course, it's just one game...

ya I don't think its the answer, Q has found one winger for Toews in Panik, as much as I don't want Hossa back up on JT's line perhaps its time to get Hossa back up there and see what happens...BUT stan needs to find a top 6 winger.....

panik-JT-Hossa
PArty
motte-schmaltz-hartman
Kruger with any two of moose/call up/desi/tooto

 

[Gooner]

Given the CF% of Toews and Kane on the ice together thus far this season is a ludicrous 81.25%, Id say their chemistry is fine.

That too though. They haven't been especially flashy when on the ice together for the last year, but I hardly remember them playing in their own zone.

 

[JaegerDice]

They excelled together when they had someone like Bickell doing the dirty work in front of the net and allowing them to play off of each other, not too dissimilar to Panarin and Kane, only with Toews not playing on the perimeter, but rather in the slot. Toews doesn't play like that right now though, the creative spark has gone missing from his game, when was the last time he really awed the crowd with a slick move, or an amazing pass?

The pass across the slot to Hossa on the backdoor not fancy enough for you?

And Toews' avg shot distance this season is 14.93 feet. Easily the shortest on the team, so Im not sure how hes a 'perimeter' player when hes getting closer to the net with the puck than anyone.

 

[BrianE]

At least we got the win...Crow continues where he left off last game and our best player. Lot's of issues but on to the next one. Really liking Panik.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

2 points in October is 2 points. On to Sunday.

 

[Gooner]

The pass across the slot to Hossa on the backdoor not fancy enough for you?

And Toews' avg shot distance this season is 14.93 feet. Easily the shortest on the team, so Im not sure how hes a 'perimeter' player when hes getting closer to the net with the puck than anyone.

I'm thinking more how he undressed Orpik in the Stadium Series two years ago. And I did forget to mention that I meant 5on5, he's been plenty fancy and impressive with more space on the ice, as evidenced by his ludicrous 3on3 performances last season. It was a great pass. Good play. But honestly it's also a pass that I expect a player of his calibre to make.

And I didn't say that he's a perimeter player. Quite the opposite actually. I think he does a little too much of the dirty work nowadays.

 

[BigClemMacdonald]

Well, this win probably assured one thing....

Kitch probably won't get fired .

 

[Salvaged Ship]

The Hawks are actually 4-1-1 their last 6 games. That is hard to believe

 

[Fortyfives]

The Hawks are actually 4-1-1 their last 6 games. That is hard to believe

Nice observation! That doesn't feel right at all.

 

[hawksrule]

I know nothing about tonight's game other than the score. Can I assume we gave up two pp goals?

 

[piteus]

I know nothing about tonight's game other than the score. Can I assume we gave up two pp goals?

We only gave up one goal on the power play. We actually played well on the penalty kill and pressured the puck. We're getting better on the PK. Really!

 

[BrianE]

The Hawks are actually 4-1-1 their last 6 games. That is hard to believe

Nice observation! That doesn't feel right at all.

I know nothing about tonight's game other than the score. Can I assume we gave up two pp goals?

We only gave up one goal on the power play. We actually played well on the penalty kill and pressured the puck. We're getting better on the PK. Really!

Pk get's fixed and were good. Lack of focus, puck watching, sloppy play on pk or whatever but the goal against tonight had 3 Hawks near Devil player and no one touched him. Similar pk story so far this season but different game.

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

We only gave up one goal on the power play. We actually played well on the penalty kill and pressured the puck. We're getting better on the PK. Really!

Even the PK we were scored on we were fine for the most part. NJ had a miracle keep in with like 40 seconds left on the penalty right before their PP goal.

 

[TLEH]

I actually think panarin was trying to go five hole but the VH by Kinkaid screwed him

 

[piteus]

Pk get's fixed and were good. Lack of focus, puck watching, sloppy play on pk or whatever but the goal against tonight had 3 Hawks near Devil player and no one touched him. Similar pk story so far this season but different game.

Actually, I thought our 5x5 play was weak on the road tonight. We were caught looking several times, but Crow saved us. However, I thought our PK was pretty good. We got in the passing lanes and pressured the puck. Heck, we even won face offs. We just have to clear the puck better on 50/50 situations.

Stealing two points on the road is a good thing AND we're seeing progress on the PK. Were we great tonight? Absolutely not. But we managed to keep it close and scored when we needed to. That's huge.

That being said, I wish Q just kept Panarin - AA - Kane together. They just work off each other well. Try Schmaltz - Toews - Panik. It could work ... although I don't know who'd center the third line.

 

[JaegerDice]

Schmaltz-Toews-Panik makes the most sense in the long term.

Id go with Motte-Kruger-Hossa as the shutdown line and Hartman/Hino-Ras-Desi/Tootoo as the 4th, bum-slaying line.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Given the CF% of Toews and Kane on the ice together thus far this season is a ludicrous 81.25%, Id say their chemistry is fine.

Man, your line is for the thread about advanced statistics on the main board, and I'm a mere hockey fan, who prefers to make his conclusions out of watching games.