Holy crap what a game. Every time we play the Hawks they’re games for the ages. What a playoff series they would make. Maybe we can hope for a WCF if we both make it.
If Chicago makes the playoffs though I think they may win the Cup again. Toews and Kane just look unstoppable every shift,. Strome looks like a bigger Paul Stasnty in his prime and has great chemistry with Debrinkat. Even Caggiula looks like a good fit for the Hawks style of play and may break out. Will depend on how much Keith and Seabrook have left in the tank for another run.
Varlamov just eats Hawks for lunch.
Landy has improved his shot so much in the last couple years. It’s all just hard work in practice too, because he didn’t use to have that shot. It didn’t come off his stick nearly as quick, and he missed the net a fair bit. Now he just picks corners with ease, whether it’s on the forehand or backhand, and he’s been doing it all year. Not to mention the high level deflections he’s added to his game the last couple years as well.
Not sure it was mentioned but Landy passed Peter Forsberg's career high of 30 goals the other day. Not a huge deal since Peter wasn't really a goal scorer, but it's still cool nonetheless.
Speaking of wristers, JTC's wrister is just a thing of beauty, but in a different way. He puts his whole body into it like the PP goal. It rockets off his stick when he’s on top of his game. Then the bar down goal was absolutely hilarious.
Mikko’s one touch pass to JT on the PP was just insane too. It had to be perfect and it was. I gotta make a gif of that and look at it over and over.
MacKinnon needs better line mates asap. Ghetto is just a tire fire of bad passes out there still, and Kerfoot’s not much better, though that was a beauty of a chip pass to Soda for the breakaway goal. Nate looked pissed most all game though. Even had another mini moment on the bench with Bednar. Bednar must have realized this was going south as he put Mikko back on his line late in the 2nd.
Soda is in full beast mode. Love his game the last couple months, and he just keeps getting better. He's a coaches dream when he plays like this. Just goes to the net always and won't be stopped. Pokes at the puck when the goalie freezes it every time and pisses everyone off. Takes tons of abuse and just looks at guys with that weird look on is face. Just an animal out there.
Totally understandable that Bednar wanted a shutdown line with the lead, and paired up Landy with Soda. They’ve always been great together, but I wish he wouldn’t mess with the Jost-Landy line. It’s working really well, and if Jost can keep this going it will be huge for this team. Calvert’s really busting his butt out there but he doesn’t have the skill to take advantage of Jost’s plays, and Kerfoot and JTC don’t play the right style to fit with him IMO.
I’d really like to see Bednar work Jost into the PK too. That often gets guys going in games more, and it has a trickle down effect to their 5 on 5 play. This would be a great way to get him some more ice time as well. If he and JTC can become really good PKers, that would really increase their role on the team. It's what you hope for in those 2nd/3rd line types.
Lets keep this rolling in Nashville. Please play Grubauer now! They’re gonna cut to the bench during the game and Varly’s just gonna be passed out snoring.