Lack of hitting
- Thread starter Ryker
- Start date
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The problem seems to be that the Blackhawks control (possess) the puck SO much of the time that there's little game time left for hitting (see Detroit/Bowman 2007-2009, the architects of the still-current winning model).
DisgruntledHawkFan
Blackhawk Down
Taze em
Registered User
- Apr 20, 2012
- 8,311
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If the Hawks outhit an opponent they probably lost.
Hawks possess the puck so much that it isn't going to happen.
The lack of hitting was a big complaint and point of debate but winning the Prez and the Cup has put that "concern" to rest.
DisgruntledHawkFan
Blackhawk Down
No Fun Shogun
34-38-61-10-13-15
massivegoonery
Registered User
EmeticDonut
Registered User
- Oct 7, 2006
- 4,443
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The focus on hitting in hockey is from the stone age. The game has moved on. Puck possession wins games.
DisgruntledHawkFan
Blackhawk Down
BobbyJet
watch the game, everything else is noise
Perhaps so.... but finishing a check will always be an important part of the game. Way too frequently our team fails to do so, and the ops player is often back in the play quickly... too quickly. Oduya is our worst offender in the back end.
Oh_so_saad
Registered User
clydesdale line
Connor BeJesus
- Jan 10, 2012
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Kurtosis
GHG
What do face offs have to do with it either? Obviously people are being sarcastic.
Sure...puck possession team...if we could just finish better aagainst our own division,nobody would be bringing up this issue...but alas the epitome of hitting, has the upper hand so far this year against us
...so it looks like hitting defeats puck possession..and Colorado also has the number on us so far and so it looks like despite our vaunted puck possession,Varlamov playing out of his mind
and timely efficient conversion of scoring chances by Colorado seems to defeat our vaunted possession game...as STL has shown..Colorado will wilt if you pound them..but alas our style prevents that..so here we are.. To win with our style we gotta score on our opportunities...not miss the net on clear shots and not let goalies think they are brick walls..but so far against STL and COLORADO we have failed in the task to convert too many grade A scoring chances.
...so it looks like hitting defeats puck possession..and Colorado also has the number on us so far and so it looks like despite our vaunted puck possession,Varlamov playing out of his mind
and timely efficient conversion of scoring chances by Colorado seems to defeat our vaunted possession game...as STL has shown..Colorado will wilt if you pound them..but alas our style prevents that..so here we are.. To win with our style we gotta score on our opportunities...not miss the net on clear shots and not let goalies think they are brick walls..but so far against STL and COLORADO we have failed in the task to convert too many grade A scoring chances.
Hard to rack up hits when you have the puck all the time.
Also, Hawks rely heavily on transition game. If you hit everything in sight on the forecheck, you aren't getting back into the neutral zone to force turnovers and head up ice on offense.
BobbyJet
watch the game, everything else is noise
Good post. I’d prefer that Hawks play a more physical game by finishing checks and playing effectively along the boards, and in front of the blue paint, when the need arises. I’m not referring to anything bone jarring, and in the past they have stepped up to the physicality of PO hockey quite well. Although Hawks have been resilient in the past PO’s and able to play different styles of games (especially in 2010), I’m not quite so convinced as others that a team like Blues or Kings, even Ducks, if we meet them in the early rounds of the PO’s, can’t dictate the play and kill our possession game with good old fashioned physicality and intimidation. And as HF has said, the puck possession game we employ has too often come up empty on the scoreboard. We will need to bury scoring chances when we get them. One thing HF50 didn’t mention is the Hawks’ PP. It needs to be feared by ops, otherwise they’ll be running us all night with no worry about taking the odd minor penalty to play their own game. Blues will be even tougher this year with the additions of Ott up front and Miller in goal. That is the team I want to avoid most.
clydesdale line
Connor BeJesus
- Jan 10, 2012
- 24,657
- 22,758
Hawks usually up their physicality in the playoffs as well. I might get on guys like Bickell, Bollig etc. for taking nights off in the regular season with their physical play (especially when a guy like Shaw is routinely outhitting them and Seabrook is still good for 100+ a season) I know they will ramp it up when the games really matter.
ChiGuySez
Cody Parkey GOAT
- Oct 4, 2006
- 8,444
- 30
Basically this.
The Hawks save it for the playoffs. Even then, they're not going to outhit the other playoff teams but its better than getting an injury during the regular season. The Hawks depend on their 3rd and 4th line players unlike some other teams who use their bottom six or 4th lines only for physical play with zero offense/defense contributions.
DisgruntledHawkFan
Blackhawk Down
And with the same core beat Nashville, San Jose, and Philly. The year before that Calgary and Vancouver tried to bully them and got whipped.
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