It’s not easy… coming to the realization… that the Blackhawks are not going to make the playoffs. Too soon?
Unfortunately, I tuned into their first game back on Saturday night vs the Islanders and Monday night vs the Lightning. Coming off the bye week, and getting pasted like that against New York… at the UC… brings back memories of the Bears coming off their bye week looking lost. There’s really no excuse for it. Yeah, OK, the Lightning are the best team in the NHL, and we actually did play a really good game; I’ll give you that one. But that one to the Islanders… that’s why we’re not going to make the playoffs.
Although I really enjoy watching this Hawks team, and like the concept of them scrapping and fighting for their playoffs lives this early in the season, that doesn’t match what I’ve been seeing on the ice. I see it in spurts… but it’s nowhere near enough. As I struggle to figure out why this team struggles, maybe the sense of urgency is just not there. It’s either that, or we’re just not that good any more; the rest of the NHL has passed us by. Which is it? Do you have a better answer?
I hope I’m wrong… with this realization. Maybe I’m just mentally preparing myself for the Blackhawks missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. I don’t want to believe it. I want to see that fight… I want to see them elevate their play each and every night, which is exactly what they need to do. OK, the situation isn’t that dire, but it’s getting there, no? There are still 35 games left… a TON of hockey, but the list of teams that are between us and a playoff spot is growing. Currently 7 points out of a playoff berth… when is the right time to sound the alarm?
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Another home game awaits on Wednesday evening vs Toronto. With 57 points, they are 7 points better than the Hawks at this point. I guess there will be more and more teams that we will play that have more points than us; I’m not used to that.
I guess Crow has practiced a few times recently; he may be coming back. That will be a welcome site, although I’m not sure I can put all our struggles on the absence of Crow. Yes, he carried us for a while, but why should we need to be carried? Could he even still carry us if/when he comes back? We can’t put that all on him; he shouldn’t have to be the savior.
It’s those guys on the ice in front of him, or whoever is playing goalie. I need to see them want it more. They need to turn this thing around and quick. Can it be done? Sure. Will it be done? I’m not so sure, but I sure as hell hope so. Go Hawks!
J.R.
Crawford will NOT be the key to the golden road. Not by himself. If you have been watching, you should have noticed how many opposing goals are because there was NO D presence in front, or from defensive zone giveaways leading to easy goals, or from outlet passes going directly to somebody on the other team. The goalie(s) is the easy place to pin the slump, but not where it should be directed to. The goalie can’t throw a shutout every game, he can’t win with any consistency with the rest of the team skating around like zombies looking for a brain to snack on.
I think either Q needs to go, or he needs to revamp his thought processes on both ends of the ice. His D only works when the d-men are totally into the games. And the other nite, they had 10 1/2 minutes of power play, and only ended up with 9 shots on goal! WTF!!!! Pass-pass-pass-turnover. That’s the normal power play for the last 2 years. Can’t win a lot of games if you can’t put the puck on the net!
MK
Not really sure what the defensive scheme is, but it sure as hell does not make sense for our 2 D men to let an opposing player set up camp in front of the goalie and act like he is invisible! What happened to clearing out some space in front of the goalie with some crosschecks to the back?
MK
What a poor 1st game back from the Hawks week off! I think the UC was actually booing the Hawks…when is the last time that happened? It seems deserved, though. No real answers as to what the issues are. Lack of consistency seems fair. Does this team think they can just flip the switch at some point? If so, when is that point? Not in the playoffs now with how many teams fighting for the same spots is not a good place to be. It may be exciting coming down to it…playing playoff hockey before the Cup run begins might be a good thing. Maybe it will get the Hawks ready, but the possibility is there that they might not even get there. Crow or not, the Hawks have bigger issues. Time is getting thin to get them figured out. I still have hope! GO HAWKS!!!