Blackhawks set a record

Midway Bully · Post #1 » by **Midway Bully** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:27 am

Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks. They're 14-0-3, still unbeaten in regulation, and have set the NHL record for most consecutive games with a point to start the season. This year looks to be a special one. It's a shame about the lockout, many people I know personally got turned off hockey soon after they got into it.

Post #2 » by **TNBT** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 12:39 pm

I was just coming online to post this. Congrats to the boys on setting a new NHL record with at least one point in their first 17 games. How long can this streak last?

Midway Bully · Post #3 » by **Midway Bully** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:03 am

Blackhawks beat Edmonton tonight, 3-2. Streak is now at 19. Blackhawks point streak stretches to 25 games dating back to the end of the regular season last year.

Post #4 » by **TNBT** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:27 am

Wow... I'm amazed at how well we're playing for this long. We've always had the talent, no doubt about that. I guess now, everything is clicking with this team, and (I think) most importantly, both our goalies are stepping up and producing. A lot of people wanted Crawford gone, but I'm glad that we stuck by him. I always felt that he had the potential, and now he seems to be recognizing it. Having improved play from the defense hasn't hurt either.

Midway Bully · Post #5 » by **Midway Bully** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:40 am

TNBT wrote:Wow... I'm amazed at how well we're playing for this long. We've always had the talent, no doubt about that. I guess now, everything is clicking with this team, and (I think) most importantly, both our goalies are stepping up and producing. A lot of people wanted Crawford gone, but I'm glad that we stuck by him. I always felt that he had the potential, and now he seems to be recognizing it. Having improved play from the defense hasn't hurt either.

True. Last year, the GK situation was hurting us, year before was depth problems on the defensive lines, and the SC hangover. That being said, this team had more talent than it showed past couple years. They were underwhelming. The players seem to have come back more mature this year, in their style of play, and their mentality. Add 2 hot goalies, and this team can go all the way. History says the same thing, all the teams that started in a similar fashion ended up winning Lord Stanley.

Post #6 » by **TNBT** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:00 am

Yeah, lets hope that history repeats itself. I think you hit the nail on the head that we have had different flaws over the last couple of years, and that this year, it seems like everyone has picked up their games and we don't really have any weak points on this team anymore. That's a great feeling to have.

JordansBulls · Post #7 » by **JordansBulls** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:28 pm

Are the Blackhawks really this good, even better than the team that won it all a few years back?

Midway Bully · Post #8 » by **Midway Bully** » Fri Mar 1, 2013 4:20 am

JordansBulls wrote:Are the Blackhawks really this good, even better than the team that won it all a few years back?

Possibly. There are several factors involved here. The team that won it all had 2 really young superstars in Kane and Toews, and it had insane depth on all 4 lines, and with the defensive pairings. Andrew Ladd, who centers the Jets first line, used to center the Hawks 3rd line sometimes. That tells you how good the depth was. Of course, the contact situations that summer killed off the depth, and combined with injuries and hangover, the team really failed to impress the following season. They were in danger of missing the playoffs too, and only got in during the last week. Guys like Duncan Keith, who're normally top players, were just out of it that whole season. Their penalty killing was also awful at times, mainly due to losing PK specialists like Brent Sopel.

Last season, the goaltending was underwhelming, mainly because Crawford got a new contract, and his play dropped off a bit. Emery was inconsistent also. There was also some juggling on the defensive pairings, and Nick Leddy was still really green, and getting a lot of minutes.

This year, guys like Kane have matured, injury issues aren't as prevalent, and both Crawford and Emery have been fantastic. Their penalty kill is ridiculous also. Frolik and Kruger might not score much, but their penalty killing is just undescribeable. They've gotten some depth on the defensive lines with the likes of Oduya and Rosizval, who've been solid. Brandon Saad has matured in his second season, and Shaw is having a great year. Leddy is also rounding into a fine player. Both Crawford and Emery have been fantastic in net. There are things to be worried about, mainly Bolland's and Crawford's recurring injuries. As long as this team can stay relatively healthy, this season could turn out to be even more special than 2010.

As of right now, this team is more well rounded than the 2010 team. Offensively though, that 2010 team was on another level at times. There were games where they'd outshoot top teams by 25-30 shots, and opposing teams had a rough time getting out of their own zone.

Post #9 » by **TNBT** » Fri Mar 1, 2013 7:10 am

Great assessment of the two teams. In there here and now, there is no other lineup I'd want to put money on. This team is so dominant at the moment, and just keeps rolling. As you said, Bolland and Crawford's injury problems are a concern, but outside of that (and someone else getting injured), I really can't see any reason why this team can't keep rolling.

Midway Bully · Post #10 » by **Midway Bully** » Fri Mar 1, 2013 9:31 pm

TNBT wrote:Great assessment of the two teams. In there here and now, there is no other lineup I'd want to put money on. This team is so dominant at the moment, and just keeps rolling. As you said, Bolland and Crawford's injury problems are a concern, but outside of that (and someone else getting injured), I really can't see any reason why this team can't keep rolling.

Yep, and forgot to note that Montador is also out. Our defensive pairings will be boosted a bit more when he gets back. Very solid player.

Need Bolland to stay healthy, though. The team just has so much more energy when he's around.

SchruteFarms670 · Post #11 » by **SchruteFarms670** » Fri Mar 1, 2013 11:11 pm

I feel much more confident in the goaltending than in 2010. I'm really glad they chose to keep Hammer over bringing back Niemi.

Post #12 » by **TNBT** » Sat Mar 2, 2013 2:59 am

Speaking of Bolland, do you see him as a 2nd line center? Some people that I have spoken to think that Shaw is a better fit for the 2nd line and has more potential to develop offensively, which would allow Bolland to center the 3rd line, which as we know he does brilliantly. On the other hand, there's also Kruger who has upside and the largely untested Brandon Pirri who I am a big fan of. Which way do you think we should/will go?

Midway Bully · Post #13 » by **Midway Bully** » Sat Mar 2, 2013 6:01 am

TNBT wrote:Speaking of Bolland, do you see him as a 2nd line center? Some people that I have spoken to think that Shaw is a better fit for the 2nd line and has more potential to develop offensively, which would allow Bolland to center the 3rd line, which as we know he does brilliantly. On the other hand, there's also Kruger who has upside and the largely untested Brandon Pirri who I am a big fan of. Which way do you think we should/will go?

The biggest concern for Bolland is just consistency. He's had niggling injuries for some years now, and the team has to resort to using odd pairings like Kane centering the 2nd line. As far as Bolland and the 2nd line go, I still think he should be centering it. Right now Kruger is doing all the little things, but production is still an issue with him. He still has upside, and looked solid on the 2nd line tonight. I think Shaw should be on the 3rd line for at least a year more, as it would give the Blackhawks some punch on the 3rd line. That's been a huge problem past 2 years where the 3rd and 4th lines just weren't putting up decent numbers. Guys like Frolik or Bickell just going weeks without scoring. Remember how long it took Frolik to score after he came over from Florida? Something like 15 games I think. Pirri looks a real talent, though. Did well for Rockford last season. Still a bit raw, but he'll probably get a look next season.

There was talk before the beginning of last season about looking into the glut of centers the Rangers had piled up, but Blackhawks didn't make any moves. Brandon Dubinsky was one of those guys, he ironically moved to Columbus. Brad Richards was another guy I wanted the Hawks to go for after the Campbell trade, but Richards got overpaid. Glad the Hawks passed on him. Anyways, I don't know what the Hawks plan on doing. To be honest, I haven't checked any trade rumors or anything because of the lockout. Just had me down about hockey in general.

Post #14 » by **TNBT** » Sat Mar 2, 2013 12:23 pm

You mentioned that Shaw could use another season on the 3rd line, and that he adds some firepower on the 3rd line. Does that mean that you think he has 2nd line center talent as far as being able to be a good enough play-maker and/or scorer?

Midway Bully · Post #15 » by **Midway Bully** » Sat Mar 2, 2013 5:51 pm

TNBT wrote:You mentioned that Shaw could use another season on the 3rd line, and that he adds some firepower on the 3rd line. Does that mean that you think he has 2nd line center talent as far as being able to be a good enough play-maker and/or scorer?

At this point, I don't know. I had some huge doubts about him when he first filled in for Carcillo last season, mainly because of his size and the fact that he has absolutely no scouting reports at all, and I thought he'd be underwhelming like Ben Smith. Anyways, he put in some damn good production for a rookie, and proved a lot of people wrong. I think he's been great again this year, and seems to be getting better. I certainly think he has the talent to center the 2nd line, and his drive is ridiculous. No one wants it more then him out on the ice. His goal scoring is top notch, always in the right positions to cleanup, and his net presence is even better now that he's put on some weight.

It's really up to him, and how bad he wants it. I thought he'd be a 20-25 points a year type of kid the first couple games I saw him, but I think he could put in 40-50 points a year at some point.