Highlights
Well this was one of those games where you look at the stat sheets, and then look at the final score and start singing "one of these things is not like the others." I'll take it - good teams find ways to win, and this was definitely a game we stole.
- It took three tries, but this was our first win on home ice. Thank god, I was beginning to think it was the championship banner.
- Looks like Hossa and Sharp are having a friendly goal scoring competition, as both lead the team with five goals.
- Digging a bit into our offensive stats: Hossa is tied for the league lead in points (9), and is tied with Sharpie and two others with the lead in goals scored. Tomas Kopecky is second in the league with 6 assists - Food For Thought: Neither Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have hit their offensive stride yet. Kaner has 2G 3A, while Toews is off to his usual slow start to the season with only 1G, 2A. When these guys start clicking, opponents' netminders are going to start to shake a little in their skates.
- For as much as Marty Turco flops around in the crease, there's little doubt that when he's sharp, he's on. He stopped 38 of 41 shots - you can't argue with a performance like that.
- I will say it seems that the communication between Turco and the D seems to fall apart at times. The third Buffalo goal was the direct result of the D not telling Turco that a Sabre was heading for the puck he left behind the net. I've never played hockey, but isn't that something they should be teaching you in mites? Perhaps the D isn't used to Marty's puck handling style, or Turco forgets he's not in Dallas, where he knew his players much better. Whatever the case, with the defense as shaky as it is right now, they need to over communicate to a fault right now.
- Well hello Dave Bolland, how are you? That was vintage Rat on his breakaway goal. Hopefully that cleared the cobwebs for him, and we'll see the Bolland we all know and love from last spring.
- Down by a goal, and with the team being outshot and outplayed, Coach Q did what he is known for - he changed the lines going into the third period. I will say I approved of this switch as he went back to two successful lines from last season: Kane-Toews-Brouwer (my personal favorite), and Hossa-Sharp-Kopecky (aka "Sharpie & the Slovaks"). Needless to say, it worked. Please keep these lines for at least another game or two please.
- I did not agree with healthy-scratching Jack Skille in place of John Scott at forward. The logic being since there was a chance for retaliatory measures for the Hjalmarsson hit, Scott was put in to strike the fear of god in the Sabres. This logic is flawed because a) Scott really hasn't mixed it up as much as advertised b) Scott would have to be *on* the ice to do anything - with the limited minutes he's getting, chances are he'd still be on the bench if something happened and lastly c) Scott is horrible, and while Skille has his moments, he is a much, much better option at forward. I guess Mr. Brouwer made room for Mr. Skille in Coach Q's doghouse.
- Word came down today that Nick Leddy was shipped down to Rockford. This caught everyone off guard, myself included. With all of the problems we have on D, Leddy was proving himself as a much more capable puck moving defenseman than our current traffic cones on the roster - Cullimore, Boynton & Scott. It's believed Nick was moved down due to cap issues and also to keep him under the 9 game maximum before his NHL contract is vested. Ok, I guess, but with Keith/Seabrook having been run through the wringer thus far and Toftbo being shaky as shit, a bottom three of either Boynton, Scott, Cullimore & Hendry makes me want to bite someone. Can we get Campbell a Harry Potter potion to heal faster? UGH.
- So Mr. Ryan Miller, please tell us what you thought of that lovely late hit Patrick Kaleta put on Jonathan Toews. Or how about those parting cheap shots your teammates gave to the Hawks after the final horn sounded? I'm waiting Ryan for your answer.
- Both Dustin Byfuglien & Andrew Ladd scored on Antti Niemi in the Sharks/ThrasHawks game last night. Sorry Nemo, I had to LOL.
Patrick Sharp
Sharpie gets the nod for the second game in a row. Is it a coincidence that the handsomest man on the Hawks wins the award named for the most ruggedly handsome man in a galaxy far, far away? Sharpie had the first and last goals of the night - four goals in two games is not to be sniffed at. Honorable Mention to Marian Hossa for just being a beast.
Tomas Kopecky
He has six assists on the season - he's doing something right. I really do want TomoKop to do well - and at this point he's done all he's been asked of and more. I guess part of his play will always frustrate me, but as long as he's setting up his linemates to score, I can't complain too much. I do wish he would stop taking so many stupid penalties - he already has three delay of game calls against him for the year. And please don't check Sharpie so hard the next time he scores - save that for the opponent. Stick taps also to Dave Bolland & Brent Seabrook for arguably having their best games of the season.
The Officiating Crew
So let me get this straight. Kopecky is pushed into the goaltender by Buffalo D-man Montador, TomoKop has time to get up, circle completely around the net and come out to the faceoff dot to deflect in the net a point shot by Duncs. Meanwhile, Lalime & Montador are still playing footsie in the crease and it's goaltender incidental contact on the *Hawks*? WTF?!? I thought Q's head was going to launch off his neck and land in the 300 level. They also missed the questionable hit on Toews by asshat Kaleta (at least he didn't go for the headbutt), and at least two calls on Bolland that I saw. Thankfully the Hawks still won despite these atrocities, but pardon me if I sound like a Red Wings fan if I say, REFS, YOU SUCK!
TOEWS-FACE OF THE GAME
Well, it appears I will be at tomorrow night's game vs. the Blues as my brother needs a seatmate, and I happily obligied. Should be a good way to wind down from what promises to be a difficult day at work. Here's hoping the Hawks can keep the winning streak going - or at least kick a Blues player in the rear-end.
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