Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[Soul]

17-4-1 on home ice.

[bcl412]

First in the NHL in points.

 

Let's beat Dallas before the finals preview on New Year's Eve.

[Soul]

Imagine how frustrated the Preds must be, having been only 4 points back just a few days ago and now 8 points in the blink of an eye.

 

Hahah!

[bcl412]

Imagine how frustrated the Preds must be, having been only 4 points back just a few days ago and now 8 points in the blink of an eye.

 

Hahah!

 

It feels similar to last year when we were getting really close to the Wings and they beat us at their place and then at Wrigley and never looked back.

[kujay]

Imagine how frustrated the Preds must be, having been only 4 points back just a few days ago and now 8 points in the blink of an eye.

 

Hahah!

 

Didn't we have the same thing happen with the home-and-home with the Wings last year? The one including the WC game? I recall we were closing in on them and they just slammed the door in our face. That must be how Nashville feels.

 

Look, they're a scrappy team. But they are like nearly every other team in the league. Seriously outmatched against the Hawks and needing to play a great game to stay close and have a chance to win.

 

Looks like I'm going to miss Tuesday's game on account of work, but really looking forward to that NJ game.

[Soul]

Imagine how frustrated the Preds must be, having been only 4 points back just a few days ago and now 8 points in the blink of an eye.

 

Hahah!

 

Didn't we have the same thing happen with the home-and-home with the Wings last year? The one including the WC game? I recall we were closing in on them and they just slammed the door in our face. That must be how Nashville feels.

 

Look, they're a scrappy team. But they are like nearly every other team in the league. Seriously outmatched against the Hawks and needing to play a great game to stay close and have a chance to win.

 

Looks like I'm going to miss Tuesday's game on account of work, but really looking forward to that NJ game.

 

I'm seriously considering buying a single ticket and heading to Chicago for that Devils game. Singles are available.

[Magnetic Curses]

With nashvilles goal differential, they're lucky to be so close.

[gflore34]

This team is very much anti-Chicago like, in that's, it's a truly good team. Nashville playing a little over their heads, gaining some confidence and the Hawks just crush any illusions they may have had about be able to hang with them. Cubs, Bears, Bulls and White Sox in a similar situation would have gotten the crap kicked out of them.

[bcl412]

2009/2010 Regular season Blackhawks so far=2008 regular season Cubs.

 

Hopefully if they have the same fate, and continue to be one of the best. The post-season will hold a much different result for the Hawks then the Cubs.

[bukie]

NHL metrics, or, how good the Blackhawks really are:

 

The 'Hawks no longer have games in hand on most of the NHL, but their average points per game is still second in the league:

 

Team            PPG
New Jersey      1.4722
Chicago         1.4474
Washington      1.4211
San Jose        1.3947
Pittsburgh      1.3590
Buffalo         1.3158
Phoenix         1.2821
Colorado        1.2500
Los Angeles     1.2368
Boston 	      1.2162
Calgary         1.2162
Nashville       1.2051
Vancouver       1.1795
Detroit         1.1316
Dallas 	      1.1316
Ottawa 	      1.1053
Atlanta         1.0811
Minnesota       1.0789
NY Rangers      1.0526
St. Louis       1.0263
Montreal        1.0250
Philadelphia    1.0000
Florida         0.9750
Tampa Bay       0.9737
Anaheim         0.9737
NY Islanders    0.9250
Toronto         0.9250
Columbus        0.8974
Edmonton        0.8947
Carolina        0.6579

 

However, the 'Hawks goal differential is so good (tops in the league), that according to simply Pythagorean calculations, they're the second-most underperforming team comparing actual to expected record:

 

Team            EXP-DIFF
Vancouver       +8.6
Chicago         +3.8
Philadelphia    +3.6
Atlanta         +3.1
NY Rangers      +2.4
Edmonton        +2.3
Montreal        +2.0
Phoenix         +1.3
Washington      +1.3
Carolina        +1.2
Pittsburgh      +0.8
St. Louis       +0.5
Calgary         +0.5
Florida         +0.5
San Jose        +0.3
Buffalo         +0.0
Detroit         -0.2
New Jersey      -0.5
Anaheim         -0.6
Boston 	      -0.7
Minnesota       -1.1
Toronto         -1.1
Columbus        -1.4
Tampa Bay       -2.1
Ottawa 	      -2.3
Dallas 	      -2.4
NY Islanders    -3.1
Colorado        -3.4
Los Angeles     -3.4
Nashville       -3.8

 

So, this all adds up to the rankings by expected point total (for each team's games played):

Team            EXP
Chicago         58.8
Washington      55.3
Vancouver       54.6
Pittsburgh      53.8
San Jose        53.3
New Jersey      52.5
Phoenix         51.3
Buffalo         50.0
Colorado        46.6
Calgary         45.5
Boston 	      44.3
Los Angeles     43.6
Nashville       43.2
Atlanta         43.1
Montreal        43.0
Detroit         42.8
NY Rangers      42.4
Philadelphia    41.6
Dallas 	      40.6
Minnesota       39.9
Ottawa 	      39.7
St. Louis       39.5
Florida         39.5
Anaheim         36.4
Edmonton        36.3
Toronto         35.9
Tampa Bay       34.9
NY Islanders    33.9
Columbus        33.6
Carolina        26.2

 

So, as good as the Blackhawks have been, they can probably be better.

[UMFan83]

You dumb Blackhawks, play better.

[Old Style]

You dumb Blackhawks, play better.

:rotfl:

[bukie]

One last thing: expected final conference standings based on current level of play (scoring only):

 

Eastern Conference:

1. New Jersey - 120
   
2. Washington - 119
   
3. Buffalo - 108
   
4. Pittsburgh - 113
   
5. Boston - 98
   
6. Atlanta - 95
   
7. NY Rangers - 92
   
8. Philadelphia - 90
   ----------------------------
   
9. Montreal - 88
   
10. Ottawa - 86
    
11. Florida - 81
    
12. Tampa Bay - 75
    
13. Toronto - 74
    
14. NY Islanders - 69
    
15. Carolina - 57

 

Western Conference:

1. Chicago - 127
   
2. San Jose - 115
   
3. Vancouver - 115
   
4. Phoenix - 108
   
5. Calgary - 101
   
6. Colorado - 96
   
7. Los Angeles - 94
   
8. Detroit - 92
   -------------------
   
9. Nashville - 91
   
10. Dallas - 88
    
11. Minnesota - 86
    
12. St. Louis - 85
    
13. Anaheim - 79
    
14. Edmonton - 78
    
15. Columbus - 71

[Old Style]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

[kujay]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

 

I fully expect Detroit to make a strong push and even contend for the division once they get their team back. They are too well coached and too talented. I don't see any way they remain the 8th seed.

[NewUserName]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

 

I fully expect Detroit to make a strong push and even contend for the division once they get their team back. They are too well coached and too talented. I don't see any way they remain the 8th seed.

 

I think it is amazing that they are in the 8th seed. Datsyuk, Lidstrom and an AHL team has been what they have been playing with. Filpula is back and Cleary is supposed to come back next week. Not sure about Franzen, Kronwall and Zetterburg.

[RedFlash]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

 

To be the best you have to beat the best. While it is a cliche' it is also true. Even tho the series went five last yr, the Hawks show the can play with the Wings and even beat them. First round or Conference Finals it doesn't matter when the Hawks face them, they'll likely have to face them at some point. I look forward to a playoff series with the Wings.

[gflore34]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

 

To be the best you have to beat the best. While it is a cliche' it is also true. Even tho the series went five last yr, the Hawks show the can play with the Wings and even beat them. First round or Conference Finals it doesn't matter when the Hawks face them, they'll likely have to face them at some point. I look forward to a playoff series with the Wings.

 

I've got no problem with the Hawks facing the Wings, the Hawks have significantly improved over last season. I don't believe the same can be said of the Wings.

[17 Seconds]

keep in mind the red wings aren't the same team that they're likely to be at the end of the season. they have been destroyed by injuries. if they end up getting healthy at the end of the season and we have to play them in the first round, that would suck. we still should win, but they'd be a much tougher draw than one of the other teams.

 

that's all assuming they get healthy though, and i haven't paid enough attention to them to know how serious the injuries are.

[Garwilly]

Not sure I'd want to see Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. 8-[

 

To be the best you have to beat the best. While it is a cliche' it is also true.

 

No it's not.

[TruffleShuffle]

One last thing: expected final conference standings based on current level of play (scoring only):

 

[*]New Jersey - 120

 

i remember saying in the offseason when people were projecting new jersey as a middle-of-the-pack team in the east, that they'd probably bore everyone to tears and get at least 110 points. sure enough, they're incredibly boring and winning lots of close games. what a [expletive] shitty team.

[kujay]

Jesus Christ Huet sucks sometimes. Completely dominated this period, more than usual, and because he can't even stand up on his skates or go side to side in less than five seconds, it's 2-2.

[kujay]

Oh lordy Versteeg. You nasty. What a pass.

[17 Seconds]

insane pass from versteeg

[17 Seconds]

lecavalier did the exact same thing last night