Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[17 Seconds]

just don't know how a team is struggling on the road when their road record is one of the best in the conference

 

Look at the top teams in hockey. NJ has a 16-6 (72%) road record, Pittsburgh has a 16-10 (62%) road record, Buffalo 13-6 (68%), San Jose 16-8 (67%). The Hawks were 11-9 (55%) when I made the comment, thats a worse road record than 4 of the other 5 division leaders (and the one division leader that's worse has a 54% winning%) and 6th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference, including below 2 teams in their own division (Nashville and St. Louis). So yeah, for a team that is tied for the most points in hockey, having a road winning percentage that is 6th in their conference and 10th in the league is struggling in my mind. They are a great team but the reason right now that they are tied for the most points in hockey is largely because of how well they've played at home and the fact that they've played 6 more home games than road games so far this year.

 

That said, I have all the confidence in the world that the Hawks can and will play better on the road.

 

Edit: Oh and the reason I simplify records by putting OTLs in with the losses is because I think the most important way to evaluate and compare the records is with winning %. I'm not concerned with whether the Hawks got an extra point because they lost a crapshoot shootout, I am concerned with how the Hawks do in the 60 minutes beforehand to pull away from their opponent on the road. Either they win the game or lose it is all I care about in my opinion, the extra points for an OTL are just a bonus in my book.

 

dude, you're completely contradicting yourself.

 

you say you're not concerned with whether the blackhawks lost in a crapshoot shootout, yet you are counting OT losses as regular losses. what kind of sense does that make?

 

if you actually want to follow the logic you're using, then the record you should be posting would be 11-6. you just said that you're more concerned with how they played in the 60 minutes, right? well 11-6 shows that, not 11-9.

 

That doesn't make any sense. I said I am not concerned with whether the Hawks lost a game in regulation or if they got an extra point for losing in OT or a shootout. They either won the game or they lost the game, which is what I said above. My primary concern is the percentage of games that the Hawks win on the road, and at the time I made the comment it was 11 out of 20.

 

you JUST said you're not concerned with how a team loses a shootout (and that you're concerned with hw they played for the 60 minutes before it), yet you're counting OT losses in that record you're using. once again, you're completely contradicting yourself.

 

you said you're concerned with how they play in regulation

 

their record in regulation on the road is 11-6. that is pretty cut and dry right there, and it's exactly the record you claim to be looking for.

[brinoch]

UMFan, you're really not making sense here -- sorry, dude. If you are evaluating 60 minutes, then evaluate it for wins and losses. The Blackhawks are 11-6 on the road with 1 win in overtime and 3 losses in shootouts. In old hockey terms, they are 12-6-3 (those are ties).

 

But the reality is that winning percentages are less important than points per game and the percentage of total points. The 'Hawks have taken 27 of 42 points, or 64% of the potential points. That's almost 1.3 points per game (1.29). Over an entire season, 1.29 ppg is 105.8 points. For the sake of comparison, the Blackhawks scored 104 points last season. Looking another way, 1.3 points over 41 games is 52.9 points on the road. For comparison's sake, here are some point totals from last season (in playoff order):

 

Eastern Conference

1. Boston -- 52

2. Washington -- 47

3. New Jersey -- 49

4. Pittsburgh -- 46

5. Philadelphia -- 47

6. Carolina -- 44

7. NYR -- 39

8. Montreal -- 38

 

Western Conference

1. San Jose -- 49

2. Detroit -- 53

3. Vancouver -- 47

4. Chicago -- 48

5. Calgary -- 40

6. St. Louis -- 41

7. Columbus -- 39

8. Anaheim -- 46

 

The Blackhawks are on pace to tie the best road record from last season. How is that "struggling"? Additionally, I think you can't really compare between the two conferences. The Eastern Conference is not as good as the Western Conference and the disparity isn't close. Looking at NJ, Pitt and Buff is very misleading -- to the point of apples to oranges.

[Keener98]

This isnt really about the Blackhawks, but thought Id share it anyway. I went to my 1st hockey game tonight in Peoria. The Riverman played Rockford, and won in a shootout. Ive got to say, I had a damn blast and Im not a hockey fan at all. I've always heard that watching hockey live was a lot better, and damn so much excitement. Some good fights, some good goal tending, just a really good time.

 

Also #19 on the Ice Hogs, his name was Allu(sp) or something like that. Wow talk about an instigating little prick. Within 10 mins of the 2nd period he had 1 Riverman by the neck, and was put in the penalty box, and then started an awesome fight 5 mins after getting out of the penalty box. He came off the bench when they were switching lines, and skated for about 5 secs, dropped his gloves, and charged after 1 of the Riverman, who in turn, kicked his ass!

 

I will be going back for sure.

[UMFan83]

Ughh...a comment made out of momentary frustration has turned into a never ending argument. Struggling was a bad choice of words. I really would have liked to see the Hawks have the top 1-3 road record in hockey, not 7th or whatever you claim it is. I don't know how I explained my opinion incorrectly, but what I meant was I don't care about OTL, if you win, you get a win, if you lose you get a loss in my book and the extra point for losing in a shootout is just a bonus. What 11-10 shows me is that in 21 games they won 11 of them. If they lost in a shootout, they still only basically played to a draw and lost on a crapshoot skills contest, that's not what I want to see from a team that has the highest goal differential in hockey and is 3rd in GS and 2nd in GA. If a near majority of their road games are games that either they lost or they have to go into OT, I expect more when the other good teams in hockey are winning much more frequently. I realize no hockey team can win every game and I realize that teams play better at home than on the road, but I think there is room for improvement and they could be among the top 3 road teams in hockey, regardless of how much better the conference is. Maybe it's just a coincidence but the road is where they gave up 5 goals to Columbus, road is where they blew a 4 goal 3rd period lead, road is where they gave up 5 goals to Dallas. They've had a lot of impressive games on the road too. I don't know what I'm typing anymore, I'm kinda drunk, but I think I made some sort of coherent point.

[kujay]

This isnt really about the Blackhawks, but thought Id share it anyway. I went to my 1st hockey game tonight in Peoria. The Riverman played Rockford, and won in a shootout. Ive got to say, I had a damn blast and Im not a hockey fan at all. I've always heard that watching hockey live was a lot better, and damn so much excitement. Some good fights, some good goal tending, just a really good time.

 

Also #19 on the Ice Hogs, his name was Allu(sp) or something like that. Wow talk about an instigating little prick. Within 10 mins of the 2nd period he had 1 Riverman by the neck, and was put in the penalty box, and then started an awesome fight 5 mins after getting out of the penalty box. He came off the bench when they were switching lines, and skated for about 5 secs, dropped his gloves, and charged after 1 of the Riverman, who in turn, kicked his ass!

 

I will be going back for sure.

 

Glad to hear Aliu is doing his job...

 

Good action so far in this one. Nice job by Campbell to draw the penalty.

[Hall7810]

Squirts look better puck handling than Sopel.

[kujay]

Wow Niemi!

 

Then Barker! KABOOM

 

EDIT: Brouwer. Great job.

[Soul]

Bwahah!

 

Good start.

[Hall7810]

NHL.com has an "ISO cam" of both Kaner and The Captain.

[kujay]

What a play by Hjalmarsson. Outstanding.

[kujay]

Howard gave him about half the net to shoot at there.

 

2-0!

[Hall7810]

Wow, those gloves dropped quick!

[kujay]

Effin' game effort by Versteeg right there. I'd give it to Eaves, but not a bad effort.

[Soul]

Detroit is getting good pressure here.

[kujay]

At the Wings weren't smart enough to just hand the puck over there so they would get some 5-on-3 time.

 

[expletive] penalty calls, both of them.

[Soul]

Crap! Two penalties in a row

[kujay]

At the Wings weren't smart enough to just hand the puck over there so they would get some 5-on-3 time.

 

[expletive] penalty calls, both of them.

[Soul]

Crap! Two penalties in a row

[kujay]

This game has gotten awfully sloppy.

 

Damn the 4th line almost got another one there!

[Soul]

Should be a good 3rd period here.

[kujay]

Great saves on both ends. Barker better not do that again.

[Magnetic Curses]

detroit is just so good with their sticks.

[sneakypower]

nice coverage NBC

[chuckywang]

Oh, WTF was that

[Magnetic Curses]

absolute domination in every single way.