2013-14 Defending Champion Blackhawks Regular Season Thread

[brinoch]

In their defense, the game was the same thing over and over again. Kings get puck, Hawks take it back, Hawks hold the puck in the offensive zone for 5 minutes, Kings fail to clear.

 

The Dallas announcers are the best. The Caps are the absolute worst though Detroit are pretty bad too.

 

See, but that's exciting! (For us.)

[kujay]

Kane is just dominating lately.

[UMFan83]

Hawks finally have the best goal differential in hockey and are now 7 points clear of the Blues in their division (although the Blues somehow have 4 games in hand and could pass the Hawks in points if they went 4-0-0). The damn Ducks keep winning though so the Hawks are only 2 points up on them for most points in the league (and Ducks have a game in hand)

[Banedon]

The Hawks have allowed a lot of goals though. That's the one "problem" that I see looking at the numbers.

[Wilson A2000]

Goal cam had some incredible shots last night

[Garwilly]

Goal cam had some incredible shots last night

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/12/18/video-blackhawks-goal-cam-catches-awkward-shot-of-ice-girl/

[apete6]

The Hawks have allowed a lot of goals though. That's the one "problem" that I see looking at the numbers.

 

Overall, though, I think they've been inflated by having 3 or 4 absolute beatdowns they've been on the wrong side of (Nashville, Colorado, Toronto). They didn't have many (any?) of those last year, so their numbers looked better overall. Goaltending will always be the main "weakness" of this team, despite being solid at worst. Now that Khabi has been sent out to pasture, I'm not all that worried about it unless Crawford can't regain his form. Even then, I'm not convinced they can't win the Cup with Raanta because the offense and defense are just so damn good.

[UMFan83]

The Hawks have allowed a lot of goals though. That's the one "problem" that I see looking at the numbers.

 

Overall, though, I think they've been inflated by having 3 or 4 absolute beatdowns they've been on the wrong side of (Nashville, Colorado, Toronto). They didn't have many (any?) of those last year

 

The Hawks only had 2 losses by more than 2 goals all season (playoffs included). Those were the first regulation loss of the season against Colorado (6-2) and Game 2 against Detroit (4-1)

[Guest]

our good friend mike smith is doing things again

 

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3734591/mike-smith-embellish.gif

[Banedon]

Yeah, it's in the NHL thread. :)

[biittner77]

our good friend mike smith is doing things again

 

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3734591/mike-smith-embellish.gif

 

First time I saw that I was thinking it would be poetic justice if he gave himself a concussion. I like how the ref pays no attention to him at all.

[Careless]

1 for 8 on the shootout to lose. blech

[UMFan83]

Some terrible shoot out attempts for both sides

[Butterscup1679666578]

shocking to me that Kane has zero shootout goals this year. yikes.

[kujay]

shocking to me that Kane has zero shootout goals this year. yikes.

 

I think I posted this in one of the hockey threads, but as of a few days ago Kane, Datsyuk and Tavares were all scoreless in the shootout so far this year.

[Banedon]

Kaner!

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/12/chicago-blackhawks-patrick-kane-patrick-sharp-jonathan-toews-holiday-video/

[UMFan83]

Awesome video.

 

PS, the Ducks have topped the Hawks in the West

[Banedon]

Awesome video.

 

PS, the Ducks have topped the Hawks in the West

 

Wallpapers from the video.

 

http://imgur.com/a/8xuKI

[UMFan83]

Out of curiosity, is it even worth a discussion of whether Kane has equaled or surpassed Toews in terms of overall ability?

 

Toews will always be the better two way player and I don't expect his point total to exceed Kane but Kaner has taken his game to a whole new level this year, it's pretty nuts because he was already damn good before.

[kujay]

Lololololol Mike Smith. Douche.

 

[kujay]

Out of curiosity, is it even worth a discussion of whether Kane has equaled or surpassed Toews in terms of overall ability?

 

Toews will always be the better two way player and I don't expect his point total to exceed Kane but Kaner has taken his game to a whole new level this year, it's pretty nuts because he was already damn good before.

 

I don't think anyone ever questioned that Kane had more offensive skill than Toews. Of course he does, though Toews is no slouch.

 

But what is overall ability? Here's what I'll say. A few years ago I'd have said Toews was more indispensable to this team. Not sure about that now.

[UMFan83]

So much for Toews scoring drought

[Guest]

hat trick for sharpie

[UMFan83]

hat trick for sharpie

 

Toews one shy of his own with a period to play.

[biittner77]

That game was not as close as the 7-2 score would indicate.