There Is Something To Play For...Really

With the Blackhawks playing out the string of games they have left in the regular season schedule, is there really anything to play for? Though it won't improve their chances of the post-season, the final couple weeks of the season is important for many in the organization. Starting with the coaching staff, Derek King is the interim coach of this team he inherited from Jeremy Colliton after he was fired earlier in the season. Since the Hawks made it known they wouldn't make a decision on a permanent head coach until the off-season, the rest of this regular season is King's audition of "real" life/game situations. He has to prove to the management he can guide this team away from it's losing ways to build and teach the present and future roster. Same goes with Marc Crawford who has been the co-coach with both King and Colliton. If Crawford is in charge of the defense (and penalty kill?), he's not doing a good job. Even though the Hawks made some personnel changes on the back-end (Jones, Jones, McCabe...), the defense and their defensive system is still a very weak spot. When King took over, the Hawks seemed slightly better, at first, but since the trade deadline they have sunk to the level of their play of the opening weeks of the season. The win-less streak is now at seven games and with only ten more games left, they might be lucky to win one or two of those. 

For the players, there are a lot of players on the current roster, which means each night there have been a number of healthy scratches. Last night, Dominik Kubalik, Henrik Borgstrom, Caleb Jones and Tyler Johnson took their turn in the press box and I can't help but think we won't be seeing a number of these players next season. Not sure why Gus still plays in the lineup with so many young defense prospects in the minors, considering he definitely won't be back. This team has too many third and fourth line players, so it's their opportunity to show management they want to be back. Lafferty, Entwistle, R. Johnson, Katchouk, as well as the previously mentioned players will be competing for a limited amount of positions, not to mention free agent signings, trades and prospects that could replace them. I'll go more in depth after the regular season is done.

Thoughts:

• Goals: The Hawks got a pair of goals from Esa Lindell in the first period. Actually, he deflected the puck into his own net for both goals, but the scoresheet credited, Philipp Kurashev and Jonathan Toews with the goals. Boris Katchouk got the "monkey off his back", literally (he even mimed it after the goal) when he scored his first goal/point with the Hawks since the trade. Kirby Dach scored a nice goal on the rush late in the game moments after Sam Laffery skated the same route around the Stars zone.

• Noticeable: Three of the goal scorers (Kurashev, Katchouk, Dach), caught my attention, at least through some of the game. Kurashev, who has been a healthy scratch often, got a chance to play with Kane and Toews and he carried the puck more than I've seen him all season. I guess it helps to play with skilled players instead of fourth lineers. Katchouk stood out, because it's sad to say, the fourth line seemed to be the only line that was engaged. they did what they have to do...hit, hit and hit. Effective! Dach's giveaway earlier in the game led to a goal for the Stars, but offensively Dach was carrying the puck with confidence and playing alongside Lafferty helps, because Lafferty digs out the puck and drives a lot of the play for the line.
• Not so good: Surprisingly, I barely noticed Patrick Kane for much of the game. Of course, during the power-play he's out there, but maybe his drive and intensity are waning due to so much losing. Not playing with the Cat and Strome definitely didn't help. Kevin Lankinen didn't help his cause for a job next season with the Hawks with an uneven performance in goal. He was replaced to start the third for Collin Delia, after giving up five goals.
  
• Erie Line: King reunited the Eric Otters junior line of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome and Taylor Raddysh for the whole game. Though they didn't do much, it would be worth it to keep them together for more games, this could be exciting. Also it would give management a better idea of Strome's value, seeing if he can still be effective not playing with Kane. I know the Cat can do it, but what about Dylan?
• Foley/Tallon: It was a treat to hear Pat Foley reunited with his former partner from Hawks broadcast from an evening of nostalgia and remembrance. I never had a chance to see/hear the Hawks TV broadcasts before the 2020's, so it was a joy to watch and listen to their stories of the old days. Dale Tallon has an unique perspective of the game, as a former player and as a NHL GM who built the Hawks championship team that won the cups and he also built the present day Florida Panthers, who are now a serious cup contender.

• The Blackhawks didn't do the Winnipeg Jets any favours. The Stars who led the Jets by 7 points before the night, maintained the lead as both the Stars and Jets won their games. Sorry Jets!
  

Up next: Hawks play again on Tuesday against the Kings.

Staying Up Late With The Hawks And The Ducks: Worth It!

The Blackhawks kicked off a West coast road trip in Anaheim with a close win against the struggling Ducks. This is the first game for both teams since the trade deadline on Monday and though the Hawks didn't add any new players from the deadline, it saw the return of Reese Johnson from injury. Johnson took the place of Ryan Carpenter on the 4th line, who was dealt to the Calgary Flames and Kevin Lankinen returned to the net after Marc Andre Fleury went to Minnesota.  It'll be up to Lankinen to carry the load for the rest of the season and hopefully he can improve on his 3 wins this season. 

Positives:

•  A win: is a win and any wins the Hawks get between now and the end of the regular season will only help the confidence of this fragile organization. With so many players (Kubalik, Strome, Kurachev, Lafferty, de Haan, C.Jones, Gustafsson, Lankinen) becoming free agents (UFA/RFA) this summer, this will be an opportunity for those players to show they want to stay, so I expect the team won't be coasting to the golf course just yet. The Hawks actually have more cap space than they've had in years, so they can afford to sign some of these players, so let's see who plays their way back and who plays themself off the team. Looking elsewhere is another option.

Dylan Strome's beautiful deflection was the game winning goal.

• Power-play: The Hawks PP went 2/3 and it has looked strong the last couple games. Brandon Hagel's spot on the PP has been replaced by Taylor Raddysh who has scored 2 goals (one last night) since he's joined the Hawks. When Strome, Kane, DeBrincat and Jones are on, the power-play can be lethal. You can't deny there is chemistry with the addition of Raddysh.
  

• Kevin Lankinen: As mentioned above, Lankinen isn't enjoying a good season, though he's played good at times, his inconsistent play (and bad bounces) has only given him 3 wins to show for it. Make that 4 wins after last night's win. He played extremely well, especially in the first period and maybe with more starts his confidence will bring him back to the level he was playing earlier last season. He will get the majority of starts, with Colin Delia called up from Rockford to back him up. The Blackhawks only have Arvid Soderblom signed to play goal next season, so it'll be up the Lankinen to prove he is worthy of a re-sign.

• Sam Lafferty: What can you say about Lafferty? Since he arrived in Chicago from the Pens, in a trade for Alex Nylander, he has been a major surprise, for not only dressing every night for the Hawks, but for his energetic, hard nose play. He has been noticeable and last night he had several grade A chances created from his speed and aggressive style, he seemed to be everywhere. His line with Kurachev and Dach actually had the second most ice time besides the Strome line. He reminds me of Hagel last season, who worked his ass off and created many of his own opportunities, but didn't have a scoring touch. Hagel found it this season and if Lafferty can finish more plays, he can be a very efficient player for the Hawks going forward. Definitely should be re-signed this summer.

Quick notes:

• It was 70 years ago (1952), when Bill Mosienko scored the three fastest goals in league history with 3 in 21 seconds. Blackhawks coach, Derek King scored 3 in 78 seconds when he played with the Islanders in 1991 which is the third fastest.
• Speaking of King, he and Ducks coach, Dallas Eakins were roommates when they both played for the Leafs back in 1998-99 and coached together with the Toronto Marlies starting in 2009. Just saying...
  

Up next: another late one against the LA Kings tonight at 9:00 pm CST. The Jets host the Sens at 7.