Hawks are Getting Hot

I guess of all the contributing writers to this blog, I seem to be the only one that still remembers it exists (not sure how many people actually read this, so for all I know, I'm just talking to myself). With that being said, sit back, relax, and enjoy some savory words from the Cure.

Since my last Blackhawks post, Joel Quinneville and the rest of the Blackhawks staff must have said something right because the Hawks have been on a tear. They are 4-1-0 in their last 5 games, out shooting their opponents 165-96 and are 15/17 in penalty kills. The one aspect that is still lacking though is power play goals (they are 3/17). Sharp, Keith, and Barker each had 2 G, while Campbell had 5 A and Toews had 1 G and 4 A.

Antti Niemi (2-0-0) has looked great in this stretch, playing with confidence and making good plays with the puck when it is dumped behind the net. Cristobal Huet, while sporting a 2-1-0 record in the past 5 games, still does not appear to be comfortable in the crease. He seems to always be early to drop into the butterfly, making him vulnerable up top. In my opinion, you need to play the hot goalie. In this instance, the Hawks should start Niemi for the time being and have Huet play 1 of every 3-4 games. I know this seems like a waste since he is being paid as much as he is, but are the Hawks more worried about winning or making sure to play their top paid players? Go with Niemi. Hopefully Huet will come around.

This stretch has included some pretty memorable games, such as the win against the Avalanche in which it took 9 rounds in the shootout for Andrew Ladd to burry home the winning goal. Also, there was the 6-5 OT win against the flames in which the Blackhawks overcame a 5-0 deficiet, the largest in NHL history. Though, there have also been negative memories, such as the 4-3 loss to the Stars in which the decisive goal came off a dump in that ricocheted off the board and bounced past Huet.

If nothing else, this 5 game stretch has sure proven how entertaining the Hawks will be the remainder of the season. Hopefully though, the exciting will be from goal scoring and not digging ourselves out of 5-0 holes.