Circus Trip Over – And Yes, It Was Successful

There seems to be a lot of sour taste in mouths of Hawk fans coming off their annual Circus Trip, which ended Sunday with a 5-2 loss at the hands of the LA Kings. This sour taste, although understandable for the way the trip ended, really isn’t warranted. That kind of a road trip (especially the usually very unsuccessful Circus Trip) needs to be looked as a whole; not focusing on how it began and/or how it ended.

As you’ll recall (or won’t since you probably didn’t read my pre Circus Trip post), I said that Hawk fans should set their sights on the number 6. It didn’t matter how the Hawks got those 6 points, but getting 6 out of 12 was the goal for the road trip. I predicted they would get 7 and wouldn’t you know it, I actually got a prediction right! My genius aside though, the Hawks made this trip very successful, despite the way it ended.

The Good: In Phoenix, they were outplayed for much of the 2nd and 3rd periods, yet still found a way to prevail in a shootout. In Dallas, they dominated after a horrendous first then minutes and took advantage of a struggling Marty Turco. In Toronto, they started sluggish but clawed and fought back to earn an OT victory. In San Jose, they played with (and outplayed at times) the best team in the NHL, only to lose a heartbreaker in OT…while losing their starting goaltender near the end of the 2nd period.

The Bad: The 1-0 loss to the Ducks, minus Jean-Sébastien Giguère. Jonas Hiller played well for the Ducks, but the Hawks missed two or three golden opportunities, helping Hiller secure the shutout. A frustrating loss to say the least.

The Ugly: The Hawks came out in Sunday’s game flat. Despite leading 2-1 after the first period, it was just one of those games that you could never feel good about. Cristobal Huet played well for the Hawks, despite giving up 4 goals. The only goal I really fault him for was the third goal, where he left a crucial rebound that was put in behind him. The Hawks, in my opinion, looked like a team playing its sixth road game on a six game road trip, while also playing back to back afternoon games less than 24 hours apart. And credit has to be given to the Kings. We’ve had our troubles with them in the past and they looked much improved from last year and will be a tough game for almost any team this season.

Again, in the end, the Hawks finished the trip at a very respectable 3-2-1, earning seven points. Would Hawk fans have liked to see it end differently? Of course. Eight or nine points would have been spectacular. But don’t let the way it ended blind you from the seven points they earned on the trip. I’m not sure how people feel about me quoting myself, but what I said two weeks ago still applies and will continue to apply throughout the season…

“If the Hawks can stay relatively healthy over the course of the season, they’ll be fine. They’re still the 2nd youngest team in the NHL and Q has only been behind the bench a little over a month. They’re still going to have their ups and downs, because a team like this, like it or not, has the tendency to be streaky. So get ready to ride the wave the next couple of months and watch this young Hawk team grow into its own.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself…

A few Circus Trip Notes:

-The Patricks (Kane and Sharp, duh!) led the Hawks with 4 goals each on the trip. Kane ended the trip with seven points while Sharp had five.
-Coach Q benched, ironically, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane during the second period of the game vs. Phoenix for both taking stupid penalties. Kudos to Coach Q for that move.
-Nikolai Khabibulin was injured late in the second period against the Sharks. There hasn't been much official information since then, outside of him being listed as day-to-day. Hopefully he's not out for too long. Corey Crawford was called up from Rockford to back up Huet while Khabibulin is out.

Khabibulin Named Week’s 3rd Star in NHL. Nylander Now? No Thanks.

Let me start by saying that the Hawks starting off 3-0 on this road trip is great. Before this trip started, I stated that Hawk fans should set their sights on the six points. It didn’t matter when/how the Hawks got those six points, but I didn’t see it happening this quick. And now, it’s impossible not to want more out of it…like nine or ten points.

I didn’t get the opportunity to watch the game against the Leafs on Saturday night. (Instead, I wasted four hours watching an inept, poorly coached and intense less Notre Dame football team lay an egg against a lowly Syracuse team…and then passed out only to wake up after the game had finished) I, however, have read the articles and watched the video recap and have to say, I’m quite impressed. That’s the type of game you love to be on the winning side of. They were outplayed for a better part of the first half of the game, yet somehow continue to push, dominate the Leafs in the 3rd period and prevail in overtime. Awesome…just awesome.

I know a couple of weeks ago, I stated that the Hawks were probably going to have to end up trading Khabibulin and that I was ok with that. However, things change and so did my mind on this issue. The Hawks CANNOT trade Khabibulin right now. It’s clear he has earned the #1 starting spot in front of Huet and one would have to believe that the Hawks feel more confident when Q announces Khabibulin as the starter every night he’s in net.

Do I think the Hawks still need that true second line center to be serious contenders this year? Yes, undoubtedly yes. However, I’m not sold on Nylander. He’s 36 and would bring a hefty price tag for the Hawks this year and in the two years to follow. We could always hope he plays well and then turn and trade him after the year, but you just can’t count on that.

The whole goalie situation was a mess before the season started. But almost 1/5 the way in, I’d say that it’s a good mess to be in. I still believe Huet is the Hawks future goalie after this year. Having almost $12 million in goalies is not usually in the plans before a season starts, but that’s where the Hawks are now and things seem to be working well. If they want to move Sopel and/or Byfuglien to nab a second line center, then I’m all for that. But the goalie situation, no matter how big of a mess it appears to be on paper, is working right now. We’ll need to rely on Huet later in the season when Khabby hits a cold streak and vice a versa. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…at least now right now; and not for Michael Nylander.


Here’s the write-up from the Blackhawks website on Khabibulin’s 3rd star recognition:

Khabibulin posted a 3-0-0 record with a 2.90 goals-against average and .918 save percentage as the Blackhawks (10-4-5, 25 points) began their six-game road trip with three consecutive victories. Khabibulin stopped 36 shots and both shootout attempts in a 3-2 victory at Phoenix Nov. 18, made 31 saves in a 6-3 victory at Dallas Nov. 20 and finished the week with 34 stops in a 5-4 overtime victory at Toronto Nov. 22. Khabibulin improved his season record to 7-1-4 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. He has not suffered a regulation loss in his past 11 appearances, going 7-0-4 since Oct. 15.

Preview - Blackhawks @ Stars 7:30pm CST

The Blackhawks and Stars will face off for the second time this season tonight at 7:30pm CST at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The Stars will try to avenge their 5-2 loss back on Halloween at the United Center.

This is a very winnable game for the Hawks and I have to say I feel more comfortable now that I know Khabibulin will be making the start between the pipes tonight for the Hawks. The Stars, interestingly enough, lead the NHL in goals for and against while playing at home; which, obviously, is a good and bad thing for the Hawks.

The key thing for the Hawks tonight is easy: STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX. Okay, I admit, they won’t “stay out” entirely. But they have to cut back on the number of stupid penalties they commit 180 feet away from Khabibulin, especially when they are already on the power play. If they can accomplish this tonight, I find it hard to see them losing this one unless Marty Turco has an unreal game in net for the Stars.

After a not so deserved two points on Tuesday night, I find this to be a key game for the Hawks to gain some momentum for toughest stretch of the Circus Trip at the Leafs, Sharks and Ducks before ending the trip at the Kings.

Blackhawks Still Trying To Acquire Nylander, Deal Getting Closer

Over at The Fourth Period, they are reporting that the Blackhawks are moving closer towards a deal that would bring Michael Nylander back to Chicago.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/chi081119.html


The possibility of moving Sopel sounds like it's a both welcoming and possible option for the Hawks. I know Khabibulin will probably not finish the season with the Hawks, but with the way he's playing right now, I really do not want to see him go.

Bulin Wall Stellar – but Hawks still fall in Shootout

Last night, the Chicago Blackhawks faced off against, to my surprise, a very good Boston Bruins team. The game started off almost the entire opposite way the game started off Sunday night against the Flames with the Hawks on the powerplay for the majority of the first period. Despite getting off 18 1st period shots, the Hawks were unable to find the back of the net.

From my thoughts at the game, our powerplay was pretty poor last night. They had trouble gaining the zone and once they did, it was tough to keep the puck in for an extended period of time. When they did get shots off, they were not the high quality chances you like to see on the powerplay. Most of the shots came from further back in the zone and when it looked like they had set up a good screen, the shot wouldn’t find its way all the way to the goaltender. When a team spends that much time on the powerplay in the first period and cannot convert, it usually doesn’t bode well for the momentum and confidence for the rest of the game.

After the first period, the Bruins seemed to gain almost all of the momentum from then on out. They notched a key powerplay goal late in the 2nd period. Jonathan Toews did tie it at 1-1 on a powerplay goal midway through the 3rd period, but were clearly outplayed after period one. The Bruins, after the 1st period, outshot the Hawks 33-14, including an 8-1 advantage in the OT.

The Hawks had a golden opportunity in the OT when Patrick Sharp was hauled down from behind when he was on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Sharpie didn’t convert and they eventually lost in the shootout.

The biggest story of the night (after the Pilote/Magnuson retirement ceremony of course) was Nikolai Khabibulin’s play between the pipes last night. The guy was absolutely magnificent last night. He wasn’t just making all the saves he should make, he was making all the saves he should not have made as well. He had multiple saves stretching from one post to the other, was in great position all night and just absolutely stood on his head for the Hawks. The Hawks really had no business receiving any points last night, but Khabibulin almost earned that point for the Hawks entirely by himself. I don’t care that Tim Thomas got the win or played pretty well himself, Khabibulin was better last night…albeit in a loss.

After the game, during my drive home, I heard Adam Burish talking on the radio. He talked about how that was a good game and test for them to have. Sure, they would always like to win 6-2 and have the ability to relax in the 3rd period, but last night’s game resembles playoff hockey. I know people don’t like to hear the “it’s a good learning experience” line, but for this team, it was.

Few Notes:

-Jonathan Toews scored his 2nd goal in 2 games. After going goalless for the first 12 games, he now has a goal streak!

-Our penalty kill continues to play extremely well. I think Burish had four blocked shots last night. If people still have the qualms about him, fine. But at least admit his work on the penalty kill this year has been tremendous.

-The ceremony for Pilote and Magnuson was a really awesome experience to witness first hand. I knew a little about Magnuson (and have his autograph) before last night, but outside of a short email from my Dad yesterday, knew nothing about Pilote. The #3 on the Hawks sweater will forever be represented by two great hockey players; and more importantly, great people.

-To the kid sitting next to me last night, you were probably the most annoying type of Hawks fan around. Constantly complaining about their play and saying "Come on Campbell (or insert popular player's name)" like it was cool that you knew who all the popular players names were. It was great to hear you say "This is bullshit" referring to the Hawks powerplay exactly three seconds before they scored. Get over yourself.

Martin Brodeur Out 3-4 Months

So as a Hawks fan, you may be asking “Why do I care?” Here’s why you care. Currently, the Blackhawks have 2 goalies in Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin who are both playing really well (outside of what some Hawk fans will tell you). Khabibulin is ranked 10th in both GAA and Save % (2.38 and .919 respectively) while Huet is ranked 12th in GAA and 13th in Save % (2.73 and .910 respectively). It’s a good mess to be in…for the time being. At some point, we’re going to have to ship one of these guys away. And most likely, it’s going to be Khabibulin and his $6.75M.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Khabibulin. However, I ultimately think it will benefit the Hawks…especially, Cristobal Huet. Once he is officially the #1 goalie in Chicago and starting the majority of games, I think we’re finally going to see what he’s capable of (similar to what we saw on Saturday night @ Columbus with 48 saves on 51 shots).

I looked over the Devils roster and I’m not really sure what/who would benefit us and who the Devils are going to be willing to trade. But I have to think that the Devils are going to be shopping for another goalie now that Brodeur is officially out for a good chunk of the season. Unless they want to stick with Kevin Weekes, but I just don’t see that happening.

Dealing for Khabibulin may put the Devils in a tricky situation when Brodeur does return, but if Khabibulin is playing well for the Devils, he would probably be pretty easy for them to unload him at the trade deadline. 3-4 months is a long time to lean on your backup goaltender. If the Devils are smart, they’ll at least take a long look at acquiring the Bulin Wall.