HokkeyNutt

"Here Comes the Hawks, the Mighty Blackhawks!"

Lindenhurst, IL • United States • 46 Years Old • Male

6-0 start for the Mighty Blackhawks

(sorry its been a long time since I have posted)

Wow a 6-0 start for the Mighty Blackhawks, can you believe it?

I don't, and I could not imagine the Hawks starting the 2013 campaign at 6-0. So it’s six in a row to start the year and now the beloved embark on a pretty nasty looking six game road trip (it looks even nastier with travelling to the undefeated Sharks on February 5th). Although, I love the Hawks start, let me remind you that the primary focus is winning Lord Stanley's Cup. Many teams have had great starts to a season only to lose in the playoffs or not even make the playoffs. You have probably heard by now that the current NHL record for the longest winning streak to start a season is 10 games by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993-94. That year the Maples Leafs ended up being the 3rd seed in the playoffs and lost in the Conference Finals to the Canuckleheads. The Ottawa Senators started the 2007-08 season with a 13-1 record only to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Penguins 4-0. Heck even the Hawks started off 4-0 in 1972-73 and then went 3-7-2 in their next 12 games. That year the Hawks lost in the Cup Finals to the Canadiens four games to two. I am not trying to ruin the party, its exciting to watch the Hawks have such a great start this season but this will mean nothing to me unless this team continues to improve and brings home another Cup in June.

Regarding last night's victory over the scum from Detroit …
It was another clutch performance by the Crow and the Hawks penalty kill, primarily Frolik and Krugs. These two saw increased ice time on the pk and it was well deserved as the Hawks killed all six of Detroit's power plays including four in the 2nd period (one a 5 on 3), improving to 22 of 23 this season. Six games is a small sample but in this case accounts for 1/8 of the season. So far the Blackhawks rank fourth in goals scored and sixth in goals allowed in the NHL. The power play is tenth best while the penalty killing unit ranks second. The Hawks discipline has been very good as they are the fourth least penalized team in the league.

Other stuff…
– This is the bad part of only playing Western Conference foes in a shortened season: Every OT game hands over a point that could prove to be crucial in the division race and battle for playoff seeding. With Detroit unable to find its scoring touch, a regulation victory was there for the taking, but …
– The Hawks looked completely gassed in the third period on the end of back-to-back games. That’s understandable, especially given they played most of the second period shorthanded. Though it’s frustrating to give up a point to the Deadwings, the flip side of that is the Hawks got two points when they didn’t appear they’d even snatch one at times.
– The Hawks have won four straight against Detroit, dating back to Feb. 21, 2012.
– Congrats Crow! The Blackhawks wall in front of the net has been named the NHL's Second Star of the Week!
– Johnny Oduya and the Hammer are a +8 and a +6 respectively.
– Interestingly, Keith is a -4 and Brent Seabrook is a -5.
– Andrew Shaw and rookie Brandon Saad have yet to record a point.
– Has anyone seen Sharpie?

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