The Ice Times, They Are A-Changin’

Now that the Blackhawks are 32 games into the season, we have an ample enough sample size to take a look at a key issue: Average time on ice.  Specifically, Duncan Keith’s average time on ice.

For whatever reason, fans have been somewhat worried with the heavy workload Duncan Keith is shouldering this year.  Keith, so far, is averaging 26:46 minutes of ice time, good for third in the league behind Dan Boyle and Jay Bouwmeester.  Last year, Keith averaged 25:34 minutes of ice time which put him at 8th in the league.  So my 6 year-old cousin could tell of us he’s averaging a full minute higher so far this year.  Not really a huge difference.

 The argument is that Keith wore out last year because of his heavy workload and his play subsequently suffered.  I’m just not sure what number would appease people.  22 minutes?  20 minutes?  This isn’t exactly like keeping pitchers below 100 pitches to save their arm strength. 

Duncan Keith has become the number one defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks.  He’s also been the only defenseman on the Hawks to see a regular shift on the power play, which would tell you he’s an elite number one defenseman.  Elite number one defensemen average well over 25 minutes a night.  Take a look at some of the other names on the average time on ice leaders: Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Mark Streit, Sergei Gonchar, Niklas Lidstrom.  Those guys play in ALL situations.

If he can’t make it through a season while averaging upwards of 25 minutes a night, then maybe the Hawks shouldn’t have signed him to a lifetime contract. 

That’s not to say the Hawks made a mistake in signing him to that deal.  Quite the opposite actually.  Bob and I are both of the mindset that if you’re good enough to be a top-4 defensemen on Team Canada, then you’re probably pretty good at hockey.

As for Keith needing more rest.  Sure, it would be good to see his minutes cut back in games where the Hawks are winning comfortably.  Unfortunately, Joel Quenneville and Assistant Coach Mike Haviland haven’t exactly had the chance to.  The last two games, the Hawks were up big late (And in the Blues game, they actually lost Barker to an injury in the third.  The Hawks’ coaches would’ve had needed a DUI test after the game if they decided to give Jordan Hendry heavy minutes in a three goal game.), but before that the Hawks haven’t exactly been stepping on throats.   Let’s take a closer look:

• December 1st: Shootout win against Columbus.  Your number one defenseman doesn’t miss a shift in a game like this.
• December 4th: 4-1 loss to Nashville.  This was a one goal game with two minutes left.  Even if they wanted to rest him, they didn’t have enough time to.
• December 5th: Overtime win in Pittsburgh.  See Columbus win.
• December 9th: Overtime win against the Rangers.  See Columbus and Pittsburgh wins.
• December 11th: 2-1 loss to Buffalo.  He’s not going to sit in a one-goal game.

This isn’t a recent trend either.  You can go back to the beginning of the season and you’ll find that the Hawks are playing a ton of close games.  Not to mention, they’re playing in a division with two teams (Nashville and Detroit) breathing right down their necks.  Quenneville isn’t going to play Russian Roulette with two points at the sake of shaving a couple minutes off Duncan Keith’s ice time.

Maybe if there was some magic number like a pitch count where there was statistical evidence that players aren’t the same if they cross a certain threshold, I would buy more into this theory.  For instance, if someone could prove that if players average over 25 minutes a night, they are more prone to breakdown at the end of the season and/or more suspectible to career-threatening injuries later in their career, then I would be leading the ‘Rest Keith’ bandwagon. 

Otherwise, I’m going to stick to my theory that a 26 year-old elite number one defenseman should be able to handle the workload Duncan Keith is getting.

Blackhawks 3, Blues 0

It took a little while for the Blackhawks to get their bearings but while they waited, Cristobal Huet kept them in the game early.  He made a couple of tough saves in the first five minutes that helped keep the score at 0.  Then, the Hawks started to get a little pressure on the Blues.  Then, a little became a lot.  Soon, the Blues were having trouble getting the puck into the neutral zone.

The Hawks’ pressure finally culminated in a goal after a Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane cycle found its way to Troy Brouwer’s stick.  Brouwer fired a shot from the top of the circles and the puck squirted through Ty Conklin’s legs.  It was a historic goal as it was the first time Conklin ever let in a soft goal against the Blackhawks. 

Three minutes later and with the Hawks on the power play, Kane fed Kris Versteeg behind the net.  Versteeg turned and passed it to a wide open Brian Campbell.  Campbell collected the puck, took one step and wired a shot into the top corner and just like that, the Hawks opened up a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks ended up outshooting the Blues 21-9 in the opening frame.

The second started much like the first; St. Louis got some decent pressure, Huet made the necessary saves, and then the Hawks tried putting the game away.  Unfortunately, Conklin wouldn’t make it that easy.  He stopped Versteeg on a full blown 2-on-0 and then got a blocker on John Madden’s point blank shot from 25 feet out. 

After the Hawks killed off a penalty late in the period, Toews, Kane, and Hossa found themselves back together.  Kane found Toews behind the net who made a nifty move to spin off a check and then slid a back-hand pass to a wide open Marian Hossa.  The puck was on Hossa’s stick for a quarter of a second and then it was in the back of the net.

Both teams traded chances in the third but neither team found the back of the net with both goalies making solid saves.  Fortunately for the Hawks, they already had a 3-0 lead and it was more than enough for the two points. 

Quickies

–Something weird was going on with Gene Honda tonight.  For the first two periods, during power plays, he was announcing how much time was left.  For instance, on a Blues power play in the second, he announced when there was a minute and a half left, a minute left, thirty seconds left, and ten seconds.  Even Pat Foley got thrown off after hearing Honda’s announcement when he said Huet’s big save came in the last minute of the period.  The only problem was there was still five and a half minutes left.  In the third, Honda wasn’t updating the penalty time.

–I wonder if someone told Dustin Byfuglien that he was one of the six finalists for the last three spots on Team USA.  Byfuglien was probably the Hawks best forward tonight.  He was all over the rink, hitting anything that moved, and creating turnovers.  For the second game in a row, he smoked an opposing player, who was taking liberties with the Hawks better players, with a clean check on the boards.  This time, Barrett Jackman caught the brunt of Big Buff.  Jackman did the heroic thing, though, by getting in Byfuglien’s face and then backing away as soon as his teammates surrounded him.

–Cam Janssen, next year’s leading candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

–If John McDonough had a problem with how Brent Seabrook’s head was positioned in a post-game interview, I can’t imagine he was too pleased after hearing Patrick Kane’s post-game interview with Sarah Kustok.  Kane started off by making sure to give a shout-out to his ‘boys’ in the audience and then spent another five minutes rambling like he just chased a box of ‘No-Doze’ pills with a six-pack of Red Bull.

–This was probably Cristobal Huet’s best game of the season.  Save for a shot that trickled through his legs in the final few minutes of the game, Huet controlled every shot that was thrown his way.  By my completely unscientific count, I only recall one sequence where he gave out a juicy rebound.  Every thing else, he either soaked up or kicked out to the corner. 

*On the Farm* 

–Shawn Lalonde went from being cut by Team Canada’s World Junior Team in the morning to Belleville in the evening for his team’s game.  He had an assist and was a +3 in the Bulls 4-1 win over the Brampton Battalion.

–Byron Froese didn’t have a point in Everett’s 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos.

–Kyle Beach had an assist in Spokane’s 3-2 loss to the Portland Winterhawks.  With the score tied 2-2 late in the third, Beach was sent off for goaltender interference.  Portland scored the winning goal on the ensuing power play.  Then, in the waning seconds of the game, Beach was sent off for a 10 minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Mockin’ You

With the Blackhawks and Blues set to face-off for the first time this season and our first look at 2006 1st overall pick Erik Johnson in almost two years thanks to a golf-carting mishap, there’s no better time than now to take a look back at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.  In just three seasons, the draft has already produced more quality players than many other drafts can boast.  Other than the 2003 Draft, this may go down as the most loaded draft of the decade.

With all this being said, allow us to re-write history and present to you the first ever “Fifth Feather Mock Draft” of what the 2006 draft would look like if it were to take place tomorrow.  Because we’re still only three years removed from the draft, a lot of the later round picks have yet to develop (We’re waiting on you, Igor Makarov and Simon Danis-Pepin).  Therefore, there’s only enough to fill out the first 15 spots.  Come back in another two years and maybe we’ll have the first three rounds filled out. 

Please note that these are just our opinions.  This is not the Gospel According to John and Bob.  In fact, in two weeks, this whole mock draft may be completely turned upside down by Jonathan Bernier going on a 9-game winning streak for the L.A. Kings.  Feel free to air your disagreements.

And the first overall pick is…..

1.  Jonathan Toews (Original 2006 Draft Spot- 3rd Pick, 1st Round, CHI)–There have been players out of this draft who have scored more points than Jonathan Toews so far, but none have the total game Toews can boast about.  He’s a captain of an Original Six franchise, he’s an elite two-way player at 21 years old, he’s become one of the best face-off men in the league.  You know the rest.

2. Nicklas Backstrom (4th Pick, 1st Round, WSH)–Sure, it helps to play with Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, but there’s no denying the play-making abilities of Backstrom.  In his first two seasons, he’s racked up 55 and 66 assists, respectively.  This year, he’s well on his way to passing those numbers with already 27 assists in 33 games.  Backstrom was just one big piece of Washington’s puzzle from this draft that has helped turn them into a true Cup contender (Foreshadowing alert!!!)

3.  Semyon Varlamov (23rd pick, 1st Round, WSH)–When Washington signed Jose Theodore to a two-year deal two summers ago, it was done with the idea that Varlamov would be ready to handle the reins when his deal expired.  Consider him early.  After arriving in time for the playoffs last year, Varlamov helped the Capitals get past an upstart Rangers squad and took the eventual champion Penguins to Game 7 before laying an egg.  Varlamov has come back this year as an early Vezina candidate by winning 12 of his first 16 starts with a 92% save percentage.  

4. Erik Johnson (1st pick, 1st Round, STL)–Ace defensemen don’t grow on trees and that’s why even though he missed all of last year with a freak knee injury, Erik Johnson would still be a top-5 pick in this draft class.  Johnson has responded with four goals and seventeen assists in 30 games so far this year.  The lone defenseman in our mock draft has more than enough time to justify his first overall selection.  There’s a very good chance that when we take a look back after all these players are retired that Johnson may be the best player from this class. 

5. Phil Kessel (5th pick, 1st Round, BOS)–The fifth overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft would still be the fifth overall pick of our mock draft.  After a well-documented contract squabble with the Boston Bruins this summer, Kessel is playing the best hockey of his career.  So far, he’s a point-per-game player with 12 goals in just 21 games.  This all coming off a season when he potted over 30 goals for the first time in his career with 36 for Boston. 

6. Steve Mason (69th pick, 3rd Round, CLB)–Last year’s Calder Trophy winner is a perfect example of why teams should never waste a top-10 pick on a goalie in a “real” draft.  Taken in the third round, Mason had all the looks of being a franchise goalie for Columbus last year when he led the league in shutouts with 10.  This year is another story, but you’d be hard pressed to see a team wait three rounds to draft him again. 

7. Jordan Staal (2nd pick, 1st Round, PIT)–It’s scary to think the Penguins could be trotting out a lineup with three centers of Crosby, Malkin, and Toews.  Instead, they chose Jordan Staal with the second pick, who has fit in nicely as their third line checking center.  In four seasons, Staal has already scored 20 goals twice and is on pace to cross the threshold again.  Unfortunately, the aforementioned six players are simply more skilled than Staal to justify making him a top-5 pick again. 

8. Kyle Okposo (7th pick, 1st Round, NYI)–Okposo was one of the lone bright spots on a dreadful Islanders team last year.  In 65 games, he scored 18 goals and had 21 assists.  Playing on a much more talented squad this year, Okposo is playing some of the best hockey of his young career.  He’s scored 5 goals this year to go along with 17 assists in 32 games played.  At this point of the season, he’s got a really strong chance to represent Team USA in February.

9. Bryan Little (12th pick, 1st Round, ATL)–Last year, Bryan Little had the most fortunate opportunity of centering a line for Ilya Kovalchuk.  What resulted was 31 goals in his first full season.  This year, Little isn’t playing the pivot on Kovalchuck’s line so his numbers have taken a bit of a dive; he has 3 goals and 9 assists thus far.  Nevertheless, centers who can pot 30 goals don’t grow on trees and Little is definitely worthy of being a top-10 pick in our mock draft.

10. Michael Frolik (10th pick, 1st Round, FLA)–Frolik burst on the scene last year by scoring 21 goals with 24 assists.  He’s followed up his rookie campaign by giving the Panthers some solid play on the wing this year with 9 goals and 9 assists in 34 games.  At just 21 years old, Frolik’s stock may continue to rise in this class as the years pass on.

11. Derick Brassard (6th pick, 1st Round, CLB)–This pick is made more out of potential than perhaps any other pick in this mock draft.  Brassard was well on his way to winning the Calder last year when he decided to partake in a fight, which resulted in him seperating his shoulder and ending his season.  Brassard isn’t scoring at the same pace as he was last year, but he’s still such an intriguing talent that it’d be really hard to pass up on him at this point. 

12. Chris Stewart (18th pick, 1st Round, COL)–With teammates Paul Stastny, Ryan O’Reilly, and Matt Duchene occupying most of the opposition’s attention, Stewart has been able to be a key contributor for the upstart Avalanche this year.  He’s already set a career-high in points with 21 and is on pace to crack the 20 goal mark in his first full NHL campaign.

13. Claude Giroux (22nd pick, 1st Round, PHI)–Giroux received the call-up to the Flyers last year after being a point-per-game player for their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms.  After having some mild success in the regular season, Giroux proved he belonged when put together a solid post-season by scoring 2 goals with 3 assists in his team’s 6 games.  This year, he’s been logging top-6 minutes for the Flyers and is part of a young nucleus that should make them an intriguing team for years to come.

14. Milan Lucic (50th pick, 2nd Round, BOS)–Lucic is a perfect example of the hybrid hockey player the 21st century calls for: he can score, he can hit, he can drop the mitts, and he’s skilled enough to play on special teams.  Unfortunately, Lucic’s rough and tumble style doesn’t lend itself to longevity.  In his three seasons, he’s yet to play in 80 games.

15. Peter Mueller (8th pick, 1st Round, PHX)–After a rookie season where he scored 22 goals and 32 assists, Mueller looked like he was going to be the Coyotes’ number one center for years to come.  Not to mention, he looked like he was going to be Team USA’s next Mike Modano.  What followed was a disappointing second season and now, a horrific third season where he’s scored just one goal in 28 games.  Maybe if Mueller ever gets out of Phoenix, we’ll get a better understanding of what kind of player he is.  For now, he’s still intriguing enough to be the last pick of our mock draft, but consider this his final notice.

*On the Farm*

–Kyle Beach scored his 24th goal of the year and had an assist in Spokane’s 3-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds.

–Though by all accounts, they had solid tryouts, Shawn Lalonde and Dylan Olsen were both cut from Team Canada’s World Juniors squad on Wednesday morning.  It was an uphill battle for them to make it with three returning defensemen off last year’s gold medal squad.

Lightning Strikes Twice

- We talked about it last season and yesterday morning, but something has to be done about the ice girls and their entrances onto the ice during television time-outs. I mean, who trained these chicks, Pavlov? Every time the red light between the penalty boxes comes on – whether it should have or not – the bimbos flood the ice, the 12-man conflict notwithstanding.

Every time the light flips, on cue, these scantily-clad women and their wheelbarrow-carrying friends come rushing into the rink like they’re Samuel L. Jackson’s only hope to get snakes off a plane. It doesn’t seem to concern them that all they’re really doing is introducing 10 shovels into an ongoing hockey melee.

Someone is going to get hurt. And, while that would be awesomely entertaining – and terrifically gratifying considering our long-time warnings – I’d prefer not to have to watch what happens when Steve Downie, a group of hot women, bubbling testosterone and shovels mix.

- After the physical hi jinks of Todd Fedoruk, Steve Downie and Matt Smaby on Sunday night, the obligatory discussion involving the acquisition of a truer enforcer came up on Monday.

Our stance remains unchanged: There is absolutely room in the NHL for an “eye-for-an-eye-tooth-for-a-tooth” physical game, but not at the cost of a capable fourth line. In the Hawks’ case, its fourth line has been a staple of its success for the past two seasons, consistently racking up significant minutes on a nightly basis since then. Adding an enforcer would likely change that – not to mention destroy the delicate salary cap situation.

Moreover, I’m reminded of Ben Frankin’s definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In Todd Fedoruk’s case, the man has steel plates in his face – compliments of plastic surgeon extraordinaire Dr. Derek Boogaard himself – and other assorted gruesome reminders of injuries past. Those haven’t stopped him from running his mouth and goaltenders during games that have slipped away; after all, it’s his job, and the man is apparently insane. Combating insanity is a job for doctors – not enforcers.

Finally, watch any game from 25 years ago, and you’ll see why having one player who could barely stand – much less contribute for eight to ten minutes a night – wasn’t a real problem.

- While all reports indicate he suffered only a facial laceration and will be available for tomorrow’s divisional game against the Blues, it’s a damn shame Patrick Kane left Sunday’s game so prematurely. Kane has been absolutely masterful the past week, looking like a (boyish) man against boys, seemingly moving wherever he’d like on the ice.

His goal on Sunday may well serve as the point of reference for his transformation from “rising star” to “superstar.” Coming down the ice on his backhand side, Kane did what only an elite few NHL snipers – read: Ovechkin, Kessel, Cammalleri (last night) – can do: he turned his body, lifted a leg and blasted a quick snap shot far side past the goaltender.

Thank you, Sir, may I have another?

While Kane’s passing is the stuff of legend and his skating is much improved, his vastly underrated shot may well be what separates him from other top-end NHL talent.

- With all the 5-on-3 problems the Hawks have experienced this season, you think they’d try the obvious: keeping the same personnel and philosophy as on the 5-on-4. Yes, the 5-on-3 includes one less man for the opposition and generally a more closed and sedentary defensive set-up, but why the drastic change when compared to the more typical power play?

It seems the Hawks are victims of their own ineptitude on the two-man advantage, willing to try most anything but the obvious. Teams seem more inclined to take away the cross-ice pass against the Hawks in these situations – surprise, surprise – and that puts a lot of pressure on the point men to make solid decisions and handle the puck.

Enter stage left – for an as-yet unknown reason – Dustin Byfuglien. Now, while I spent most of last season defending Byfuglien, I’ll freely admit the last place he belongs is up top on a 5-on-3 power play. His big shot is certainly appealing from the point, but his puck-carrying, passing, pass-catching and decision-making skills are suspect at best; why he’s the centerpiece of the two-man advantage is anyone’s guess.

Put Keith, Barker, Campbell or Seabrook up there and move on.

Blackhawks 4, Lightning 0

Sooner or later, the Hawks were going to erupt.  It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.  Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The Hawks got on the board seven and a half minutes into the game when Duncan Keith intercepted a pass in the neutral zone.  He fed it to a streaking Patrick Kane who snapped a shot over Antero Nittymaki’s right shoulder to put the Hawks on the board. 

Six minutes later, Kane was skating for a loose puck in the Tampa Bay zone.  With Kane skating towards the boards, Lightning defenseman Matt Smaby stuck his stick in between Kane’s feet and sent him sprawling to the boards.  Kane banged the side of his head on the ice and for good measure, hit the boards with his whole body at full speed.  He wouldn’t return to the game. 

For whatever reason, the injury seemed to temporarily knock the wind out of the Hawks.  Even with a full minute and ten seconds of a two-man advantage, the Hawks generated very little pressure. 

Joel Quenneville may disagree here, but even though the Hawks didn’t score on the 5-on-3, the game wasn’t immediately a lost cause. 

In the second period, the Hawks had to kill off a 5-on-3 of their own.  They did, with Antti Niemi making the necessary saves and the Blackhawk defenders sweeping all the humongous rebounds out of harm’s way. 

Just a couple minutes after killing off the penalties, Marian Hossa beat Victor Hedman to a loose puck in the Lightning zone.  With his partner Matt Walker (SURPRISE!!!) overcommitting to Hossa, the front of the net was wide open.  Hossa flicked a back-hand pass to Ben Eager and all Eager needed to do was tap it in the empty net. 

Hossa wasn’t finished there.

With under thirty seconds left in the period, Hossa picked an errant Patrick Sharp pass out of the air, dropped it to his stick, and in one motion with the puck never touching the ice, Hossa batted it right through Nittymaki’s legs.

Jonathan Toews finished the scoring in the third when he banged in a Dustin Byfuglien rebound.  Toews sprung Byfuglien in the neutral zone and with a full head of steam, Byfuglien cranked a snap shot from the right hash mark.  Nittymaki kicked out the big rebound and Toews was more than happy to deposit the puck into the empty net.

Quickies 

–Whoever is in charge of calling tv timeouts at the United Center is doing an awful job.  Two games in a row, the guy inadvertently turned on the red light following an icing.  On Wednesday night, it nearly led to an Ice Girl getting skulled by the referee.  On Sunday, there was a bit of a scuffle following an icing before WGN cut away to a commercial.  They came back to the action 15 seconds later.  How hard is it to remember there’s no tv timeouts following an icing?  It’s not like this rule recently came into affect.  Maybe, someone under the age of 74 should be in charge down there.

–Matt Smaby was nearly successful in his attempts to completely destroy the Blackhawks season.  After taking out Kane with a dangerous play in the first period, he took a dirty and unnecessary run at Jonathan Toews with just under two minutes left in the second period.  A good two seconds after Toews released a shot on net, Smaby cut across the ice and finished his check on Toews.  The hit knocked Toews’ helmet off and as he came back down to the ice, his face grazed the ice.  A bit more contact there and really bad things could’ve happened.  

I know better, but a league office with a bigger set would probably suspend Smaby.  Either way, Toews took a nice chunk out of whatever was left of Smaby late in the third.  A few minutes earlier, Dustin Byfuglien finished off his check and left a permanent imprint of Smaby on the United Center glass.

–So a team with Rick Tocchet on its coaching staff and Todd Fedoruk on its roster engages in extracurricular activity when they’re completely out of the game? I’m shocked.  Really, just shocking.

–I really don’t want to see what the Hawks look like without Patrick Kane on the roster, but with an almost certain head injury, we may all have to find out, at least for a couple games. 

–Strap it in here, folks.  With his third shutout of the season, Antti Niemi is well on his way to legendary status.  While it looks nice and all, two of his shutouts (this one and the second game in Finland) were played behind the Hawks’ best defensive efforts of the season.  Niemi stopped one Martin St. Louis breakaway where St. Louis appeared to stop as he thought he was offsides and one mad scramble early in the second.  After that, they could’ve rolled Bobby Hull out of the Legends Lounge and on to the ice and the result would’ve likely been the same.    

–There is the Matt Walker we’ve all come to know and love.  Eager’s goal in the second period was a vintage mistake from Walker.  With his partner, Victor Hedman, taking care of his side of the ice, Walker completely forget his responsibility and left Eager all alone.  Somewhere, Brian Campbell was nodding in approval.

–Unfortunately, the only person who should’ve injured his head on the ice Sunday night didn’t, Jim Belushi.  It was hard to tell on WGN, but it certainly seemed like he got a rousing ovation from the Hawk faithful when he dropped the ceremonial opening face-off.  Please tell me I’m wrong here.     

*On the Farm*

–The IceHogs went touring through the State of Texas this weekend and came away 1-2-0.

Friday night, they dropped their opener to the Texas Stars 4-2.  Rockford appeared well on their way to owning a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission when Kyle Greentree scored on the power play with a minute left in the period.  Then, they gave up a goal with one second left in the period and Texas never looked back after that.  Texas scored once in the second and once in the third to close out the scoring. 

Rockford’s first goal also came on the power play when Daryl Boyle scored with assists from Greentree and Mark Cullen.  Cullen also notched the lone assist on Greentree’s goal.  Chicago-area native Greg Rallo led the Stars in scoring with a goal and an assist.  

Joseph Fallon stopped 26 of 30 shots in the losing effort. 

On Saturday, the IceHogs got some revenge by rebounding with a 3-2 win over Texas.  Rockford jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Bracken Kearns and Richard Petiot.  Danny Bois, Kyle Greentree, and Rob Klinkhammer were the assisters. 

Peter MacArthur scored, shortly after Texas cut the lead to 2-1, to give Rockford a two-goal advantage just past the halfway point of the second period.  Mark Cullen and Ryan Flinn had assists.

Dan Cloutier returned from his one-game suspension and stopped 19 of 21 shots in his first win as a member of the IceHogs.

A Sunday matinee in Houston saw the IceHogs come out with a 4-1 loss to the Aeros.  Trailing in the second 1-0, Evan Brophey scored his fifth goal of the year with help from Bryan Bickell and Rob Klinkhammer.  The Aeros scored a power play goal six minutes later and it was all they would need. 

With no points in the game, Kyle Greentree saw his point streak snapped at 9 games.  

Dan Cloutier stopped 23 of 26 in the loss. 

–Shawn Lalonde was a -1 in Belleville’s Friday night loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.  He didn’t play in Saturday night’s game as he headed to Team Canada’s National Junior Selection camp which will conclude next Wednesday.

–Byron Froese had an assist in Everett’s 3-2 loss on Friday to the Prince George Cougars.  He also had an assist on Everett’s game-winning goal on Saturday when they beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1.  Sunday, the Silvertips came out flat in their final game of a back-to-back-to-back and lost to the Portland Winterhawks 2-0.

–Kyle Beach scored two goals and had an assist, and had six penalty minutes in the Chiefs 7-1 thrashing of the Chilliwack Bruins.  He was scoreless on Saturday in Spokane’s 2-1 loss to the Swift Current Broncos.  He did get called for cross-checking, though, as the game ended.   

–Dylan Olsen was held in check in Minnesota-Duluth’s 3-2 loss to Denver on Friday.  He did have two shots on goal.  Saturday, Olsen also headed to Canada to participate in Team Canada’s National Junior Selection camp.  Dan DeLisle dressed in both games, but was a non-factor. 

–Brandon Pirri had three assists in a losing effort for RPI on Wednesday night against Union.  RPI gave up two goals in the final minute to lose 5-4.  Pirri also had an assist Saturday night in RPI’s 5-3 win over Boston University.

–Billy Sweatt scored for Colorado College in a 4-4 tie against St. Cloud State on Saturday.  He was held off the scoresheet for the Tigers 4-1 win on Saturday night.  Sweatt currently leads his team in points with 20 in 18 games.

–David Pacan had an assist in Vermont’s 3-0 over St. Lawrence on Saturday.

Sabres 2, Blackhawks 1

For the second time in as many weekends, the Blackhawks played an entertaining, frenzied game against an Eastern Conference opponent.  This time, though, the Hawks left Buffalo without two points, losing to the home Sabres in regulation on the strength of the Sabres’ second period and former Hawk Patrick Lalime’s play in net.

It was all Hawks early – so much so, at one point, they led the shot tally 14-2.  The first frame featured a Hawks’ 4-on-3 and two large saves by Lalime – one on Patrick Kane and another on a one-timer from Brent Seabrook on the mentioned man-advantage.

The Sabres were able to have their collective voice heard before the end of the frame, though, pressuring the Hawks and finding a few chances of their own.

The second period was the difference, however.  Early, the Sabres found themselves on the power play.  A shot came into Cristobal Huet from the point, and Thomas Vanek was able to slip enough away from Ham Sandwich’s grasp in front to control the puck, turn and slip it past Huet for the game’s first score.  What’s more devastating, the goal came after Lalime stonewalled Marian Hossa on a shorthanded break-away.

Then, late in the period, a chest-high pass from the corner hit Clarke MacArtur in front of Huet.  The puck bounced down to the ice and appeared to direct itself past Huet to give the Sabres a two-goal lead; it’s all they would need.

The Hawks turned things around in the third, peppering Lalime again.  Patrick Kane also took over, making himself look like the lone Harlem Globetrotter on a sheet of ice full of Washington Generals.  It paid dividends when Ham Sandwich kept a Sabre clearing attempt in.  The puck bounced to Dustin Byfuglien, who quickly slipped it to Kane.  Kane made a move to the outside to get around a defender and found Patrick Sharp streaking to the net.  Sharp one-timed it past Lalime for the only Hawk score of the contest.

Alas, the third period played out much like the first.  All told, the Hawks put another 16 shots on Lalime, and Lalime stopped 15 of them, preserving the win for the Sabres.  Duncan Keith took a penalty with about 90 seconds left to play, and, as they say, that was that.

Yo, Listen Up to These Words!

– If nothing else, the Sabres are fast.  They forechecked and pressured the Hawks like no one has this season, and it made for a highly entertaining game.  The forecheckers gave the Hawks’ defensemen fits – and a large handful of bruises, I’m sure - all game.  Brian Campbell was especially affected, coughing up the puck in his own zone a large handful of times.

– Speaking of Campbell, he is now officially public enemy #1 in the NHL.  He is now booed in Chicago, San Jose and Buffalo.  For a quiet red-head, that ain’t bad.

– Speaking of booing, the fans in Buffalo booed Kane every time he touched the puck.  While I understand the booing of Campbell – he bolted for greener financial pastures after the Sabres attempted to retain him – the booing of Kane is a little less understandable, especially considering the fans ate him up in his visit there two seasons ago.  I guess they just really love their city’s cab drivers.

– Speaking of Campbell and Kane, CSN showed video of the Kane love-fest that was his first visit to Buffalo two seasons ago.  During the pregame festivities, he took a ceremonial face-off against … Sabre Brian Campbell.  No one was booing.

– 13′4″ Tyler Myers will be special.  He’s huge; he’s smooth; and he’s even a force on the power play.  There is a Hawk connection, too: Myers went 12th to the Sabres during the 2008 NHL Draft.  The team that picked 11th took a young buck by the name of Kyle Beach.  The two were teammates the season before.

– If the Hawks take another offsides because Joel Quenneville continues to allow forwards coming off the ice to exit through the door located inside the zone, I’m going to lose it.

– Now other defensemen are doing the Brent Sopel block on the kill – ya know, the one where the defenseman turns to the side and drops to a knee.  Please stop this.  Thanks.

– Troy Brouwer channeled his inner 2008-’09 spirit on Friday evening.  Brouwer had two fabulous chances off beautiful passes from teammates – and missed the net badly on both.  One such miss came during the third period when the Hawks were scrambling to tie it. 

– Again, Lalime was very good, ending the game with 39 saves on 40 shots.  Reader and knowledgeable hockey man, Patrick, noted on the site on Thursday that it seems the Hawks get opposing goaltender’s best effort on a nightly basis.  While I’ll admit I can’t explain the consistently great goaltending the Hawks have seen this season, I can explain that they’re now considered one of the league’s best clubs this season.  That means they’ll see a steady diet of efforts like the Sabres’ last night from here on out.

– Next up, the Lightning tomorrow evening at the UC.  I’m excited to see Victor Hedman in person.

Here We Go Again….

And we’re going to interrupt your lovely Friday afternoon by bringing you this thought from the criminally insane:

Watching Dustin Byfuglien’s game-winning rush Wednesday night is a reminder of his game when he was a defenseman.

Given the puck in his own end, a few steps and a head of steam, Byfuglien’s a force.

It’s something he did a lot as a defenseman, which he was until the previous Blackhawks regime moved him up because of a logjam on defense two years ago.

Byfuglien was far from perfect as a defenseman, but he had value as a puck-carrier with a heavy shot, something teams pay a lot to find.

Who knows how he might have developed by now. Maybe he’d be a defenseman who can’t play defense but can move north and south for a lot less than $7.1 million a year.

Maybe he would have continued to star as he did in the AHL, or maybe he would have been terrible.

Problem is, we’ll never know.

Now, I won’t even bother trying to compare how Dustin Byfuglien would be as a defenseman in comparison to Brian Campbell.  Only a truly certifiable person or someone who has been tripping on acid for the last six months can do that.

What I will say is, we know exactly Dustin Byfuglien would look like as a NHL defenseman because we saw it on full display in the overtime on Wednesday night. 

A big, lumbering player with below average foot speed.  Sounds a lot like Matt Gilroy, the guy Byfuglien blew out of the water. 

While Byfuglien’s shot is a ‘thing’ and his size makes him a physical force, there is no way the Hawks made the wrong move when they shifted him to forward.  Byfuglien’s lack of foot speed on defense would have made him a liability of Adrian Aucoin-like proportions. 

That’s without taking into account the below-average hands he sports on his wrists.  Because nothing says future Norris Trophy winner quite like a big guy who can’t skate backwards well and can’t handle a pass. 

But go ahead and keep dropping acid.  You’ll be amazed at the things you can imagine.

Gilroy Sent Down; Wind-burn Not Suspected

In our recap summarizing last night’s Hawks/Rangers game, we described Matt Gilroy, 2009 Hobey Baker winner, as “not an NHL defensemen.” 

This after Dustin Byfuglien blew his doors off for the game winner in overtime.  Gilroy, 25, made himself look like a forward caught covering for a defenseman in the neutral zone as Byfuglien skated around him like he was standing still en route to potting the game winner.

Fast forward to this morning when the Rangers sent Gilroy to Hartford of the AHL.

And, while the move seems to be one forced by salary and reviews on Gilroy haven’t been quite so poor, it’s still a wee-bit interesting, no?

Blackhawks 2, Rangers 1 (OT)

There are two reasons and two reasons alone that Henrik Lundqvist didn’t steal his team two points from the Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

1. Despite playing a mostly ‘meh’ game, Marian Hossa used his ’savvy veteran’ card during the Blackhawks fifth and final power play.  Receiving the puck to the right of Lundqvist and just above the goal line, Hossa bulled his way toward the net.  He established inside position and let the Ranger defensemen push him towards their goalie while he got a couple free whacks at the net.  Hossa did nothing but carry their momentum right into Lundqvist’s crease.  The play forced a mad scramble in front of the net and it ended when Jonathan Toews poked a loose puck into the net to tie the score at 1.
2. Last year’s Hobey Baker winner, Matt Gilroy, is not a NHL defenseman.  If Dustin Byfuglien blows your door off in a 1-on-1 situation, you’re probably in the wrong line of work.  Bobby and I spent a good 15 minutes following the game trying to figure out what Gilroy was thinking during that sequence, but whatever it was, he chose….poorly.

Our apologies for the unorthodox recap, but with both of us attending tonight’s action, it was destined to be a little different.  Check back during the mid-day for an update from Bob.

*On the Farm*

–Shawn Lalonde was held scoreless in Belleville’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Peterborough Petes.

Issue or Non-Issue?

We’re talking about practice.

Since the Blackhawks held their rookie camp way back when Dale Tallon was still General Manager of the team, they have called Johnny’s Ice House their official practice facility.  That wasn’t the plan, of course.  Last March, it was announced the Blackhawks agreed to move their practice facility to four vacant parcels located just six blocks west of the United Center.  The Hawks would build their brand-spanking-new practice facility there, along with Johnny’s Ice House gaining another sheet of ice to use at their disposal.  They’d be all moved in by training camp, they were told.

Ah, my dear friends, this is the City of Chicago we’re talking about and nothing gets built here on a normal timetable.  Or maybe it’s because Stan suddenly has a little bit more on his plate.

Fast forward to the present and the Hawks are still using Johnny’s Ice House as their practice facility.  Of course, Johnny’s has absolutely zero amenities for the Hawks.  No workout facility, no private locker rooms, no coaches room, no trainer’s room. 

You know how the Hawks get to practice everyday?  They get dressed in the United Center locker rooms, hop in a bus, go the four blocks to Johnny’s in nearly full equipment, hit the ice, then when practice is over, they take a bus back to the United Center to change out of their equipment.

It makes the Edge in Bensenville seem like King Jafar’s Palace. 

I highly doubt you’ll ever hear any of the players complain about this.  The last thing anyone wants to hear is some millionaire athlete complaining about not getting his way.  At the same time, though, I can’t help but think this is starting to become quite the nuisance for some players on the team.    

But we shouldn’t forget about the people who probably hate the fact that the Hawks don’t have their own practice facility more than anyone else….the equipment managers.  Not only do they have to pack up all the multiple sticks and gloves players cycle through, they have to bring it all back to the United Center when practice is over.  Then they do it all again the next day.  It’s almost like they’ve been on the road since the season started.

In case you were wondering, the new timetable for when Johnny’s West will open is by early January 2010.  That’s assuming the City of Chicago approves all the inspections, which actually means that Rocky Wirtz will be signing off on a few more checks this month.

Or maybe this really isn’t an issue and Allen Iverson was right all along.

*On the Farm*

–Byron Froese scored on the power play and had an assist in Everett’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Portland Winterhawks.

–Kyle Beach was scoreless in Spokane’s 3-0 win over the Prince George Cougars.