Game Recap: Hawks 2 - Sharks 3
Please, nobody say the "M" word.
I had zero intention of writing up a game recap. Win or lose. My brain is fried from the first full week back from vacation.
But here we are. I’m writing about a game that the Hawks should’ve won, and you’re here reading it for whatever reason.
Here are my thoughts on last night’s game:
Feels good to be down here at 32 again. Oh, hello Nashville.
Things got a little too cute with the puck in the 1st, the 2nd period was bad after leading 2-1 and then they ramped up their effort in the 3rd period with more cute stuff. In the 3rd period alone the Hawks had a 77.14 Corsi at 5v5. While the Hawks dominated possession in the 3rd, they needed that effort for the full game.
This isn’t a loss that’ll help Luke Richardson keep his job. Sure, the Hawks look like a better team and are constructed better, but 3-7-1 is a record that looks the same as last year. And Kyle Davidson said it was about better results. Realistically, this team was going to be a lottery team again. But, if this team is in last place by Thanksgiving, I imagine Richardson’s seat will start feeling more warm.
As per usual, some people are not only calling for Luke’s head (which I still think is premature), but for Seth Jones’ as well. Jones took a lot of shots and shot attempts in the 3rd, 9 of his 11 to be exact. And you might be frustrated at him because he took those and not Connor Bedard. Jones took those shots to generate scoring chances for other players to deflect or collect a rebound. No one finished.
TJ Brodie… what are you doing brother.
Forwards, like Bedard, were looking to make a perfect play happen. For Bedard, the kid needs to shoot more. he only had 3 shots on goal. It was especially frustrating at the end with 5 seconds left on the clock and he took FOREVER. However, Bedard did have 2 of his shots hit the knob of Mackenzie Blackwood’s stick.
Tuevo Teravainen made some weird plays. Just some passes that didn’t connect and a general lack of awareness. He did lead the team in 5v5 shots on goal with 5.
Luke needs to change up the top 6. Philipp Kurashev isn’t working with Bedard at the moment, and I’d be open to Teuvo going on the second line. But who do you put up there with Bedard? Nick Foligno played solid on Bedard’s wing, and I would be happy to see the Foligno-Bedard-Teuvo line again; it worked. Or do you bring up Taylor Hall on the left with Teuvo on the right?
The 4th line looked ok with Lukas Reichel looking alright on the boards. That line had a 42.86 Corsi and a 19.36 xG%, which is not good. But the eye test told a slightly different story, with the caveat that I was tired. Hardly a point worth bringing up, but I liked from what I saw (mostly).
Blog Updates
I’m always changing stuff up around here, aren’t I.
I’ve added a new section on the website that I’m calling “The Red Line.” From now on all of that stuff you saw in the Trash Bin section will be going there. You won’t see it in your inbox unless you go there and manually subscribe. That’s where I talk about anything that isn’t Blackhawks’ related and it’s kind of the Wild West of my mind.
What you are already getting will remain pure Hawks stuff.
Check it out below.
