Some thoughts after game three:
– Hey, remember when Gregory Campbell was getting favorable treatment because his dad was part of the NHL office? Good times, good times. Now he’s a hero. Perhaps, just perhaps, he is the same player he was then, and those accusations were totally unfounded?
– Joel Quenneville can’t help being Joel Quenneville. He has an MO, and it’s really simple: juggle the lines. He may have a system, he may have strategy, he may have a reason for everything he does. But he will juggle the lines when things aren’t working. Last night, with Marion Hossa out, he has no choice but to juggle lines, and it wasn’t working. Then he juggled again. And again. And it still didn’t work. Let’s be honest: if putting Toews and Kane together generated goals in such a short time when they need them at the end of a game, why wouldn’t you put them together all the time? Yes, I know, spread the wealth over a 60 minute game, but this is the default ‘we need a goal right now’ line combo, and it isn’t successful right now. Justin Bourne talked about the way Quenneville used Toews last night, and I agree with just about everything he said.
But this is a Joel Quenneville team. He changes lines almost as much as John Tortorella blows off the media. It’s in his nature to change the lines. He’s going to do it when he feels he has to, and right now, he has to. Nothing was working for the Blackhawks last night. If you have a strong system, some line shuffling might help, but it hasn’t yet. You might avoid a matchup or two, but show me a weak defenseman on the Bruins right now, and I will show you an eye chart. You might be mistaking Oduya for a Bruin.
– Last night, on twitter, I asked if Johnny Oduya had won a single battle. I got one response that he was good in game one. I don’t think he was, but maybe he’s just the new Brett Clark for me – that guy who always seems like he’s in the wrong place when the puck goes in. Let’s just say that I’m not impressed.
– Watching Jonathan Toews take face-offs, especially from an overhead camera, reminded me of one thing: Rod Brind’Amour and the 2006 Cup finals. Remember how he was accused of cheating in the face-off circles? He would turn his body into the opposing center to gain a physical advantage, then play the puck. It’s the same thing Toews is doing. But it isn’t working out for him. Toews has a few more tools in his bag than just one face-off move, but still, eerily similar. I guess it isn’t cheating after all.
– If Marion Hossa is such a big piece of the puzzle that they can’t lose him for a game or two and be even moderately successful, they have some real issues. There is enough talent in the Blackhawks’ forward corps that one man should not destroy an entire team, but that’s what it looked like last night.
– Remember when the Bruins won a Cup with a horrendous power play? The reason they were so successful without it was they had their bruising five on five game. With Brian Bickell being dogged my Bruins defenders, the even strength play isn’t getting the opportunities they were, which means the power play is more important than ever. It should be back to basics for Chicago, because it isn’t that they aren’t fancy enough. The Bruins are just that good at killing penalties.
– The Hjalmarsson penalty last night. Eddie O. and @realjackedwards were right, Hjalmarsson turned the wrong way when defending Daniel Paille. Always turn to face the play. But take a look at the play, and watch the other issues.
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Horton has the puck and two guys (Keith and Toews, two very good skaters) backchecking and catching up to him. Hjalmarsson is fronting the play, and has room to go to either side, but with two teammates coming up on Horton, it should be obvious who he should take: Paille. Paille had a step and speed on Hjalmarsson, and rather than the defender forcing the forward to make a move, Paille forced Hjalmarsson, who chose to turn the wrong way. Not how you want things to go down. I’m not even sure Hjalmarsson knew how the play was developing, considering how he was facing at the start of that Bruins breakout. Face the play anytime you can.
– Hey, rec hockey players, want to make the TV timeouts go by faster? Work on your stick handling. Grab a golfball and a stick and spend the next 1:45 doing stick handling exercises. If you’ve been watching the playoffs for any amount of time, you aren’t missing any new commercials. Trust me. You know, I like you. I like you to. That’s great. That is great. THANK YOU! HAHAHA!!!!