Blame Game: Hawks-Wings

Whether the Wild give the Hawks a charity trip to the playoffs to lose to Vancouver or not, this loss was disgusting, but representative of the whole Hawks season. Completely outhustled, stupid turnovers leading to goals, and relying on flashes of talent to save them, coming up just short.

Q- 40%

Had this discussion with Conall the other day. The way they played the first period on Friday night should be the norm, not the exception. In a game where the season is on the line, there is no excuse for being 2nd to every loose puck, or give up untouched rebounds in front of the goal.

Also, Sharp was clearly not 100%, and was a little out of sync with Toews and Hossa the entire time. At some point, when we really needed a goal, I would have rather seen Kaner and Sharp switched.

Jake Dowell- 20%

Dowell was -3 along with Bickell and Pisani, but I'm putting this all on Dowell because those guys set him up with at least 3 good scoring chances that I saw, and he whiffed on all three. I know they weren't asking you guys to be great, just halfway competent, and you really weren't today.

Stahlberg- 10%

Stahl played well, but that lazy-ass pass that led to the first Red Wing goal would have been inexcusable at any point in the season.

Hammer- 10%

Botched clear led directly to the 4th goal. Again, unacceptable at any point in the season.

Defensive Lapses in general- 10%

I'm thinking especially of that rebound on Wing goal #2. Last year you could count on the Hawks clearing that.

Hossa- 5%

I know he assisted on goal #3, but for the most part I felt like Hoss was invisible against his former club. The first line was quiet in general, and while some of that I put on Q above, I also think Hossa could have skated with a little more urgency before the 3rd period.

Craw- 5%
Probably nothing he could have done about 1 and 4. 2 and 3 were a little cheaper than we've come to expect from Craw this year, though. I wonder if he gets Niemi'd in the offseason...

Oh well. Thank God the Bulls are the Bulls right now.

Also, Lovie Smith, that's how you eliminate a rival to keep them from biting you in the playoffs.