By acquiring Bedard the Hawks were able to keep the attendance up this season. But the Bedard novelty won’t be acceptable next season. KFC will not be able to try tanking again. Over the summer the team will be improved, probably incrementally but hopefully enough to challenge for a playoff spot. If not fans who are patient this season won’t be next.
- paulr

They will try to get a few useful players again and probably will be a bottom 10 team still.

The Hawks recalled Katchouk only to keep him a healthy scratch. 😵‍💫
- DarthKane

Kaner, is some of the luster of LR's fine work last yr starting to wear off for you?

Hawks need to give Soberblom some support here or this is gonna get ugly.

Regardless of the outcome Soderblom's solid 1st period is something the poor guy can take away from the rink and feel decent about his game. ..... Doesn't take much for him to get sideways in a game so any positive is good for the mental part of his game.

I think his style will always make for an adventurous proposition but IMO the last few he's been a tad quieter and more square more often.

Hawks need to give Soberblom some support here or this is gonna get ugly.
- breadbag

It’s already ugly. They don’t have the talent to break out, set up in the offensive zone, properly defend, complete a pass, or forecheck.

They get buried every single game because they don’t have any talent. The rest of this season will be a struggle session to find any growth with the kids. I’ve accepted that conclusion, but (obviously) I’m not happy about it. 😂😂

Hawks need to give Soberblom some support here or this is gonna get ugly.
- breadbag

They have given up 16 shots in the 1st but at least so far the forwards are getting back much better than last game so there have been less grade a's so far... Agree though, that many pucks towards Soderblom or the Preds having so much Ozone possession will lead to a bad outcome.

Is a defenseman screening a goalie a friend? The coverage was pathetic but you can’t have a defender suddenly jumping in front of the goalie either.
- paulr

After rewatching it, Soda actually first reaction is getting low, i didn't see a deflection off of Murphys stick and Soda had to play deep because there was a forward to the right of him. I think Soda is so worried about his 5 hole it was his first reaction. It's too bad and 25 was actually too his left so he could see the whole shot.

Seney grabs the stick for a split second, penalty. Foligno in our own end grabs a guys stick for 5-10 seconds no call

They have given up 16 shots in the 1st but at least so far the forwards are getting back much better than last game so there have been less grade a's so far... Agree though, that many pucks towards Soderblom or the Preds having so much Ozone possession will lead to a bad outcome.
- Mr Ricochet

Shot Attempts were 34-9 in period 1. Scoring chances 13-4. The Hawks were lucky to not be down 3-0.

It will help when the forwards can hold the zone and put pressure on the other team, takes pressure off the D, but would really like to see them just get better at killing plays at their own blueline and turning the play the other way.

I see where Anisimov just signed a PTO with the rangers. Can Kane be far behind? Kidding. I thought Katchouk was supposed to be in the lineup tonight in place of Johnson?
- bjphawkfan

He's playing and forechecking like hell as usual.

After rewatching it, Soda actually first reaction is getting low, i didn't see a deflection off of Murphys stick and Soda had to play deep because there was a forward to the right of him. I think Soda is so worried about his 5 hole it was his first reaction. It's too bad and 25 was actually too his left so he could see the whole shot.
- BetweenTheDots

I thought he split second thought it was going to be a pass and then got caught in-between.

He's playing and forechecking like hell as usual.
- vabeachbear

One of his better games so far, actually throwing some hits.

One of his better games so far, actually throwing some hits.
- breadbag

It'd be nice if he could hit the net on that one timer, sucks missing it wide and the puck exits the zone harmlessly after generating all that pressure

So far tonight Korchinski is playing very well defensively, his best defensive game of the year.

So far tonight Korchinski is playing very well defensively, his best defensive game of the year.
- Angotti

Agreed and a big reason is he hasn’t been going on offensive forays at every opportunity. The few he’s gone on he had an opening and took it.

Blackwell left the Hawks bench before the end of the 3rd period. The Hawks could be down to 9 forwards tonight if Blackwell can’t return.

He's playing and forechecking like hell as usual.
- vabeachbear

Not sure it will matter. We've seen some solid efforts/results from Katchouk and LR still scratches him the following game.

I will say this though, every club has internal fancies the public never sees. So, a player can look effective, have solid fancies but did not play as he was coached to so in the club's eye it was a poor effort.

Who klnows, but to most fans Katchouk has been decent on a horrid roster but the club, or LR at least, doesn't think so.

Right now LR is ok with Guttman. Opens the season on L2, bounced around all the way down to L4, scratched, sent down, back up, skating L2, then L4 on the 1st unit PP. ..... Sure hope they're talking to Guttman cuz if they ain't he's gotta be beyond confused. Ditto Reichel,

Blackwell left the Hawks bench before the end of the 3rd period. The Hawks could be down to 9 forwards tonight if Blackwell can’t return.
- DarthKane

Think Beauvillier left the bench too.

Blackwell left the Hawks bench before the end of the 3rd period. The Hawks could be down to 9 forwards tonight if Blackwell can’t return.
- DarthKane

So did Beauvillier and Reichel never showed up. What does that leave us with, 7 forwards?

Shot Attempts were 34-9 in period 1. Scoring chances 13-4. The Hawks were lucky to not be down 3-0.

It will help when the forwards can hold the zone and put pressure on the other team, takes pressure off the D, but would really like to see them just get better at killing plays at their own blueline and turning the play the other way.
- breadbag

And as we've seen often enough to know the Dmen are encouraged to step up and kill plays at their own blueline. But they can't if the forwards are not getting back to enable the Dmen to do so.

No doubt, best way to kill Ozone possession or plays is to slow the opponent down in the neutral zone or at the blueline.

Man we got lucky in the 2nd period a couple of times. Looks like we have 2 shots tonight right into Saros chest or completely miss the net. When Kurashev has a bad night Bedard really is completely on his own.

Katchouk might find himself back in the doghouse if the Preds score on the PP late in the game here.

Just amazing how we have so little talent and that gaff by Korchinski by missing the pass and giving up possession killed our PP momentum

5 3 ... ugh .... well, on a positive note- I have been watching some 80-90s videos (mostly parts of Hawks games.... they have been playing pretty well in those - even in the losses.

Just amazing how we have so little talent and that gaff by Korchinski by missing the pass and giving up possession killed our PP momentum
- BetweenTheDots

So little talent and experience and the experienced guys are dropping like flies.