Zach Jarom: Game 10: Hawks vs Avs

First.

Ben Pope just Xwitted:

Blackhawks forward lines in morning skate:

Kurashev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Mikheyev-Richardinson-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith

First.

Ben Pope just Xwitted:

Blackhawks forward lines in morning skate:

Kurashev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Mikheyev-Richardinson-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
- boilermaker100

Hahaha

More like
Kurashev Bedard Teuvo
Maroon Reichel Smith
Mik Richard The Don
Hall Fo Be

First.

Ben Pope just Xwitted:

Blackhawks forward lines in morning skate:

Kurashev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Mikheyev-Richardinson-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
- boilermaker100

Well. That's a look. As I mentioned at the end of the last blog. Just looking for some improvement from the team overall. I'm happy that Reichel has been able to keep himself in the lineup. Now that I can watch the games again, I'll keep an eye on the d-men.

Cheers everyone!

Well. That's a look. As I mentioned at the end of the last blog. Just looking for some improvement from the team overall. I'm happy that Reichel has been able to keep himself in the lineup. Now that I can watch the games again, I'll keep an eye on the d-men.

Cheers everyone!
- Chunk

Did you move?

First.

Ben Pope just Xwitted:

Blackhawks forward lines in morning skate:

Kurashev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Mikheyev-Richardinson-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
- boilermaker100

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.

Did you move?
- BetweenTheDots

Yes.... the antenna..... to another room.

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.
- LAHawk

Of the hockey that I've actually seen, Maroon (while slow) has been one of the most effective players on the ice. Really good hands and smart plays.

Yes.... the antenna..... to another room.
- Chunk

Hahaha I'm hoping i don't have to make a trip to the roof before game time. We'll see

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.

I agree that your lineup makes more sense on paper, but for whatever reason Maroon, Reichel, and Smith seem to be over performing a bit and can't blame Richardson for wanting to keep em together

I agree that your lineup makes more sense on paper, but for whatever reason Maroon, Reichel, and Smith seem to be over performing a bit and can't blame Richardson for wanting to keep em together
- Hawkeynation

True, but thinking longer term, you hope Reichel can become a top 6 player, and Maroon and Smith will probably be gone by the TDL (along with Donato)

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.
- LAHawk

That’s what I’ve been asking for, Kurashev to 1L and Reichel to 2C, although not the best defensive setup. You’re right about Mikhayev, playing well but no offensive output so far. Maybe he’s next to move up, switch the Russian and Bertuzzi.

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.
- LAHawk

Rearranging deck chairs.

TT and Bedard just need someone to play fetch and get them the puck from down low. You'd think that Bertuzzi would fit that bill. The other lines a pretty irrelevant.

That's been the knock on the Russian for a while.

Rearranging deck chairs.

TT and Bedard just need someone to play fetch and get them the puck from down low. You'd think that Bertuzzi would fit that bill. The other lines a pretty irrelevant.

That's been the knock on the Russian for a while.
- fattybeef

I've been thinking the same for a while. Especially since that second line hadn't been doing much yet.

I agree that your lineup makes more sense on paper, but for whatever reason Maroon, Reichel, and Smith seem to be over performing a bit and can't blame Richardson for wanting to keep em together
- Hawkeynation

They've been putting up points.

Their play in general I dunno if you'd qualify that is over performing. 41ish percent of shot shares. 25% xGF lol. High danger stuff they about split.

Point of the game is to score more points, and those three together 1 goal for 0 against so mission accomplished thus far. Reichel and Smith are 2 for and 2 against fwiw. But doesn't seem sustainable or desirable to have a group that is that underwater everywhere else.

There is a year over year performance for Reichel so far which is interesting. Still very bad but here it is:

https://www.naturalstattr...d=8482117&sit=5v5&stype=2

Kurashev's are interesting as well. 5v5 not terribly off from last years projected stuff. 26 es points last year, only 1 so far this year. Not being on the first power play unit probably hurting him and then away from Bedard he's really not good enough to generate his own shot consistently, especially since him hall and Bertuzzi are underwater anyway and neither of them (or both combined) is at the same level offensively. PDO is pretty low and on ice save percentage is actually higher so he's not shooting the puck well or not getting the same calibre opportunities.

Will be at the game tonight. Hopefully Bedard can get away from MacKinnon. The one we went to last year Mac really ruined the kid's evening.

I don't know if I'm in the minority on this, but I would like to see the Hawks setup more "low to high" plays with actual bodies in front of the net. Give the goalie a hard time tracking the shot and go to the dirty areas for the rebound. Even on the powerplay, we seem to be stuck on the perimeter a lot. Seems like we watch Turbo, Jones, Bedard just pass in a triangle and don't often take the shot. I know some people are complaining about Jones shooting wristers, but I think at least it generates something at the net and some chances have resulted. I just hope we see more shoot the puck mentality and more of traffic in front.

I don't know if I'm in the minority on this, but I would like to see the Hawks setup more "low to high" plays with actual bodies in front of the net. Give the goalie a hard time tracking the shot and go to the dirty areas for the rebound. Even on the powerplay, we seem to be stuck on the perimeter a lot. Seems like we watch Turbo, Jones, Bedard just pass in a triangle and don't often take the shot. I know some people are complaining about Jones shooting wristers, but I think at least it generates something at the net and some chances have resulted. I just hope we see more shoot the puck mentality and more of traffic in front.
- breadbag

That and a bit less dusting off and more one-time/catch-and-release shots so the goalie doesn't have time to get in position.

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.
- LAHawk

What the he'll I ll take a stab at the lines:
Hall Bedard tt
Kurashev Richardenson bertuzzi
Reichel Foligno Mikheyev
Marron Donato Smith

Vlasic Jones
Kaiser Murphy
Allen Brodie

That would require Bertuzzi to skate and hustle which outside of PP or 6 on 5 time late....he 100% would prefer not to do.

Turtle neck has been a major disappointment so far this year for me. I figured there was a reason he's been bouncing around, but good lord man....just put forth 100% effort 1 game and lets see what you can actually do instead he skates like Robert Lang from 2007 with about 1/2 the skill set.

This makes more sense to me

Hall-Recihel-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Mikhayev
Maroon-Donato-Smith

But what the hell do I know?

Mikhayev seems to be another that appears to do everything right but put the puck in the net.
- LAHawk

Surprised I'm seeing folks want to see Reichel as a top 6 center again. It was disastrous last yr and to this day the kid ain't right.

The closest he's come to getting right was his 3-4 games as the 4C with 2nd unit PP time. I'd leave him there with a sheltered start of the shift here or there with Bedard for 20 games. Get some good habits in him vs L4 opponents and the confidence that builds then start looking to move him up the lineup.

https://x.com/LaurenceWHo...Cu9J7bWyaDTJrQTv-NVQ&s=19


Hahaha who's going to play $20 month for this app

Surprised I'm seeing folks want to see Reichel as a top 6 center again. It was disastrous last yr and to this day the kid ain't right.

The closest he's come to getting right was his 3-4 games as the 4C with 2nd unit PP time. I'd leave him there with a sheltered start of the shift here or there with Bedard for 20 games. Get some good habits in him vs L4 opponents and the confidence that builds then start looking to move him up the lineup.
- Mr Ricochet

Well TBH, I’d rather see him as a LW on the 3rd line, however due to lack of productive centers on this team, I’d rather have him centering the 2nd line than Foligno, so it’s not a preference, it’s more of a necessity.
Edit- especially now that he seems more engaged and he’s using his speed.

IMO the offense will go as Bedard does. He gets all the sheltered Ozone starts, a load of L1 minutes, the PP runs thru him. (the PP is stagnant IMO, Bedard just taking passes at the dot and then trying to create while basically stationary. I'd like to see the kid interchanging, skating to the top of the set up and move, create or shoot as opposed to him limiting himself to 1/2 or 1/4 of the ice on the flank).

They need him to score goals specifically and IMO that's coming. Kid looks different this yr. His stride has purpose, he's stronger on pucks, is getting to the center of the ice often, engages for pucks more often, in general showing more poise than last yr. We're watching the kid mature.

And for guys like me that like to focus on his off the puck and defensive play his xGA speaks for itself at a very good 54% while his Ozone starts are less than I thought at "only" 59% which is lower than a fair bit of the offensive guys in the league.

Kid has the look. Like to see him much more mobile on the PP and I think that'll boost his goals scored. Along with his maturing as he goes as a 19 yr old he should start popping some goals.

By the way I don't see the value in dropping Foligno from L1 with Bedard and TT. The time tested 3some of a guy who wins the puck and gets it to the dish man (Foligno) TT feeds Bedard and he scores the goals. ... The 3somes fancies are excellent at an xGF of 54%. I'd leave them be.

Well TBH, I’d rather see him as a LW on the 3rd line, however due to lack of productive centers on this team, I’d rather have him centering the 2nd line than Foligno, so it’s not a preference, it’s more of a necessity.
Edit- especially now that he seems more engaged and he’s using his speed.
- Angotti

No doubt the dearth of centerman is a problem and really boxes LR in. And yea Reichel is a better worse option than most on the roster I believe (and the organIzation has to think so too) is an enigma or at least easily thrown off his game.

The kid who played himself all the way down to RKF last yr and stunk out loud in the preseason that prompted a 4 game scratch to start the season. That's funk, man.

Then he draws into L4 and the kid rattled off 3-4 good games in a row. Finally, something worked with the 22 yr old. I'd simply leave that alone instead of throwing him in the deep end regardless of the lack of centerman on the roster.

I do agree though, if they wanna win some games they gotta make L2 more productive.

Breadbag had a helpful post at the end of the last blog. A copy and paste of it.

Well, still 73 games left to go and yeah we are more competitive so far. Not saying there haven't been some bad stretches, but there are less passengers and honestly a bit better play in our own end. At 5v5 we are giving up nearly 5 shots/60 against less per game so far. 2.39 Goals against per 60 right now vs over 3 last year. Those are defensive improvements at 5 on 5 that we need to see to start to move the needle in the W/L column.

One thing is that we've gotten nearly the worst goaltending when it comes to high danger chances, some of that is coverage and some of it is goalie reads so far IMO.

We are putting more rubber on the opposition goalie on average at 5v5 too this season, I think just need to improve a bit more with where the shots are coming from and maybe try to get a bit more traffic in front of the opposing goalie. I know we have guys like Foligno and Bertuzzi going to the front of the net, but I don't think they are making hard for the goalie to see. I wish we had a really good big body in front of the net.
- breadbag