Yeah closer than the score. Many new faces still need time to gel. Bert had a million grade A chances which is promising. Wouldn’t mind sitting Smith and putting in Reichel for the next game.
- Popsghostly

I had the same thought about Smith/Reichel when the game ended, probably a good candidate to swap out.

Close to tying it, have to give them credit for fighting back into the game. I'll give Mrazek credit for settling in during the second half.
- breadbag

I didn't exactly go out on a limb when I posted to the fans who couldn't see the first two preseason games that the club looked a good bit different in that they looked like a professional team with competent NHLers.

I think that showed tonight. Weathered the 1st period storm you knew you'd get from a club that's playing its first game as a franchise in front of a geeked up crowd and then outplayed em the following 2 periods.

How a professional squad operates.

Was starting to get ascared by Bertuzzi. Guy didn't make a play all preseason and then not until the 3rd period tonight. He was buzzin and pokin pucks loose in all the dangerous places in the 3rd period. .... His mates will hopefully learn to move without the puck and keep their sticks on the ice when Bert is battling for pucks cuz he has a way of winning some of them then feeding the slot quick.

Very happy with Allan. Kid kept it simple and allowed his skating/reads to take over. I hope he dresses vs McDavid and the Kraut.

Was starting to get ascared by Bertuzzi. Guy didn't make a play all preseason and then not until the 3rd period tonight. He was buzzin and pokin pucks loose in all the dangerous places in the 3rd period. .... His mates will hopefully learn to move without the puck and keep their sticks on the ice when Bert is battling for pucks cuz he has a way of winning some of them then feeding the slot quick.

Very happy with Allan. Kid kept it simple and allowed his skating/reads to take over. I hope he dresses vs McDavid and the Kraut.
- Mr Ricochet

the Kraut

Didn't watch the game,woke up at 6:20am to see the Blackhawks were down 3-2.

Everything I've read on X/Twitter is that they started off really slow (1 SOG in the 1st period - later corrected to 3)
98 with 2 assists and 9/16 at the dot on the road seems good,not sure how he played overall.
His assist on the Teuvo goal was nice. Not sure if he tapped the puck to himself off the boards or let Jones pass hit the boards and then went after it,but a nice play overall. Also saw the 98 didn't have a shot on goal until about a min or so left to play in the 2nd period? Is that possible?

the Kraut

Didn't watch the game,woke up at 6:20am to see the Blackhawks were down 3-2.

Everything I've read on X/Twitter is that they started off really slow (1 SOG in the 1st period - later corrected to 3)
98 with 2 assists and 9/16 at the dot on the road seems good,not sure how he played overall.
His assist on the Teuvo goal was nice. Not sure if he tapped the puck to himself off the boards or let Jones pass hit the boards and then went after it,but a nice play overall. Also saw the 98 didn't have a shot on goal until about a min or so left to play in the 2nd period? Is that possible?
- captainserious

Bedard had a good game, his defense was suspect the first two periods. Kurashev stood out in a great way.

With so many new guys, will take some time in real game situations who fits with who.

I guess you start next game with the same lines you ended with.

Murphy looked good properly slotted on the third pair.

LR couldn't get the Vlasic/Brodie pair separated fast enough, went back to Jones/Vlasic and Martinez/Brodie. Martinez playing 24 minutes, if he continues with that, there will be nothing left at the TDL.

Have to figure out the PP. Neither unit was very good (and who would expect the second unit made up of 4th liners to be any good)

I am trying to decide if he is slower than Perry, it's gotta be close.
- breadbag

This team is old and slow with no one on D to generate offense except Jones I guess….

Bedard skating with a 3rd line winger again.

I didn't exactly go out on a limb when I posted to the fans who couldn't see the first two preseason games that the club looked a good bit different in that they looked like a professional team with competent NHLers.

I think that showed tonight. Weathered the 1st period storm you knew you'd get from a club that's playing its first game as a franchise in front of a geeked up crowd and then outplayed em the following 2 periods.

How a professional squad operates.
- Mr Ricochet

Professional I guess. This team is going to get skated out of most rinks in the NHL if the same lineup gets tossed out there. Another top 5 pick coming and a year where we don’t get to watch the kids develop outside of Vlasic and Bedard. Maybe Allen if he sticks.

With so many new guys, will take some time in real game situations who fits with who.

I guess you start next game with the same lines you ended with.

Murphy looked good properly slotted on the third pair.

LR couldn't get the Vlasic/Brodie pair separated fast enough, went back to Jones/Vlasic and Martinez/Brodie. Martinez playing 24 minutes, if he continues with that, there will be nothing left at the TDL.

Have to figure out the PP. Neither unit was very good (and who would expect the second unit made up of 4th liners to be any good)
- LAHawk

Yeah that second PP unit looked like an early 2000s expansion team unit. I’d let Brodie run point over Martinez to save Martinez some ice time, plus Brodie has run second units in his past. It should also have Richardinson instead of Maroon, who is simply too slow to maintain possession at a crucial time. Donato is a gamer but he just lacks any finishing ability or real finesse skill, him and Smith don’t belong on a PP.

With so many new guys, will take some time in real game situations who fits with who.

I guess you start next game with the same lines you ended with.

Murphy looked good properly slotted on the third pair.

LR couldn't get the Vlasic/Brodie pair separated fast enough, went back to Jones/Vlasic and Martinez/Brodie. Martinez playing 24 minutes, if he continues with that, there will be nothing left at the TDL.

Have to figure out the PP. Neither unit was very good (and who would expect the second unit made up of 4th liners to be any good)
- LAHawk

I was watching his time on ice and Martinez only played more minutes than last night once last season. Even as the game went on last night, he made a couple unforced errors in the 3rd, maybe fatigue was a factor? Murphy was pretty damn solid, that 5 minute penalty for fighting ate away at this ice time a bit.

I was watching his time on ice and Martinez only played more minutes than last night once last season. Even as the game went on last night, he made a couple unforced errors in the 3rd, maybe fatigue was a factor? Murphy was pretty damn solid, that 5 minute penalty for fighting ate away at this ice time a bit.
- breadbag

I think Martinez could be rust, he only played the first exhibition game. I thought Hall is shaking off some rust too not having played a real game in almost a year.

New blog up

I was watching his time on ice and Martinez only played more minutes than last night once last season. Even as the game went on last night, he made a couple unforced errors in the 3rd, maybe fatigue was a factor? Murphy was pretty damn solid, that 5 minute penalty for fighting ate away at this ice time a bit.
- breadbag

I do think Murphy is properly slotted, when it comes to the PP Jones is an enigma, his hands are just bad enough to turn the puck over and when entering the zone I always get the sense he just doesn't know what to do with the puck. I'd like to see Martinez on the first unit and Vlasic on the 2nd unit.

If they are going to trot these older fellas out there they are going to have to be physical all game, not just certain times of the game.

You know maybe just maybe Reichel would of at least helped on the PP last night.

How about Bedard being physical, really liked him coming with an effective forecheck last night. Hope Reichel took notes and can get his nose dirty.

Professional I guess. This team is going to get skated out of most rinks in the NHL if the same lineup gets tossed out there. Another top 5 pick coming and a year where we don’t get to watch the kids develop outside of Vlasic and Bedard. Maybe Allen if he sticks.
- bhawks2241

Does losing more professionally than last yr seem a more apt description? .... Not really any fire drills, clown car shifts, too many shifts of being caved, after the 1st solid structure kinda professionalism?

And yea, this club should be picking around #5ish and add a KK, Levshunov and Nazar to the Bigs next yr?

Does losing more professionally than last yr seem a more apt description? .... Not really any fire drills, clown car shifts, too many shifts of being caved, after the 1st solid structure kinda professionalism?

And yea, this club should be picking around #5ish and add a KK, Levshunov and Nazar to the Bigs next yr?
- Mr Ricochet

I think by game 5-10, this team will play together much more cohesively - they sure looked much better in P2 and P3....then in the 2nd half of the season, some of the newbies can be sprinkled in and get the feel of a much better structured team on both O and D. Part of the development that Kyle from Chicago wants to instill - thoughts?

and yes, it was cool to see 98 throw the lumber