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Jackets Gamebox: @ Chicago E-mail
Written by LTL   

gamebox

@ Chicago
01.14.10
8:30 PM EST

Will the 'hawks "empty their tanks" against the Jackets?

A team that makes that kind of comment is a cocky and confident bunch.  Will the Jackets roll over and weep or will they stand up and bark?!

OFFENSE
There is going to be a common theme throughout this gamebox and that is that (on paper at least) the Jackets are outclassed in every category by this 'hawks squad.

The Blackhawks have rang up 152 big ones so far this season.  They are led by Patick Kane and his 52 points.  Defensemen Duncan Keith is second with 42 points. 9 Blackhawk players have 20 points or more.

...oh and Marian Hossa is due back for this game.

They've only scored 4 or less goals once in their past 10 games.  This is an offense that brings it in waves and can play you anyway you want it.

The Jackets... ummm.. not so much.  After looking like they were starting to find their offensive mojo they fell right back into their shell only notching 3 goals in their past 2 games. Their #1 line is in shambles and outside of the Voracek-Vermette-Torres line this lineup has been as dry as the NHL trade market for a quite a while.

Nash has to be a key player in this game for the Jackets to have any kind of chance.  Juice can't be a passenger and the rest of the cast has to create some offense - or at the very least some sustained pressure in the o-zone.

Edge: Blackhawks

DEFENSE
You don't get to be 20 games over .500 but just having a potent offense.

Not only will the 'hawks burn holes in your net... they put a force field up around theirs as well.

They possess the 2nd best goals against average (2.13 GAA per game) in the entire league only behind the New Jersey Devils.

The Jackets?

They have moved up a rung but still sit 26th overall giving up 3.12 goals per game.

For a team like the Jackets who can't score against teams that aren't great defensively.. well, let's just say they have their work cut out for them.

The Jackets have got to shutdown down Kane and Keith and hope the rest of the team doesn't beat them.

The 'hawks, of course, will focus their entire efforts on #61.

Edge: Blackhawks

GOALTENDING
If you ask me goaltending is the Blackhawks weakest link.

The problem Chicago doesn't let you test them.  They give up the least amount of shots per game at only 23.7 per game.

If they can to Huet (if he plays) he is beatable with just a .908 save% and a 2.17 GAA.  That's not great considering the numbers in front of him.

Looks like Garon will get the start again.  I would have went with Mason as Garon looked like he cooled and Mase didn't give up a goal in the 40 mins he played.

Regardless the goaltending is where the Jackets can stay in this game but Garon will be to be an All Star.  Any bad goals and this game is over before it even started.

Edge: Blackhawks

SPECIAL TEAMS
Chicago is truly special in the special teams.

They have the #5th ranked PP and and PK.

The Jackets sit 6th on the PP and 13th on the PK.  Not bad but certainly not at Chicago's level.

The 'hawks once again have the edge but again this is an area where if the Jackets can win they have a chance to win the game.  The PP must strike when the game is still on the line.  Scoring goals after they are already down 3 or 4 to nothing do nothing.

The Jackets need their special teams to be timely!

Edge: Blackhawks

X FACTOR
It's all about the start.  The 'hawks will come out flying and banging.  They will try to initiate.  They also like to close games out in a hurry.  They are ranked 6th in 1st period goals and 2nd in 2nd period goals.  They drop to 13th in the 3rd period goals.  Of course you can do that when you take leads into the 3rd.

Unfortunately the Jackets are ranked 28th in 3rd period scoring so if they are down by the final 20 chances are they cooked.

The Jackets can't try to outscore this team.  Run & gun will = fail.  Keep this game even at even strength and work hard to draw penalties.  From there the PP has to score some key goals.  Guys need to get dirty in the paint and get ugly!

Slow starts... unforced turnovers... soft goals... this game will be over before you can say Taylor Hall.

As I said this is a confident 'hawks team.. perhaps too confident... perhaps the Jackets can catch em sleeping.

Marian Hossa returns for Chicago while Dorsett and Russell are back in blue.

I also want to give a shout out to my co-worker Mark and his fiance Jaci who are in Chicago to get "hitch"ed on Sunday.  They will be in attendance tonight carrying the flag!

This looks like a route waiting to happen but that is why they play the games.

GO JACKETS!

-LTL



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Comments (2)Add Comment
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fire hitch
written by eplagge, January 15, 2010
As Nasher clearly states:


"Yeah, Detroit has changed their style, and Chicago has picked it up. It’s a puck possession game. You don’t see them dumping the puck. You don’t see (Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews dumping and chasing. They’re making plays.”


Sounds like a captain who's getting a little tired of good ol' Hitch.. Someone please tell me why they haven't fired Hitch yet ?? This team could take some huge steps if they bring in a more modern coach and add a true #1 Center and defenseman.. Since this team will never spend the money to acquire the players, why not at least do the 1 thing they can do... change the coaching direction.. It's pretty darn obvious right now the players want a different coach...
...
written by Mase1, January 15, 2010
Right on, Eplagge! Testify, brother...

As I told LTL, this A.M., oh, THAT'S what a professional NHL team, one who actually spends money, not this cow town mentality "Brain Trust" we have.

I really think, as I said in my Power Rankings, earlier today, that we're at the point we were in 2006-2007, Hitch's first year as coach. Right?

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2010 Salary Commitments

$7,500,000 - Rick Nash
$4,750,000 - Kristian Huselius
$4,000,000 - RJ Umberger
$3,800,000 - Mike Commodore
$3,750,000 - Antoine Vermette
$3,000,000 - Fedor Tyutin
$2,975,000 - Rusty Klesla
$2,800,000 - Derick Brassard
$2,650,000 - Samuel Pahlsson
$2,500,000 - Chris Clark
$2,000,000 - Jan Hejda
$1,950,000 - Anton Stralman
$1,750,000 - Ethan Moreau
$1,300,000 - Kris Russell
$1,200,000 - Mathieu Garon
$1,050,000 - Marc Methot
$845,800 - Nikita Filatov
$787,000 - Jakub Voracek
$765,000 - Steve Mason
$700,000 - Jared Boll
$650,000 - Andrew Murray
$610,000 - Duvie Westcott (BO)
$550,000 - Derek Dorsett

$51,893,500 - TOTAL

$50,000,000 - EXPECTED PAYROLL

22 - PLAYERS SIGNED

KEY RFA - None

KEY UFA - None


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