Flyers goaltender Carter Hart came out to play from the opening face-off in only the second game of this two-week-old season for Philadelphia. The Flyers outshot the Kraken 16–8 and put a three spot on the board before the road-weary visitors knew what hit them. The Kraken did have their chances from Joonas Donskoi, Ryan Donato and Jordan Eberle, however, Hart was able to hold them off long enough for the Flyers to get their offense rolling.

And rolling they went.

Goals by Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny and Derick Brassard in a five-minute span ended up being more than enough to send Dave Hakstol’s team out of Philly with a convincing loss against his former team. There were still 40-plus minutes remaining, but the results were not much better.

Flyers defensemen Ryan Ellis and Justin Braun jumped into the scoring, with goals just over a minute apart in the second period, to give the home team a commanding 5–0 lead before the Kraken showed any signs of life. Unfortunately for Philipp Grubauer, Braun’s goal chased the Seattle starter from the game, as Chris Driedger entered the chat and tried to control the bleeding.

The change in personnel helped, if only for a short time. Kraken defenseman Carson Soucy picked up his own rebound after a long shot from the blue line and beat Hart to spoil the shutout. Soucy became the first defenseman to score a goal for the franchise on the play.

That was where the Kraken’s good fortune ended.

The third period was a mere formality, but it turned into a yard sale with forward Nathan Bastian ringing up penalty minutes like a lunch order at Dalessandro’s.

The Flyers added a third-period goal from 21-year-old Joel Farabee to put the cherry on top of the win for Hart and company. Driedger ended the night with some positive numbers, stopping six of seven shots, with a couple more shots drawing iron.

Anchor points

Just looking at the final score does not fully tell the story of this game. The Kraken were in control early on, but Hart was sensational. Once Giroux opened the scoring, the game seemed to fall apart. Seattle actually led the final two periods in shots 16–11, but the damage was already done. The third goal was the backbreaker, going off Soucy’s skate and past Grubauer.

Bastian had 27 minutes in penalties (minor, fighting and two misconducts), while the entire Seattle team only had 19 penalty minutes in its first three games.

Captain Mark Giordano had a rough night with a -3 rating, but he was battling.

As you might imagine, possession numbers looked pretty paltry for the Kraken. They were out-chanced 58% to 42% (5-on-5 Corsi). Seattle actually played pretty well in the second and third periods, though. They racked up a 53% Corsi in those final periods.

The Kraken are back in action tonight against the New Jersey Devils. The puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. PDT.

The post RECAP: Kraken humbled in loss to Flyers appeared first on The Rink.

  Defenseman Vince Dunn will not dress for the game tonight, despite attending the morning skate, as per Head Coach Dave Hakstol.

  Forward Alex Barre-Boulet will be a healthy scratch and Kole Lind will make his Kraken debut.

  Ryan Clark reports that Philipp Grubauer will start again tonight, which tells me that Chris Driedger might make his Kraken regular season debut tomorrow in New Jersey against the Devils.

Kole Lind comes in for Alex Barre-Boulet while Vince Dunn (day-to-day) remains out for tonight, per Dave Hakstol. #SeaKraken

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) October 18, 2021

Probable Lines

Jaden Schwartz – Jared McCann – Jordan Eberle
Kole Lind – Alexander Wennberg – Joonas Donskoi
Brandon Tanev – Morgan Geekie – Ryan Donato
Nathan Bastian – Riley Sheahan – Mason Appleton

Mark Giordano – Carson Soucy
Jamie Oleksiak – Adam Larsson
Haydn Fleury – Jeremy Lauzon

Philipp Grubauer

Stay tuned for more news on tomorrow’s game in New Jersey and follow us on Twitter: @TheRinkOfficial (All The Rink news), @TheRinkSeattle (Kraken only news), @KrakenHostile (Kraken Hostile Seattle Rinkcast) and @PuckinHostile.

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While there are positives (Dominik Kubalik, Robin Lehner, the return of the “real” Brandon Saad and the possibility of an improved defense—if everyone can get and stay healthy), there are some obvious issues, not least of which is a puzzling weakness in scoring goals (30th in the league). Sure, it is only after six games. And you have to take both of those points together in order to really understand what is going on.

While most fans probably expect that the Hawks will fight for every point in every game in order to make the playoffs, the truth is, despite an almost universal belief that Stan Bowman had a good and productive offseason—the Hawks came into the season with more questions than answers.

So, if you are wondering, for example, why Dylan Strome is being “experimented” with at wing, why the lines really are not clicking, etc., understand the Blackhawks are trying some things out to see how they will work—at the risk of losing points.

Some assume that because he was drafted third overall this past June, 18-year-old Kirby Dach playing second line center in the NHL is “perfectly natural.” Well, it is on a rebuilding team, not so much on a contending team. By the way, the Hawks were absolutely destroyed in the face off dot (34%) yet again last night—and at the risk of re-litigating the stupid “face offs don’t matter” argument, they do, especially if you project yourself as a puck-possession team. But I digress. The good news there is Dach’s percentage (40%) was not the team’s worst. The bad news? 40%.

Hence the title of this blog. Now, some of you will say, “Okay, enough already, JJ, we get it, the Hawks are rebuilding.” To which I respond, “Okay, so then do not expect much, especially not right now and maybe all year.”

Honestly, I believe the Hawks, as they have tried and basically failed at the last few seasons, are trying to engineer lightning in a bottle over the course of 82 games. If—IF—Dach matures through on the job training (like Alex DeBrincat did two years ago and Saad did in 2013), IF Calvin de Haan and Connor Murphy and everyone else can get and stay healthy, IF Strome can adjust to wing, IF we get more good Alex Nylander than bad Alex Nylander, IF Lehner continues to look like an elite (or near elite) netminder, then perhaps the playoffs will be a real possibility.

But, we are working through the IFs right now; answers to be determined.

All I have for now. Comment below.

The post ANALYSIS: Adjust your Blackhawks expectations appeared first on The Rink.

I will also tell you when it’s been quiet. And today, the last full workday before the Monday 3PM trade deadline, my inbox is empty. At least as of this posting.

So what follows is a roundup—arranged chronologically from most recent to oldest—of rumors I’ve heard over the last week (with some commentary):

Newer:

Columbus

Apparently made another run at Artem Anisimov in the last 24 hours or so. Columbus and Montreal I was told had made offers on Anisimov previously, that the Hawks rejected.

Corey Crawford injury

I received confirmation from a reliable team source that his injury is, in fact, concussion related. It had nothing to do with 12-ounce curls or snowmobiles.

My comment: let’s move on.

As reported here first:

Philadelphia

Some time in the last few days, the Hawks talked to Philadelphia about a deal that would send Ryan Hartman and Anisimov (and possibly Cody Franson, probably just for contract space) to the Flyers for Val Fillipula, Michael Raffl and either Travis Sanheim or Samuel Morin. And the Hawks might have to retain salary on Anisimov.

My comment: a lot of fans thought this would be a bad trade for Chicago. I disagree. Although he’s older, Fillipula is a much better faceoff guy (something the Hawks desperately need), who plays with more speed than AA. Nick Schmaltz is your 2C, Fillipula fits the 3C profile better—as long as the Hawks retain him. But the jewel of this deal for Chicago would be Sanheim or Morin, each a recent first round pick with size and skating ability—and the kind of D prospect the Hawks simply don’t have.

Hartman

A source told me he’s “as good as gone.” Might be extreme and premature. But I do hear the Hawks are listening on offers for him and along with Connor Murphy, he is a high possibility to move.

Washington and/or Tampa Bay

The Hawks had two scouts at a game between these two teams the other night. Both are rumored to be looking for defensemen. Murphy? Dunno, no names were mentioned.

Brandon Saad

The Hawks received offers from Pittsburgh (which in light of the Derrick Brassard deal today now makes more sense) and Montreal. Both offers were rejected.

My comment: no surprise teams are offering, nor that the Hawks are rejecting. It’s the smart move on everyone’s part. I doubt Saad moves unless there is an exceptional offer on the table.

Ottawa

The Hawks have been talking to the Sens off and on for several weeks about various players—mostly Chicago defensemen. Two players mentioned to me (among several apparently discussed) were Connor Murphy and Zack Smith. These teams may revisit these discussions after the season’s end.

Tommy Wingels

Very possible Tommy rejoins the Sharks for a playoff run (or the Wild) then returns home this summer as a free agent.

All I have for now. Follow me @jaeckel for real-time updates on rumors as I hear them, 24/7. Between now and the deadline.

The post Rumor Roundup appeared first on The Rink.

From the top:

WASHINGTON AND/OR TAMPA BAY

The Hawks had two pro scouts present for the game between these two teams last night, including Dir. of Pro Scouting Ryan Stewart. No players mentioned.

PHILADELPHIA

This could be a significant deal.

From Chicago: Artem Anisimov and Ryan Hartman for SOME COMBINATION, BUT LIKELY NOT ALL OF Val Fillipula, Michael Raffl and either Samuel Morin OR Travis Sanheim. The Hawks might also have to retain some of Anisimov’s salary. No idea whether AA has been asked to waive, but his NMC expires 7/1 anyway.

I’ll be checking in and posting as things break.

The post Rumors: Wednesday update, PHL, WSH, TB appeared first on The Rink.

At 7-7-2, can the Blackhawks’ record be defended anymore? Or can patience still be urged with a roster that doesn’t seem to be working?

What follows is a matter of opinion, but the mounting evidence, game after game, suggests the answer to both questions is “no.”

Coach or GM?

First, let’s set aside the blame game between the coach and the GM. They’re both to blame. Stan Bowman has assembled a roster a hall of fame coach can’t win with. The hall of fame coach can’t win with at least three future hall of fame players.

The clear message there is simple. Bowman has either held on to certain players too long (and at too much salary), or the supporting cast is entirely ill-conceived and insufficient. Alternately, the team’s effort (in particular the power play) is somewhere between inconsistent and horribly bad.

What then?

The bigger question—one to be answered in the offseason, assuming the team’s fortunes don’t turnaround this season—is whether the “Cup Window” is now closed and is a teardown/rebuild in the offing.

For now, what can be done this year? Joel Quenneville and staff have tried just about every possible line combination and defensive pairing.

Some thoughts:

First, there are too many sacred cows.

You can’t trade Brent Seabrook—no one’s taking his contract unless you get an equally bad one back so forget that—but you can sit him. Why not? He’s a turnover machine and getting turnstiled fairly regularly.

Alex DeBrincat and his 3 goals, two of which went into empty nets. Sure, you can pount to Tommy WIngels or Lance Bouma’s “production” or lack thereof, but they are sent out to do a different job than “Cat” is, and they do it relatively well.

The latest “Cat” rationale is:

“Well, he’s not scoring, but he isn’t hurting the team either.” Seriously, if this was a 6^th round pick or a journeyman—and not the most hyped prospect of the last two years—would this kind of apology be offered up, or would everyone be calllng for the guy’s head? If we’re being honest, we know what the answer is.

“Cat’s” job is to score. Period.

If he doesn’t score, he has almost zero value, even with the other “emerging narrative” that he’s some kind of set-up God al la Ron Francis.

Hey, good for him that he made the team out of camp at 19 years old, but there is also no reason he can’t be down in Rockford improving his overall game, giving a Vince Hinostroza or a Matthew Highmore at least a chance to show where they’re at and maybe provide a spark to a team—that isn’t scoring.

Despite “insider” reports this summer that Patrick Sharp was ready for a big season and in “tip top shape,” he looks done.

Why should we be surprised? When last seen in a Hawk sweater in the summer of 2015, Sharp appeared on the decline, a third line winger (on an admittedly great team) not the top 6 threat he once was. Now, two seasons and several injuries later, we’re waiting for him to reverse the aging process?

My information this summer was that signing Sharp was not (actually) seen by the team as a “big free agency coup”—in spite of how it may have been “pushed out”—rather a “depth, veteran experience move.” Perhaps a 13^th forward you could spot in different situations, which it appears, at best, is what he is.

Or he’s a candidate for the press box or waivers.

Bigger moves?

Can the Hawks make a meaningful trade? Maybe. They do have, for the first time in several years, a handful of young players and high AHL prospects who may have some value, not to mention Connor Murphy or even Nick Schmaltz. You have to give to get, and change your team chemistry.

Personally, I think the first (and, for now, the only) move will be firing up the Rockford Shuttle, and you may see some veterans as healthy scratches—and not just the Boumas and Wingels.

And yes, continuing the status quo of strictly “patience,” trying different line combinations etc., may yet work. But as the games tick off and the losses pile up, that looks less and less likely.

Follow @jaeckel

The post Shake Up Time For The Blackhawks? appeared first on The Rink.

Tweet to Gatekeeper

The Blackhawks strolled into Philadelphia, Thursday night, to face the Flyers in a battle of the middling teams with identical records. Both squads came into this game losing their previous game, and then sitting on those losses for long stretches. The Hawks were shutout Sunday, and the Flyers lost in overtime to the Avalanche on Saturday. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville rolled out a new set of “damn near nuclear” lines, which lasted roughly 20 minutes. Poor Corey Crawford was wheeled out as the sacrificial lamb, once again, and he faced the Flyers reclamation project Brian Elliott just like the previous meeting these two teams had just a few games prior. As it turned out, not even Eric Semborski could have helped this Blackhawks team.

Here are your starting lines:

Patrick Sharp – Jonathan Toews– Patrick Kane
Brandon Saad – Artem Anisimov – Richard Panik
Alex DeBrincat – Nick Schmaltz – Ryan Hartman
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – John Hayden

Duncan Keith – Jan Rutta
Gustav Forsling – Brent Seabrook
Cody Franson – Connor Murphy

It didn’t take long for the Flyers to grab a lead which they never lost. Five minutes into the opening period, the Blackhawks had trouble getting the puck out of their zone and eventually Patrick Sharp handed the puck to Jakub Voracek, with a little help from the referee’s skate, at the Blackhawks blue line. For some inexplicable reason, Jan Rutta completely over played the puck and ended up standing three feet from Keith just off the half-boards.  As a result, Claude Giroux was left wide open in the slot without a Blackhawks defender within 15 feet. Voracek fed Giroux for a laser of a one-timer that Corey Crawford had absolutely no chance on.

Less than 10 minutes after the Giroux goal, it was Jakub Voracek’s turn to pick on the Blackhawks. The new kid line of Debrincat, Schmaltz and Hartman got caught running around in their own zone, and Hartman tried to get a head start exiting the zone.  Unfortunately for everyone in white, the puck never made it out of the Blackhawks zone. Shayne Gostisbehere laid a pass right in Voracek’s wheelhouse for a second back side one-timer goal. This disaster of a first period ended mercifully with the visiting team getting out shot 16-12 but, quite honestly, 12 shots was a generous count from the official scorer.

Quenneville wasted no time blowing up lines and marched his mediocre soldiers out for the second period with a whole new set of forward lines.  His tactic gave the impression that he was out of ideas. Even though the middle two lines made little sense, this is what Quenneville rolled out:

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane
Alex Debrincat – Artem Anisimov – Richard Panik
Patrick Sharp – Nick Schmaltz – Ryan Hartman
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – John Hayden

This second set of lines lasted four minutes, until the Flyers fairly easily increased their lead to 3-0. The scoring play was not really anything special, and the Blackhawks had plenty of defenders back on the play, but the Hawks just looked like they had no fire left in their eyes. The goal scorer, Sean Couturier, easily drove up the center of the ice and abused Keith.  If you watch the replay, Keith has a look on his face like he is completely befuddled.

The lone highlight of the Blackhawks night was a Murphy goal, late in the second period, which was his first as a Blackhawk. Murphy’s original shot was actually blocked and landed right back in front of him.  Luckily for Murphy, Brian Elliott had committed to the original shot and was slightly off his angle. The followup shot surprised and beat Brian Elliott, but that was all the Blackhawks could muster up.  The goal was a smokescreen and virtually useless, because the Hawks were never a real threat to come back.

The third period was a mere formality because the Hawks really didn’t register any kind of serious pressure, and were mentally on the plane ride home already.  As this game wrapped up, the Blackhawks fell to 7-7-2 and 11th in the Western Conference and 23rd overall. The only Western Conference teams worse than the Hawks are Anaheim, Minnesota, Edmonton and Arizona.

Pluses

• The only forwards that looked hungry enough to score were Saad and Panik.  Saad had eight shots on net and could have easily had a goal, while Panik had three shots on net and 4 hits.  At least someone actually came out to play.
• Anisimov and Panik both had great possession numbers on the night. Cut me some slack, there was not much to praise from this team’s putrid effort.

Minuses

• Sharp is hanging on the precipice of being almost completely useless. Moving him up to the first line was a stupid move from the word “go“.  Sharp was playing 4th line by the midway point of the second period and saw the ice only four times in the third period.  Remember, in June, when the rumors of Sharp’s return were swirling and I was furious at the waste of time and a roster spot?  The Blackhawks have no room to bring up a player because they are are dragging around so much dead weight that vultures are circling the team charter. But, sure, I was over reacting.
  
• Sitting Michal Kempny for Gustav Forsling was just sheer stupidity. Kempny had been playing pretty well, as of late. If any player deserved to take a night off, prior to this game, it was Connor Murphy, but in reality Forsling should have just remained in the press box. Quenneville can play coy when the team is playing well, but he is playing favorites with no results.  The fact that Murphy had a decent game was just dumb luck.
• The Blackhawks were 0-4 on the powerplay again, and one of those was a 5-on-3 for 1:44. As bad as the penalty kill was last season, this powerplay unit is giving that squad a run for their money in futility.
• I realize that neutral zone face-offs are somewhat over rated but, overall, this team only won 33% of their face-offs. That cannot happen if you expect to win even half of your games.
• For all the couch experts that have preached about the Blackhawks needing more “hitz”, they actually out hit the big bad Flyers in this game as noted enforcer Tommy Wingels lead the way with seven. Clearly all that “grit and toughness” made a world of difference.

The post Recap: Blackhawks at Flyers<br> 3-1 Loss appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Blackhawks (7-6-2) at Philadelphia Flyers (7-6-2)

7PM Eastern/6PM Central

RADIO: WGN 720

TV: NBC Sports Chicago/NBCS Philadelphia

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:

Corey Crawford (7-5-0, 1.77 GAA, .945 save%)

Philadelphia:

Brian Elliott (5-3-1, 3.11 GAA, .892 save%)

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago

Sharp-Toews-Kane

Saad-Anisimov-Panik

Debrincat-Schmaltz-Hartman

Bouma-Wingels-Hayden

Keith-Rutta

Forsling-Seabrook

Murphy-Franson

Philadelphia

Giroux-Couturier-Voracek

Konecny-Filippula-Simmonds

Weal-Lehtera-Weise

Leier-Laughton-Raffl

Provorov-Hagg

Manning-Gostisbehere

Sanheim-Alt

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:

(through Wednesday)

Power play:

Chicago 13.6% (27^th)

Philadelphia 20.4% (11^th)

Penalty kill:

Chicago 84.7% (6^th)

Philadelphia 76.9% (24^th)

Corsi For % (5-on-5)

Chicago 49.9% (15^th)

Philadelphia 49.3% (19^th)

Faceoffs:

Chicago 50.3% (18^th)

Philadelphia 51.7% (8^th)

SUMMARY:

In search of answers for a team that is best described somewhere between sluggish and schizophrenic, Joel Quennevlle and his coaching staff have thrown all the pieces up in the air again to see where they land.

As a result, Michal Kempny returns to the doghouse, Gustav Forsling comes out. Jan Rutta flips back to his natural right side to play alongside Duncan Keith, and Connor Murphy goes to his off, left side, and now plays with Cody Franson—who was with Keith. And that’s just the defense.

At forward, the big change is the “reunion” tour of Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane together on the top line. Well, it was a good bet in 2008 anyway. From there, the second and third lines have been extensively juggled as well.

The Flyers were the team against whom the Hawks ignited a mini-hot streak that lasted about 8 periods—before the wheels fell off in their last outing versus Montreal.

Simply put the Hawks need to start scoring more—at both even strength and on the power play.

Gatekeeper will recap tonight.

Follow @jaeckel

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