Three stars:
1. Patrick Kane
2. Duncan Keith
3. Artem Anisimov
the Brightside: Kane continues to 20. Like I said. Don’t expect a premature ending.
It’s fair to say right now the gritty first line experiment has failed. I’m the biggest proponent of Andrew Shaw (extend him already) but he and Tazers game don’t mesh. Hossa doesn’t belong below line 2 either. It’s time we found a consistent lineup. We lack offensive production because we lack chemistry. It’s not a coincidence the most productive line on the team has been together the longest. Follow that example.
My proposition: Dano-Toews-Hoss, KaneGB (the best line in hockey is not to be messed with), Shaw-Kero-Teuvo, Garbutt-Kruger-Desjardins. Give Toews weapons to score and you don’t give him an excuse anymore. Shaw and Teuvo are, as I believe, two of the most compatible players on the team. Shaw gets in the corners and provides energy to Teuvo’s calm playmaking abilities. Watch them work magic with Kero, who can focus on the backcheck. You also have a faceoff guy on each line, which continues to be a problem. Garbutt gives some offensive drive to a line that otherwise lacks it. I’m looking at you wide open net Kruger. Can’t score if his life depended on it. But he’s not expected to.
Goaltending continues to be a strength of this team (except when it’s not. Crawford has allowed some weak goals this season) that’s what happens when you have a top ten goalie and a top three backup.
We’re 1-3-1 in the division. That’s gotta change if we want to make the playoffs in any position to get home ice. Although I wouldn’t mind a home game 6 again.
The Wild were a beatable team on a decline. But they were backed into a corner. They needed to start winning if they wanted playoffs, especially after their rough November. Things are looking up for them.
We’re back on the road. Let’s hope the success of the circus trip extends further into this month.
Ponderings:
Where’s Toews this season? He continues along this path and the Selke’s going back to Bergeron. No one wants that again.
For that matter, where’s the other 8 forwards? When was the last time a person not named Hossa, Kane or a variation of Artem/i scored?
Dano plays well above bottom six. I really like him. We won that trade easily.
Rockford might be playing better than this team currently. Things look well for the future. Plus we don’t have to worry about a puck mover once we move Daley as Pokka leads the Hogs in scoring.
Kanes probably going to be an All-Star captain. Deservedly so.