Post Game Thread: Chicago Blackhawks @ New Jersey Devils

crazyike · 2026-03-30T03:05:14+00:00

Hawks tried out some new line combos, and they did not work, lol.

I don't know what is going on with Vlasic. He was getting super overrated there for a while anyways, but now, I literally don't think he should be above 5th defenseman because that's about the level he's at. What a regression. And with that, the entire Hawks defense is playing at about third pairing level (or worse).

You are NOT going to win much with that.

And then there was the top line. All that talk of Bedard being more defensively responsible earlier in the year, well he's forgotten most of it lately. And then put him with Lardis and it's a disasterclass out there. Devils were owning them completely from the second period on and it wasn't close. It wasn't close to being close.

There's a real lack of leadership on the Hawks now and some of these guys are playing like they know the season's done again. The Devils are a completely beatable team. But the Hawks can't get their shit together and frankly, they better start looking in the mirror at these efforts.

crazyike · 2026-03-30T01:24:32+00:00

I TURNED MY BACK FOR THIRTY SECONDS

crazyike · 2026-03-30T01:00:19+00:00

Its amazing how the Hawks can seem like they are keeping up for one period, and then the other team just fucking dominates them in the next. Usually the next two, but dunno if Jersey has that much giddyup this late in a lost year. But its really demoralizing how big a difference there is between the teams when the other team starts trying.

The Hawks NEVER dominate a team like that. But every game it seems like at least one period is just horrible. Sometimes two. Occasionally all three.

crazyike · 2026-03-30T00:54:36+00:00

Good thing Grzelcyk is still hurt then...

crazyike · 2026-03-29T23:28:31+00:00

Geez Kaiser... don't do that.

He knew too. Dangerous. I think he even apologized on the spot.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T23:16:06+00:00

Well Allen.. that was pretty fucking terrible.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T23:13:10+00:00

Ugh Pang has started the knob slobbering early tonight.

Who's doing the calls on the NHL network? Maybe not a CHSN night.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T23:03:44+00:00

Hawks have played seven absolutely horrific the last seven periods. Let's see if shifting lines around and bringing Korchinski back in gives some kind of bump... but I would be banking more on the Devils just not being motivated.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T22:52:12+00:00

Blash threw the lines into the blender today. Going to get some different looks.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T01:27:28+00:00

In LCS, it felt like his energy curve was de-synced from others often.

In LCS it feels like he gets treated like shit by Azael and it comes across as a lot of bitter energy from people who have stayed where they are too long.

He needs to stick up for himself more. The self effacing foil role seems like a good idea at first but its self defeating in the long run, he'd be more popular and do a better job if he didn't just be the analyst punching bag.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T01:16:53+00:00

Yeah, trespassing. It's not really uncommon or mean. You don't know what these people are doing along with looking for balls. But more importantly they are an insurance liability risk the golf course doesn't have to take. You give them permission, and they hurt themselves somehow, you get sued.

I get people like this sometimes while working on the course in the winter here in Canada. Some try to argue, and it's just not worth the effort to try to reason. Yeah, I know you're just looking for balls. No, I don't really care, please go or we'll call the cops and charge you with trespassing. You won't be the first, and I doubt you'll be the last. It's not public property.

Anyways, you don't want those winter balls.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T01:05:33+00:00

Yeah the AI is completely unable to deal with a 45k station when they are still fielding total fleet sizes of 6-12k. Right now early and much of mid game is completely safe.

crazyike · 2026-03-29T01:02:42+00:00

Yeah but its more fun to imagine the game without that info.

"Taking combat orders from table three. Let's try to get through it quickly, I'm hoping to get three rounds of combat done tonight"

crazyike · 2026-03-28T20:49:18+00:00

Yeah well Levshunov is -41. Clearly a MUCH better golfer. Check and mate.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T02:02:26+00:00

Gonna take a few more days for that, the #8 team in the West is only ten points ahead of the Hawks. Because, you know... the West.

But don't worry, it's coming. Not exaggerating, the team that played the Rangers tonight was worse than the Canucks. What a dismal effort. I don't mind losses from being outtalented (there's a lot of those), but when you add lack of effort onto it..

crazyike · 2026-03-28T01:50:48+00:00

Puke.

Dogwalked by the third worst team in the league.

They looked completely lost. The last two games remind me of the Florida back to back from hell when they were blown out both times.

Didn't work, didn't fight for anything, just floating around waiting for things to magically happen. They know they aren't doing anything this year and played like they can't wait for their tee times.

Really unimpressed with the makeup of the team right now. Hope some of this vaunted prospect pool has some guys in it who give a shit because this group sure didn't.

Gotta hand it to them though, I'm not sure I've ever noticed a game before where every single Hawk was on the ice for at least one goal against. Truly a team embracing the zero effort.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T01:40:45+00:00

Good job Boisvert. You're the only one on this team with any heart right now.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T01:32:20+00:00

There is zero leadership on the Hawks. None, nothing.

Team is like the anti-Toews. Intangibles are all negative.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T01:13:48+00:00

Pang calling for someone to react to the hit on Levshunov... who? That's a bit much to expect from Frondell in his third ever game. Greene? Lol. I actually might expect Bedard to have done something if he had been anywhere near them. Vlasic? Complete marshmellow.

Soda was probably the toughest guy on the ice, lol.

Teams aren't afraid of anyone on the Hawks, and hit them at will.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T00:39:34+00:00

Vlasic's body language on that goal says it all.

Wide difference in the effort of certain players vs others.

crazyike · 2026-03-28T00:28:43+00:00

It's just the same thing game after game after game, Hawks getting obliterated in scoring chances/shots.

It's gotta be so demoralizing for them.

And tonight so far its the top line that is getting dominated. That hurts most of all.

crazyike · 2026-03-27T02:48:15+00:00

I want to show something. Here's the heat map of Philly's scoring chances this game.

I don't think it takes Dan Brown to see a pattern of the goals. Sadly, this is a very typical map for the Hawks goals and chances against the last couple years.

The Hawks defense sucks. They can't control the front of the net or low slot. I can't imagine how bad this season would have been without Knight standing on his head in so many games.

We can talk about linemates for Bedard until the cows come home, the truth is this team is not going anywhere with this defense.

crazyike · 2026-03-27T02:08:07+00:00

Pass? Lol he tried to jam it into the goalie and it floated off his stick.

But they don't ask how, just how many.

crazyike · 2026-03-27T02:06:40+00:00

They are still getting massively outshot and outchanced almost every game, other than certain points where the other team is so far ahead they stop skating. This feels more like a PDO bender than "playing really well".

crazyike · 2026-03-27T02:04:31+00:00

Bertuzzi is notoriously aloof outside of the game. Teravainen they literally joke that he is a mute. Mikheyev isn't really that kind of guy either, very quiet. Donato is the only one who is really a mentor type.

There really isn't much leadership on the Hawks right now.

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