Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks have dropped their seventh straight game in a row in white-wash fashion, unable to crack Mike Smith. The impotence of the offense really isn't even the concern of the game, rather the mugging of Jonathan Toews for the 2nd straight game.
Being on the receiving end of multiple raids, Toews has retaliated with frustration once again, this time retorting against former Blackhawks captain Adrian Aucoin. He isn't the same one-man wrecking crew that bulldozed the ice with havoc as he did earlier in the season. Fast forward to the recent moment and Jonathan is the one being wrecked by a crew.
Maybe his teammates need to stick up for him, maybe the officials need to take notice. One thing is for certain, I doubt he'll be able to take this type of abuse for any prolonged stretch without seriously hurting himself. Teams seems to place a target on his back because they can, and quite honestly at times it seems as if it's Jonathan Toews versus five opposing players and a goaltender.
Today, the Blackhawks loss is the least of my concerns and should be the least of anyone's concerns. Enduring seven losses in a row may do that to someone, or showing concern for the Captain might be a better reason.
Against the Sharks, Jamal Mayers was forced to play on the top line with Toews in order to reduce the damage... something that the referees easily could have fixed with a game misconduct to send a message in a similar fashion that John Scott has received multiple times through out the year. Unfortunately, the officials have cowered for two games in a row now with their tails between their legs, forcing the Blackhawks to police the game themselves.
Against the Coyotes, the players gave up on policing for their Captain. Instead, Andrew Shaw tried sparking the team with a fight early in the game, for another cause other than defending teammates. Although the Blackhawks bench seemed to enjoy the spark it created, shortly after they conceded their 1st goal of the game essentially ending their night as the game-winner.
Fighting has it's place in hockey, if the officials will not atone for someones actions by slapping them with the book, guaranteed that another player will slap you in the face with their fists. It just didn't happen today from either end--at least not for the right reasons.
For taking a beating, I think Jonathan deserves to be recognized as the best player for the Blackhawks tonight. He stuck with it and continued to park his body in areas that he knew he would face rough contact. His team can take a page out of his book, because if all of them were willing to put themselves on the line like he has, maybe we wouldn't have lost seven games in a row. Time to have that meeting behind closed doors, they need another reminder of how much the Captain hates losing.
BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Jonathan Toews
2. Brent Seabrook
3. Andrew Shaw
Original Story:
http://www.indianheadnation.com/page/...
Being on the receiving end of multiple raids, Toews has retaliated with frustration once again, this time retorting against former Blackhawks captain Adrian Aucoin. He isn't the same one-man wrecking crew that bulldozed the ice with havoc as he did earlier in the season. Fast forward to the recent moment and Jonathan is the one being wrecked by a crew.
Maybe his teammates need to stick up for him, maybe the officials need to take notice. One thing is for certain, I doubt he'll be able to take this type of abuse for any prolonged stretch without seriously hurting himself. Teams seems to place a target on his back because they can, and quite honestly at times it seems as if it's Jonathan Toews versus five opposing players and a goaltender.
Today, the Blackhawks loss is the least of my concerns and should be the least of anyone's concerns. Enduring seven losses in a row may do that to someone, or showing concern for the Captain might be a better reason.
Against the Sharks, Jamal Mayers was forced to play on the top line with Toews in order to reduce the damage... something that the referees easily could have fixed with a game misconduct to send a message in a similar fashion that John Scott has received multiple times through out the year. Unfortunately, the officials have cowered for two games in a row now with their tails between their legs, forcing the Blackhawks to police the game themselves.
Against the Coyotes, the players gave up on policing for their Captain. Instead, Andrew Shaw tried sparking the team with a fight early in the game, for another cause other than defending teammates. Although the Blackhawks bench seemed to enjoy the spark it created, shortly after they conceded their 1st goal of the game essentially ending their night as the game-winner.
Fighting has it's place in hockey, if the officials will not atone for someones actions by slapping them with the book, guaranteed that another player will slap you in the face with their fists. It just didn't happen today from either end--at least not for the right reasons.
For taking a beating, I think Jonathan deserves to be recognized as the best player for the Blackhawks tonight. He stuck with it and continued to park his body in areas that he knew he would face rough contact. His team can take a page out of his book, because if all of them were willing to put themselves on the line like he has, maybe we wouldn't have lost seven games in a row. Time to have that meeting behind closed doors, they need another reminder of how much the Captain hates losing.
BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Jonathan Toews
2. Brent Seabrook
3. Andrew Shaw
Original Story:
http://www.indianheadnation.com/page/...
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February 10, 2012
