Flyers 3 - Hawks 0 - Anywhere But Philadelphia

Ah, Philadelphia. One of the two most depressing American cities I've ever visited. The other being Columbus, Ohio. Do you like bleak houses enveloped in aluminum siding? How about post-war row homes inhabited by geriatrics and the obese? You know why Philly fans are the worst in America? Why they're much happier seeing other teams lose than seeing a Philly team win? Because Philadelphia is a miserable shithole, and the frustration of living a wretched life inside that garbage city generates bile and overwhelming anger, which can only be temporarily cured by thrusting that negativity outward via obscene gestures, vigorous taunts, and flying fists. The circumstance of being born in Philadelphia makes one suspect that God is dead and any notion of a tolerable existence is out of reach.   


Philadelphia. Ooh that sweet, sweet urban blight


On to the game....

The Hawks ran into a positionally sound and error-free goalie performance by Michal Neuvirth. Add in a Flyers defense that provided support in front of him, and you get shut out. That was the difference between the Hawks and the Flyers tonight, with the Hawks being passive in front of Corey Crawford.  The Hawks defense did not clear the front of the net, they let the Flyers skate in and get multiple shots on Crow, they didn't use body positioning to box out rebound mercenaries, and they didn't get their sticks in the way. This type of passive play in front of your goalie leads to losses. The Hawks lost.

   
 Delicious Cake

- The Hawks had scoring chances up the ass tonight, but just couldn't capitalize. Marian Hossa's breakaway, Panarin to Kane to Anisimov's shot in the slot, Teuvo's wrister after a quick cut inside, Toew's rebound off of Duncan Keith's slapper on the last power play, etc... 

-The power play was actually generating great scoring opportunities. It's unfortunate that nothing got past Neuvirth. The difference tonight was the injection of chaos into the power play attack. Like always, there was a lot of puck movement, but the players moved as well, which is a new and welcome development. The attack was unpredictable, which is good, because predictability is the reason the Hawks power play has been ineffective for years under Joel Quenneville. It's usually Keith trading passes with somebody along the blue line, then a pass to the corner man, who passes it back to the point, and the point man launches a shot that hits somebody in the leg. There was less meek predictability tonight. Hopefully, this is a trend.   

So-So Soup

-Viktor Tikhonov showed up. But he needs to do more than just show up if the Hawks are going to have any confidence in their forward depth.
-Viktor Svedberg played better. He didn't look high on catnip. Here's Viktor, high on catnip...




Expired Tuna Salad

-Well, that was a short audition on the top line for Ryan Garbutt. In fact, Garbutt was on the ice for just over 7 minutes, the lowest amount for a player on either team. But that's Coach Q for ya. If he isn't familiar with a player, he's doesn't play him. Which begs the question, how does Q get familiar with a player if he doesn't play him? This is the same tired maneuver that Q likes to inflict on the players, who thrive on consistency. Line not working for a couple shifts? Mix 'em all to hell! For he is lord Q, an angry and vengeful god! Fear his wrath! Rain praise upon him, or you shall be smoten! 3 cups! 3 cups! 3 cups!