Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
Hawks have been pretty average lately, and the Flames are a different team at home.
If the Flames lose this one though, the losing streak could easily stretch out to six games with the road trip that's coming up.
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The 'Hawks have been not just average, but, completely uninspired...this team has had doldrums like this in March before.
Crawford is not traveling with the team, and the story is "upper body injury", but, I don't believe that he is injured, at all. He had passed his prior career high in season appearances in February, and had faced the most SOG in the league...he started to show signs of fatigue. With a playoff slot virtually clinched, and with Darling having had so few appearances, giving Crawford a two week break doesn't seem a bad plan. I expect that he will return when the 'Hawks return home, for some late tune up games.
Kruger is returning after, what I believe, was a broken wrist...Our PK dropped from top 5 to 24th in his absence, but, it remains to be seen how badly his faceoffs have been affected. Losing D-zone draws has KILLED our PK, Anisimov is wretched in the dot.
The last two weeks, Shaw has been the only forward that has played with any kind of energy...
I expect these lines:
Ladd/Toews/Hossa (although Hossa has flopped with Kane some lately)
Panarin/AA/Kane
Weise/TT/Fleischmann
Desjardins/Kruger/Shaw
Defensively, Rozival has been incredibly bad, though Q protects him so much, that the stats don't show it...Opposing LWs make him look like a zombie on skates, blowing by, as he lumbers on.
also, Q's combos have been AWFUL, during the recent scuffles...
Hammer/Keith ( two L shots)
TVR/Seabrook (two R shots)
Svedberg (just recalled)/Rozi (should be Gustafsson/Sved or Erhoff)
Darling backed by Leighton in goal.
Good luck to your guys...still with a miniscule mathematic chance to get a WC...My guys need to just assimilate the new additions, avoid injuries, and play better than they have lately. Our finishing spot doesn't matter as much...we have had to win on the road in the playoffs before.