'Hawks were down two forwards to start the game...Hossa, a late scratch, and Frolik down with the Flu...in-game, Shaw ate a Stasny elbow (expect a Shanaban for one game, I think), and Sharp got rubbed off into the boards, I expect that it will be a shoulder separation.
The will to win with this squad is amazing, down one entering the third, and when Sharp went down, all four lines were missing a regular, Q mixed and matched bodies and the team still found a way. Honestly, with under a minute to go, the 'Hawks were attacking with a line of two 4th liners and a third liner...Kruger/Carcillo/Stalberg...and playing to their individual strengths, Kruger tough on the boards, Stalberg with quick feet and hands and Carcillo with scrappy tenacity in traffic, a game winner was potted.
Moving on...I expect, after a period in the quiet room, Shaw will return for Friday, as will Hossa (undisclosed "upper body injury", but he did warm up) and Frolik...I don't expect good news on Sharp, but the 'Hawks never really say much. They had just sent down Bollig to Rockford, I suspect that means Montador is ready to return, but, he and Brookbank are surplus to the D-Corps right now...I wouldn't be surprised to see Frolik moved up to 3rd, Stalberg to 2nd line, and Bollig recalled.
That would make my probable lines Saad/Toews/Hossa...Stalberg/Bolland/Kane...Bickell/Shaw/Frolik...Bollig/Kruger/Mayers.
I had predicted, however, that the 'Hawks would lose one of the Avs matchups...and it would not surprise me to see the Avs break through on Friday. Their 1-2-2 trap took the 'Hawks top lines out of rhythm, the scores were a PP, a Shorty, and a 4th line scrap off the wall...and the Av's seem to be able to generate some offense with Landeskog, Duchesne, O'Reilly, and Parenteau.
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"If the wine's not good enough for the cook, the wine's not good enough for the dish!" - Julia Child (goddess of the kitchen)
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