Shake and Bake – Your Weekly Blackhawks Recap

(10/7 – 10/10)

Hawks – Rangers Recap

Hawks at Islanders Recap

Hawks vs. Islanders Recap

The Hawks went 2-1 on the week, losing on opening night to the Rangers, then winning both games of a home-and-home with the Islanders Friday and Saturday.

Notes

Forwards: Panarin was excellent in all three games. He’s been better than I could have realistically hoped he’d be and Anismov has said that he’ll only get better. If that’s the case, the Hawks could have a smaller Ovi. If Dano becomes as good as I think he can be on top of that, there’s a solid chance that Toews will put at least as many banners in the rafters as Jordan did. Also, Panarin’s nickname is apparently Bread Man, so between that and the way Kane handles the puck, I’m calling the 2nd line the Shake and Bake Line.

After putting Turbo with Toews and Hossa to start the first two games, Q began experimenting with the lines in the first game against the Islanders and switched them up to start the second one, putting Garbutt at 1LW, Turbo at 3C and Shaw at 4RW. It’s time to do something with Bickell. Either put him at 1LW and see if playing with Toews and Hossa gets him going, or put him at 4LW and see if he can be at least adequate at a spot from which you’re not expecting tremendously great things in the first place. Or send him to Rockford.

Defensemen: Rundblad is still bad. Svedberg is okay. Chris Kuc said the Hawks are looking to acquire a defenseman. That seems like a pretty good idea. Right now, Rundblad is the Hawks’ seventh blueliner. Once Rozsival gets back, I would think it would be him, but he’s 37 and coming back from a major injury and was less-than-ideal more than a few times last year.

Trevor Daley looks to be a pretty big upgrade over Oduya. TVR scored his first career goal Saturday and it held up this time.

Goalies: Crawford was fine with limited help from the defense in the first two games. Darling probably would have had a shutout in the third were it not for a brainless Kane turnover that led to a breakaway.

Blackhawks 3 stars of the week:

★★★ Jonathan Toews, C (2 A)

★★ Artemi Panarin, LW (2 G (1 GWG), 2 A)

★ Patrick Kane, RW (3 G (1 GWG), 3 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com