Down in Flames......Hoxx on the Rocks.

     "The Stanley Cup Winner's Curse"  I know it exists. It's happened before; 'A Stanley Cup champion fails to make the playoffs the year after winning it all'.  If  I'm correct, Carolina in 2005....New Jersey in 1995... and Montreal in 1965...are the three instances in the 'modern era.' We're all familiar with the Superbowl loser's curse. Simply stated, the loser of the Superbowl is doomed to a horrendous showing the next year rarely even making the playoffs. We know this all too well in Chicago as the Bears just made it back to the playoffs for the first time this year after losing Superbowl XLI. But the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks scrapping  for their playoff lives with 29 games to go??!! There isn't supposed to be a curse for the winners of the Stanley Cup!! As I mentioned previously, it's only happened 3 times in 45 years. There was no way this was going to happen to our Blackhawks. We finally got "over the hump" and out of the Red Wings shadow last year. The Blackhawks had finally become 'mighty' just like the song says, and were going to be a perennial hockey power for years to come. Granted the Stanley Cup is arguably the hardest title to repeat in all of sports, but for Pete's sake, (whoever Pete is..) the Blackhawks weren't going to crumble like a dried out coffee cake. At worst they would finish 1st or 2nd in the division and enjoy another deep playoff run maybe even making it to the finals again. Not this; 58 points through 53 games in 11th place in the conference!! The sand is piling up quickly in the wrong half of the hourglass. Coach Q says he likes the 'effort' his players are putting forth and it will pay off over time. I agree the effort level is there. Watching last nights game versus Calgary, guys are hustling, giving their all, diving in front of and chasing down the puck but something is just not clicking. The bounces just aren't going our way and it seems for all the effort the opposing team seems to be having an easier time racking up goals.
       The Blackhawks top 4 defensemen; Keith, Seabrook, Campbell and Hjalmarsson all look to be doing all they can do, but the passing has been a far cry from last year's precision. There are too many lazy turnovers. The pressure on the offensive end can be pretty intense, Toews and Kane paired up for a beautiful goal last night, but that was it. (did Patrick Sharp even come back from the All Star game?)  I love the slogan, "One Goal" but it really sucks when that's our evening's tally! I maintain there is still something off about Marian Hossa. His hustle and speed are back but he rarely takes the puck directly at the goalie. Very few of the Hawks do right now. It's almost like they are all trying to be overly polite to each other, "Here, you take a shot....oh no ......I couldn't, you take it...." I still like our goaltending. Corey Crawford played great again making a gorgeous kick save in the 2nd period, and Marty Turco has been solid when he's played. Unfortunately, all too like a ChicagoCubs pitcher, they aen't getting alot of "run support."  Coach Q has tried several lineup variations all with little impact. I'm sure he's tried yelling and breaking things but nothings working. Captain Serious has called several "players only" meetings with little results. Like Johnathan Toews and Coach Q, Im left scratching my (bald)  head here!!
     The only other element I would change is to put John Scott back in the lineup; I know he can't skate, can't handle a puck, shoot or pass very well, (all plusses for a pro hockey player) but since he's been out of the lineup as a "healthy scratch" the Hawks haven't intimidated anyone. Intimidation in hockey is a huge part of the game. Nobody fears the "mighty" Blackhawks right now and it's showing on the score sheet. The November 27th drubbing of  L.A. Kings goon Kevin Westgarth (Westgarth started the brawl and tapped out!) was a huge rallying point of that game. It electrified the crowd and the team. The Blackhawks haven't employed an enforcer like Scott since Bob Probert was a Blackhawk. Hockey skills or lack thereof aside, John Scott is a valuable weapon and needs to be utilized for the Blackhawks to make the playoffs. Granted, if you pummel an opponent in football, baseball,or basketball in the same manner you're fined and suspended, but in hockey it's part of the culture. It shows your opponent you are as tough as they are or better and don't take any crap. It shows that outside of  winning, if you lose at least you're going down swinging. That's what we are missing right now. Maybe the Blackhawks need to meet up with Apollo Creed on the beach and be told point blank, "There is no tomorrow!!"   Dave Kuhlman   bullsbearscubssoxhoxx   dave@onyerleft.com