Home>>What's behind the Blackhawks' success?

What's behind the Blackhawks' success?

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Tags:

  1. Joel Quenneville2:07
  2. Stanley Cup1:51
  3. Jonathan Toews4:36, 5:08, 5:47
  4. San Jose4:45
  5. Patrick Kane5:38
  6. Seabrook1:21, 6:36, 6:36
  7. round playoff0:42
  8. post season1:38
  9. tomorrow night2:27, 2:34

Mon, 18 Feb 2013|

The Chicago Tribune Live panel breaks down the 12-0-3 Blackhawks - 2/18

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Transcript

What do you think they know they are they gonna reach this record here are they could I think that. The record is is fascinating because you make history in the certainly. Brings -- season due to something that distinction but the overall thing is I would be surprised. If they have a let down they may not win they obviously is hard to project because they have played such a high level. To keep that up but I think that just the way they're getting off the start the confidence you see them plain words. Hmmm they're doing all the little things they're tougher they're a lot tougher than they were a year ago you know you you begin the show. Were you can compare them to 2010 yet. I don't know but I think the one thing that you look at the last two years both season then with first round playoff exits. And both season then with questions what's missing you don't know what it was he knew something was missing. I think just talk this I think it's mental and I think concede that this year just in little things -- you seem. -- that they -- fighting. This is the tougher teams and this is this a very good team. Yeah well we'll get to Johnson and minute and like the comparisons but during the thing I like about this team so far. Is the way -- they set the tone in LA and Phoenix those first couple of games definitely helps the confidence and the toughness factor as well. But the wage Oakland mills -- able to have confidence in those lines they've established that and they've also done on the defensive pairings as well you don't have to use Keith and Seabrook for 25 minutes tonight. I agree and I think that's where your comparison to the -- ten team really comes in the fact that this team can roll four lines and the fact that goaltending. He's finally at a level like it was towards the end of the -- ten season when they established. Anti Niemi and he was the goalie for the post season -- I think that's where your comparisons. Are starting to be fair I know losing -- a great start for this Blackhawks team and if they get the record tomorrow it's great ironically I think the last other three teams that. Played this well beginning season all won the Stanley Cup so that's certainly bodes well for this year's Blackhawks team but I think. That's been really the biggest key for me is that the goaltending has been better but the fact that they are a much deeper team this year no matter who Quenneville puts out there. They're able to get contributions and I think that's especially important. For Joel Quenneville because of the way that he uses his lines and he interchanges only players on those so the depth of this team I think has been one of the biggest -- Since that they're doing so what gets almost final elicited that talk radio people trying to breakdown by. They're really reaching pretty fired if -- -- -- but some -- to pick here so far in the early double concerned about this game tomorrow night. The Blackhawks have broken the Canucks are so many times now this is to be heartbreaking situation. But I feel -- -- -- -- bell tomorrow night but there's really not much you can you can pick up with this team so far no other -- but there's no doubt it's a foot. Yeah you have to love the readiness of the Hawks I mean that's the thing that really stands out to me about this team. So tough I mean every game it's there have been examples of their resiliency. Their their. That their ability to just keep coming back in -- it's really been impressive. But you know the thing that that I'm still struggling to figure out though is why is this team so much better than last year and I'm gonna deferred to us some of you Hawks experts on that. Why do you think I mean because the personnel really is not drastically different that you would think that this team would be so much better. Did that and they -- era did that and that's worked to their advantage saw I think I think of -- -- their advantage because you do have a compressed season there was not training camp we've talked about that they when they begin. The first game they were hadn't had an advantage over a lot of teams that were integrating new players so I think that's part of it the other part of it is. You know disappointment. Perks and I think it change these young players that have had their pride wounded over the last two seasons last year. You know we get beaten by the Coyotes. You know compounded how much it hurt the previous you're getting beat by the -- they came back this year with a sense of purpose. And focus that you really haven't seen nothing that contributes to some of the toughness. This is not a team that -- This is a team that's tired to be pushed around. And I think you're seeing that they're not let anybody push them around the reputation they -- around the league for being soft the last two years -- that whatever was missing. People can say that about the Blackhawks -- -- well they did the same toughness element as they had the last last year at least with. The league you can -- I mean yeah I'm not sure that they -- that I think they're a lot tougher this year you know you weren't you didn't see. I mean you just didn't think Duncan -- really going after people last year the way he went out there. Many defended -- -- you didn't have Jonathan -- start fights -- these are little things. But it all reflects the mentality in urgency. That's different. No Jordan did you like to see Jonathan Toews and it's not I know people really concerned about with his you know the concussion he suffered. Probably at the hands of Joseph Thornton at least that's where it started a year ago in San Jose. But he's due for some reason what really gets energy skin. And -- for me I really reminded that much I mean if if job and things he's he's good enough to go and take that risk I'm fine with this totally. Well look the fire that it shows but I think he's gonna have better judgment I think there were not crushing -- because of the way the game transpired in the fact is that they. Won the game and it didn't hurt them but I think if Jonathan Toews had caused him to be off the ice for half a period basically and they played poorly and lost because he wasn't able to be on the ice and we might look at it differently so. To media and -- lawyer captain getting into fights because you need him. To be on the ice and I think. Going back to your point about toughness. You know I think did one of the biggest reasons why this team is place -- much better is that there are stars are playing like stars mean how many times in the last couple years and we said. While they do have a lot of great players on paper but we're not seeing. As much of that performance I think certainly Patrick Kane you know the first two and a half weeks of the season we're talking about. The Hart trophy for Patrick -- now think we were really had a serious discussion about that before we're seeing you know Jonathan Toews. Not only played a great level like he always does -- maybe adding this -- toughness part that was game but I think. You know the -- -- is a unit a team that filled in some young players that. What kind of getting themselves. Getting their feet under them last year they're playing a lot better and overall I think even though they didn't really add. The other team that's got that's much deeper and better because there's been a lot of improvement. We can also -- that with the fact that -- it was sharp has gone through a -- going drop dead where that. Host -- recently. And it that really hasn't caused we'll look in the world because it was in deep enough -- counted out but also you look at some things are doing they haven't been doing you talked about the toughest in the same I really don't think it is I think they're better this year. There's more about. In effort and more of a mentality that the blocked shots look at all the blocked shots there throw the bodies in front of also Brent Seabrook Brent Seabrook. I'll just you know has his voice come down and guys that kills a friend that was that from this that's the blood all the sacrifices that they've done all season -- -- don't kill penalties. They went from being. Fourth worst in the league last year percentage wise to have third best this season and did what penalty kill. That's it's an attitude -- effort it's a mentality gets toughness. In hockey is like that I think that we see in this team. Kind of yeah I think you don't accuse referred to him sort of abrasive --

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