Martin Brodeur gets record as New Jersey Devils stop Chicago Bl...

Another disastrous start. That and the SH goal.

This game at least wasn't as bad as the Islanders and Avs losses.

The Devils are one of the elite teams this year, and the Hawks made it interesting. Still they need to get some points--moral victories are useless-- and that makes tonight's game in Columbus a must win.

Nikolai Khabibulin: 6.750 m
Cristobal Huet: 5.625 m

Martin Brudeur: 5.200 m

That secure 4th place lead that looked insurmountable a month ago when Vancouver lost something like 7 games in a row is fading fast now, and the Hawks will be battling for their play-off lives if they don't turn this slide around.

Afer the Hawks faces another top notch goaltender tonight in Columbus,the losing streak could be easily 4 games and the noose coule be getting even tighter.

Home ice advantage in the play-offs would mean so much to a young team like the Hawks but right now they are playing like they don't care if they finish fourth or not.

Whether it's the lowly Islanders or the Devils, the Hawks just can't seem to get it done the past 10 days or so,
and it won't get any easier in the days ahead as they face contending teams.

Crack the whip J.Q. or the Hawks will once again spend April month on the golf course.

I was there last night and if the Hawks would have woke up and played the way they did 1/2 way in the 2md period and through the third we could have made St. Martin wait one more game.
Being one of maybe 3 Hawks fans at the Rock last night was a blast but watching that first period was painful. Everyone looked asleep straight through warm-ups until the end of the first. It was sad. The rest of the game they played good hockey. Our boys need to learn how to play a full game otherwise that 4th spot is going to be a waste.

Doc wrote:

Nikolai Khabibulin: 6.750 m
Cristobal Huet: 5.625 m
Martin Brudeur: 5.200 m

Yeah,What's wrong with this picture? Doh!

Was Tazers hit on Kaner a top 10 hit of the week or what? How many times has he stood up anyone else for that matter?Hanging on to the 8th spot might be a goal now.Change the ad to one goal make the playoffs.

Doc wrote:

Nikolai Khabibulin: 6.750 m
Cristobal Huet: 5.625 m
Martin Brudeur: 5.200 m

Isn't that a scary statistic.....another aweful game....get it out of your system now boys.

They started the game off horrible, but even with that they still had a chance to win or tie that game. They came out in the 2nd and 3rd periods and really played well. They need to beat the Blue Jackets tonight. I am still confident that with 14 games remaining that they will get into the playoffs. The question is where will they finish up at. They have a tough final stretch of games but that can pay off big time as a preview of the playoffs. Go Hawks

Dallas is in 9th place, 9 points behind the Hawks with 5 teams to jump over with just between 12 and 14 games lefts for teams. So please stop the ridiculous talk of them fighting to just make the post season. The most monumental collapse probably (don't have the stats) in the history of the Western Conference by the Hawks still might see them finish in 8th. So please relax as far as being in. The question now is simply where will they finish. Look at the schedules of all the teams below the Hawks and notice how tough they all are. My personal opinion is that the boys will begin to win again and finish no lower than 6th, with 7th being a very remote possibility. They are in a slump, a losing streak, call it what you will. It happens, it's the NHL and this simply tests their character. Will they go very far in the playoffs? Who knows. Everyone is frustrated, angry and wants to find someone to blame. How about not blame anyone and realize this kind of play happens to most teams every year. Heck, all I heard last year was how it would be nice to just get in this season. Personally, I'm disappointed, but am not going to throw in the towel as a fan. Are they playing lousy right about now? Of course. Are they going to be in the post season? I think math and history say of course. Just keep the feet moving and they will be ok.

I was there last night too (so now you have comments from 2 of the 3 of us who went) and the Hawks looked really good after the first 15 minutes when no one finished a check and no one played position defense. The team showed a lot of grit and determination after getting down 3-0, and they outplayed Jersey for most of the game. Many of the Hawks passes were slightly off, while Jersey's were on the tape, which happens in a losing streak and which will change (right, Coach?). We definitely need a finisher right now; Pat Sharp, where are you? Whatever happens this year, and I still have hope, Campbell, Keith and Seabrook are the best 3 mobile defensemen on one team in a long time, and there is a big future for the Hawks with them and Toews and Kane and Havlat.

There is no guarantee that the Hawks will make the playoffs. Is it likely that they will miss the playoffs, probably not. However, they are a totally different team right now. It is the most frustrating thing to watch. We all know that this team is way better than how they have been performing lately. However, you are only as good as your last start.
You can see the confidence and the fight isn't there. This a young team, maybe they are tired and are not sure how to pace themselves over a long season, who knows? They need to focus on winning one game and then they can worry about the next. I think the good news out of this, is when they get Sharp back, and when Phaulson finally shows up, they will start to win and go into the playoffs as a hot team. If that happens, they will be dangerous in the playoffs. If they limp into the playoffs, it will be a short experience.
Some or all of this probably didn't make sense, but it was on my mind.

This is the game of the year tonight against Columbus, I mean they have to win this game. It is really important that they make the playoffs this year and make a good run cause I think the media in Chicago are still not convice about those Hawks, I never heard Hawks talk on 670 the score on the web, that is sad, really.

Man, it's been a while since the losses hurt this much. I agree with an earlier post that said tonight's game is a must win. They've got to get this thing turned around. They've lost their mojo and I think it's harder for a young team to find that confidence again.

All I have to say is no one remembers the White Sox's slide at the tale end of 2005 do they?

As long as they get back on track I'm not worried. I believe Pahlson should be on the ice tonight, that should help, as we got doubled up on face off wins by the devils last night.

Once Sharp is back I think we will start to see the team we were used to seeing. In my opinion, Brouwer and Pelletier are just not cutting it, formidable subs when injury occur, but not the missing pieces to the puzzle.

Big game tonight, with a solid effort, we can right the ship.

I read the game preview for tonight on NHL.com . The word there is that there is Sharp is skating with the team, but "there is no timetable" for his return.

That sounds like either an older status report, or more ominously, a setback in his rehab.

Yes, the Hawks should make the playoffs, but they still need to put an additional 10 or so points up to be sure. They have 28 points available over the last 14 games, so they need to get cracking now. Right now it looks like Montreal is the easiest opponent. They have a lot to play for, but don't seem all that interested in playing.

Paradoxically, the Red Wings may have nothing left to do except rest up for the playoffs by the time we get them, so that may work to our advantage.

Its been a long March, but a drop off in their play isn't really all that suprising. I think they'll turn it around before the playoffs, but I predict another tough night against the Jackets and Steve Mason. I'm hoping the rebound begins no later than this weekend (Edmonton, LA).

Has anyone else noticed how the Hawks are getting credited with a lot of shots on goal, but that the scoring chances aren't what they were earlier in the season? Foley/Eddie O pointed that out last night at one point during the 2nd period. The shots on goal for the game were pretty even, but the Devils had the better scoring chances.

Have to chalk this crap up to youth and inexperience...

It's sad reading some of these comments: "We should finish no worse than 6th" - "Worst case scenario we will finish 8th and make the playoffs" - "Montreal should be the easiest opponent as they don't seem interested in playing" WTF! This team had 4th place all but locked up and choked it away. They are getting "out-intensitied" every night which is inexcusable especially at home where you have 22,000 fans roaring and ready to cheer before the game even starts. Losing (heck, getting crushed) by the Avalanche and the Islanders (last place teams in each conference) in successive Sunday home games cannot be explained away no matter how many excuses you want to come up with. If the Red Wings went into this kind of malaise you could maybe excuse it by saying they've won the cup and are just going through the motions until the playoffs. For a team like the Hawks, who have accomplished NOTHING in recent memory, there is no excuse for playing like this. Don't forget this team held a players only meeting to talk about how they needed to up their play and take every game as if it was a playoff game. If this is what they had in mind, then I am sorely disappointed. I think the league has caught up with how to play the Hawks (forecheck, be physical, pressure their defense) and until this team finds a way to adjust they are going to continue to get beat. I'm not gonna lie and say I don't want them to make the playoffs. Of course I do, but not by backing into them like they are doing right now. Does anybody really like their chances in a first round matchup against the Red Wings or Sharks? Heck, right now I'm not even liking the matchup against Vancouver who has been red hot since adding Sundin. I hope and pray they can get it together starting tonight!

FHF: I have trouble disagreeing with anything you've said.

Congratulations to Martin Brodeur. Glad that jerk P. Roy no longer has the record.