Here are my observations from the game:
1) Toews vs. Thornton- there has been bad blood between these captains for a while. Thornton gave Toews a shot to the head last year which many believe led to Toews’s concussion issues. Toews lost the fight but the message was sent. But no Hawk fan wants to see Toews fight.
2) San Jose had an incredibly lackluster performance. Niemi was poor letting in the game winner on a mishandled dump-in. The stars for the Sharks were invisible.
3) The Hawks continue to get excellent play from their 3rd and 4th lines. The Hawks 4th line of Mayers, Kruger, and Frolik kept the Sharks’s 1st line pinned in their end on several shifts.
4) Kruger continues to play a solid game. He had a tap-in goal on a Niemi mishap and an assist on a Hjalmarsson blue-line slapshot. His play on the PK with Frolik has been outstanding. Their play allows the Hawks to refrain from leaning on Toews and Hossa on the PK.
5) The Sharks lone goal (Kennedy) was on a complete breakdown of Keith/Seabrook.
6) The Hawks uninspired powerplay continues. Yes, Shaw was credited with a sloppy goal tapped in by a Pavelski stick but overall the Hawks PP is nothing that opposing teams should fear.
7) Why is Havlat a 4th liner?
8) The Swedish pairing of Hjalmarsson (+7)and Oduya (+9) has been outstanding this year.
9) Other points for the Hawks- Kane, Keith(2), Seabrook, Mayers (2), Bolland (G)
10) Ray Emery was solid. If Crawford is out for an extended amount of time, he should definitely be picked up off the waiver wire if he is available. Heard a rumor that Crawford got dinged in the head against the Ducks on Tuesday and has a concussion.