Now that's more like it. The Hawks came out fast and hard, and never really let up that's what she said). Quenneville came out with an interesting lineup, dressing 7 defensemen and only 11 forwards. Toews skated between the Hossa and Kopecky. Sharpie skated with Bickell and Brouwer. Bolland skates with Pisani and a host of other forwards that double shifted, such as Hossa, John Scott (who played all of 2:30), and I think I saw Brouwer and Bickell out there a few times, as well. Dowell skated with Stalberg and Skille again. On defense, there was Keith/Seabrook, Leddy/Boynton, and in a curious callup, Jassen Cullimore skated with Jordan Hendry. I will never suggest that Cullimore plays for this club as I think he's pretty much worthless, but I guess the price is right. Off we go...
The Good
Collectively, the whole team played well, with their second hottest hand out of the lineup with the flu. Sharpie showed that when given the chance, he's the man. Stalberg finally got a goal, fighting through two Columbus players and chipping a shot above Mason's glove. One would have expected the Defense to be all over the place, and maybe some Rick Nash trickery, but there was nothing of the sort. The Hawks had a shorthanded goal, which was really a momentum killer for Columbus.
The Bad
Even though I think he played an admirable game Marty was a little shaky at times. Columbus hit at least 3 posts, and that first goal was hilarious. Being a goalie myself, I've had quite a few goals like that scored on me, but talk about bad luck. The last goal looked like Marty was just screwing around. The thing that concerns me is the number of pucks squirting through him and the number of pucks that are beating him and getting the post. Nothing to really be alarmed about just yet, but something Stephane Waite needs to work on with him.
The Ugly
Columbus in general. The effort was just pathetic. They allowed the Hawks to control the action all night, in their own home opener with 40 shots on net. Steve Mason was hung out to dry, and no one seemed to care. No one looked motivated out there, and even Rick Nash was looking like a bender.