As I See It: Net Gain

  The Chicago Blackhawks had a secret X-factor last season. It wasn't perennial All-Stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. It wasn't F Dustin Byflgien and his tenacious clutch performances. It was none of the above, but rather the flexibility at goalie and the option to chose between to two given the competitive latitude.

  Cristobal Huet and Antti Neimi were both given ample spells at the position last season with the Blackhawks. Annti Neimi was a free agent acquisition from 2008, with little to show for that season, it was trial by fire in the 2009-10 Stanley Cup campaign for the rookie. He responded astoundingly with .912 save percentage and maybe even more beneficial, gained the unfettered trust of the coach Joel Quinneville. So much that Coach Q called on him to tune up the last eighth of the regular season and made a statement with starting Neimi for the playoffs.

  Although Huet contained the veteran experience and track record of excellent goaltending ( averaging just over .910 save percentage with both the Capitals and Canadiens before signing with Chicago ), Neimi seemed to provide the team with that youthful trepidation that seemed to identify them all through the season.

  The ability to utilize the two goalies throughout the duration of both the regular season and playoffs proved to be of precedence to the Hawks. The strategy may not have been clear in the beginning of the season. Huet was playing admirable hockey through the first half, saving about .875 with two shutouts.

Neimi with Blackhawks

  Unfortunately, his goals allowed were increasing even though his save percentage was increasing as well. Near the end of the regular season it was clear that Neimi was playing better hockey than Huet, but he lacked the experience to be completely trusted with a playoff contender caliber team. So coach Joe placed Neimi in with about an eighth left in the regular season, to weather his bearing for playoff hockey.

  To all of Chicago's advantage, it payed off in spades... Cristobal gave Blackhawks' fans just what they expected in Game 1 of the 2009-2010 NHL Playoffs with a  20 minute shutout of the Vancouver Canucks to stop the bleeding in a 5-1 rout. The rest of the way Neimi provided enough stability to help the offense, averaging just under 2.5 goals against per game. The Blackhawks of course, went on to win the 2010 Stanley Cup.

  Fast forward to 2010-11 season. Cristobal Huet...gone. Anti Neimi...gone. Insert Corey Crawford ( 17-13 lifetime with Chicago ), and Marty Turco ( 2.8 goals against playoff avg ). To Stan Bowmans credit, thus far getting rid of Huet and Neimi seemed like a boy band factory replacement with Crawford and Turco. Even though the Blackhawks are in 9th place in the Western Conference and only six games back to the Canucks, things are looking about as good as it can get for Chicago.

  Patrick Kane has missed significant time and Marty Turco had an injury spell as well, giving Crawford the time to acclimate himself as the Blackhawks defender in preparation of the playoffs. If we were doing a comparison to the team of old. We are in trouble on paper with a 27-20 record to date and third in the Central Division. Last years Blackhawk's squad was 37-20 through the break. So I am definitely optimistic about the future, I'm just not drinking the Kool-Aid yet..

  With Marty Turco coming back off injury, the Blackhawks look to be in great shape to challenge Vancouver in the Central and position themselves for a repeat at the Cup. If Coach Q looks to keep tradition, look for Turco to wrap up the last half of the season and Crawford to spell occasionally. Don't be suprised though, if Crawford gets the call in the playoffs, regardless of how efficient Turco defends, just as long as his goals against doesnt significantly increase.

  So play your Fratellis album as loud as you can, while cheersing Amstel Light's and let the good times roll. Its starting to look at like Hawkey-Town again!