I'm thinkiing the Hawks will play simpler game tonight and won't blow their load the first 15 mins.
- Al

i think that was a factor as well.

"Simpler game." I hope that means bodies to the front of the net.

And if our "strength" is to try to play a finesse game, we will lose.

The refs will not call the clutching and grabbing. Too many Hawks will start pulling up to avoid contact. Some will quit.

Game. Set. Match.

Game 1 and parts of the Detroit and LA series are the prescription. Play smart and play hard. And take the body when it's available. Bodies in front of the net. Get the puck on net, not overhandling or overpassing and going for pretty plays.
- John Jaeckel

>JJ, it really was quite amazing to see the number of quality hits the Hawks unleashed on the Bs on Game 1
>To own the slots they will HAVE to hit -- otherwise it's 5 shot periods and perimeter play the rest of the way

Vegas has BOS -125, total goals scored at 5.
- Return of the Roar

FWIW----Vegas has been more correct the last 2 series on the Hawks than many so called experts

Even tonight, Boston a -125 is small favortism compared to last game Hawks were a -160 favorite.


Vegas has given the Hawks more respect than many in the media...

Inredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT. My Fox Chicago: FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5

i think that was a factor as well.

"Simpler game." I hope that means bodies to the front of the net.
- John Jaeckel

Yes and more skating less looking for 100 ft stretch passes.


Inredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT. My Fox Chicago: FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5

I think the expectation on/of Jonathan Toews is a little bit higher than on Nick Leddy. Toews has won a Conn Smythe and has his name on a CUP, right? My expectation and that of many is that over 19 games, he's got to do more.

Defending Leddy is more about holding him up to some "standard" that doesn't seem to be applied to the other defensemen. In particular, Seabrook has been AWFUL and other than 1 game where it was clear he was benched, what was the outcome?

Oh right, move Seabrook BACK into a #2 role with Keith and give him way more minutes. That fixed the problem. Seabrook is coughing up the puck and falling down at an alarming rate, yet it doesn't seem to register with Q. Will Seabrook see less ice time for all the giveaways? Hell no. Not Q's way.

As for Leddy rushing the puck, when I have seen it, the forwards have typically been no further than the blue line -- and the point really is -- if he has the momentum and speed, let him go. It's amazing, isn't it, that not a single time have I seen a Hawks forward in any position to take a pass or get a rebound when Nick DOES make the rush?

I'm not saying he is the best D-man out there -- but he does have some great talents that aren't being used to the team's benefit. The forwards don't seem to be too capable of doing the same thing -- how many rushes have we seen by any of the forwards capable of pushing the Bruins D back and open up lanes?

Set the same standards -- I get it -- most of you guys don't like Leddy for whatever reason. I see talent in him that is not being used and could be -- to the team's benefit. It's up to the staff to figure it out. But since Q hasn't been able to figure out the PP for 3 years, I don't hold out much hope there. As I have railed before, Q is NOT a coach for young players, he more tolerates them -- and my belief is the improvements and learnings gained by Saad and Leddy in particular have come more from their own desire and the help of good teammates (Saad could not have a better pair of teachers/models than Toews and Hossa -- 2 great 2 way players). And Leddy seemed to bloom since being paired with Rozsival.
- savvyone-1

Seabs has been terrible, I think its one of the few things the board as a hole agrees on. Re. Toews standards, thats a logical argument, he's expected and paid to do more and he absolutely has too, I just don't think calling people who still recognize that he's playing well "Toews' defenders" is necessarily fair. Q also sat the Hawk forward who is best suited to push the Bruins D back (Stals) for whatever reason. I was actually a pretty big fan of Leddy before the playoffs, but I think his game has slipped to way below where it was in the regular season. The turnovers seem more frequent and often under less pressure than when you would expect a d-man to turn it over. As far as the utilizing his speed, its hard to gain enough speed to enter the zone with one of the fastest defensmen in the league when he has a whole zone head start on you, that's why I think Leddy would be better served moving the puck up and joining the rush, even if he is the first guy to the net, drawing the Bruins D to him with his speed. And I've seen you mention before how they put "shackles" on Leddy in terms of him not rushing the puck, but I don't think that's exclusive to him, its part of the great defensive system the Hawks play, it just happens to hamper Leddy more because his speed is his greatest weapon.

Q's strength isn't development, but that's why they brought him in when Toews and Kane were good enough and mature enough (as players) to be parts of a championship core. Either way, the time to let Leddy develop isn't in the cup finals (or the playoffs). If the coaching staff doesn't feel he's playing well enough to deserve even ice-time with the other guys. Its hard to fault Q for giving Brent Seabrook more rope than Nick Leddy, just based on how important Seabs has been for Q since he became coach.

The Boston Bruins haven't.

- philco28

Just FYI, PIT outhit Boston in every game in that series...and by quite a fair margin.

I also heard on the Score this AM in a interview with the Sun Times reporter Lazarus who saw the practice that they did not work on the PP
- Maggie

a bit overconfident after not giving up a shorty last game??

And if our "strength" is to try to play a finesse game, we will lose.

The refs will not call the clutching and grabbing. Too many Hawks will start pulling up to avoid contact. Some will quit.

Game. Set. Match.

Game 1 and parts of the Detroit and LA series are the prescription. Play smart and play hard. And take the body when it's available. Bodies in front of the net. Get the puck on net, not overhandling or overpassing and going for pretty plays.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed on the second part...the Hawks game is not finesse, it's speed and quick transition. If they play to those two strengths, Boston can't match them.

Phoenix had Derek Morris and Adrian Aucoin on D. How did Stalberg's speed do against them?

Boston plays the same style, with better, more mobile guys.

I hope Viktor lights it up and helps open the floodgates. I have a feeling we will see him losing the puck a lot along the wing . . .
- John Jaeckel

He had the game winning assists on the two goals by Toews and Bickell, that was substantial IMO. Not saying he played great, but certainly contributed some

Just FYI, PIT outhit Boston in every game in that series...and by quite a fair margin.
- andru2797

Really ? I bet it wasn't by nearly by the 3 or 4-1 margin that Boston beat us up with. I'll bet Boston was within 5-10 in every game of that series.

Just FYI, PIT outhit Boston in every game in that series...and by quite a fair margin.
- andru2797

That's what happens when you dominate in puck possession. The Hawks don't have to outhit the Bruins, they do have to throw a few punishing hits on their D.

Just FYI, PIT outhit Boston in every game in that series...and by quite a fair margin.
- andru2797

Its funny how puck possession dictates hits more than "team toughness" isn't it?

FWIW----Vegas has been more correct the last 2 series on the Hawks than many so called experts

Even tonight, Boston a -125 is small favortism compared to last game Hawks were a -160 favorite.


Vegas has given the Hawks more respect than many in the media...

Inredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT. My Fox Chicago: FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5
- Al

or you could look at the other side of the coin... that Boston destroyed the money line against Vegas favorite Pens.

or you could look at the other side of the coin... that Boston destroyed the money line against Vegas favorite Pens.
- Sconnie

No one could have predicted that crapping of the bed that Pitt threw out there.

Really ? I bet it wasn't by nearly by the 3 or 4-1 margin that Boston beat us up with. I'll bet Boston was within 5-10 in every game of that series.
- philco28

Just FYI it was about 12 more hits per game for Pitt, including 2 games where they out-hit Boston by the same margin the Hawks were outhit in game 2, with inferior puck possession

No one could have predicted that crapping of the bed that Pitt threw out there.
- droe411

that is not the point... they were favored as well and yes, on top of losing the series, got embarassed. the larger point is vegas lines only look to separate half the wagers on each side, not predict the winner.

Really ? I bet it wasn't by nearly by the 3 or 4-1 margin that Boston beat us up with. I'll bet Boston was within 5-10 in every game of that series.
- philco28

Nope.

34-19
37-19
46-34
33-25

Just FYI it was about 12 more hits per game for Pitt, including 2 games where they out-hit Boston by the same margin the Hawks were outhit in game 2, with inferior puck possession
- rollpards19

Guess i lose


Where do you find those hit stats ? Can you please forward the link

Guess i lose


Where do you find those hit stats ? Can you please forward the link
- philco28

I just did it off the NHL boxscores from the series http://www.nhl.com/ice/se...?season=20122013&series=m

I just did it off the NHL boxscores from the series http://www.nhl.com/ice/se...?season=20122013&series=m
- rollpards19

Thanks Rollie

Guess i lose


Where do you find those hit stats ? Can you please forward the link
- philco28

Phil, it's not the number of hits, it's who they hit, Horton's shoulder, Luci and Chara

Phil, it's not the number of hits, it's who they hit, Horton's shoulder, Luci and Chara
- Maggie

If the Hawks get outhit tonight 40-15, but have the puck for 40 minutes and outshoot the Bruins 40-20, I'll put my money on a W.

Phil, it's not the number of hits, it's who they hit, Horton's shoulder, Luci and Chara
- Maggie

Exactly Maggie...and those 3 are living a charmed life with the Chicago Pu ssyhawks afraid to go near them. Only guy battling physically and fearlessly is Shaw and it's slowly wearing him down too.

Thanks Rollie

- philco28

No problem man. You on the pessimistic or optimistic side of the coin tonight?

I just did it off the NHL boxscores from the series http://www.nhl.com/ice/se...?season=20122013&series=m
- rollpards19

Was gonna say the same. Every game recap has em.