Every once in awhile you see determination in all three zones from Kane, but only once in awhile. You tell me that's not mental--that's where the toughness comes in. The willingness to stick your nose in there--like Shaw, like a Marty St. Louis (both small guys). If Kane had half their guts . . . .
- AL SEC0RD

Kane seems to become a lot more effective when the ice opens up and the other team is on its heels. Seems that's when the other team is banged up, tired, and mistake-prone. The Hawks looked liek the tried team toward the end of Game 2. Mountian gets higher tonight. But Game 4 in LA was a tough one, too. They CAN do it.

I don't think Viktor Stalberg and trying to beat Boston with more stretch passes is going to be the answer. At all.

Kane seems to become a lot more effective when the ice opens up and the other team is on its heels. Seems that's when the other team is banged up, tired, and mistake-prone. The Hawks looked liek the tried team toward the end of Game 2. Mountian gets higher tonight. But Game 4 in LA was a tough one, too. They CAN do it.

I don't think Viktor Stalberg and trying to beat Boston with more stretch passes is going to be the answer. At all.
- John Jaeckel

When the stretch pass is the second pass instead of the first, it's really effective. Its when they get lazy (both the puck carrier and the guys regrouping to get open) and try to make it on the first pass is when the lose possession/ice it

Agree on the overall points, but disagree that only physical play will open up transition. The key is the first pass, when they hit it, they fly out of the zone as "the five man unit" they love to talk about, and are off to the races. Now one could say the ability to make a good first past is predicated on not being pounded physically, but the Hawks can't really make the Bruins stop hitting them unless they start moving the puck so well that the Bruins coaching staff starts telling their guys to be less agressive because they're getting burned un transition.
- rollpards19

Yes and yes, and how did the transition work in game 2. Or really in Game 1.

I love all this talk about transition when the Hawks have been at their best in the playoffs forcing containment in the other team's end.

The "sweet" transition might not ever be there. If I were coaching against the Hawks, I would have 3 guys swirling in the neutral zone at all times. It isn't rocket science. And it generally works against the Hawks. Forcing them to default to a style of play that their 170 pound finesse guys don't like.

The way to render the point moot is to keep Boston bottled up in their end. Something Carcillo would have helped a lot more with than Stalberg. But, we'll see.

Kane seems to become a lot more effective when the ice opens up and the other team is on its heels. Seems that's when the other team is banged up, tired, and mistake-prone. The Hawks looked liek the tried team toward the end of Game 2. Mountian gets higher tonight. But Game 4 in LA was a tough one, too. They CAN do it.

I don't think Viktor Stalberg and trying to beat Boston with more stretch passes is going to be the answer. At all.
- John Jaeckel

Maybe they really did use their energy up in the first period the other night, but that looked like some regular season games to me, where they would play very well, but only have a slim lead.

Re. Kane, it seems like he exhibits determination whenever some stress threshold is reached--whether that's the series being on the line, a scoring slump, media scrutiny . . . . You would think that every game of the playoffs would qualify though.

You're preaching to the choir re. Stalberg. When that line was going good, they were outworking teams on the cycle--where'd that game go?

When the stretch pass is the second pass instead of the first, it's really effective. Its when they get lazy (both the puck carrier and the guys regrouping to get open) and try to make it on the first pass is when the lose possession/ice it
- rollpards19

If Boston takes away the neutral zone (make that when), this point is moot.

Get the puck deep, keep it there. If you can't call Seven Bridges and set up a tee time. And cue Stanley deflecting to Q.

Playing in a very hostile environment is IMO a lot about being strong mentally. If Boston scores 1 or 2 early...all the foot moving in the world won't mean shhhhit.
- philco28

Wow, so now this team needs some kind of mental coach to help them play in a tough environment? Maybe they should bring Justin Rose in to teach them how to raise their game when the going gets tough. Phooey!

Skate and play a fast paced game and the Bruins won't score 1 or 2 early. Stand around and play slow and they get walloped. The game hasn't changed in that regard for 100 years.

Yes and yes, and how did the transition work in game 2. Or really in Game 1.

I love all this talk about transition when the Hawks have been at their best in the playoffs forcing containment in the other team's end.

The "sweet" transition might not ever be there. If I were coaching against the Hawks, I would have 3 guys swirling in the neutral zone at all times. It isn't rocket science. And it generally works against the Hawks. Forcing them to default to a style of play that their 170 pound finesse guys don't like.

The way to render the point moot is to keep Boston bottled up in their end. Something Carcillo would have helped a lot more with than Stalberg. But, we'll see.
- John Jaeckel

I think the reason I focus on the transition game (not going to speak for others) is because thats how the Hawks start those shifts where they have the puck in the zone for 45 seconds at a time that win hockey games. I think they are a bad dump and chase (probably lack of experience ) and do better at maintaining a cycle when they utilize their puck movement and speed to get the puck below the goal line, then the good wall players (Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Bickell sometimes) go to work and play their brand of physical hockey protecting the puck and taking hits. I also think Stalberg is actually pretty good when the puck is hemmed in the other team's zone, his cycle game has improved dramatically this year IMO

Today is going by so slow and I'm getting nothing done at work:

Wow, so now this team needs some kind of mental coach to help them play in a tough environment? Maybe they should bring Justin Rose in to teach them how to raise their game when the going gets tough. Phooey!

Skate and play a fast paced game and the Bruins won't score 1 or 2 early. Stand around and play slow and they get walloped. The game hasn't changed in that regard for 100 years.
- RickJ

The Canucks hired one

Wow, so now this team needs some kind of mental coach to help them play in a tough environment? Maybe they should bring Justin Rose in to teach them how to raise their game when the going gets tough. Phooey!

Skate and play a fast paced game and the Bruins won't score 1 or 2 early. Stand around and play slow and they get walloped. The game hasn't changed in that regard for 100 years.
- RickJ

AV is off the market, he signed with the Rangers ($10 million over 5 years).

Wow, so now this team needs some kind of mental coach to help them play in a tough environment? Maybe they should bring Justin Rose in to teach them how to raise their game when the going gets tough. Phooey!

Skate and play a fast paced game and the Bruins won't score 1 or 2 early. Stand around and play slow and they get walloped. The game hasn't changed in that regard for 100 years.
- RickJ

I'll make it even more simple and at the risk of repeating myself. Get the puck deep, keep it there.

Yes and yes, and how did the transition work in game 2. Or really in Game 1.

I love all this talk about transition when the Hawks have been at their best in the playoffs forcing containment in the other team's end.

The "sweet" transition might not ever be there. If I were coaching against the Hawks, I would have 3 guys swirling in the neutral zone at all times. It isn't rocket science. And it generally works against the Hawks. Forcing them to default to a style of play that their 170 pound finesse guys don't like.

The way to render the point moot is to keep Boston bottled up in their end. Something Carcillo would have helped a lot more with than Stalberg. But, we'll see.
- John Jaeckel

Stalberg can be effective if he does some simple things going up and down the wing and hustling and digging for pucks in the offensive zone. If he keeps it very simple, he can be an asset. Use the big body and speed. Once he starts moving to the center of the sheet with the puck like a whirling dervish looking for some kind of home run play, he's a total liability and Bergeron or Krecji will pick his pocket amd steal his jewelry and then Q will go berserk.

And I ask you, why was Bollig in the lineup ahead of Carcillo?

AV is off the market, he signed with the Rangers ($10 million over 5 years).
- DarthKane

He'll be gone after 3.

Indeed...but they also have their weaknesses. Toronto didn't fluke their way to almost beating them. They had the right idea: use speed and quick movement to get the Bruins to take penalties and make them pay. That's the template. The problem is until we can make them pay on the PP that doesn't work.

I will reiterate: you cannot expect the Hawks to try and play the Bruins' game and beat them at it. That's like Bruins fans asking that their team play a speed/finesse game to try and beat the Hawks.

The best way to try and beat them is to gameplan around your team's strengths.
- andru2797

Please tell Q that. He is jacking his team around with the non stop line moves to counter the Bruins. Line em up and play Q!! You won the GD presidents trophy and the west with this team. Win/lose/draw... play your style. You get beat, you get beat. To answer a previous post as well.. I think Q goes wayyyy over board with the "line match up" schit. If I was a player on that team, I would totally ignore the line up prior to the game. Q will tear up the lines 10 minutes into period 1. And I hope these guys are prepared. Boston will be heat seeking missiles tonight looking to blow us up.

Stalberg can be effective if he does some simple things going up and down the wing and hustling and digging for pucks in the offensive zone. If he keeps it very simple, he can be an asset. Use the big body and speed. Once he starts moving to the center of the sheet with the puck like a whirling dervish looking for some kind of home run play, he's a total liability and Bergeron or Krecji will pick his pocket amd steal his jewelry and then Q will go berserk.

And I ask you, why was Bollig in the lineup ahead of Carcillo?
- RickJ

Because Q needs someone to put in his dog house. Carcillo is this years Brouwer.

Wow, so now this team needs some kind of mental coach to help them play in a tough environment? Maybe they should bring Justin Rose in to teach them how to raise their game when the going gets tough. Phooey!

Skate and play a fast paced game and the Bruins won't score 1 or 2 early. Stand around and play slow and they get walloped. The game hasn't changed in that regard for 100 years.
- RickJ

I think we fans need the mental coach!

Not trying to have it both ways, as I generally think the Blackhawks have a good bit of mental toughness. But I don't think they are always willing to outwork teams or take hits to make plays--both of which are functions of toughness too . . . . And, moreover, we've been having this discussion on here interminably . . . . Well, there can be a terminus--if they win, apparently their style is good enough and we won't need to keep arguing about it. But if they lose to Lucic et al, I think the discussion continues.

Please tell Q that. He is jacking his team around with the non stop line moves to counter the Bruins. Line em up and play Q!! You won the GD presidents trophy and the west with this team. Win/lose/draw... play your style. You get beat, you get beat. To answer a previous post as well.. I think Q goes wayyyy over board with the "line match up" schit. If I was a player on that team, I would totally ignore the line up prior to the game. Q will tear up the lines 10 minutes into period 1. And I hope these guys are prepared. Boston will be heat seeking missiles tonight looking to blow us up.
- z1990z

If he does that crap again, prepare for more too many men penalties.

He'll be gone after 3.
- Ogilthorpe2

I was thinking 2.

Please tell Q that. He is jacking his team around with the non stop line moves to counter the Bruins. Line em up and play Q!! You won the GD presidents trophy and the west with this team. Win/lose/draw... play your style. You get beat, you get beat. To answer a previous post as well.. I think Q goes wayyyy over board with the "line match up" schit. If I was a player on that team, I would totally ignore the line up prior to the game. Q will tear up the lines 10 minutes into period 1. And I hope these guys are prepared. Boston will be heat seeking missiles tonight looking to blow us up.
- z1990z

Many wonder why the Hawks look like little kids a lot, it comes from the top. How bout a message to the team and the media prior to game 1... We are going to go out with what got us here and roll with it. Never happens, we juggle Kane and Toews and all the other crap, and wonder why the guys are on their heals.

Reading the board you would think half the team was shower raped and we lost 8 - 1. I wish the Bruins were half as confident as many on the board are in their ability to pimp slap the hawks. 3 rounds in the playoffs, many tests and challenges met and overcome, but we have to go back to the original talking points. Wonder if many realize that the sun came up after the trade deadline. maybe they lost April and May in their calendars?

Cmon guys, its the freaking finals. Enjoy the hockey.

If he does that crap again, prepare for more too many men penalties.
- Q...argh

Q should have his own game show.. Who's line am I on now??? F'n comical. Im not a Q fan at all. He has world class athletes. Stop mind f'n them Q...

Wonder how the board will look later after Hawks win 4-0 with 2 goals a piece for Saad and 25 and a shut out from CC.

Lighten up guys, just having fun......

I was with you JJ on Carcillo entering into this series. I think he's more of an answer than Stalberg.


Some more pre-game reading before tonight's game:

http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/ty_cam/52138/

Wonder how the board will look later after Hawks win 4-0 with 2 goals a piece for Saad and 25 and a shut out from CC.

Lighten up guys, just having fun......
- TrueGrit

Im a fan of both 50 and 20. I just think Q tends to do too much mad scientist schit and should send his lines out and let em play. And I also say this.. for as bad as we were out played in the last part of game 2, it still took the B's OT to beat us. We can play with them no doubt.

Homer in Philly draws some criticism here but the Flyers had a gaping hole on the blueline...
\
He didn't hesitate, which is key, and got Streit for a manageable #...$5.25 per

Filled a big hole and didn't wait until July 1 so no bidding war...

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

I will go out on a limb and say this: If they manage to beat the Bruins today after the pounding they took at home in game 2, they win the series. If they lose today, they're finished. They have to come back foaming at the mouth, angry and looking for revenge. Looking to play and play hard. And their so-called coach needs to LET them play.