Bang on JJ!

Said it along this team IMO is not physical enough to outlast teams like Anaheim, Kings or Boston for that matter. Last night was a good example.

Imagine if they had to play LA in the first round and then Anaheim, I think we'd be in trouble. Sure the talent is there but in 2010 we had a more balanced grit factor with the likes of Buff, Brower, Fraser and even Bolland (when he wants to). We lack that attitude swagger right now. Other than Toews and Shaw who bring it on a daily night in that regards I don't see any grit from the other players.

Seabs, Bickell, Carcillo, Bollig....where are you? I only see the intensity occasionnaly. We got pushed around by Anaheim and sent no message to Colorado for the cheap shots they took at our stars players? To me that's unacceptable! If the guys can't do the job time for a change in personel and let's make some changes. Like it was mentioned on yesterdays blog I don't think a guy like Ott or Hendricks would of put up with being pushed around.

Balanced teams wins championships, not just finesse as this gets lost in the rough and tough road that is the NHL playoffs. Let's hope last night was an eye opener to management regarding some of our deficiencies that need to be addressed before the trade deadline.

What a laughable assessment.

That was a great hockey game to watch. The flow of play was dictated by both sides during different points of the game for a fairly equal share. Unfortunately the Hawks were not able to capitalize on their chances as well as the Ducks did.

Yes Saad made an awful play for the third goal. He also had two potentially game breaking plays earlier in the game. Kane had another stellar game but was caught watching along with Dave Bolland on the second and not covering the middle on the third. It happens. Expecting perfection night in and night out is pretty delusional.

There were few bone crunching hits if any that night. It was a fast up and down game of momentum and the Ducks had better finish when it mattered. End of story and bottom line.

Aside from Bolland's and Seabrook's continuing nightmare performances there is little to complain about, it was a great game to watch and hopefully Hossa is back in the mix come Monday.
- fattybeef

This This and This. I thought it was a very entertaining game. And one the Hawks probably could have and should have won. But there sure as hell wasn't anything eye-opening about it.

To me the biggest concern is figuring out why Seabrook is stuck in second gear.

Q did lean on some lines a little too much. He got burned. If he learns from it and goes back to rolling lines then there's really no harm.

Ducks broadcasters are a sominex tablet.

I have to disagree. You cannot overlook the absences of Sharp and Hossa. But I thought last night's loss was less about Anaheim's physical presence and more about the Hawks sloppy 3rd period play. Bad passes, turnovers in their own end. They better clean that up now. Anaheim is not going away.
- 12yearlagavulin

And AGAIN The Ducks were without Perry , it was a wash.

I have to disagree. You cannot overlook the absences of Sharp and Hossa. I thought last night's loss was less about Anaheim's physical presence and more about the Hawks sloppy 3rd period play. Bad passes, turnovers in their own ends. They better clean that up now. Anaheim is not going away.
- 12yearlagavulin

And now ask yourself why a team that has shown they make few mistakes suddenly make all kinds of them. Think maybe those mistakes are due to a team that is rushed and is hurried into making plays they don't want to make?

Why be concerned about Carcillo? He's a mediocre player who's role has been usurped by Bollig. It's not like he was Bobby Hull or Steve Larmer and his skills have deteriorated in a shockingly short period of time.

He probably has a knee problem or another ailment and wouldn't have competed well in a game with that type of pace. And if that is true, put him on IR and bring up Smith, Morin et al.
- RickJ

Double Post RickJ they call him

Carcillo goes from healthy scratch to dressing but not playing. It's not so much concern as it is just strange. Why dress him and not play him? Why not call up Smith or Morin?

I'm betting maybe they didn't want to ship a Hog all the way out to the Left Coast for one game. Maybe they'll make a roster move now that they're home.

Although not a perfect metric, I thought the shots on goal accurately reflected the flow of the game.

1st . Ducks 11-5
2nd . Hawks 11-7
3rd . Tie 8-8

I have to disagree. You cannot overlook the absences of Sharp and Hossa. But I thought last night's loss was less about Anaheim's physical presence and more about the Hawks sloppy 3rd period play. Bad passes, turnovers in their own end. They better clean that up now. Anaheim is not going away.
- 12yearlagavulin

Physical pressure by the Ducks = Sloppy play, bad passes, and turnovers. Very difficult to clean it up without being able to match their physicality.

Half of the 2nd.
- Ogilthorpe2

I think you're just angry Ogi right now...

Why be concerned about Carcillo? He's a mediocre player who's role has been usurped by Bollig. It's not like he was Bobby Hull or Steve Larmer and his skills have deteriorated in a shockingly short period of time.

He probably has a knee problem or another ailment and wouldn't have competed well in a game with that type of pace. And if that is true, put him on IR and bring up Smith, Morin et al.
- RickJ

Maybe I am dense or slow, I get your comments on Carcillo, what I am concerned with is all this hysteria for getting some big wingers etc to go bang people, when all you need to do is finish checks in the course of the game.

Double shifting Kane was cute at times, but he finishes -4. Some irony there. Not knocking him.

With the long layoff, Q may have been experimenting with a few things. I have said on this board and everywhere in my life, if somebody is on your team and you give them a uniform, give them a job and the opportunity to do it.

Glad it brought a smile to your face. Seems like otherwise you're having a tough time of late?

- John Jaeckel

I can somewhat understand that point of view but aside from a few mental lapses I don't think that game was that far apart or that physically dominating. Seemed pretty even to me.

Yah, all kinds of busy. People get reallocated, costs cut, fun times for everyone. Haven't had time to post anything lately so may as well try to make it count.

Worked really well for Blues, Kings, Sharks versus Hawks. Hawks 7 and 0 in those games, but I am sure that and the other 24 wins were all luck. To think that all of a sudden the Hawks are 2 or 3 rungs behind the Ducks is a bit of an exaggeration. And to think that they got blown out last night is another.

In the end they lost, I get it, but to think that they wilted and were outmatched all game is not accurate in my view.

Still looking for that website or source to explain what a good loss looks like. You know, the right way to lose a game. I just think it happens.
- TrueGrit

None of those teams employed the same game plan as the Ducks. All of them gave up the middle of the ice in the neutral zone and had no hope of hitting even the slowest Hawk. Columbus set the blueprint, force Chicago wide in the neutral zone to slow them down and then mix it up along the boards. The Ducks adopted this gameplan but performed it better. And you can bet your last dollar other teams have taken note.

Worked really well for Blues, Kings, Sharks versus Hawks. Hawks 7 and 0 in those games, but I am sure that and the other 24 wins were all luck.

To think that all of a sudden the Hawks are 2 or 3 rungs behind the Ducks is a bit of an exaggeration. And to think that they got blown out last night is another.

In the end they lost, I get it, but to think that they wilted and were outmatched all game is not accurate in my view.

Still looking for that website or source to explain what a good loss looks like. You know, the right way to lose a game. I just think it happens.
- TrueGrit

Calgary's loss to the Hawks in the "Emery game" is a good loss. Nothing to do but tip your hat the netminder and his career night.

I think you're just angry Ogi right now...

- Jocelyn26

Don't believe in revisionist history...especially less than 24 hours after the fact.

He's a good hockey player.
- John Jaeckel

I know that and agree, my frustration is with the knee jerk response of going and plucking him or others off trees. As if that is a real possibility. Those guys may have more value than scorers.

Maybe I am dense or slow, I get your comments on Carcillo, what I am concerned with is all this hysteria for getting some big wingers etc to go bang people, when all you need to do is finish checks in the course of the game.

Double shifting Kane was cute at times, but he finishes -4. Some irony there. Not knocking him.

With the long layoff, Q may have been experimenting with a few things. I have said on this board and everywhere in my life, if somebody is on your team and you give them a uniform, give them a job and the opportunity to do it.
- TrueGrit

In order to have guys finish checks, you have to have guys willing to finish checks. So if you have to replace those unwilling to finish checks with guys who are willing to finish checks...may as well have them be bigger too. As long as they can keep up speed wise that is.

I know that and agree, my frustration is with the knee jerk response of going and plucking him or others off trees. As if that is a real possibility. Those guys may have more value than scorers.
- TrueGrit

Did Truegrit just agree with what many of us have been arguing with him about the last few weeks???

None of those teams employed the same game plan as the Ducks. All of them gave up the middle of the ice in the neutral zone and had no hope of hitting even the slowest Hawk. Columbus set the blueprint, force Chicago wide in the neutral zone to slow them down and then mix it up along the boards. The Ducks adopted this gameplan but performed it better. And you can bet your last dollar other teams have taken note.
- paulr

Plus the Kings are playing much better now than when the Hawks beat them.

What a laughable assessment.

That was a great hockey game to watch. The flow of play was dictated by both sides during different points of the game for a fairly equal share. Unfortunately the Hawks were not able to capitalize on their chances as well as the Ducks did.

Yes Saad made an awful play for the third goal. He also had two potentially game breaking plays earlier in the game. Kane had another stellar game but was caught watching along with Dave Bolland on the second and not covering the middle on the third. It happens. Expecting perfection night in and night out is pretty delusional.

There were few bone crunching hits if any that night. It was a fast up and down game of momentum and the Ducks had better finish when it mattered. End of story and bottom line.

Aside from Bolland's and Seabrook's continuing nightmare performances there is little to complain about, it was a great game to watch and hopefully Hossa is back in the mix come Monday.
- fattybeef

Amen!!

None of those teams employed the same game plan as the Ducks. All of them gave up the middle of the ice in the neutral zone and had no hope of hitting even the slowest Hawk. Columbus set the blueprint, force Chicago wide in the neutral zone to slow them down and then mix it up along the boards. The Ducks adopted this gameplan but performed it better. And you can bet your last dollar other teams have taken note.
- paulr

Tell them all good luck. All those teams and every team tries to do what you suggest. Just isn't always successful. The Ducks scrambled around half the game and came up big in the end. I tip my cap.

I really can't do this whole debate again today.

And AGAIN The Ducks were without Perry , it was a wash.
- mrpaulish

I think a more temperate approach is appropriate.


Look, some fair points - this Ducks team is physical and fast, and their forechecking made the 'Hawks breakout look laughable for the first half of the game.

But I'm not about to start a full-fledged panic over what happened last night. The 'Hawks grabbed back momentum and dictated pace for a good chunk of the game following Leddy's PP goal. Eliminate two late, bad turnovers (which can happen to anybody in given moment) , and we're staring at a least 1 more standings point this morning.

I think a huge positive here that we're taking for granted is that this team nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win on the road against one of the league's top teams without a two of their best forwards. Not trying to spin a loss here, just pointing out a fact. A lot of push-back shown from role guys - and great leadership and conditioning shown by Toews and Kane.

There are lessons to be learned here, and exposed weaknesses that need to be addressed with either personnel or coaching/effort adjstments. I don't think anyone worth their salt as a hockey fan thought this team was perfect.

As quickly as everyone is crowning the Ducks this morning - let's wait and see. While the Ducks seem like a team built for the post season - historically speaking - they have coach who isn't...

So Tired today.
I Was so pissed. Thoughts were Bolland Sucks as a 2nd line C, Seabrook looks bad and flat footed. Trade Bolland to MTL for Eller + .
sorry but I think hes the one that we can lose , 3rd line looks great and honestly i cant see Bolland on the 4th line. what happens now.

Tell them all good luck. All those teams and every team tries to do what you suggest. Just isn't always successful. The Ducks scrambled around half the game and came up big in the end. I tip my cap.

I really can't do this whole debate again today.
- TrueGrit

Don't blame you, history sure ain't on your side in this argument.

And AGAIN The Ducks were without Perry , it was a wash.
- mrpaulish

Perry doesn't wash Sharp AND Hossa. Hossa is an absolute game changer.

Injuries are part of the game, so it is what it is...but it would have been great to see these two teams go at it while at full strength.

Physical pressure by the Ducks = Sloppy play, bad passes, and turnovers. Very difficult to clean it up without being able to match their physicality.
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly. The hits doesn't always directly cause the turnovers, but the cumulative effect of getting beat on, you get tired or sick of being hit/anticipate the hit coming, thus mistakes.

I'm not one of those saying the sky is falling, but its an obvious area of need, so hopefully they'll be able to address it sooner than later.