That goal was nobody's fault but Oduya's. It was a completely stupid pass that was basically a centering pass and Crawford had absolutely zero time to react on a perfectly placed shot. To put the blame on Crawford after the game he played is Ridiculous.

Yesterday, I didn’t feel the Hawks lost the game so much as Minnesota imposed their will and won it.

I disagree here. I look at the first and last 10 minutes of regulation play and see a Hawk team fully capable of winning that game. It was the 40 minutes between that killed them. When they want to turn it on and want to win they can do it. But they played those 40 minutes like they simply could care less about winning. Their collective head wasn't in the game. And Crawford WILL give up soft goals all the to the Stanley Cup or all the way to the nearest golf course. Soft goals is what he does best. Bowman needed to fix that over the summer and didn't. Funny thing about leaving a problem fester, it rarely gets any better on its own. All that being said, and the usual "it is what it is", the Hawk offense needs to step it up and get a little insurance. Frankly speaking, if Crawford can keep the opposition to 2 goals or under (soft or not) this team needs to produce more offensively. Its great that Bickel and Frolik played so well in Game2 but where was the scoring going to come from in Game3? They have another shot at tonight. Its time to get serious.

That goal was nobody's fault but Oduya's. It was a completely stupid pass that was basically a centering pass and Crawford had absolutely zero time to react on a perfectly placed shot. To put the blame on Crawford after the game he played is Ridiculous.
- Q...argh

There were a few problems on that play

All the Hawks stopped skating because they assumed Shaw was going to be called for a trip, Stalberg gliding towards his defensive responsibility , and Crawford not following the puck at all andbletting another (3rd in 3 years) ot goal from the goal line extended.

Yes Crawford was the only reason the Hawks got to OT but the game ender was weak.

Toews was a bigger villan in the game to me. Parise scored because Toews left him wide open in the slot while he went to help Rozy on a 50/50 puck begind the Hawks net.

For the Hawks to win tonight their top 2 lines must beat Minnesotas top 6.

Can't wait for puck drop !

Lets go Hawks !

And Islanders and Canadians and Canucks just for today and tomorrow.

There were a few problems on that play

All the Hawks stopped skating because they assumed Shaw was going to be called for a trip, Stalberg gliding towards his defensive responsibility , and Crawford not following the puck at all andbletting another (3rd in 3 years) ot goal from the goal line extended.

Yes Crawford was the only reason the Hawks got to OT but the game ender was weak.

Toews was a bigger villan in the game to me. Parise scored because Toews left him wide open in the slot while he went to help Rozy on a 50/50 puck begind the Hawks net.

For the Hawks to win tonight their top 2 lines must beat Minnesotas top 6.

Can't wait for puck drop !

Lets go Hawks !

And Islanders and Canadians and Canucks just for today and tomorrow.
- mrpaulish

I agree about Vancouver. Want them to go 7 and lose it definitely pulling for isles to win out.

... I would love to see them deal Crawford this off-season, regardless of how this year's playoffs turns out, as long as we can get an established veteran. Not sure who that would be, would Craig Anderson be available?
- Hemingways

I don't see that as the solution ... do we really need another Marty Turco fiasco? They need to make two key deals in the off season:

1. A legitimate second line center. It's a credit to the forwards who have played on the second line the past few years that the team has gotten as far as they have without a legit second line center. Handzus is gonna be the death of them (FGS, John Scott looks like Stahlberg compared to this guy!!!), and Boland after he returns is hardly much of an "improvement." They need someone (preferably younger) who can win half his faceoffs and score 20 goals/60 points.

2. A young, PROMISING goalie to challenge Crawford for the starting spot. As others have said, Crawford's problems are mental. Q certainly didn't help with the way he showed no confidence in him while allowing Turco to stink up the place ad nauseum without being pulled. This could bring out the best in Crawford and provide the Hawks with a decent backup.

In any case, we wouldn't have a goalie problem if Bowman hadn't listened to Q and let Niemi go under the crackpot philosophy that the D was so good that all they needed was someone to stop 15-20 routine shots a game. Not in the playoffs, where the goalie is absolutely THE most important player on the ice. If Q keeps messing with Crawford's head, is career is over. Then what do the Hawks do???

Well if that's the case, appears to me that Q has no choice before every game but to walk into the dressing room and say ' Guys, we can't let this game get to overtime. We don't have a goaltender that can handle it, he folds up like a cheap accordion......... Oh by the way, maybe you f$ckers who are sucking up most of our cap space should consider showing up and doing something out there to help out. You know, something like scoring on a power play chance."
- RickJ

I'm sold.

Well if that's the case, appears to me that Q has no choice before every game but to walk into the dressing room and say ' Guys, we can't let this game get to overtime. We don't have a goaltender that can handle it, he folds up like a cheap accordion......... Oh by the way, maybe you f$ckers who are sucking up most of our cap space should consider showing up and doing something out there to help out. You know, something like scoring on a power play chance."
- RickJ

I know you're being tongue in cheek, but I think this message should be sent anyway. I'm tired of reading stories about Bickell and Frolik being the Hawks top performers. I mean, good on them, but...

incorrect phil...gmes 6 and 7 of the nuck series 2 years ago were OT games: G6 hwks won and G7 (who can forget) the nucks won...he is 4-5 in OT gmes. and I don't need to apologize or defend anybody...

the two vs phx last year were poorly played by him but that was last yr, its over; he had a grt yr with very few "bad" goals, and when he has he bounced back very well...and the vs minny last gme was not all on HIM...he was playing where he should be with the puck play behind the net...

you guys hold him to a standard that is impossible to perform up to....look at every damn gm and every damn goalie...YOUR criteria of softies probably define half the damn goals scored in these playoffs...

As I stated earlier Quick has coughed up to softies in OT and with 40 sec left in the 3rd that resulted in 2 losses. He has 2/3 of craws soft goals losses in 3 gmes...but he gets a pass
- bogiedoc

Ok...if you're going back to 2011 i see your point. All i know is...we've lost 3 hard fought o/t games with 50 in net on goals that SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED. Endy PHUCKIN' STORY.

Anybody else catch the Wings last night - they really brought it in the OT and Datsyuk's goal to tie in reg was sick...hopefully they can still beat the Ducks.


Meanwhile hopefully the Hawks will actually show up for more than 10 minutes of regulation this evening.

Looks like Bolland and Emery are out Game 4 as well.

2. A young, PROMISING goalie to challenge Crawford for the starting spot. As others have said, Crawford's problems are mental. Q certainly didn't help with the way he showed no confidence in him while allowing Turco to stink up the place ad nauseum without being pulled. This could bring out the best in Crawford and provide the Hawks with a decent backup.

In any case, we wouldn't have a goalie problem if Bowman hadn't listened to Q and let Niemi go under the crackpot philosophy that the D was so good that all they needed was someone to stop 15-20 routine shots a game. Not in the playoffs, where the goalie is absolutely THE most important player on the ice. If Q keeps messing with Crawford's head, is career is over. Then what do the Hawks do???
- Q...argh

The Hawks organization does not have a history of developing young goalie talent. Since 1989, the only "developed" goalies were Ed Belfour, Jimmy Waite, Michael Leighton, Craig Anderson and Corey Crawford. That's five in 24 years..... And of those, only Belfour and Anderson qualify as solid #1 guys. Book is still out on Crawford.

Now add the wrinkle of the Bowmans who are firmly committed to relegating the goalie role to an A-/B+ role, and you have a dual problem of no ability to develop young goalies and a commitment to avoid signing legit #1 goalies as free agents.

Corey will get paid bigger bucks by another team and he will move on to another club unless he takes a big homer discount.

Anybody else catch the Wings last night - they really brought it in the OT and Datsyuk's goal to tie in reg was sick...hopefully they can still beat the Ducks.

Meanwhile hopefully the Hawks will actually show up for more than 10 minutes of regulation this evening.
- DK002

Datsyuk is filthy.

Quick has a cup....that gets you a pass if crow gets one he will to
- southernhawk

Fleury has a cup

Datsyuk is filthy.
- eburgio

That goal was awesssommmeeee

Datsyuk is filthy.
- eburgio

That goal was awesssommmeeee

The Hawks organization does not have a history of developing young goalie talent. Since 1989, the only "developed" goalies were Ed Belfour, Jimmy Waite, Michael Leighton, Craig Anderson and Corey Crawford. That's five in 24 years..... And of those, only Belfour and Anderson qualify as solid #1 guys. Book is still out on Crawford.

Now add the wrinkle of the Bowmans who are firmly committed to relegating the goalie role to an A-/B+ role, and you have a dual problem of no ability to develop young goalies and a commitment to avoid signing legit #1 goalies as free agents.

Corey will get paid bigger bucks by another team and he will move on to another club unless he takes a big homer discount.
- Return of the Roar

Agreed, word for word.

I do agree it is "stupid" to put it all on him.

Craw is 4-5 in play off OT over the last 3 seasons...my guess is the 5 goals the hwks scored were all viewed as bad goals at bad times by the losers.

How about Lundquist having his 5 hole ripped on relatively soft shot from Green to lose 1-0; bad goal at a bad time.

How about Mr Con Smythe Quick playing the puck like a grenade and coughing it for an empty net OT winner: bad goal at a bad time or him allowing that top notch sniper jackman to beat him at the end of the third.

And on and on it goes....
- bogiedoc

Ya but Lundqvist or Quick>>> Crawford

All of you guys who relentlessly defend Crawford and deflect to defensive errors in front of him keep overlooking the fact that this is probably the best blueline and overall team defense in hockey.

Point being, ALL defenses will give up opportunities. The Hawks D, typically, gives up damn few. Crawford has to make saves on easy shots in OT, period. Not let pucks slip through his pads or the post or lose track of players behind the net.

It will be interesting, assuming the Hawks get out of Round 1, when they face SJ and Antti Niemi in round 2.

If Niemi outplays Crawford and SJ takes that series (which easily could happen), whoever miscalculated and let Niemi walk in 2010 should be held accountable.

The Hawks organization does not have a history of developing young goalie talent. Since 1989, the only "developed" goalies were Ed Belfour, Jimmy Waite, Michael Leighton, Craig Anderson and Corey Crawford. That's five in 24 years..... And of those, only Belfour and Anderson qualify as solid #1 guys. Book is still out on Crawford.

Now add the wrinkle of the Bowmans who are firmly committed to relegating the goalie role to an A-/B+ role, and you have a dual problem of no ability to develop young goalies and a commitment to avoid signing legit #1 goalies as free agents.

Corey will get paid bigger bucks by another team and he will move on to another club unless he takes a big homer discount.
- Return of the Roar

Anderson really wasn't developed by the hawks. I would argue he really came into his own with the Panthers, and alot of his development has to do with his personal competitiveness and drive.

Put that one on Dale Tallon. This team never should have let him go.

Anderson really wasn't developed by the hawks. I would argue he really came into his own with the Panthers, and alot of his development has to do with his personal competitiveness and drive.

Put that one on Dale Tallon. This team never should have let him go.
- John Jaeckel

Can't keep those Barrington boys down can ya?

I disagree here. I look at the first and last 10 minutes of regulation play and see a Hawk team fully capable of winning that game. It was the 40 minutes between that killed them. When they want to turn it on and want to win they can do it. But they played those 40 minutes like they simply could care less about winning. Their collective head wasn't in the game. And Crawford WILL give up soft goals all the to the Stanley Cup or all the way to the nearest golf course. Soft goals is what he does best. Bowman needed to fix that over the summer and didn't. Funny thing about leaving a problem fester, it rarely gets any better on its own. All that being said, and the usual "it is what it is", the Hawk offense needs to step it up and get a little insurance. Frankly speaking, if Crawford can keep the opposition to 2 goals or under (soft or not) this team needs to produce more offensively. Its great that Bickel and Frolik played so well in Game2 but where was the scoring going to come from in Game3? They have another shot at tonight. Its time to get serious.
- djaworek1

I don't disagree with you.

I think we are saying the same thing. When Minnesota imposed their will, the Hawks shrank. I really hope Q plays Carcillo tonight. The team plays bigger when he's in the lineup (especially top 6) and he WILL attract a lot of the energy and attention of Clutterbuck and Veilleux—away from Toews and Hossa and some of the others.

Also moving Saad down a line or two gets him away form Suter and maybe he can start to light it up.

Can't keep those Barrington boys down can ya?
- Return of the Roar

We are UNSTOPPABLE. Ask savvyone!

That goal was nobody's fault but Oduya's. It was a completely stupid pass that was basically a centering pass and Crawford had absolutely zero time to react on a perfectly placed shot. To put the blame on Crawford after the game he played is Ridiculous.
- Q...argh

But Oduya's otherwise had a good series. Same defense of Crawford applies to him.

There WILL BE defensive breakdowns leading to quality chances. That is a fact. That shot was stoppable. Crawford lost the puck and the player, Game over.

Ya but Lundqvist or Quick>>> Crawford

All of you guys who relentlessly defend Crawford and deflect to defensive errors in front of him keep overlooking the fact that this is probably the best blueline and overall team defense in hockey.

Point being, ALL defenses will give up opportunities. The Hawks D, typically, gives up damn few. Crawford has to make saves on easy shots in OT, period. Not let pucks slip through his pads or the post or lose track of players behind the net.

It will be interesting, assuming the Hawks get out of Round 1, when they face SJ and Antti Niemi in round 2.

If Niemi outplays Crawford and SJ takes that series (which easily could happen), whoever miscalculated and let Niemi walk in 2010 should be held accountable.
- John Jaeckel

Typically being the key word here. No way they should give up 40 shots to this Wild team like we saw on Sunday. A better effort should be in the cards tonight. I'm not one to blame Crawford for everything that transpired right there, but he still needs to stop that.

I don't disagree with you.

I think we are saying the same thing. When Minnesota imposed their will, the Hawks shrank. I really hope Q plays Carcillo tonight. The team plays bigger when he's in the lineup (especially top 6) and he WILL attract a lot of the energy and attention of Clutterbuck and Veilleux—away from Toews and Hossa and some of the others.

Also moving Saad down a line or two gets him away form Suter and maybe he can start to light it up.
- John Jaeckel

If you believe the NHL TOI #'s - Saad had more icetime Sunday than any other forward - more than Hossa by about 2-1/2 minutes and about a minute more than Toews.

The regular season is over Brandon, its nasty season - better pick it up.

Norris finalists..

Suter

Letang

Subban