Ok, I am guessing the whose fault was it on Sunday debate has run its course.

That being said, is the answer for the next game lineup changes, or fire under the butts of the same group, or a little of both?

Might be something to be said for changing the chemistry of the lines too much, especially if what was lacking was effort and not the right matchups.

Fleury has a cup
- UnnamedSource

Good - would hate to see a puck hit him there without one.

Good - would hate to see a puck hit him there without one.
- StLBravesFan

We play like this against the Sharks (who I think we will play next) we are going to get smoked. The tone of this series could help the Hawks for the next one and realize they aren't going to be able to just outskate teams and win. Still not sure we have the roster make up to win physical playoff battles and get the hardware.
- ilinkhawk

So the Hawks have already won the series against the Wild? Did they change the rules and you only have to win 2 games to advance? I guess after winning 2 games in the series it’s best to start preparing for who you’ll face in the next round. Sounds like a blueprint for success to me. Maybe your top guys should rest since their having a tough time beating the Minnesota Wild. Give them a couple days off so their fresh for San Jose. I’d give you my tickets to tonight’s game but it sounds like you wouldn’t have any interest as you’ve already moved onto to your playoff series with the Sharks.

So the Hawks have already won the series against the Wild? Did they change the rules and you only have to win 2 games to advance? I guess after winning 2 games in the series it’s best to start preparing for who you’ll face in the next round. Sounds like a blueprint for success to me. Maybe your top guys should rest since their having a tough time beating the Minnesota Wild. Give them a couple days off so their fresh for San Jose. I’d give you my tickets to tonight’s game but it sounds like you wouldn’t have any interest as you’ve already moved onto to your playoff series with the Sharks.
- Northcotecup

Very good job of assesing my post. No... The Minnesota Wild does not worry me. Sorry if that hurts your feelings...

Ok, I am guessing the whose fault was it on Sunday debate has run its course.

That being said, is the answer for the next game lineup changes, or fire under the butts of the same group, or a little of both?

Might be something to be said for changing the chemistry of the lines too much, especially if what was lacking was effort and not the right matchups.
- Return of the Roar

Wait has no one blamed the lighting guy in the arena? Crow lost the puck so someone controlling things upstairs has to be held accountable.

Pot ... meet kettle.

Bieksa calls out others for LACK OF INTEGRITY? Look at HALF of YOUR F(U)CKING TEAM, The BAG of D!CKS they are.
- blackhawk24

I saw this over in Esplen's thread...



I thought it was good for a laugh...

Very good job of assesing my post. No... The Minnesota Wild does not worry me. Sorry if that hurts your feelings...
- ilinkhawk

Doesn't hurt my feelings at all. With the way the Blackhawks have played they don’t worry me either.

We are UNSTOPPABLE. Ask savvyone!
- John Jaeckel

Ha! Good memory John.
Yes, the competitive nature of people here is sometimes beyond comprehension. You get a good glimpse of that through the high school sports programs (actually, any of the "extracurriculars"!).

I saw this over in Esplen's thread...



I thought it was good for a laugh...
- EKolb13

Needs to be a belly flop, because that is what most of the players there do.

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

This came down to ahving three goaltenders and choosing which would be the the back up and tallon let Anderson go...

I take exception to the not developing goaltenders part of the board's argument.

They drafted Crawford out of the goaltebder factory the QMJHL, and didn't fret, rush or prop Crawford...
that is the way it's done...
So I would have to take the position the Hawks drafted and developed an NHL goalie in Crawford. And if his success is truly based solely on the team around him making successful, then, the GM must be called to thw question.
You don't know the upward ceiling on the kids that come out, all

...and since Crawford's draft year I think we can agree that the goalie position has further evolved.
Even the prospect/player's body is study to look if they are suceptible to the Emery hip issue that has palgued some of the up & comers too.

I think the hawks have made more than one pick at the position.
Again diificult to say they haven't addressed it with players, but I don't think a genius coaching staff can make a super starter.

Taking a kid in the first round doesn't insure success, ask Phoenix, and maybe even Florida is wondering about Markstrom, but will wait it out.

So Ben Bishop gets moved and puts in a stellar first game, but then comes down to Earth...not saying there may be something there, just that you just don't "fill" by some instant deal, as goalies are made while at the NHL level, not in junior, in the AHL, not with a seletion in the first round, or in Europe...it starts there.

I am not wussying under with an exit from the blog, but gotta go, so probably cannot reply, so have at all that.

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

JJ the Wings I'm hoping still have a shot and the guy who let Niemi walk would be Stan Bowman who said repeatedly our guys will be here. Stan's team is 2-1 in the season that counts.

It will be a different game tonight guys. We got our a$$e$ handed to us in game 3 no doubt. I expect some line tweeks and a much better effort all the way around. Have a feeling we win tonight. Look at how bad we played in game 3 and they still needed OT to win it. Regarding CC.. He is an average net minder. Last year he sucked. This year I have been pleased with his overall play. Every goalie lets in a schit goal. That OT goal was a team wide WTF are you doing failure. Let it go. Lets see how CC does tonight. Hawks take it 4-2.

Breath easy Philco... it will be alright. Just take CC off the Christmas card list.

JJ.. Regarding Niemi and the Hawks letting him walk.. I think you are being too hard on Bowman for that. (Only time I will defend Bowman btw) They tried to sign him. I think 2 million a year for 3 years. Correct me if Im wrong. The Hawks were STRAPPED with cap problems. Keeping Hammer (FU Doug Wilson) was a needed thing to do. #4 is quickly becoming a top 2 guy. Especially with the unexplainable decline with Seabrook's play. You can only do so much. There are also system issues and how Q plays his guys. A better argument would have been dealing Sharp and keeping Ladd. You can go on and on.. but that was an epic salary cap mess.

I will give you this... Bowman's biggest failure and one that may cost him his spot if the Hawks get bounced is not filling the #2 C hole. That also falls on Q for not shifting Sharp back there. Bowman is a great drafter, but he doesnt trade well.

It will be a different game tonight guys. We got our a$$e$ handed to us in game 3 no doubt. I expect some line tweeks and a much better effort all the way around. Have a feeling we win tonight. Look at how bad we played in game 3 and they still needed OT to win it. Regarding CC.. He is an average net minder. Last year he sucked. This year I have been pleased with his overall play. Every goalie lets in a schit goal. That OT goal was a team wide WTF are you doing failure. Let it go. Lets see how CC does tonight. Hawks take it 4-2.

Breath easy Philco... it will be alright. Just take CC off the Christmas card list.
- z1990z

I like CC and want him to do well and has played very well...just needs be sharper in o/t.

So the Hawks have already won the series against the Wild? Did they change the rules and you only have to win 2 games to advance? I guess after winning 2 games in the series it’s best to start preparing for who you’ll face in the next round. Sounds like a blueprint for success to me. Maybe your top guys should rest since their having a tough time beating the Minnesota Wild. Give them a couple days off so their fresh for San Jose. I’d give you my tickets to tonight’s game but it sounds like you wouldn’t have any interest as you’ve already moved onto to your playoff series with the Sharks.
- Northcotecup

Ha ha! I thought the very same thing when I read that remark. One would think after the last two post seasons, this line of thinking might considered to be taboo by Hawks fans?!

Oh well, I can certainly see his reasoning, but it is a bit dangerous though if one believes in karma, jynx's or bad luck as a result of being over confident to the point of being arrogant.

I like CC and want him to do well and has played very well...just needs be sharper in o/t.

- philco28

He was sharp during OT in game 1. But how about the boys win the game in regulation so we don't have to worry about OT.

If we go back to game 6 against the Canucks in 2011, 9 out of out last 11 playoff games have gone to OT, that's not fair for any goalie.

I like CC and want him to do well and has played very well...just needs be sharper in o/t.

- philco28

I hear ya brother...

This came down to ahving three goaltenders and choosing which would be the the back up and tallon let Anderson go...

I take exception to the not developing goaltenders part of the board's argument.

They drafted Crawford out of the goaltebder factory the QMJHL, and didn't fret, rush or prop Crawford...
that is the way it's done...
So I would have to take the position the Hawks drafted and developed an NHL goalie in Crawford. And if his success is truly based solely on the team around him making successful, then, the GM must be called to thw question.
You don't know the upward ceiling on the kids that come out, all

...and since Crawford's draft year I think we can agree that the goalie position has further evolved.
Even the prospect/player's body is study to look if they are suceptible to the Emery hip issue that has palgued some of the up & comers too.

I think the hawks have made more than one pick at the position.
Again diificult to say they haven't addressed it with players, but I don't think a genius coaching staff can make a super starter.

Taking a kid in the first round doesn't insure success, ask Phoenix, and maybe even Florida is wondering about Markstrom, but will wait it out.

So Ben Bishop gets moved and puts in a stellar first game, but then comes down to Earth...not saying there may be something there, just that you just don't "fill" by some instant deal, as goalies are made while at the NHL level, not in junior, in the AHL, not with a seletion in the first round, or in Europe...it starts there.

I am not wussying under with an exit from the blog, but gotta go, so probably cannot reply, so have at all that.
- wiz1901

Leighton and Anderson had no chance to be developed by the Hawks. The Hawks had no full time goalie coach at the time with two young goalies

Tretiak was to busy running for political office and Wirtz was to cheap to hire another coach.

Ha ha! I thought the very same thing when I read that remark. One would think after the last two post seasons, this line of thinking might considered to be taboo by Hawks fans?!

Oh well, I can certainly see his reasoning, but it is a bit dangerous though if one believes in karma, jynx's or bad luck as a result of being over confident to the point of being arrogant.
- MnGump

If you think anything we say on these boards has anything to do with the way the teams are playing you have a good grow room in the basement!!!

Good game Kings now another series going at least 6 games. Keep beating the hell out of each steroid-abusers
- tomcat24

One of the announcers last night said that the Kings/Blues series was like a ketchup bottle, Three games of whacking the hell out it and the fourth game you finally get the reward..lol

Fleury has a cup
- UnnamedSource

It gets you a pass for one bad playoff.....if it happens 2 years in a row...see ya

Tracey Meyers reports Duncan Keith and wife had their first child today and that he might not play. Not sure if he's in Minny or not right now.

Um, it was a rebound . He stopped the 1st one.

All I want is for Crawdaddy to stop the 1st shot on each rush in OT .
- mrpaulish

Did anyone see that OT goal by Detroit last night? I am glad the Wings won to extend that series, but I don't like the way they scored that goal. The guy who took the initial shot sure looked like he kicked out his leg to make contact with Hiller, who eventually was knocked to the far post and left the cage wide open.
I know, in OT they would never call it, but where are the lines now? You can't hit a goalie when he comes out to play the puck, but you can touch him when he is in the crease trying to hold his position?

Tracey Meyers reports Duncan Keith and wife had their first child today and that he might not play. Not sure if he's in Minny or not right now.
- Hemingways

Does that mean Montador finds his way back into the line-up if Keith doesn't play?