Can I get a Toews sighting? How about Hossa?

When your 3rd line is consistently your best line, you're in trouble.

When you try over, and over, and over, and over, and over again to use the home run stretch pass as your only break out strategy, you're in trouble.

When your PP is a pathetic joke, you're in trouble.

When your goalie becomes a mental midget in the 61st minute....repeatedly, you're in trouble.

This team may still win this round, but they're going nowhere near the conference finals unless they find some back bone...soon.

Time for # 13 to spell the now useless, neutered version of Bollig too. Maybe Carbomb lights a fire under his un-inspired teammates.

Zeus starting to look like Oduya part 2...great finish to the regular season, bad in the playoffs.

Happily working during tomorrow night's debacle. Fully expect them back in Chicago knotted up at 2.
- Ogilthorpe2

1. Toews needs to light a fire under Toew's a$$. 1 almost-scored rush for an entire game plus OT does not = leadership.

2. Hossa has been just OK - looks like he is trying to do too much because his linemates aren't up to the task. Better play out of Saad + Toews = more effective Hossa (hence why they looked better when Kane skated with them).

3. Don't understand forcing the stretch pass -- when it's not there, the quick, sure, short outlets and crisp short passes are what is needed. That's on the coaching staff -- even if not in the game plan, they need to recognize it right away and keep reminding them of what they want done.

4. Now you know why they fired Kompon in LA. He's working his magic here too. Getting Duncan Keith off 1st PP duty (and now Hossa on the point as well -- he looks VERY uncomfortable there and made some bad plays in that spot) is 1st order of business. That motha must have it written into his lifetime contract that he gets 1st PP time.

5. Watched the replay in OT. Go watch it again and tell me that is NOT is simply an awful goal to give up, regardless of when, but a killer (obviously) in OT. Yes, C2 played well to get them to OT, but you have to make that stop.

6. See #1 above -- starts with the guy wearing the C on his jersey . . . 'nuff said.

7. Has Q neutered Bollig? Or is he simply too scared to make some big hard hits for fear of stirring up a fight and having Q bench him ("Now Brandon, if you get into a fight, you're going to have your a$$ stapled to this bench for the rest of the game and then you'll see the pressbox for the rest of the series.").

Speaking of which: Q must have really been pissed off with Hjalmarsson's hit on Parise.
Q: "WTF are you doing Nik, you know you're supposed to wave your stick at him!"

8. Sure hope not -- but ALL the C's were horrific on the dot yesterday. IMO, Zus' mojo comes from faceoff wins and controlling the puck/play.

Egads, watching that OT goal was sickening. And for the guys screaming for Leddy to go behind the net, get a clue -- how many goals have you seen scored from behind the cage? That OT winner can't be pinned on Nick, you have several other culprits, beginning with Shaw, Oduya and Stalberg. Watch the replay multiple times if you have to.

Hey John,

Agreed with some of your blog and disagree with some at the same time. I don't mean to toss my own blog on your website (because I don't do that ever) but this is my perspective on Crawford's goal from a goalie.

I feel some people don't see it from the other side and for me the blame should be on the 5 Hawks who were getting run over by 3 Wild players. Please take note on Stalberg in the video.

Thanks!

http://www.crashthenet.com/?p=3417

I don't know for sure, and don't quote me here, but I believe it's called comedy?
- Ogilthorpe2

What is this comedy thing you speak of?

I would say that you, the fighter, and Brian Burke all need to calm the (frank) down, lighten up, and laugh once in a while. Saad (frank)ing Christ, WTF is this world coming to?
- Ogilthorpe2

phew...good thing I just paid for next years tickets so theres nothing left in my accounts for the lawyers to get..sorry Wirtz beat ya to the cash.

The same Bolland half the board wants run out of town??
- paulr

THAT Bolland....Yes! Now....can this team get a little bit of The Rat" Bolland that we all know and love would be best, but, I hate to say it I doubt we'll ever see that Bolly EVER again and is a mirror image of what he once was.

I would say that you, the fighter, and Brian Burke all need to calm the (frank) down, lighten up, and laugh once in a while. Saad (frank)ing Christ, WTF is this world coming to?
- Ogilthorpe2

I don’t find bullsh!t made up comments about anyone’s private life to be humorous. Do you?

Ok... so the #1 Star of the Game in Game 2 was Fro. How about maybe throwing him a bone and putting him a on the 2nd line with Kane, Hoss & Sharpie and dropping Zus down to the 4th line. Fro has a non stop motor like anyone on our team with guts and isn't scared to go to the crease or in the corners/along the boards.
- ChiHawks27

I agree lets reward the guy for his non-stop hard work

This is a valuable learning experience for him. No reason he can't mash Suter on the forecheck, especially with his size and speed.
- John Jaeckel

>While I think the Hawks need to focus on "their game" and "their execution" -- which needs to include owning both slots, it's time for a bit of a line shuffle
>Think Saad should go to line 4 (not cuz he did something specifically wrong)
>Dress Carbomb and put him on line 1 for a look -- if nothing switch them back
>Away from the Wild top pairing -- will let Saad beat their other D
>Don't know why the Hawks aren't hitting Suter at every opportunity
>How about a heavy serving of diagonal dump-ins into his corner -- with the Hawk forechecker laying a heavy hit on him -- again and again
>Said it yesterday, will say it again (as have many others) -- Toews MIA in this series so far

Great post JJ! I am not bashing on Crow here but he needs to make that save! I think Crow played a great game but as a goalie you have to play a complete game. I don't understand how people can say that the hawks wouldn't have even made it to ot if it wasn't for Crow, and how you can't point the finger at him. I think it should be an expectation for a NHL # 1 goaltender to make big saves and keep your team in a game so I just don't see why people will always make that argument on how he played great except for that one weak goal. Like JJ has said a goalie can let in a soft goal here and there that is expected but to continuously let in weak goals in ot or even in a one goal game is a problem. I think crow ha played great all year and good so far this series but he can't continue to be the main reason the hawks lose.
- bhawks86

CC was the main reason they lost yesterday?

Did he tell the rest of the team not to worry about getting outshot and outhit for 3 periods and that he would hold the fort by himself until they woke up? The Wild were the better team all afternoon - game could have gone either way but the end result was justice served. Play better tomorrow - as a team.

I was wondering when this was going to look like a playoff game/series. Games 1 and 2 looked a lot like the regular season. The Wild decided to bring an edge and some nasty to game 3. The Hawks have shown to struggle the last 3 years in those situations.

OT calls for urgency especially when the puck is down low behind your goal. I didn't see anyone on our squad with much urgency on that game winning play. You can fault pretty much every player near the puck on that goal. 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.

I don’t find bullsh!t made up comments about anyone’s private life to be humorous. Do you?
- paulr

When they are obviously intended as a joke....yes! That's what comedy is for (frank)s sake, made up bullsh!t. There's a whole industry of people making a living doing just that. They're called stand up comedians. Funny, made up bullpoop = comedy.

Please tell me you're not this dense? You're pulling my chain right....in your own attempt at humor?

Great post JJ! I am not bashing on Crow here but he needs to make that save! I think Crow played a great game but as a goalie you have to play a complete game. I don't understand how people can say that the hawks wouldn't have even made it to ot if it wasn't for Crow, and how you can't point the finger at him. I think it should be an expectation for a NHL # 1 goaltender to make big saves and keep your team in a game so I just don't see why people will always make that argument on how he played great except for that one weak goal. Like JJ has said a goalie can let in a soft goal here and there that is expected but to continuously let in weak goals in ot or even in a one goal game is a problem. I think crow ha played great all year and good so far this series but he can't continue to be the main reason the hawks lose.
- bhawks86

Really? He was the main reason they lost? What about the turds that played in front of him for most of the game. I thought hockey was a team game. The Hawks were lucky to get to overtime imo and Crawford was the only reason they did. Give the one guy who showed up to play a break. He makes one mistake and everyone seems to blame him when the rest of the team never showed up.

When they are obviously intended as a joke....yes! That's what comedy is for (frank)s sake, made up bullsh!t. There's a whole industry of people making a living doing just that. They're called stand up comedians. Funny, made up bullpoop = comedy.

Please tell me you're not this dense? You're pulling my chain right....in your own attempt at humor?
- Ogilthorpe2

Thank you..

I don’t find bullsh!t made up comments about anyone’s private life to be humorous. Do you?
- paulr

They said Keith's wife is due any day. What is libelous about making a half-joke that his mind might be on his wife? Failing to understand what there is to get so worked up about here...

Seeing as how I picked the Hawks in 5 I had to expect the Wild to win one game, which they did. And Crawford is far far down on my list of things to be worried about. He's fine.

To me Jonathan Toews being the best player on the ice should be priority number 1. Last year it was clear that he came back from his concussion issues to early and rustiness and all. But this year he should be owning the game. And so far he hasn't.

That was Minnesota's best shot. And it took three shots placed in the upper corners and max efforts to barely eke out a win. A little more execution out of the top players and game 4 victory shouldn't be that difficult. With handshakes on Thursday.

Really? He was the main reason they lost? What about the turds that played in front of him for most of the game. I thought hockey was a team game. The Hawks were lucky to get to overtime imo and Crawford was the only reason they did. Give the one guy who showed up to play a break. He makes one mistake and everyone seems to blame him when the rest of the team never showed up.
- FourOrr

Crawford didn't even make a mistake on that last goal, that's the thing.

Really? He was the main reason they lost? What about the turds that played in front of him for most of the game. I thought hockey was a team game. The Hawks were lucky to get to overtime imo and Crawford was the only reason they did. Give the one guy who showed up to play a break. He makes one mistake and everyone seems to blame him when the rest of the team never showed up.
- FourOrr

“Goaltender is a normal job. Sure ! How would you like it if at your job, every time you made the slightest mistake a little red light went on over your head and 18,000 people stood up and screamed at you?” -Jacques Plante

Crawford didn't even make a mistake on that last goal, that's the thing.
- TKON

He was down pretty early I would think for alot of our tastes, but if your going to hug the pipe....HUG the DAMN PIPE and stand up until a low shot comes , then go into the butter fly. Mind you...it was a great shot and it needed to be for it to go in, but we all know it shouldn't have ended on a shot like that.!

He was down pretty early I would think for alot of our tastes, but if your going to hug the pipe....HUGE the DAMN PIPE and stand up until a low shot comes , then go into the butter fly. Mind you...it was a great shot and it needed to be for it to go in, but we all know it shouldn't have ended on a shot like that.!
- ChiHawks27

True but that is how all goalies play it these days, I don't mean to blog bomb John on here but I posted a goalies POV in my blog a few posts up. I feel it explains it pretty good lol

Crawford didn't even make a mistake on that last goal, that's the thing.
- TKON

We have other things we need to worry about before Crawford is a major concern (i.e. first line production).

Really? He was the main reason they lost? What about the turds that played in front of him for most of the game. I thought hockey was a team game. The Hawks were lucky to get to overtime imo and Crawford was the only reason they did. Give the one guy who showed up to play a break. He makes one mistake and everyone seems to blame him when the rest of the team never showed up.
- FourOrr

That last play was so innocuous and the Hawks defending the play had no idea that puck had a chance of going in. It wasn't all on Crawford. Should he have had it? Probably. he needs to stop going down (hockeyporn) so quickly. But Oduya just stood there and watched the play.

Crawford didn't even make a mistake on that last goal, that's the thing.
- TKON

Any puck getting past the goalie from the goal line extended is a mistake. If I'm Q, the next time we go to OT, Crawford grabs some pine.

Craw + OT = mental midget.

Any puck getting past the goalie from the goal line extended is a mistake. If I'm Q, the next time we go to OT, Crawford grabs some pine.
- Ogilthorpe2

sorry, but that's not happening.

Hey John,

Agreed with some of your blog and disagree with some at the same time. I don't mean to toss my own blog on your website (because I don't do that ever) but this is my perspective on Crawford's goal from a goalie.

I feel some people don't see it from the other side and for me the blame should be on the 5 Hawks who were getting run over by 3 Wild players. Please take note on Stalberg in the video.

Thanks!

http://www.crashthenet.com/?p=3417
- TKON

TKON
Do you really think Crawford was in the correct position there? Why isn't he on his skates hugging the post? I don't think this goal is on him however. To me it starts when Shaw takes the wrong angle, Oduya is stick waving and we have 3 guys down low pretty much doing nothing. Stalberg has responsibility for what's behind him on D pinching and the middle to me. Where that guy went to shoot was a crazy angle. If Shaw and Oduya do their jobs, I don't think it gets to the shooter. So I don't think this is all on Crawford. But I also don't think he was where he needed to be in position.

sorry, but that's not happening.
- eburgio

I know, and it will likely cost us.