Hell I'm burning his and pissing on fedorov's
- southernhawk

Fine.. #91 is fair game. Good ol' no show playoff Fedorov himself. Wonder how Anna Slutakova is doing...

It looks like Smith is just keeping Handzus' spot warm on the 2nd line because he wasn't practicing today.
- DarthKane

Ok what about Vik? Not sure if it's gamesmanship or Q's going to sit him to light a fire. Saad's back in apparently and at least in the last series Stalberg was more productive/noticeable than Saad.

I know it's probably not the best time to infuse farmhands when your pretty healthy but if anyone should sit to me it's Handzus. He wasn't great at the dot and also served up a few softballs over the plate for the Wild.

Jeez, John, give a guy a chance to respond.

Look, I've already said in a previous post that the Wings have an uphill battle. Two sentences about what the Wings do well doesn't necessarily contribute an "unbiased" opinion. The overall tone of your blog, and previous blog 'Hawks in 6' give the impression that it's just a formality to play these games.

I'm really not trying to troll. I get it, I'm in Hawks blog. You guys are confident and with good reason.
- drice97

Sorry, I have to make a prediction and back it up.

Generally, you will find a lot of facts in my backup. Really unfair to call me biased when even most Wings beat guys are taking the Hawks! Maybe the depth of the analysis—especially that which points back to the Hawks— is tweaking you. I will just say, that I agree, it is hockey and it's why they play the games. Would I be completely surprised if the WIngs took it? No. Mildly to somewhat surprised? Absolutely.

I went 7 of 8 on the first round, including picking the Wings to take the Ducks—running contrary to most HB bloggers, bias and all!

Uphill battle for sure, for the Wings. I won't dispute that. But it's the playoffs. I've said in previous threads, the playoffs are quirky. We all know it's a game of inches (centimeters if you're in Canada) and sometimes, no matter how much you battle, the bounces just don't go your way. Sometimes, no matter how good your team is, it's the puck-luck that can save, or doom, a team.

I don't think the Wings are as old and slow as your blogger would have you believe. The Wings are playing much better than they were the last time they played the Hawks. It's not the same team. I'm not saying the Wings will win the series. I just don't think they're going to get steamrolled, like it seems most on this blog do.
- drice97

You can throw in all the cliches you want and no one will discount that. But the fact remains, someone has to be a favorite and someone the underdog. Playoffs are about matchups and on paper it favors the Hawks regardless of the outcome of the regular season games.

You can throw in all the cliches you want and no one will discount that. But the fact remains, someone has to be a favorite and someone the underdog. Playoffs are about matchups and on paper it favors the Hawks regardless of the outcome of the regular season games.
- golfbard

Exactly. well said

Ok what about Vik? Not sure if it's gamesmanship or Q's going to sit him to light a fire. Saad's back in apparently and at least in the last series Stalberg was more productive/noticeable than Saad.

I know it's probably not the best time to infuse farmhands when your pretty healthy but if anyone should sit to me it's Handzus. He wasn't great at the dot and also served up a few softballs over the plate for the Wild.
- HawkintheD

Handzus should stay we can use the depth down the middle .... based on the last series Saad should sit...if just for a game

Stars Fire Head Coach Glen Gulutzan http://noglov.es/YTwpeh

Stars Fire Head Coach Glen Gulutzan http://noglov.es/YTwpeh
- philco28

There's Vancouvers next coach

Stars Fire Head Coach Glen Gulutzan http://noglov.es/YTwpeh
- philco28

The guy had nothing to work with. The GM made one idiotic trade after another.. my god.. How good would that team be with Ott, Neal and Ryder still there. Talk about a friggin bad GM!!

When are the Selke candidates announced and how pissed will you be if Tazer doesn't win it?

There's Vancouvers next coach
- southernhawk

Let's hope.

My response is in your post.

If you want an analysis slanted to the team that is 7-0-2 against the favorite over the last two years and lost 7-1 in their last (or next to last, I forget) meeting, I'm sure you can find a more "balanced" perspective from a Wing writer or blogger. Somewhere.

I mean, saying the Wings execute their system flawlessly, do the little things necessary to win, are masterfully coached, all those thingsm that the Hawk power play sucks—that's biased.

Apparently, regardless, it's not enough for you.

Good lord.
- John Jaeckel

nope not enough...must predict wings in 3 and then hawks wave the white flag...

The guy had nothing to work with. The GM made one idiotic trade after another.. my god.. How good would that team be with Ott, Neal and Ryder still there. Talk about a friggin bad GM!!
- z1990z

Think Nill is entirely cleaning house and starting from scratch. New uniforms and new division/conference alignments go well with new coaches and new players (young mostly) being brought in.

While it wasn't Gulutzan who was the main problem, I don't think he was viewed as part of the solution either.

Reading some of the posts on Twitter, Stalberg apparently irrate about his status. Hasn't spoken to Q about it.

Reading some of the posts on Twitter, Stalberg apparently irrate about his status. Hasn't spoken to Q about it.
- golfbard

Way to go Vik. That will get you far. Team? F'n team? Its about #25!!

Sorry, I have to make a prediction and back it up.

Generally, you will find a lot of facts in my backup. Really unfair to call me biased when even most Wings beat guys are taking the Hawks! Maybe the depth of the analysis—especially that which points back to the Hawks— is tweaking you. I will just say, that I agree, it is hockey and it's why they play the games. Would I be completely surprised if the WIngs took it? No. Mildly to somewhat surprised? Absolutely.

I went 7 of 8 on the first round, including picking the Wings to take the Ducks—running contrary to most HB bloggers, bias and all!
- John Jaeckel

nice work on that first round BTW!! most didn't come close with more lower seeded teams advancing.

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN 38s
Handzus will play tomorrow. Asked if Smith could, Q gave the "we'll see." #blackhawks

Reading some of the posts on Twitter, Stalberg apparently irrate about his status. Hasn't spoken to Q about it.
- golfbard

Good, he should be and he should bring that fire to the next game.

Uphill battle for sure, for the Wings. I won't dispute that. But it's the playoffs. I've said in previous threads, the playoffs are quirky. We all know it's a game of inches (centimeters if you're in Canada) and sometimes, no matter how much you battle, the bounces just don't go your way. Sometimes, no matter how good your team is, it's the puck-luck that can save, or doom, a team.

I don't think the Wings are as old and slow as your blogger would have you believe. The Wings are playing much better than they were the last time they played the Hawks. It's not the same team. I'm not saying the Wings will win the series. I just don't think they're going to get steamrolled, like it seems most on this blog do.
- drice97

I think you/we are saying the same thing. Uphill battle... Right? It is what it is.

Reading some of the posts on Twitter, Stalberg apparently irrate about his status. Hasn't spoken to Q about it.
- golfbard

Don't blame him...

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN 38s
Handzus will play tomorrow. Asked if Smith could, Q gave the "we'll see." #blackhawks
- philco28

I don't see Smith playing over Stalberg, even if Stalberg needs to play better.

The Hawks aren't exactly facing the Wings of 02, 08, or even 09 for that matter. Much different look with not everyone healthy sadly, doesn't look too good for us. If we had Dekeyser & Helm healthy...I'd go as far as to say we'd have a fighting chance, maybe...but with our D being as shaky as it has been in ages...doesn't look too good at all for us, Hawks in 6.

I don't see Smith playing over Stalberg, even if Stalberg needs to play better.
- DarthKane

Agreed. Vik's speed is HUGE vs a foe like this. He should dress.

The Hawks aren't exactly facing the Wings of 02, 08, or even 09 for that matter. Much different look with not everyone healthy sadly, doesn't look too good for us. If we had Dekeyser & Helm healthy...I'd go as far as to say we'd have a fighting chance, maybe...but with our D being as shaky as it has been in ages...doesn't look too good at all for us, Hawks in 6.
- Hockeytown4life

And yet you guys beat the #2 seeded Ducks. One game at a time.. Here is to a good and last playoff series outside of a future Cup matchup.

Sounds like Carbomb and Jammer got into a scruff today at practice....