Obviously less than thrilled with the outcome, but it has been a really fun series to watch thus far - rising blood pressure issues aside.
- FredoXV

It has been really a treat from this side (obviously). I totally different perspective from being the favorite and high expectations. Watching the kids grow is a total joy. Reminds me of somewhat of watching the early days of Zetterberg/Dats in early 2000's.

It goes without saying, but game 4 a biggie. Still not quite sure what to expect with this Wings group. Confident with Babs and Howard but the rookies (Smith) are apt to make some bone head plays.

Curious to see what the Hawks got. This team has the Cup experience to draw from so I'm expecting they will draw from that and bring it. The only thing that would make me nervous if I was a Hawks fan (being the Wild card) is CC and Q. It is like Detroit's Dmen. The things a wondering mind goes to when I think negative thoughts.

Not sure what is going to happen from here, but not a big Q fan. Look at the PP. This team has offensive talent that is exceeded by no other team, yet they have been in the bottom 3rd of the league for three straight years. His insistence on playing Keith at the point is beyond maddening. I also think there is a double standard that goes on with the players. A guy like Stalberg makes a mistake and he's immediately sat, while other guys make more egregious errors and yet never miss a shift. I find it very hard to believe that the players don't notice that. The other thing that irritates me is when he says he needs a certain guy in the lineup (think John Scott, Dan Carcillo) to add a physical element, yet plays the guy for about 3 to 5 minutes, if that, which basically leaves your team playing short a guy. I won't even discuss his "spin the wheel" line combinations as that's been beaten to death. I realize the guy has 600+ wins in his career, but as a head coach, if you look at his past history, he has had some very, very talented teams (St. Louis & Colorado) that may have had great regular seasons, but accomplished nothing, come playoff time. He won a Cup in 2010 with the Hawks, but let's face it, that was an incredibly deep, talented team that enjoyed playing with one another and it's not a stretch to think that quite a few coaches could have won with that team. If the Hawks go out in 5 or 6 games, it's a pretty tough sell - at least for me - to bring him back after three straight years of playoff failure.

I'd be really interested to know what guys like Campbell, Brouwer and a few others really think about Q's coaching.

I'd be really interested to know what guys like Campbell, Brouwer and a few others really think about Q's coaching.
- RetiredGoalie

Why? they play for different teams.

Why? they play for different teams.
- miked23

sorry..that was a little antagonistic. 2010 was 3 yrs ago now. I get tired of hearing about those guys. NONE of them (current or former hawks) have lifted their teams to post season heights. Our 2013 role players are fine. If crow can mimic nieme and toews can mimic 2010 toews-we have enough to win. And Q can get us there.

Now would be a good time for Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabs, and Saad to show up. Three years in a row certain members of this so called core has not shown up for the playoffs. This is getting tiring, core no more. They lose here some players need to go.
- droe411

Just imagine hossa wasnt on a banned contract and counted agaist the cap for 8 mil

Must win game 4 and the Hawks right back in it...a loss and it's probably over. The Wings top players have been better than the Hawks top players, the Wings have been tougher and grittier and of course have gotten better goal tending...all the questions about the Hawks are coming home to roost. Crow hasn't been bad, but once again he is being outplayed in the playoffs, the Hawks finesse game while generating tons of shots isn't producing, the PP is abysmal...

if it ends here, time for some serious changes. A PP coach who can actually coach it and trading off some soft players for a couple bangers. This team IS talented, but it's poorly constructed in my view...The playoffs may be exposing that.

We'll see how they respond. They were down 2-1 to Nashville (almost 3-1) in 2010...I don't pretend this team is even remotely as good as that team, but the precedent exists.

Power play entries, terrible, especially if Keith has the puck.

Kruger and Bolland awful in the dot. Bolland on offensive zone, PP draws!!!

Not enough net front presence.

Lack of patience, composure. The officiating DOES absolutely suck.

Crawford inconsistent AT BEST, and bad at bad times.
- John Jaeckel

Just an FYI Toews has been sub 40% the last two games now. He's been just as bad as everyone else.

Good night boys, thanks for letting me vent. Enjoy the last two games of the season, I don't have the stomach for it anymore.
- Ogilthorpe2

baby

that 32 game playoff only injury is a brutal one
- flyershockey

Must be hard to see his name on that 2010 championship..

I have to believe something is wrong with Toews. I dont think there is a better hockey player alive. But he is off, and I cant believe hes this frustrated with the work of HZ. Maybe Im making excuses, guess Ill find out in about a week...
- Iknockuout

Well the same thing would be wrong with him the last 3 seasons then because for the last 3 years he's disappeared off the scoring sheet. He scored 15% of the Hawks goals this year. 0% in the playoffs, that's a lot of goals to make up.

No it's not. The PP is a very large issue and Scotty Bowman said well before the playoffs started that if the Hawks couldn't convert on their opportunities that teams would take more and more liberties because they had no fear of being burned. Very prophetic - so far.
- RickJ

Not only that, but the PP seems to take away our momentum instead of building it, even if the Blackhawks don't score. It must be deflating when you can barely setup in the offensive zone on the power play. Our PK has done way more for the teams confidence than the power play. 1-2 more PP goals and this could be a totally different series.

Just an FYI Toews has been sub 40% the last two games now. He's been just as bad as everyone else.
- Hawks64

he was actually something like 47% last night (9 w 10 l)..but see your point.

why cant kruger win more faceoffs? It seems like it is something he would specialize at as opposed to suck at. He practices against toews and Handzuz. I dunno...he just seems like that fundamentally sound, above average skilled, coach's son-type. Like if he was either bigger or faster he would be all world. He makes so many smart little plays with his hands and his feet, and he's all effort--it seems like success at the dot would come naturally for him.

I was at game 3 on Sat. late in the game there was a series of face offs in the hawk zone in which Kruger lost fo after fo and the wing would get a quick shot, which was frozen by crow leading to krug losing a fo, to quick shot, to krug losing another fo. It was like 4 or 5 fo in a row. Kruger kept looking at the bench..but Q stood there with his arms folded, seemingly saying "well..win the F@#$ing face off and come off for a line change!" But Kruger couldnt. It was awful..I just dont get it

Not only that, but the PP seems to take away our momentum instead of building it, even if the Blackhawks don't score. It must be deflating when you can barely setup in the offensive zone on the power play. Our PK has done way more for the teams confidence than the power play. 1-2 more PP goals and this could be a totally different series.
- DarthKane

Going 0 forever on the power play is far overshadowing the perfect PK they have rolling in the post season.

baby
- Jocelyn26

Fine with me. Don't have to read dumb post after dumb post.

Going 0 forever on the power play is far overshadowing the perfect PK they have rolling in the post season.
- Return of the Roar

it should. (although their PK has been superb).

Fine with me. Don't have to read dumb post after dumb post.
- Dannyboy

You have to just smile. He gets so angry it becomes comical.

Smith/Hayes Toews Hossa
Saad Sharp kane
Bickell Shaw Stalberg
Krugman Bolland Frolik

I would like to see some more fight from the top line and Smith can provide that. Saad seemed to pick up his game on the second line and Zeus can play checkers at the retirement home.

I've always believed a trip to the WC assures Q and his staff a 2013- 2014 return. An exit after the 2nd round is 50/50....but the fact that he was nominated for a Jack Adams makes me believe he gets a 2 year extension but Kompon or Kitchen or both are gone.....but then that raises the question...will Q except that. Who knows?
- UnnamedSource

The whole staff needs to go. Joke of a PP. Guys not hitting. Time for a new look behind the bench. Add to that Stanley as well. Move him over to draft only and find a real GM who can get the needed trades done.

Smith/Hayes Toews Hossa
Saad Sharp kane
Bickell Shaw Stalberg
Krugman Bolland Frolik

I would like to see some more fight from the top line and Smith can provide that. Saad seemed to pick up his game on the second line and Zeus can play checkers at the retirement home.
- waitforawhistle

jonathon ericson has helped plenty in slowing down toews. Finding someone to occupy him would go along way. JJ often mentions the need to wear down the other teams top dmen. We dont really have the roster to do that. But the idea is that after being hit repeatedly a guy like ericson might commit a few more turnover. But, moreover, relentless players like toews, hoss, and sharp can better take advantage of a bigger player like ericson if he is aptly worn down from a consistent pounding-especially later rounds. This is (or was) a Q hallmark.

Bad call aside, still not good enough.

Today's article....

As frustration sets in, Blackhawks fall again to Detroit 3-1 - FOX 32 Chicago:http://bit.ly/10JVgvt

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Another observation is that the Wings' young players are improving as the Hawks' young players are plateauing or regressing. See: Shaw, Andrew; Saad, Brandon.

The whole staff needs to go. Joke of a PP. Guys not hitting. Time for a new look behind the bench. Add to that Stanley as well. Move him over to draft only and find a real GM who can get the needed trades done.
- z1990z

I won't argue about the PP, it is what we are watching. Futile to say the least.

But there were some very effective hits in the game last night - led by Shaw who had 3 good, clean ones that I counted where he shook the Wing player up. And Hammer threw a couple as well. But if you are looking for an all out assault Blues-Kings style, forget it, team isn't constructed that way.

You want to axe the coaching staff - fine. But remember, they don't score goals or take faceoffs. Difference in the game - Howard stopped Saad, Sharp and Stalberg point blank one on one at various points in the game. Our goaltender unable to stop Datsyuk when the tide was swinging in Chicago's favour midway thru the 3rd period.

Outscored 7-2 in the last 2 games.

But if you are looking for an all out assault Blues-Kings style, forget it, team isn't constructed that way.


- RickJ

So if the Kings repeat, which they will, would you grant that the way this team is constructed is wrong for deep playoff runs?

You have to just smile. He gets so angry it becomes comical.
- Jocelyn26

he'll be back. empty threats to leave