Just because we had year after year after year after year of failure doesn't mean we weren't here. Just suffering in silence.
- cryptical77

Or at Lakers games.

>JJ, a balanced review with just the right "homer" seasoning -- of course you should pick the Hawks
>Besides the Kings having 3 slow Dmen and a poor track record at the dot, LA gives the puck away an awful lot
>Kings generate few shots and few goals
>BUT the Kings have Quick, tons of confidence, and know how to win
>Hawks need to make this an all-out track meet -- and no Hawk player should be standing still on any shift
>Hawk Dmen should be jumping up to join offensive rushes at every opportunity
>Hawk Dmen should also be banking the puck off the endboard to a teammate on the other side of the net when Quick comes way out to challenge a point shot
>The team that can continually extend the other team's shifts -- will take control of games -- Hawks will try with puck possession -- LA will try with sheer muscle
>If the Hawks play as a unit of 5 all over the ice, with high-tempo, they will be very hard to beat -- regardless of Quick
>With the first 3 games over in just 4 days, this could be a very short series
>Think the Wings style of play and Babcock's focus of "being hard on the Hawks' top players" was the perfect prelude for the Hawks to beat the Kings
- SnapitUpstairs

There it is. Since the playoffs started our possession stats have been shot to hell. Needless to say I'm a little nervous. But still doable...

The Kings were still on vacation during the first game of the season.

You're silly.

Or at Lakers games.
- Hemingways

Went to Clipper game, sort of a "misery loves company" kind of bonding with their fans

There it is. Since the playoffs started our possession stats have been shot to hell. Needless to say I'm a little nervous. But still doable...
- cryptical77

>Should be a great match-up
>Your team plays with a TON of confidence
>Think that is your biggest strength -- even more so than Quick

Last year when LA faced a very fast and skilled team that would rather not play the strong game, they beat them in 5.

- bluecoconuts

Who was that fast & skilled team?

PLEASE!, don't tell us te Sharks!


They know they couldn't skate with the hawks for several seasons now.

I actually am done here now until game time, there is just far too much bullfeather flying from people who really are more koodaid than cool and objective....

The Kings were still on vacation during the first game of the season.

You're silly.
- Ersberg

Then, welcome to summer vacation, motherphucker.

Stopped reading after you used the first game of the season as a gauge. Everything is flawed after that.

1. Quick did not fully recover from back surgery until around April.
2. No Mitchell/Regehr
3. No Green
4. One hour of Cup Rings, banners and celebrating. They had about 10% of their normal focus.

But aside from that.....

Last year when LA faced a very fast and skilled team that would rather not play the strong game, they beat them in 5.

Now before anyone jumps on me, I don't think that's going to happen here... However, speed is something that the Kings can handle, they have done it in the past.

It's going to depend on who can force the other into playing their game.
- bluecoconuts

We are not Vancouver. And LA should figure that out quickly.

Who was that fast & skilled team?

PLEASE!, don't tell us te Sharks!


They know they couldn't skate with the hawks for several seasons now.

I actually am done here now until game time, there is just far too much bullfeather flying from people who really are more koodaid than cool and objective....
- wiz1901

Didn't realize the Kings played the Sharks last year in the playoffs? Do tell, and how did we fare?

May want to reread his comment, then feel free to reinsert foot in mouth.

Who was that fast & skilled team?

PLEASE!, don't tell us te Sharks!


They know they couldn't skate with the hawks for several seasons now.

I actually am done here now until game time, there is just far too much bullfeather flying from people who really are more koodaid than cool and objective....
- wiz1901

No Sharks last year. That would be the Nucks my friend.

(And who's being uncool and biased?)

Hey guys, making a trip to Chicago next week to see the Jays/Sox. Where would be a good highend Sports Bar/Steak House downtown to catch game 5 next Saturday?

We are staying at the Fairmont if that helps.

Thanks
- Lanny9

Don't know were you acn wacth in silence, but I would go to the Weber Grill to eat.

Not too far - walk and then when you are done, watch the game in a bar or your room, we now televise home games (and we no longer make all the fans drive to the Chicago Stadium to see the PAY PER VIEW of the away games).

We are not Vancouver. And LA should figure that out quickly.
- QStache

I know Chicago is not Vancouver, it was just an example that speed doesn't automatically kill LA.

Anyone able to grab finals tickets today when they went on sale. No luck here...
- Iknockuout

nope. spent 30 minutes and then gave up

I guess you haven't been watching round 1 and 2 when the Kings were chasing St Louis and San Jose and yet still only needed that playoff moment where they score those WTF goals? As long as Quick plays his game the Kings will be able to claw their way through the series and Chicago lacks the same smothering defense that San Jose and St Louis brought to the game.

Stopped reading after you used the first game of the season as a gauge. Everything is flawed after that.

1. Quick did not fully recover from back surgery until around April.
2. No Mitchell/Regehr
3. No Green
4. One hour of Cup Rings, banners and celebrating. They had about 10% of their normal focus.

But aside from that.....
- King of Kings

I've seen a few Kings fans use Mitchell's absence as an excuse. If he wasn't playing then and he's not playing now what difference does he make?

I guess you haven't been watching round 1 and 2 when the Kings were chasing St Louis and San Jose and yet still only needed that playoff moment where they score those WTF goals? As long as Quick plays his game the Kings will be able to claw their way through the series and Chicago lacks the same smothering defense that San Jose and St Louis brought to the game.
- LAKingsfan626

Chicago had lowest GA on the regular season at 102. LA has their hands full, but I believe in Quick

I've seen a few Kings fans use Mitchell's absence as an excuse. If he wasn't playing then and he's not playing now what difference does he make?
- DarthKane

Probably more to do with no Kopi, a still recovering Quick, and more than anything else still enjoying the celebration with no focus. Still think the other 2 games are a better guage.

this was such a nice thread filled with pleasant exchanges and excitement for the series, lets not ruin it fellow kings fans... I love that your sticking up for the kings and unwavering and whatnot, but the blogger is allowed to have his opinion and call it how he see's it.. there is nothing to evil being said here so far so lets just wait until game one is done to get all fired up

I've seen a few Kings fans use Mitchell's absence as an excuse. If he wasn't playing then and he's not playing now what difference does he make?
- DarthKane

Point you obviously missed was that we were missing that one veteran player and had to fill it with a guy who sits in the stands right now (Ellerby). We missed Mitchell sorely that game, but we filled his spot with RR at the end of the season. That's a huge step up.

Point you obviously missed was that we were missing that one veteran player and had to fill it with a guy who sits in the stands right now (Ellerby). We missed Mitchell sorely that game, but we filled his spot with RR at the end of the season. That's a huge step up.
- King of Kings

I get that you miss Mitchell. But when you say you can't compare game 1 of the regular season to this playoff series because of Mitchell it doesn't make sense. Mitchell didn't play in game 1 and he's not playing in the playoffs.

I'm not discounting any other arguments, but if you're without a player for the entire regular season and playoffs how does he enter the conversation of game 1 (reg season) vs the playoffs?

If you want to argue about RR being an upgrade over Ellerby then fine, that's a valid point. But Mitchell's impact on the game is not.

this was such a nice thread filled with pleasant exchanges and excitement for the series, lets not ruin it fellow kings fans... I love that your sticking up for the kings and unwavering and whatnot, but the blogger is allowed to have his opinion and call it how he see's it.. there is nothing to evil being said here so far so lets just wait until game one is done to get all fired up


- MikeOxbyg

Well said.

Notice to Kings trolls. Bombardment may commence shortly.

Welcome in Kings fans...we look forward to a long and hard fought series.

I don't think the first game of the year really matters either Hawks were jacked up to prove themselves after another early exit the previous year and the Kings had the ring ceremony. Same thing happened to us during our banner raising.

I also don't buy the argument that the Kings were on the road so much at the beginning of the year. Hawks played 10 of the first 12 on the road as well.

Biggest advantage for the Hawks will be at the dot where they're actually ahead of LA. And speed the Hawks have a ton of it. No question Quick is the better netminder.

The other big question is whether the Hawks can actually get that horrid PP working. We saw brief glimpses of it during the last series. I seem to recall that Babcock said to everyone's fave Pierre - that the Wings were caught a little off guard when the Hawks used the Dallas Breakout...we know what the Kings are going to do so when the penalties come the Hawks have to take advantage.

Anyone able to grab finals tickets today when they went on sale. No luck here...
- Iknockuout

Two standing room for game 1

Well said.

Notice to Kings trolls. Bombardment may commence shortly.
- tredbrta

I'm just dying for the the day I see someone spin-out completely on here with these textual sparrings and just drop a "yeah well, my dad can beat up your dad!" .... it really wouldn't surprise me much LOL