Time to put Seabrook with Keith and watch Oduya closely...
- Al

Managing the d will be key. La is going to keep pounding away. That is all they do. I don't know if I like the idea of Keith going back to 25-27 minutes a game. In a series like this he will wear down by game 4. But, can Oduya and leddy deal with the intense forecheck? Might see brookbank in the series

Saw him play once this year...not overly impressed, but he did get better as the year went on. Like the Illinois lineage.
- philco28

Jake Muzzin of the Kings got a short look with Hawks...Has done nicely.

Managing the d will be key. La is going to keep pounding away. That is all they do. I don't know if I like the idea of Keith going back to 25-27 minutes a game. In a series like this he will wear down by game 4. But, can Oduya and leddy deal with the intense forecheck? Might see brookbank in the series
- tomcat24

If u see Brookbank....Trouble.

It is a test of will....I will take my chances on Leddy before Oduya when it comes to coughing up the puck.

Hammer has been vg, Keith not bad, Seabrook and Oduya need to be better and the third pair has to play decent minutes.

Jake Muzzin of the Kings got a short look with Hawks...Has done nicely.
- Al

Muzzin's a big dude.

right on phil!!! Will the PizzaMan strike once again????
wish there was a place for ben smith & carbomb this series . Saad & Stalberg have to "ball up" and use their size. Good luck Hawks in this 1!
- wonthecup10

I agree about carcillo and smith. While smith isn't a hitting machine, he is a battler and goes to the dangerous areas. Perfect type for an LA series. You need people to be willing to battle for pucks in front of quick. Carcillo is the type to go crazy out there hitting people left and right. Give La a taste of their own grinder medicine. But stalberg's speed can be huge in this. Saad has played ok but needs to step up NOW

Jake Muzzin of the Kings got a short look with Hawks...Has done nicely.
- Al

Really? I don't remember. A training camp invitee?

If u see Brookbank....Trouble.

It is a test of will....I will take my chances on Leddy before Oduya when it comes to coughing up the puck.

Hammer has been vg, Keith not bad, Seabrook and Oduya need to be better and the third pair has to play decent minutes.
- Al

So who are your pairs for this? I would like pair 1 to be about 23 minutes, pair 2 20 minutes and 17 minutes for the 3rd pair

I agree about carcillo and smith. While smith isn't a hitting machine, he is a battler and goes to the dangerous areas. Perfect type for an LA series. You need people to be willing to battle for pucks in front of quick. Carcillo is the type to go crazy out there hitting people left and right. Give La a taste of their own grinder medicine. But stalberg's speed can be huge in this. Saad has played ok but needs to step up NOW
- tomcat24

Nice post TCat...Smith could be useful for sure....CarBomb would be a nice tonic to the Kings runaround ways, but he never seems to play more than 6-7 minutes and he's always on THE EDGE. Discipline is so big this time of the year.

There is no question we NEED MORE from 25 and 20. MUCH MORE.

Nice post TCat...Smith could be useful for sure....CarBomb would be a nice tonic to the Kings runaround ways, but he never seems to play more than 6-7 minutes and he's always on THE EDGE. Discipline is so big this time of the year.

There is no question we NEED MORE from 25 and 20. MUCH MORE.
- philco28

And 19, and 88, and 7, and 2, and 36, and 81.

Nice post TCat...Smith could be useful for sure....CarBomb would be a nice tonic to the Kings runaround ways, but he never seems to play more than 6-7 minutes and he's always on THE EDGE. Discipline is so big this time of the year.

There is no question we NEED MORE from 25 and 20. MUCH MORE.
- philco28

Thanks. I do question a lot of q's decisions. I still don't see why bolland, Kruger, and frolik don't get more icetime. All 3 are solid defensively and they work hard in the o-zone. Usually some of the most consistent shifts on the team. Carcillo needs to play more than 5 minutes, too. I never thought he looked bad when he played. You are bang on though about penalties and discipline. And he is a marked man by the refs. But his style would be good here

And 19, and 88, and 7, and 2, and 36, and 81.
- Ogilthorpe2

no sharp ?

And 19, and 88, and 7, and 2, and 36, and 81.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yup, especially 88, 36 and 81. Keith's playing some of his best hockey in a LONG TIME. Sharpie avoids your gun sights this time

Thanks. I do question a lot of q's decisions. I still don't see why bolland, Kruger, and frolik don't get more icetime. All 3 are solid defensively and they work hard in the o-zone. Usually some of the most consistent shifts on the team. Carcillo needs to play more than 5 minutes, too. I never thought he looked bad when he played. You are bang on though about penalties and discipline. And he is a marked man by the refs. But his style would be good here
- tomcat24

Love him, thinks he aw'ite, but like you said...between 13 and 65...the refs would have a field day blowing something other than the big fat D I C KS they usually dine on. Have a feeling we will see him though at some point.

no sharp ?
- tomcat24

I have no complaints about Sharp through 2 rounds. None.

Love him, thinks he aw'ite, but like you said...between 13 and 65...the refs would have a field day blowing something other than the big fat D I C KS they usually dine on. Have a feeling we will see him though at some point.
- philco28

I don't think it is a bad thing to put him in for a game. Change things up a bit. Who comes out, though? Saad? I guess it depends on what happens in the 1st 2 games. We need to win both. Maybe game 4?

I have no complaints about Sharp through 2 rounds. None.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah he actually stepped up this year. Hopefully he brings even more physical play this series

I don't think it is a bad thing to put him in for a game. Change things up a bit. Who comes out, though? Saad? I guess it depends on what happens in the 1st 2 games. We need to win both. Maybe game 4?
- tomcat24

What about Jammer ? Talk about the forgotten men. Bollig too.

"According to Bodog.net, the Penguins are 3/2 to win the championship, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks at 12/5 and the Los Angeles Kings at 10/3. The Boston Bruins are the longshot of the conference finalists at 9/2."

Someone didn't take his "make thinkie work" pills this morning. Nice troll, Skippy.
- John Jaeckel

Much to my displeasure on a few occasions long ago, Vegas odds are seldom wrong.

What about Jammer ? Talk about the forgotten men. Bollig too.
- philco28

They really are forgotten. Bollig would get even less time than Carcillo, though. He was never bad when he played. Jammer is definitely a pro and would know how to play this kind of game. So who comes out, saad? Move bolland back up with shaw and stalberg I wouldn't take the rat out

They really are forgotten. Bollig would get even less time than Carcillo, though. He was never bad when he played. Jammer is definitely a pro and would know how to play this kind of game. So who comes out, saad? Move bolland back up with shaw and stalberg I wouldn't take the rat out
- tomcat24

Bollig's a last option for sure. Jammer could have an impact...just not sure if it would be positive or negligible. Q won't make any changes until something goes awry. I wouldn't mess with the Rat. That hit on Nydquist could be a sign he might be finding his groove.

Really? I don't remember. A training camp invitee?
- tomcat24

Must have been, he was drafted by the Penguins, but they never signed him... Then he came to LA on a tryout, must have gone to Chicago first.

He was good in the regular season, hasn't been as good in the playoffs, that inexperience is hurting him a little. He's still played good enough to essentially run Martinez out of town (probably will have his rights traded during the offseason)... he'll need to step up some more this series, Greene will likely be clearing the crease, so he's gotta make sure he gets into passing lanes so the skill players can't do too much damage.

We're about to see if Bowman has really done his job. We've been hearing for 2+ seasons now from Stan that we have enough sandpaper grit guys...you know like Carcillo and Bollig (who'll be in the press box). This is definitely a series where the Buff/Ladd/Versteeg/Brouwer types are going to be missed. The question is how much? Can the Hawks use their speed and make the Kings chase?

Suffice it to say the Kings pose a real challenge unlike the last two squads. A big physical team with great goaltending that will pound the crap out of you.

The Wild were a walk where the Hawks didn't even show up...in the Wings series the Hawks really didn't show up until game 5. You know Detroit - the team we all wanted to face and the model the Bowmans based the Hawks on - it would have been a huge embarrassment for McCub et all had the Hawks lost that series. No disrespect to the Wings a talented club in a down year with excellent management and coaching but the Hawks had dominated this team the last two seasons.

No 48' knuckle softies this round can't afford it - scoring will be at a premium which is why the PP must convert. Can Kompon get the PP working against the team that didn't bring him back or were they right in letting him go?

We're about to see if Bowman has really done his job. We've been hearing for 2+ seasons now from Stan that we have enough sandpaper grit guys...you know like Carcillo and Bollig (who'll be in the press box). This is definitely a series where the Buff/Ladd/Versteeg/Brouwer types are going to be missed. The question is how much? Can the Hawks use their speed and make the Kings chase?

Suffice it to say the Kings pose a real challenge unlike the last two squads. A big physical team with great goaltending that will pound the crap out of you.

The Wild were a walk where the Hawks didn't even show up...in the Wings series the Hawks really didn't show up until game 5. You know Detroit - the team we all wanted to face and the model the Bowmans based the Hawks on - it would have been a huge embarrassment for McCub et all had the Hawks lost that series. No disrespect to the Wings a talented club in a down year with excellent management and coaching but the Hawks had dominated this team the last two seasons.

No 48' knuckle softies this round can't afford it - scoring will be at a premium which is why the PP must convert. Can Kompon get the PP working against the team that didn't bring him back or were they right in letting him go?
- DK002

Truest statement. This is a total clash of styles this series wont be won by the 3rd line. The Hawks top 6 has to dominate the games at home. Quick has been fantastic but early goals on him can get him rattled or even make him more aggressive than usual which leads to more goals.

I just don't see how the Hawks D wont be able to shut down the Kings for long stretches of time. The Kings will dump the puck in , Hawks have to beat them to the puck and then get the phucking put out in 1 pass. Is that possible ? I don't know. We'll see.

Bollig's a last option for sure. Jammer could have an impact...just not sure if it would be positive or negligible. Q won't make any changes until something goes awry. I wouldn't mess with the Rat. That hit on Nydquist could be a sign he might be finding his groove.
- philco28

Where's Colin Fraser when we need him?????

After winning their last three games I don't see Q making any line up changes. Maybe he puts in Carcillo if he feels the Hawks need another banger but there's no point doing so if he's going to play 3-6 minutes. All that does is put the Hawks at a disadvantage and force the rest of the forwards to play more minutes.