He'll, Rantaa, maybe be starting opening night of 2014-15. Especially if he starts to push Crawford next year....

Kings down 2-0, just gotten beaten down pretty good, Quick got pulled, I expect a very low scoring game tomorrow night. Stay out of the box, and withstand the 1st, 10 minutes of what shoudl be fire and brimstone...and you have a chance. If not, pressure flips back to the Hawks to win game 4, and not go home with a series even....LA with all the momentum, and a goalie who steals games in his sleep.

That is why everyone getting giddy, needs to relax. Series is FAR from over. ...Hawks haven't seen the Kings best punch yet...its coming....
- SteveRain

Series is definitely far from over. Hawks held serve at home which they needed to do and should do. As they say, the series doesn't start until someone loses a home game. I think the Hawks split.

Series is definitely far from over. Hawks held serve at home which they needed to do and should do. As they say, the series doesn't start until someone loses a home game. I think the Hawks split.
- golfbard

I agree...and I think if they come out motivated, stay out of the box, they can win game 3...They come out disinterested, and take moronic penalties, and it could get ugly fast....

Can't let a reigning champion off the mat...

I'll say it again...Toews and Kane BOTH need to show up and score a few goals. If you would told me they would have 3 combined goals in 14 games, and would have won 10 of those games...I would have told you, you were insane.

If this were the Sedins, with those stats, guys would be blowing up the Canucks blog....19 and 88 have to score for the Hawks to split in LA.

He'll, Rantaa, maybe be starting opening night of 2014-15. Especially if he starts to push Crawford next year....

Kings down 2-0, just gotten beaten down pretty good, Quick got pulled, I expect a very low scoring game tomorrow night. Stay out of the box, and withstand the 1st, 10 minutes of what shoudl be fire and brimstone...and you have a chance. If not, pressure flips back to the Hawks to win game 4, and not go home with a series even....LA with all the momentum, and a goalie who steals games in his sleep.

That is why everyone getting giddy, needs to relax. Series is FAR from over. ...Hawks haven't seen the Kings best punch yet...its coming....
- SteveRain

Indeed...Game 3 is pretty much make or break from the Kings, and they know it. I will be impressed, and very pleased, if the Hawks go up 3-0...

...but I expect the Kings to come out hard and show their best. The defending SC winners are a proud group and I expect a great effort from them tomorrow.

I don't get the dead horses/hidden truths stuff, I do enjoy, and often believe that introducing other ideas to be a healthy exercise here. At times it gets to be a bit of an echo chamber here...a mutual admiration society. And that is cool too. But From someone who does it here, and who accepts the wrath that comes with that, I don't ever cry or whine about it when someone gives me a two hander and unlike others, am the first to acknowledge when I am wrong or when I eventually catch up to what someone says.

I am assuming now that I am a sheep because I make a case for CC as a solid goalie? Anyways, I can tell you one thing, there are plenty of good seats still on the CC train, I can only imagine the rage that will overtake so many when he possibly accepts a Conn Smythe trophy after they win the cup. I wonder if it will ruin the whole cup experience.
- TrueGrit

Yes.. since there are an incredible number of forwards/defenseman on this Hawks squad worthy of the Conn Smythe this year.

As JJ and others point out, there is not doubt signing the new goalie adds much needed depth to the organization. Would be nice if the new guy could be like the Fasth guy for Anaheim last year.

To Emery's credit, he deserves a shot to have his own team next year and finish his mission to make it back as a number 1 goalie somewhere. If his body can handle it, would be more inspirational than what he has already done.
- TrueGrit

Goalies that will have a new home next year (in my opinion).....

Backstrom
Luongo
Emery
Halak
Miller
Fleury
Bryz
.............and maybe Carey Price

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...cided-grab-060229801.html
- Hemingways

Thanks. It wasn't as much of an incident as they made it sound on radio. I'm still baffled on how the Kings end up getting a power play out of that. Looks like they were showing some frustration.

Maybe I would need to do the Math

Bolland and Zus clear about 6 million and Oduya may go clearing 10 million in space

Depending on how many bargain basement kids from Rockford are ready I still think we can sign these guys but we will see

Draft day will be bigger than trade deadline day as the list of UFA's is far from strong this year
- PEIHawkFan

If you're correct, something is coming back for Bolland and Oduya.

Indeed...Game 3 is pretty much make or break from the Kings, and they know it. I will be impressed, and very pleased, if the Hawks go up 3-0...

...but I expect the Kings to come out hard and show their best. The defending SC winners are a proud group and I expect a great effort from them tomorrow.
- ArlingtonRob

I'm with you....think back to last year, last February or early March when the Kings were desperate for points, Brown was rumored to be traded, and they came out and just rail roaded the Hawks...That's the kind of effort I am expecting....

Frustration is going to start mounting largely for the Kings...Take that punch and escape tied or in the lead, and you will see a melt down...Richards, Stoll, Kopitar, Brown should be hammered each and every play. A guy who doesn't finish a check on any of those guys, should be sat. No question the Kings are very beat up....but they'll dig deep to try and find another gear...

I agree...and I think if they come out motivated, stay out of the box, they can win game 3...They come out disinterested, and take moronic penalties, and it could get ugly fast....

Can't let a reigning champion off the mat...

I'll say it again...Toews and Kane BOTH need to show up and score a few goals. If you would told me they would have 3 combined goals in 14 games, and would have won 10 of those games...I would have told you, you were insane.

If this were the Sedins, with those stats, guys would be blowing up the Canucks blog....19 and 88 have to score for the Hawks to split in LA.
- SteveRain

Showing up and scoring are two different things though. Toews has been really good through two games and Kane looks much more engaged through two. He doesn't have the points to show for it. I think you almost have to appreciate how deep this team is when you can have that sort of lack of production on the scoresheet from those guys yet still have 10 wins.

If you're correct, something is coming back for Bolland and Oduya.
- StLBravesFan

Oduya not going anywhere.

Goalies that will have a new home next year (in my opinion).....

Backstrom
Luongo
Emery
Halak
Miller
Fleury
Bryz
.............and maybe Carey Price
- UnnamedSource

While you may be correct, the problem with the list above is that except for Emery they are all making $5mil+ (regardless of NTC's/NMC's) With the cap going down it is a lot of money to spend on a single goaltender.

Goalies that will have a new home next year (in my opinion).....

Backstrom
Luongo
Emery
Halak
Miller
Fleury
Bryz
.............and maybe Carey Price
- UnnamedSource

Doubt Price and I'm not so sure about Fleury. He has a big contract, right? Not sure who else can afford him.

Oduya not going anywhere.
- Return of the Roar

Most likely not but he's on the short list of the few guys under contract that 1 or 2 might be dealt to free up more cap room. He's far less likely than Bolland to go just because of depth at the position and that Rozy is a free agent. But that doesn't mean he's a lock to stay here.

Showing up and scoring are two different things though. Toews has been really good through two games and Kane looks much more engaged through two. He doesn't have the points to show for it. I think you almost have to appreciate how deep this team is when you can have that sort of lack of production on the scoresheet from those guys yet still have 10 wins.
- golfbard

Opposing teams are putting a lot of effort into shutting down the Blackhawks top 2 lines and more speciffically Kane and Toews (your regular season scoring leaders). That effort takes away the oppositions scoring opportunites as much as it does the Hawks. How many goals/points did Datsyuk and Zetterberg put on the board? How about Parise & Koivu?

For all of Kanes and Toews lack of points on the board, dont think they are not effective in the games. Kane is still given a whole bunch of respect and attention every time he steps on the ice. That creates some of the chances that the 3rd/4th line are getting.

Most likely not but he's on the short list of the few guys under contract that 1 or 2 might be dealt to free up more cap room. He's far less likely than Bolland to go just because of depth at the position and that Rozy is a free agent. But that doesn't mean he's a lock to stay here.
- Hemingways

He's got a modified NTC...so he can only be dealt to a few teams which gravely weakens the asking price that Bowman can get back.

While you may be correct, the problem with the list above is that except for Emery they are all making $5mil+ (regardless of NTC's/NMC's) With the cap going down it is a lot of money to spend on a single goaltender.
- TheTrob

buyouts.....on at least a few of them.

Opposing teams are putting a lot of effort into shutting down the Blackhawks top 2 lines and more speciffically Kane and Toews (your regular season scoring leaders). That effort takes away the oppositions scoring opportunites as much as it does the Hawks. How many goals/points did Datsyuk and Zetterberg put on the board? How about Parise & Koivu?

For all of Kanes and Toews lack of points on the board, dont think they are not effective in the games. Kane is still given a whole bunch of respect and attention every time he steps on the ice. That creates some of the chances that the 3rd/4th line are getting.
- TheTrob

Exactly which speaks to the depth. The Hawks third and fourth lines could be second and third lines on some teams. At a certain point coverage on the top two lines could soften up and all of a sudden they get better chances.

Doubt Price and I'm not so sure about Fleury. He has a big contract, right? Not sure who else can afford him.
- golfbard

Buyouts.....

While you may be correct, the problem with the list above is that except for Emery they are all making $5mil+ (regardless of NTC's/NMC's) With the cap going down it is a lot of money to spend on a single goaltender.
- TheTrob

I think if Luongo is traded it's to a team that will use a compliance buyout the following season, so it's a 1 year patchwork move. That also further limits what teams would be willing to trade for him, meaning the genius Vancouver GM isn't likely to trade him. Vancouver should just accept reality and buy him out. Nobody can risk the penalty they'll get if/when Luongo retires or if they decided they have to buy him out after the compliance buyout period ends in 1 year. Right now a normal buyout gets Vancouver 18 years of cap penalties.

Why shouldn't we be giddy? This is a good team, and a good road team at that. Don't think many are here screaming sweep, they need to take 1 game. LA is 7-0 at home I get that, but they haven't played the Hawks yet. We should be excited, have fun with it.

Good article by a New York writer on his dealings with the late
John Arse'hoooooooooooooooooooool'rella

http://blogs.thescore.com...four-years/#comment-77563

The Hawks breakout has been nothing short of spectacular these last two games. And because the Hawks are getting out clean they find themselves with lots of advantages or two on two's- which is basically an advantage because either Regher or matt Greene are on the ice, and they just can't keep up. See the Seabrook goal...

Saad, Shaw and Stalberg have been really good. Saad might have been the Hawks best forward last night. Certainly was for the first two periods. What that kids going to be in the coming years makes me giggle.

Nice to see Keith return to being Keith. Keeping his minutes down during the regular season probably helped.

Kopitar is obviously hurt. He shouldn't be getting pushed around the way he has been. Look for a surgery announced right after this series ends.

The Staples center is going to be a different beast altogether. But if the Hawks continue to play this well, I think they'll get at least a game. I have tickets for a game 5. Hopefully it's the clincher....
- yahoodi

Clean breakouts have been KEY...they help minimize the pounding on our d and automatically reduce scoring chances for the opponent. Our 3rd last night was UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGLY.......but with the comfy lead, not out of character for this group.

Goalies that will have a new home next year (in my opinion).....

Backstrom
Luongo
Emery
Halak
Miller
Fleury
Bryz
.............and maybe Carey Price
- UnnamedSource

The only way Bryz goes is if the Flyers buy him out, which they should. Luongo will be an interesting situation, for teams looking for a goalie there will be a lot more options. Why take on his huge contract when you could get Backstrom or Miller.

I'd love to see Rayzor back here next season, but I'm sure he'll get a big payday elsewhere.

The only way Bryz goes is if the Flyers buy him out, which they should. Luongo will be an interesting situation, for teams looking for a goalie there will be a lot more options. Why take on his huge contract when you could get Backstrom or Miller.

I'd love to see Rayzor back here next season, but I'm sure he'll get a big payday elsewhere.
- DarthKane

Toward the end of the season, there was some talk how Bryz's solid play this year would earn him another year w/the Flyers and they would wait to see about buying him out next off season, instead of the upcoming. They have to buy him out at some point though.

The only way Bryz goes is if the Flyers buy him out, which they should. Luongo will be an interesting situation, for teams looking for a goalie there will be a lot more options. Why take on his huge contract when you could get Backstrom or Miller.

I'd love to see Rayzor back here next season, but I'm sure he'll get a big payday elsewhere.
- DarthKane

Keep in mind....if Luongo or any of the other names get bought out the next contract they sign will be substantially less money.