JJ
Is Andrew Shaw the MVP of the playoffs for the hawks?

Which is why I suspect JJ called Shaw Version 3.0 ...
- QStache

Hadn't thought of that; great point!

Honey badger all the rage last year, an endangered species, but there are plenty of them out there...lol....
- TrueGrit

I believe they are native to Alabama.

Not to take anything away from the Hawks last night but Quick had a bad game.

Not saying the Kings would have won if Quick played out of his mind but 4 goals against JQ is a rare occurrence.

The biggest adjustment the Kings have to make is to get the puck to the open man when trying to establish a forecheck. Every time the Kings tried to start a cycle in the Hawks zone, the Hawks had 2 guys on the puck.

In order for the Kings to win, they have to be able to carry the puck into the zone and establish a forecheck which they didn't do at all in games 1 and 2.

Dump and Chase=losses.
- Anjin

You can't rely on your goalie every night when your offense doesn't score more than two per game. Also the hawks speed and skill is overwhelming the kings d which in essence leaves quick out on an island.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't "honey badger" used as a nickname to refer to Marchand?

At any rate, I love "little ball of hate." It's a fitting nickname for Shaw.
- EKolb13

Little ball of hate is definitely one of Marchand's nicknames.

Actually, marchand was little ball of hate, prior to honey badger monicker..

Honey badger all the rage last year, an endangered species, but there are plenty of them out there...lol....
- TrueGrit

Thanks for the clarification.

JJ
Is Andrew Shaw the MVP of the playoffs for the hawks?
- molly2522

Right now it would have to be Crawford I would think.

John Jaeckel: Feeling 2010-ish
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

This does feel like 2010 albeit with a different flavor as the team is somewhat faster, more about puck possession and less physical. But overall they seem to have the right balance...just like 2010.

Regarding C2 - I am very comfortable with his play and really have been all season long. He has clearly matured from last year - you can tell by the way he responds after being scored against, even when he allows the odd soft goal.

All I keep hearing is how the Kings are a different team at home. I know their record in the playoffs this year suggests that. That being said...it's hard for me to imagine that they can elevate their game to match the Hawks level enough to win 4 out of the next 5 including at least one at the UC.

The Hawks just seem to be firing on all cylinders at all levels of their game. The Kings just seem to be very slow. Don't know if it's fatigue but they just seem to lack energy. And the way the Hawks have been dominating them it has to be getting to them psychologically. Hawks have to keep pouncing and pressing at every opportunity and if they do, this thing could be over in 5 or, dare I say, 4...And a quick disposal of the Kings should help the Hawks tremendously going into the final because the Pens-Bruins series looks to be a long physical affair.

Right now it would have to be Crawford I would think.
- paulr

Agreed. I'd have to think he's in the running for it.

I believe they are native to Alabama.
- QStache

Thought it was Louisiana (Mathieu)...unless Southie has now earned the Honey Badger monicker; thought he was a bigger guy though.

Right now it would have to be Crawford I would think.
- paulr

For me it's Keith. Though honestly this is an absolute team effort and there about 5-6 guys I think are in the running. As to Keith, he's absolutely shut down everyone he's been paired against these playoffs and resembles a Keith we haven't seen in years.

I love Andrew Shaw and what he brings to the lineup but the slash to Richardson's ankle was just a stupid/dirty/dangerous play that is inexcusable. It's one thing to give a guy a little whack with your stick, it's another thing to hit him so hard in the ankle/leg with your stick that you injure him. Shaw needs to learn to control his emotions before he does something stupid that gets called and costs the team.
- Ballam

No argument here

Thought it was Louisiana (Mathieu)...unless Southie has now earned the Honey Badger monicker; thought he was a bigger guy though.
- HawkintheD

It's the same place, right?

Great pass on Shaw's goal from Stalberg.
- PEIHawkFan

Wait for it . . .

I'm loving me some Nick Leddy during last night's game. Couple of things that didn't go unnoticed during CSN's post-game coverage by Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd was Leddy's contribution to last night's game.

1st, you have the nice pinch along the boards and the poke of the puck to the Saad-father leading to Stalberg's pass for Shaw's goal. If they gave out 3rd assists, of course he would get one, just happy he makes that nice play early on in the game so the Hawks could put their foot on the gas and never look back.

2nd, he IS the best choice for point duty on PP. Again, probably went unnoticed by most observers but when LA cleared and Leddy went to retrieve on the PP, he was under heavy pressure by the LA forechecker. Leddy made a move with the puck that I've not seen him make before but essentially at top speed he retrieves the puck, makes a spin reverse kind of move while keeping puck control, then makes a beautiful backhand tape-to-tape outlet (to Kane I believe) that starts off what lead to the nice PP goal by Bicks. I'm going to see if I can find a clip that shows that move but the thing that floored me was he keeps control AND makes a sweet backhand outlet that essentially gives the Hawks a 5 on 3 entry (cause the LA player was still down at our dot).

Also loved me some Handzus last night. Not only because of the sweet goal but the way the guy is playing balls-to-the-wall, as JJ noted his shot block was really an important play. That kind of 100%+ effort is what is endearing him to his mates. And I'll contrast the Handzus pickup with the Pahlsson pickup -- Sammy didn't ever seem to provide a lift for the team, never seemed to gel or fit. Zus, OTOH, not only has provided a lift but seems to have gel'd and really become an important part of this playoff roster.

Let's hope the boys keep their foot on the gas out in LA.

Which is why I suspect JJ called Shaw Version 3.0 ...
- QStache

Theo was the original, then Bolland, then Shaw

If the team keeps playing like this.....the cup is back!

Wait for it . . .

I'm loving me some Nick Leddy during last night's game.
- savvyone-1

No surprise here.

Right now it would have to be Crawford I would think.
- paulr

Well, I guess it's testament to what they're getting from a lot of guys. I would go with Sharp, and then maybe Bickell. Hossa, Shaw, Crawford, Keith all in the mix.

For me it's Keith. Though honestly this is an absolute team effort and there about 5-6 guys I think are in the running. As to Keith, he's absolutely shut down everyone he's been paired against these playoffs and resembles a Keith we haven't seen in years.
- QStache

Definitely; could throw Sharps' name in the hat as well. Agree with what JJ wrote on the blog today about Keith though. Other than sometimes seeming like a square peg in a round hole on the PP, he has been lights out on defense and back after a couple of so-so seasons.

The other thing I've noticed in his game is he's cut down quite a bit on bad giveaways in his own end and the blind pass up the board to an open wing. Welcome sight for sure!

JJ
Is Andrew Shaw the MVP of the playoffs for the hawks?
- molly2522

Not JJ but IMO it's Crow.

I believe they are native to Alabama.
- QStache

If you have not done so already here is the video that sparked the whole honey badger rage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

It's the same place, right?
- QStache

Technically no. For the sake of sarcasm? It's certainly hard to delineate.

The Hawks just seem to be firing on all cylinders at all levels of their game. The Kings just seem to be very slow. Don't know if it's fatigue but they just seem to lack energy. And the way the Hawks have been dominating them it has to be getting to them psychologically. Hawks have to keep pouncing and pressing at every opportunity and if they do, this thing could be over in 5 or, dare I say, 4...And a quick disposal of the Kings should help the Hawks tremendously going into the final because the Pens-Bruins series looks to be a long physical affair.

Worst of all worlds for the Kings...hurt, tired and their best player wasnt. The back to backs were perfect for the Hawks...no time for the Kings to recover, recoup and strategize. As is so often the case, Game 3 determines whether this is or isnt a series. If they dent Quick early, its over. If they compensate by giving more attention to the third and fourth lines, Toews and Kane are likely to wake up their scoring, and its over. Amazing to be here considering how it felt to be down 3-1 such a short while ago. Just hope this isnt the calm before the storm. I think depth and speed will spell demise for the Kings sooner rather than later.

Well, I guess it's testament to what they're getting from a lot of guys. I would go with Sharp, and then maybe Bickell. Hossa, Shaw, Crawford, Keith all in the mix.
- John Jaeckel

Agree on Sharp. Like the idea of MVP per series, but Sharp overall has provided consistent production. Wondering why Q has not dressed Kane the last 2 series? Oh wait, he did...

Wait for it . . .

I'm loving me some Nick Leddy during last night's game. Couple of things that didn't go unnoticed during CSN's post-game coverage by Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd was Leddy's contribution to last night's game.

1st, you have the nice pinch along the boards and the poke of the puck to the Saad-father leading to Stalberg's pass for Shaw's goal. If they gave out 3rd assists, of course he would get one, just happy he makes that nice play early on in the game so the Hawks could put their foot on the gas and never look back.

2nd, he IS the best choice for point duty on PP. Again, probably went unnoticed by most observers but when LA cleared and Leddy went to retrieve on the PP, he was under heavy pressure by the LA forechecker. Leddy made a move with the puck that I've not seen him make before but essentially at top speed he retrieves the puck, makes a spin reverse kind of move while keeping puck control, then makes a beautiful backhand tape-to-tape outlet (to Kane I believe) that starts off what lead to the nice PP goal by Bicks. I'm going to see if I can find a clip that shows that move but the thing that floored me was he keeps control AND makes a sweet backhand outlet that essentially gives the Hawks a 5 on 3 entry (cause the LA player was still down at our dot).

Also loved me some Handzus last night. Not only because of the sweet goal but the way the guy is playing balls-to-the-wall, as JJ noted his shot block was really an important play. That kind of 100%+ effort is what is endearing him to his mates. And I'll contrast the Handzus pickup with the Pahlsson pickup -- Sammy didn't ever seem to provide a lift for the team, never seemed to gel or fit. Zus, OTOH, not only has provided a lift but seems to have gel'd and really become an important part of this playoff roster.

Let's hope the boys keep their foot on the gas out in LA.

- savvyone-1

Nick Leddy has been playing out of his mind lately. Still can't get over that rush in the Red Wings series where he beat Howard and put it off the post... Now imagine if he keeps developing the type of player he will be a couple years from now They need to lock him up long term