Go Tricolore Go!

You're assuming quite a bit here. How do you know Tokarski won't do the Ken Dryden thing? But I agree that I'd much rather the Hawks play the Habs, and that the injury is really unfortunate in every possible way. Total bummer.
- Tugboat

And actually outside of that freak 7 goal game, the Rangers aren't really an offensive powerhouse so it might not be too bad. Wasn't tokarski the goalie on that norfolk powerhouse team a few years back that destroyed all the teams and won it all? Of course AHl is a lot different than NHL

And actually outside of that freak 7 goal game, the Rangers aren't really an offensive powerhouse so it might not be too bad. Wasn't tokarski the goalie on that norfolk powerhouse team a few years back that destroyed all the teams and won it all? Of course AHl is a lot different than NHL
- tomcat24

I don't follow the AHL to know about Norfolk, but I was thinking along the same lines, that this series is more about the Habs solving Lundvist than the other way around, and that NYR doesn't have insurmountable firepower where you need an elite goalie standing on his head...

... I did look the kid up, and he's .946 & 1.84 in three NHL games this year. Not enough of a sample size to tell anything, I realize. But it's not like they just picked him up off the street either.

They've gone out and acquired the players who fit a system that's designed to stretch out opponents, keep the puck form them and wear them down.

Here's the other thing, Chris Osgood used to stop a lot of shots sometimes for the Red wings, but the quality of the shots/chances was not always great. In part because of how the Wings played (quite similar to the Hawks by the way).

I will concede that the Kings generated a lot of shots and chances in the second period. The Hawks had the better of it in the first and third. So how that gets to the Kings "outplayed" the Hawks is kind of delusional.
- John Jaeckel

Good point JJ. From a Minny fan perspective who read the same stuff after every loss, I think it's simply a way of trying to spin. Makes fans feel a little better about losing and helps them hold on to any hope left over.

ps. I think Crawford having possibly his best post season EVER doesn't exactly hurt either. But as you alluded to, it's the team and system itself.It's like a machine. Aside from a few major cogs or components it's a machine of similar working parts. A part in the machine breaks down it's simply removed and replaced by another fairly uniform part so that the machine never quits running.

Sort of a crude analogy, but I'm not that clever, so cut me some slack!

And actually outside of that freak 7 goal game, the Rangers aren't really an offensive powerhouse so it might not be too bad. Wasn't tokarski the goalie on that norfolk powerhouse team a few years back that destroyed all the teams and won it all? Of course AHl is a lot different than NHL
- tomcat24

I'd much rather face NYR. They are already in way over their heads.

Go Tricolore Go!
- Tugboat

Loved how Tokarski was on the blue line with his mates during the anthem.
Good team karma.

Good point JJ. From a Minny fan perspective who read the same stuff after every loss, I think it's simply a way of trying to spin. Makes fans feel a little better about losing and helps them hold on to any hope left over.

ps. I think Crawford having possibly his best post season EVER doesn't exactly hurt either. But as you alluded to, it's the team and system itself.It's like a machine. Aside from a few major cogs or components it's a machine of similar working parts. A part in the machine breaks down it's simply removed and replaced by another fairly uniform part so that the machine never quits running.

Sort of a crude analogy, but I'm not that clever, so cut me some slack!
- MnGump

Crow has put the cog in a machine theory to rest. He damned near stole the cup run for us last season, and he's pretty much the reason we're still in the chase. If it was Raanta in there, the Blues would've taken us out; if not, certainly the Wild.

Loved how Tokarski was on the blue line with his mates during the anthem.
Good team karma.
- philco28

Habs have done everything but score.

Good point JJ. From a Minny fan perspective who read the same stuff after every loss, I think it's simply a way of trying to spin. Makes fans feel a little better about losing and helps them hold on to any hope left over.

ps. I think Crawford having possibly his best post season EVER doesn't exactly hurt either. But as you alluded to, it's the team and system itself.It's like a machine. Aside from a few major cogs or components it's a machine of similar working parts. A part in the machine breaks down it's simply removed and replaced by another fairly uniform part so that the machine never quits running.

Sort of a crude analogy, but I'm not that clever, so cut me some slack!
- MnGump

Not really the worst of analogies. It explains how Stan is able to trade for "WHO?" and he ends up being a far more productive player here than they were elsewhere. Who, realistically, thought a Regin or Campoli could be workable players? Their skills fit the system (why am I having flashes of Greg from the Brady Bunch and "He fits the suit?") which makes them far more effective than they had been elsewhere.

AAMOF, I'd go so far as to say that we lose Toews, no cup, too. We ain't exactly deep at center, ya know. We also probably wouldn't have won last year if Bickell didn't play as huge as he did. Our "cogs" are kind of unique; you can't just plug somebody in to replace a Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Hjalmersson or Crawford. Those guys aren't sitting at home watching their TV's in their underwear waiting for a call from Bowman; they are key components of other teams, who aren't gonna let them go.

Good point JJ. From a Minny fan perspective who read the same stuff after every loss, I think it's simply a way of trying to spin. Makes fans feel a little better about losing and helps them hold on to any hope left over.

ps. I think Crawford having possibly his best post season EVER doesn't exactly hurt either. But as you alluded to, it's the team and system itself.It's like a machine. Aside from a few major cogs or components it's a machine of similar working parts. A part in the machine breaks down it's simply removed and replaced by another fairly uniform part so that the machine never quits running.

Sort of a crude analogy, but I'm not that clever, so cut me some slack!
- MnGump

And I think that is the idea behind always switching linemates and combos. I don't think we have quite the depth like we did in 2010 but close. With that team you could almost place any of the 12 with anyone else and not miss a beat. That is the machine part. Hopefully you get a team that all play a similar style and know what to do. Smart players

That was a tough first goal for tokarski...awful deflection, no chance.

Habs have done everything but score.
- StLBravesFan

And when they open the scoring, a bad luck bounce off Gorges sneaks by the rook, who like Rob said, had no chance.

That was a tough first goal for tokarski...awful deflection, no chance.
- ArlingtonRob

Yeah hopefully doesn't shake his confidence. I hope he comes back with a huge save. He is in a really tough spot. I would be nervous as hell

Loved how Tokarski was on the blue line with his mates during the anthem.
Good team karma.
- philco28

I think Price did that, too last game. Must be a Hab thing. I have never seen that with other teams

Crow has put the cog in a machine theory to rest. He damned near stole the cup run for us last season, and he's pretty much the reason we're still in the chase. If it was Raanta in there, the Blues would've taken us out; if not, certainly the Wild.
- Q...argh

Agreed. Corey Crawford is an elite goalie. Game three against STL could not have been a more clutch performance at a more critical time. Chris Osgood (likely going to the HOF himself) looks uncannily like the character actor David Morse, and Crow does not, so they are clearly not the same person. End of story.

I think Price did that, too last game. Must be a Hab thing. I have never seen that with other teams
- tomcat24

i like it.

I'd much rather face NYR. They are already in way over their heads.
- Q...argh

Yeah I'm shocked they got this far. But you can never write off King Henrik. He is really great. Of course he never won the Cup

i like it.
- philco28

Moi aussi.

i like it.
- philco28

Me, too. I haven't seen a live game in years, but I like when players skate up to the goalie after scoring. Do players do that? They never show it on tv. Just show the players high-5 the bench. I have seen college players do that

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet -- heard it on the radio and found the link. Nik Hjalmarsson was cleared to talk today by the doctors and this is the 2+ min video to that interview. Some really great lines in it but this one was best (at about the 2:17 mark), Hjalmarsson:
"The doctor said 'don't talk unless it makes you money'."


- savvyone-1[url]

#realblackhawkwarrior

Me loves me some Hjalmarsson!

When I was a kid I got hit in the throat by a puck probably going 1/10 the speed that the shot Hammer took and it hurt worse than getting your balls wracked. The toughness of Hockey players never cease to amaze me.

*sigh*

The Rangers are another team that trends toward boring, clutch & grab 90's hockey.

It'd be pretty interesting to see if Montreal overcomes this goaltending adversity to try to send this series the distance.

Not really the worst of analogies. It explains how Stan is able to trade for "WHO?" and he ends up being a far more productive player here than they were elsewhere. Who, realistically, thought a Regin or Campoli could be workable players? Their skills fit the system (why am I having flashes of Greg from the Brady Bunch and "He fits the suit?") which makes them far more effective than they had been elsewhere.
- NewToHockey

Was that the "Johnny Bravo" episode???

I was just watchingSportsTalk Live and they asked a reporter from LA how Sutter and his players felt about yesterday's game.

He said that they liked their performance and felt like if they were able to bear down on a few opportunities they could've just as easily won 1-0 .

If Kane hadn't scored that overtime goal in game 6 we could've won the Cup.
If the Hawks didn't score 2 goals in 17 seconds we could've won the Cup.

Shawzer in Sharp out.....