Do you know how stupid you sound?
- lakings35

You guys got a nice break in regads to scheduling. It happens. Got a nice break during the game as well....that also happens.

This will be a tough series for both teams, but I think the winner of this series, the cup is their's to lose.

Let's not forget, Bettman can care less about original 6 matchups. His entire purpose is to sell the game to non-markets. He would rather see Phoenix playing Carolina for the SC than CHI-MTL.
- powerenforcer

Yeah, bettman must be super upset that the final 4 are NY, Chi, LA & Mtl.
The 3 biggest markets in the US & the winningest franchise of all time.
Im thinking the only thing he'd like more is a Toronto vs Montreal ECF.

I was very impressed with most of the game yesterday. Just bench Rozsival and they will be good to go.
- SteveRain

What I've been impressed with/confounded with this entire playoffs, though, is the Hawks ability to play what is markedly not Blackhawks offensive hockey (little cycling, low shot totals), but still continue to advance.

Let's not forget, Bettman can care less about original 6 matchups. His entire purpose is to sell the game to non-markets. He would rather see Phoenix playing Carolina for the SC than CHI-MTL.
- powerenforcer

Bettman's entire purpose is to sell the NHL and to increase revenue league wide. The broadcast contract helps fund the entire league. The higher the profile of the playoff matchups the larger the viewership and greater the revenue.

If smaller markets can be brought into the league, and interest in the NHL game expanded...terrific. But it's far from Bettman's top priority.

Do you know how stupid you sound?
- lakings35

He does not

What I've been impressed with/confounded with this entire playoffs, though, is the Hawks ability to play what is markedly not Blackhawks offensive hockey (little cycling, low shot totals), but still continue to advance.
- QStache

Agreed. NHL is allowing a LOT of obstruction, interference to go on...so Hawks are having to grind out possession play and capitalize on the chances when they get them.

They mentioned yesterday during the broadcast how Q said they had to "learn" how to win playing against "defensive minded" teams. The Kings are no different from the Blues or the Wild in that regard.

There's a difference between pointing out and obsessing.

Hawks CANNOT CONTROL the scheduling, CANNOT CONTROL incompetent striped shirts, CANNOT CONTROL the announcers (who, by the way, are probably not part of the conspiracy to throw the series to the Kings).

The Hawks CAN CONTROL only one thing - the most important thing - how the play. If they play Blackhawks Hockey, they have a very good chance of beating a very god LAK team - no matter how incompetent the refs or how much rest the Kings get or how much good publicity the Kings get from the national broadcasters.

Hawks are in the final four - again - let's deal with that.
- StLBravesFan

This is why they call him "Sage".

Wise words, sir.

You guys remember this....?



That was awesome

This is why they call him "Sage".

Wise words, sir.
- Ogilthorpe2

Rozsival should be taken behind the shed and put to rest. His hockey career is over. Slow, bad decisions and leaving Leddy on an island way too often.

Brookbank needs to play moving forward.

You guys remember this....?



That was awesome
- Ogilthorpe2

Brought a smile to my face

What I've been impressed with/confounded with this entire playoffs, though, is the Hawks ability to play what is markedly not Blackhawks offensive hockey (little cycling, low shot totals), but still continue to advance.
- QStache

This year, the Hawks seem more willing to adapt to what the opposition gives them. Push play along the boards? Clog up the neutral zone? They seem to just roll with it as patiently as they can. Waiting for their "moment."
A far cry from the panic they showed against Phx in '12.

You guys remember this....?



That was awesome
- Ogilthorpe2

I'll ay it again....if I were walking in a dark alley, the last guy I would want to fight is Hossa out of ANYONE on this Hawks team. That guy is a brick $hithouse and could destroy people at will if he wanted to.

You guys remember this....?



That was awesome
- Ogilthorpe2

Hossa left his feet. he's a dirty player.

Let's not forget, Bettman can care less about original 6 matchups. His entire purpose is to sell the game to non-markets. He would rather see Phoenix playing Carolina for the SC than CHI-MTL.
- powerenforcer

Yup. The NFL would be wise to pickup on Bettman's mindset. They would be so much better off with a Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Super Bowl.

John your bias is making your articles lose credibility. The Hawks were outplayed for the vast majority of the game, the second goal scored was a fluke and Corey Crawford bailed the team out a number of times. I hope the rest of the series plays out like this game did, the Kings will take them in 5 no question if it does. The Hawks looked frustrated and tired, they are extremely lucky to have a 1-0 series lead right now.

"Chicago won in a number of other important statistics: blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, power play conversions, penalty kills."

Of course they had more takeaways and blocked shots, the Hawks rarely had the puck so that ruled out any chance that the Kings had of stealing it or blocking it. The giveaways stat is also linked to puck possession. If I were a Hawks fan I would be worried, they need to be a lot better if they don't want to be embarrassed at home on Wednesday.

Rozsival should be taken behind the shed and put to rest. His hockey career is over. Slow, bad decisions and leaving Leddy on an island way too often.

Brookbank needs to play moving forward.
- SteveRain

thk he plays wed....rosi sits...

although q likes to stick with a winning hand....

NHL GameCenter notification that Carey Price will miss the rest of the Conference Final. Who's their backup?

This year, the Hawks seem more willing to adapt to what the opposition gives them. Push play along the boards? Clog up the neutral zone? They seem to just roll with it as patiently as they can. Waiting for their "moment."
A far cry from the panic they showed against Phx in '12.
- InvisibleOrange

Since 2013, they have won a lot, including a Cup and a President's Trophy (as little as that may mean).

This team has learned how to win thru adversity - they didn't really know that yet coming out 0f 2010.

They had several "bad" things happen to them in last year's play-offs - the Hjalmarsson disallowed goal, the tying goal with 8 seconds left against LAK, down 301 to Detroit, Keith's suspension - and they played through all of it and learned how to win no matter what happened.

That's the legacy to this year's team.

John your bias is making your articles lose credibility. The Hawks were outplayed for the vast majority of the game, the second goal scored was a fluke and Corey Crawford bailed the team out a number of times. I hope the rest of the series plays out like this game did, the Kings will take them in 5 no question if it does. The Hawks looked frustrated and tired, they are extremely lucky to have a 1-0 series lead right now.

"Chicago won in a number of other important statistics: blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, power play conversions, penalty kills."

Of course they had more takeaways and blocked shots, the Hawks rarely had the puck so that ruled out any chance that the Kings had of stealing it or blocking it. The giveaways stat is also linked to puck possession. If I were a Hawks fan I would be worried, they need to be a lot better if they don't want to be embarrassed at home on Wednesday.
- oGlide

Aren't you a leafs fan?

Hossa left his feet. he's a dirty player.


- InvisibleOrange

You forgot the contact to the head.

Apologize if this has been answered already, but is Shaw dealing with a knee injury?

John your bias is making your articles lose credibility. The Hawks were outplayed for the vast majority of the game, the second goal scored was a fluke and Corey Crawford bailed the team out a number of times. I hope the rest of the series plays out like this game did, the Kings will take them in 5 no question if it does. The Hawks looked frustrated and tired, they are extremely lucky to have a 1-0 series lead right now.

"Chicago won in a number of other important statistics: blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, power play conversions, penalty kills."

Of course they had more takeaways and blocked shots, the Hawks rarely had the puck so that ruled out any chance that the Kings had of stealing it or blocking it. The giveaways stat is also linked to puck possession. If I were a Hawks fan I would be worried, they need to be a lot better if they don't want to be embarrassed at home on Wednesday.
- oGlide

Oh, wait, you were serious? Never mind...

Rozsival should be taken behind the shed and put to rest. His hockey career is over. Slow, bad decisions and leaving Leddy on an island way too often.

Brookbank needs to play moving forward.
- SteveRain

Never thought I'd be saying this about Brookbank, but totally agree with you. Evidently, Q does not.

Just check out the TOI report (under stats) for the game.
You'll see who Q "trusts" and who he doesn't trust.

Leddy, Regin, Versteeg & Bollig had 4 shifts each in 3rd.
Sharp had 5.
Roszival had 6.
Smith, Kruger and Bicks had 7.

If you back-read yesterday's blog posts from the game and after, several guys on this board have packed Leddy's bags and shipped him off. The vitriol was sort of unreal -- you'd have thought Leddy had bagged their significant other, took pics and sent them to the Trib for publication.

I'm sticking to my "hope Nick gets moved for something that will help us." Leddy is just Q's whipping boy on D.

John your bias is making your articles lose credibility. The Hawks were outplayed for the vast majority of the game, the second goal scored was a fluke and Corey Crawford bailed the team out a number of times. I hope the rest of the series plays out like this game did, the Kings will take them in 5 no question if it does. The Hawks looked frustrated and tired, they are extremely lucky to have a 1-0 series lead right now.

"Chicago won in a number of other important statistics: blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, power play conversions, penalty kills."

Of course they had more takeaways and blocked shots, the Hawks rarely had the puck so that ruled out any chance that the Kings had of stealing it or blocking it. The giveaways stat is also linked to puck possession. If I were a Hawks fan I would be worried, they need to be a lot better if they don't want to be embarrassed at home on Wednesday.
- oGlide

My guess is that you saw only the second period, and didn't watch the third at all.

That's my only explanation for your thinking that they were "outplayed the vast majority of the game".

They allowed only 5 SOG in the first period, and 4 in the third (when the game was on the line and LAK should have been pressing like crazy).

They scored two goals after the Kings tied it in the second - one during what could have been a disastrous second period.

Apologize if this has been answered already, but is Shaw dealing with a knee injury?
- z1990z

Many think so, but some think it might be a high ankle sprain instead.