A Hawk fan or two saw other teams play and suddenly saw the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. The term 'modern hockey' was thrown out with the inference being the Hawks played some outdated style that was no longer viable in todays NHL. I'd argue the opposite. Some also view Quenneville as some domineering, egotistical, micromanaging, has been, who only plays veterans. Nothing is further from the truth. The Hawks of 2010 played a wide open higher risk game where the coaching staff would match each and every line the other team threw out there. In 2013, the team played a less risky game and for the most part the coaching staff rolled four lines regardless of who was on the ice for the opposition. This year I see even less coaching involvement during the game. Where i see the biggest coaching influence is in how the team plays. Instead of a wide open game where the team takes all kinds of risks to score I see a defensively sound team who take opportunities and seldom take risks to score, unless risks are required.

I'd argue not only do the Hawks have the best team in terms of talent and intangibles like heart and work ethic, I'd also argue the team is in fact the most modern team in the NHL because this team can play any style, against any opponent and they do so without giving the opposition many chances to score while taking advantage of their own scoring opportunities when they present themselves. I'd also argue that the Hawks are hands down the best coached team in hockey and that Quenneville is well on his way to being in the same conversation with the best.
- paulr

With the Wranglers seemingly on their way to an easy series, pressure would seem to be on the Hawks to finish L.A. ASAP as well, though i'm under no illusions that much heavy lifting is still required. MUCH.

Wow, habs are helpless. NYR can finish them too fast.

That's my whole point. Nobody watches the Hawks play and make opinions based solely on Stats or highlights.
- paulr

Like baseball, there are plenty of boxscore fans that develop their hockey expertise that way. But its still better to have them as fans as opposed to watching another sport.

I don't know about nobody watching the Hawks play - I'd argue they are pretty close to being America's team of hockey.

Wow, habs are helpless. NYR can finish them too fast.
- Uncheckable21

Reliance on one player or did the Habs win their Stanley cup with the series win over Boston?

Reliance on one player or did the Habs win their Stanley cup with the series win over Boston?
- paulr

That one player would be a pretty important piece - can't win a Cup (or a series) without very good goaltending - but they weren't going to beat Lundqvist under almost any circumstances last nite: they put tremendous pressure on him in the 3rd and got nothing past him.

not many people did, and a lot of people are still (for some reason) crapping on us. not sure why. we were 1st in the east and made it to the ECF 2 years ago, made it to the 2nd round in a dysfunctional season last year, and after our horrible start where we were adjusting to AV's new system, we have one of the best records in the NHL since new years.

arguably the best defense in the NHL (top 5 for sure), best goalie in the league, and stars like rick nash (who is unstoppable when he is on his game) and MSL (reigning art ross winner) playing on 2 separate lines. our 3rd line has zuccarello who has been our best player all year long and has been outplaying nash and MSL. that's 3 very good scoring lines. and our 4th line is playing like one of the best 4th lines in the league.

stars are aligning for the rangers right now and we're heating up at the right time. 5 wins in a row and 2-0 series lead heading back to NY.

i think we deserve some credit. it's not like we were a basement team last year. we've been decent for a while and have been really good 2 out of the last 3 years. and, we outplayed the defending champs and beat them twice this year
- rangerdanger94

Uh.. don't think so. Deserve credit for the run? Absolutely. Top five D? No sir.

why not? you guys for example have the best defenseman out of the 2 bluelines in keith, but as a top 3, mcdonagh staal and girardi are a better unit than keith seabrook and hjarlmsson. not to mention stralman, moore, and klein are all good defensemen that can play top-4 minutes well.


no.
- rangerdanger94

Wow thats typical east coast, Rangers bias for you. I live in NY and see the Rangers often and in no way are they better than Keith, Seabrook and Hammer. Anyone can play top four minutes. Are they effective? The Rangers D looks a lot better with Lundquist behind them but please don't overrate them.

our 8th defenseman rafael diaz poops on your 6th defenseman brookbank.
- rangerdanger94

This isn't even worth arguing especially since Diaz has been in NY for like two months and has rarely played. That's just being a homer.

Wow thats typical east coast, Rangers bias for you. I live in NY and see the Rangers often and in no way are they better than Keith, Seabrook and Hammer. Anyone can play top four minutes. Are they effective? The Rangers D looks a lot better with Lundquist behind them but please don't overrate them.
- golfbard

Let 'em phucking KNOW GP

I think we've been trolled by a twelve year old

I'm ashamed...I fell for it.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yea me too.

Yea me too.
- golfbard

Listen to Mo, he tells us not to reply and we still do. The trolls will leave if no one engages them. And even though I say this I am one of the worst offenders.

i do think mcdonagh, girardi, and staal as a top 3 are better than keith, seabrook, and hjalmarsson. maybe i'm undestimating hjalmarsson? i think you guys are underestimating staal a bit too tho.

let's be friends again?
- rangerdanger94

Can I ask you a question? Do you know what Hammer and Oduya's roles are on the team? I'll wait and hope you shock me.

That one player would be a pretty important piece - can't win a Cup (or a series) without very good goaltending - but they weren't going to beat Lundqvist under almost any circumstances last nite: they put tremendous pressure on him in the 3rd and got nothing past him.
- StLBravesFan

The entire situation stinks. If Montreal now decide to charge hard toward the net, everyone will be thinking retaliation. Here is a question I would like the league to answer - Why is it ok for a player who is charging the net (and goalie) to run the goalie, yet when the puck is behind the net and a player is trying to play the puck can they not make contact with the goalie? It would seem like if the goalie goes out to play the puck, he should be fair game.

I still hope that someone from the Habs takes out Lundqvist's knee, just to even the playing surface.

Listen to Mo, he tells us not to reply and we still do. The trolls will leave if no one engages them. And even though I say this I am one of the worst offenders.
- paulr

What about trolls who pose as Hawk posters?

our 8th defenseman rafael diaz poops on your 6th defenseman brookbank.
- rangerdanger94

That's gotta be SOME kind of penalty - two minutes for browning? a double minor for disgusting? - but I bet the refs don't call it.

Other team's fans disrespect players on other teams, be it Hjalmarsson or whomever because most fans are fans only of the team they support. I wouldn't call it disrespectso much as ignorance. And we as Hawk fans sometimes do the same.
- paulr

Correct.

A Hawk fan or two saw other teams play and suddenly saw the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. The term 'modern hockey' was thrown out with the inference being the Hawks played some outdated style that was no longer viable in todays NHL. I'd argue the opposite. Some also view Quenneville as some domineering, egotistical, micromanaging, has been, who only plays veterans. Nothing is further from the truth. The Hawks of 2010 played a wide open higher risk game where the coaching staff would match each and every line the other team threw out there. In 2013, the team played a less risky game and for the most part the coaching staff rolled four lines regardless of who was on the ice for the opposition. This year I see even less coaching involvement during the game. Where i see the biggest coaching influence is in how the team plays. Instead of a wide open game where the team takes all kinds of risks to score I see a defensively sound team who take opportunities and seldom take risks to score, unless risks are required.

I'd argue not only do the Hawks have the best team in terms of talent and intangibles like heart and work ethic, I'd also argue the team is in fact the most modern team in the NHL because this team can play any style, against any opponent and they do so without giving the opposition many chances to score while taking advantage of their own scoring opportunities when they present themselves. I'd also argue that the Hawks are hands down the best coached team in hockey and that Quenneville is well on his way to being in the same conversation with the best.
- paulr

Loud sustained applause. Great post, Paulie.

Listen to Mo, he tells us not to reply and we still do. The trolls will leave if no one engages them. And even though I say this I am one of the worst offenders.
- paulr

I know I know.. but I'm surrounded by annoying Rangers fans who have been obsolete for 20 years. They go on one run and walk around like their doo doo don't stink.

Listen to Mo, he tells us not to reply and we still do. The trolls will leave if no one engages them. And even though I say this I am one of the worst offenders.
- paulr

Me, too. Some of those bastages have skills....

Mornin fellas... anything new and exciting?

Mornin fellas... anything new and exciting?
- PhilMeister89

Yea the Rangers have won the Stanley Cup.. or at least you would think so. In other news, they apparently have a better defense than the Hawks.

What about trolls who pose as Hawk posters?
- HawkintheD

They are the worst!

Yea the Rangers have won the Stanley Cup.. or at least you would think so. In other news, they apparently have a better defense than the Hawks.
- golfbard

Staal, Girardi, and McDonagh as a front 3 better than Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson?

Please, might be the most homerific statement yet

They are very good, but one crop has 2 cups together and can play in all situations

One crop hasnt won jack, they were talking that Girardi was a bust without Torts and didnt want to re-sign him at his cost, and Staal runs hot and cold

the Girardi, McDonagh, and Staal unit really struggles against fast teams, the seabs, keith, hammer unit have excelled against grinding teams and up tempo teams alike

Looks like Justin Williams agrees with JJ.....


“A rivalry only exists when the other team wins,” Williams said, per LA Kings Insider. “We haven’t beat them yet. We have that set for us and we need to rise to the challenge.”

Williams pointed to Chicago’s fast defense as part of the reason for its success.

“If we’re just a little off every game, we’re not going to be good because they’ll expose that,” he said. “They’ll have guys swinging, guys stretching and if you give them time they will make you pay.”


Personally, I have a high level of respect for these Kings and will not think this series is over until the final phucking whistle of the fourth win or loss...