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

Let me get this straight, the Kings had 17 SOG's in the second period and 9 the rest of the game. Sounds to me like they had one good period and did nothing the other 67 % of the game. Which is how it looked to my untrained eye.

Wiz I liked ur Woodstock story from a few days ago. I would never go to a place that crowded. Of course nobody knew how busy it would get. I have a question for the draft: what players do you think can step in right away? Eklbad probably. Anyone else? What is ur view on Sam Bennett?
- tomcat24

I am really overly down on this class.

You know that many of the lower teams in need will keep kids up if there is any chance they have scoring in place.

I really think none are ready.

Ekblad is a real big kid and could stya b/c of his skating.
I don't think he makes any impact...heck he didn't have enough of his game in place to help the Canada Junior teams win with him as a solid part of any five man units.
But he may stay.

The big German kid, Leon Draisaitl, is a candidate too only because he is big horse. There are other big bodied forwards in my top ten who teams might keep around.
Next year, 2015, you will get a better chance at plug n' plays...

JJ, how did they circumvent the rules - unless the league and the refs were flat-out lying, they followed proper procedure.

The call was bad - Toews was pushed - but the process was correct.
- StLBravesFan

Because before the video review they never came out and said "the ruling on the ice is no goal due to incidental contact with the goalie" it gives the appearance of impropriety. The process may have been correct, but the communication of what was happening and why was non-existent.

JJ, how did they circumvent the rules - unless the league and the refs were flat-out lying, they followed proper procedure.

The call was bad - Toews was pushed - but the process was correct.
- StLBravesFan

The goal call was non-reviewable, so they "chose" to review something that was obvious—whether Toews shot crossed the goal line—and then they reversed the other call.

See what they did there? Clever.

And I would be one to agree with you on that goal. The one bright spot to that being that it didn't affect the outcome of the game at least.
- cryptical77

Very true. The rest/rust stuff will now be in the past and we'll start to see Wednesday how the series will play out. I like to watch these teams play hockey.

Didnt Eklund say something about how LA is supposed to be a better version of the Wild?

I didnt catch the game, but i saw the GIF of Hossa toning up and leveling Brown as he was coming in to take him out. That was awesome. I used to be a fan of Brown but lately he's been too much of an ass
- BlazinMike

Bollig absolutely tuned somebody up too, might have been Doughty(?).

Bollig actually had a pretty good game yesterday, and 15 more shifts than yahoodi predicted on my FB page! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Very true. The rest/rust stuff will now be in the past and we'll start to see Wednesday how the series will play out. I like to watch these teams play hockey.
- mohel

Agreed.

Isn't the game much faster today? Seems like it'd be harder to call.
- rollpards19

It is, but the older guys held firm.

You go 82 games where if you breathe on a guy and he falls you are going to the box. You get to the playoffs, and depending upon where the series is at, the opponent, and the official, you start to see some very interesting calls made compared to calls let go.

For instance, Saad got taken down twice yesterday right in front of the ref with no call. I also saw at least 5-6 times the Kings would stand a guy up going after a dump in. Maybe the Hawks need their bigger bodies to interfere more.

Kudos to the Hawks who are proving the ability to beat any team a multiple of different ways....out skate you, out finesse you, out grind you, and then have C2 stand on his head.....it's a question of which way do you want it?

This is my main problem with NHL. Some games/rounds they call everything. Some other games they let everything go. The consistency is a joke.

The quality of refs in the NHL is at an all time low, for as long as I can remember. At least with the older guys you knew what you were getting. Not today. These guys look like deer in the headlights and can barely make the correct call.
- SteveRain

Is it? Or is it just status quo, but because the Hawks have played so many very meaningful games the last few years that we're just more aware of it?

It's bad, but it's always been bad IMO. Really bad.

JJ/Wiz/Al,

Does the declining number of shots for both you?

I remember the Hawks used to outshoot everyone and not give up much. Now seems like the opposite. Any cause for concern?

At what point, after a five game series loss last year and an 0-3 record in the regular season this year and yesterday, are the Kings outmatched?

I have no doubt, they'll play better and win at last a game (maybe more) in this series, but . . .
- John Jaeckel

No doubt they were outmatched last year. This blog wasn't about last year though, it was about last game. And again, those three games were before the Gaborik pickup and before Pearson and Toffoli started playing so well together. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Hawks outplay the Kings this series and take it in 6 or 7, but to say the Kings are outmatched is a stretch to me. By saying the Hawks outplayed them, that isn't me pumping the Kings tires or taking anything from the Hawks. They outplayed the Kings yesterday and earned the win.

It is, but the older guys held firm.

You go 82 games where if you breathe on a guy and he falls you are going to the box. You get to the playoffs, and depending upon where the series is at, the opponent, and the official, you start to see some very interesting calls made compared to calls let go.

For instance, Saad got taken down twice yesterday right in front of the ref with no call. I also saw at least 5-6 times the Kings would stand a guy up going after a dump in. Maybe the Hawks need their bigger bodies to interfere more.

Kudos to the Hawks who are proving the ability to beat any team a multiple of different ways....out skate you, out finesse you, out grind you, and then have C2 stand on his head.....it's a question of which way do you want it?
- SteveRain

Lots of clutching and grabbing and hooking of #88 from behind. If they keep doing it, it will get whistled at some point, probably Game 4 or 5.
- John Jaeckel

I don't think it will take Kane long to catch on to the Kings tactics and we will see Kane draw 2 or 3 Kings to him, then slide a pass over to a streaking Hawk forward or D-man for some open shots.

Still basking in the afterglow.

Because before the video review they never came out and said "the ruling on the ice is no goal due to incidental contact with the goalie" it gives the appearance of impropriety. The process may have been correct, but the communication of what was happening and why was non-existent.
- Ogilthorpe2

You are correct about the announcement - should have said what the ruling on the ice ultimately was before sending it to Toronto.

All I'm talking about is the process: too many people - both here and in the media (read David Haugh this morning - he apparently has no reading comprehension ability at all) - keep saying that Toronto reversed the decision about the interference.

Again, unless they all are lying, that's not what happened.

- Ogilthorpe2

The goal call was non-reviewable, so they "chose" to review something that was obvious—whether Toews shot crossed the goal line—and then they reversed the other call.

See what they did there? Clever.
- John Jaeckel

So -- JJ - you are saying that they are all lying - that the statement saying that the referees - in a huddle before sending it to Toronto - changed the call on the ice is a lie.

For comic relief.... Blues re-upped Elliot. So much for Ryan Miller the savior. Horrible trade. The Halak/Elliot was combo was damn good. Ahhh the Blues. A team that takes no effort to totally despise.
- z1990z

Blues took a chance and went big near the deadline. It didn't work out.

Signing Elliott makes sense and I suspect Jake Allen is on the roster next year.

The trade wasn't a surprise, and neither is moving on from Miller.

This may have been mentioned already but the reason there is no game Tuesday is because there is a concert. This is not the fault of the NHL that the UC booked the BeeGees'

No doubt they were outmatched last year. This blog wasn't about last year though, it was about last game. And again, those three games were before the Gaborik pickup and before Pearson and Toffoli started playing so well together. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Hawks outplay the Kings this series and take it in 6 or 7, but to say the Kings are outmatched is a stretch to me. By saying the Hawks outplayed them, that isn't me pumping the Kings tires or taking anything from the Hawks. They outplayed the Kings yesterday and earned the win.
- PancakesPenner

The teams are fairly evenly matched up front, in fact the Kings may have a little more depth there.

But if they lose this series look no farther than the defence corps where speed is sorely lacking.

No doubt they were outmatched last year. This blog wasn't about last year though, it was about last game. And again, those three games were before the Gaborik pickup and before Pearson and Toffoli started playing so well together. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Hawks outplay the Kings this series and take it in 6 or 7, but to say the Kings are outmatched is a stretch to me. By saying the Hawks outplayed them, that isn't me pumping the Kings tires or taking anything from the Hawks. They outplayed the Kings yesterday and earned the win.
- PancakesPenner

OK, let's keep it to this year.

Listen, I'm a Gaborik fan. I get what he brings. But . . .

That said, it is ignorant to hammer on Pearson and Toffoli as though Kruger didn't improve his FO% by 12 points over last year, Saad didn't get better, Leddy didn't get better, etc.

Let's face it, these are essentially the same teams as last year. Not that much difference.

The teams are fairly evenly matched up front, in fact the Kings may have a little more depth there.

But if they lose this series look no farther than the defence corps where speed is sorely lacking.
- RickJ

Thank you

Lots of clutching and grabbing and hooking of #88 from behind. If they keep doing it, it will get whistled at some point, probably Game 4 or 5.
- John Jaeckel

The blatant interference or picks after dump-ins is what really annoys me. Players are called for a lot less than that during the season.
This really slows down the game for a team like the Hawks.

Is it? Or is it just status quo, but because the Hawks have played so many very meaningful games the last few years that we're just more aware of it?

It's bad, but it's always been bad IMO. Really bad.
- Ogilthorpe2

Maybe I need angry Dale Tallon back to scream about Kerry Frazer and his blow dried hair or Denis Morel or McCreary or Masenhoven or Stewart or VanHellmond.

My point is, you knew what you were getting with those guys. These new guys....they miss some very blatant calls. Look at Walkom last year vs Det. That bizzaro bs yesterday....the 6 guys Minny had on the ice for damn near a whole shift vs the Hawks in game 4, the 6 men on the ice for the Habs-Bruins game.....

I can't name an official in the NHL who I think does a good job and calls it consistent for both sides.

Like Carter giving him 7 or 8 taps in the hands over one rush during a change, no call and no notice over the broadcast. Somewhat surprised at least that one wasn't called, in plain view over 5 seconds or so.

But truth be told, I'd rather the refs let them play. Playoff rules vs reg season, I'm one of those.
- cryptical77

But if by "letting them play" you mean clutching and grabbing...I'll pass.