The dot was definitely an issue but great that they won a couple of critical draws in the Bruins end late.

100% agreed and the fact that he Hawks tout this medical staff as the league's best and we know the damn guys name, Michael Terry, was more concerning to me then the hit. This is your franchise player. Your key guy. You are up in the game, get him off the ice, to the dressing room, and test him out.

Instead.....he's back out there taking the next draw immediately, and what were to happen if we were to have been crunched again? Somebody should have been and better be held accountable.

Yeah, I know these guys are warriors, etc. I respect that, but a head injury to a guy who has had his bell rung a TON is not something to allow the player to dictate to you. 2 pts in December doesn't mean crap if they were to lose Toews for months because the medical staff failed to act.
- SteveRain

Agreed. Sit him for as long (or longer) than necessary.

This is a potential Cup team, playing lights out right now. Hell, let Sharp center the top line for a few games (seriously), or even give Teravainen a few games (or both).

Fixed that for you
- darkman

Sike

The dot was definitely an issue but great that they won a couple of critical draws in the Bruins end late.
- acmidd28

Yup

Agreed. Sit him for as long (or longer) than necessary.

This is a potential Cup team, playing lights out right now. Hell, let Sharp center the top line for a few games (seriously), or even give Teravainen a few games (or both).
- John Jaeckel

Agreed. I'd sit him for at least a week IF he showed no symptoms today. Fact he is flying tells me he's not showing much.

Call me crazy, but I thought Smith looked OK up there.......Guy wins a TON of board battles and may be one of their best Fs in regards to cycling below the line and coming out with the puck.

Love that kid.

The dot was definitely an issue but great that they won a couple of critical draws in the Bruins end late.
- acmidd28

Just as important late were the two inexplicable icings that the Bruins took.

Just as important late were the two inexplicable icings that the Bruins took.
- StLBravesFan

Word. Thank you Reilly Smith.

Agreed. Sit him for as long (or longer) than necessary.

This is a potential Cup team, playing lights out right now. Hell, let Sharp center the top line for a few games (seriously), or even give Teravainen a few games (or both).
- John Jaeckel

My thoughts exactly on Sharpie - he's wearing the A and he's just back. Let him pick up the team here and put him up with Saad and Hossa.

The Score just mentioned Toews is flying on to New York this morning with the team. I would still sit Toews a couple of games just to be sure he's ok.

Isles have lost three straight after last night's game against the Blues...do I hear 4 in a row anyone...

Agreed. I'd sit him for at least a week IF he showed no symptoms today. Fact he is flying tells me he's not showing much.

Call me crazy, but I thought Smith looked OK up there.......Guy wins a TON of board battles and may be one of their best Fs in regards to cycling below the line and coming out with the puck.

Love that kid.
- SteveRain

As long as he dresses for next Saturday in Columbus because I will be in attendance.

Prepare for a used Chevy Cavalier type fine on Seidenberg. NHL player safety is handing those out for everyone this year. Why didn't Kane fight him? It is pretty funny to watch him give Seidenberg what equates to a hug after that hit haha

As long as he dresses for next Saturday in Columbus because I will be in attendance.
- nickmo2699

Nick, check your PMs

Prepare for a used Chevy Cavalier type fine on Seidenberg. NHL player safety is handing those out for everyone this year. Why didn't Kane fight him? It is pretty funny to watch him give Seidenberg what equates to a hug after that hit haha
- cuethenoise

Bc we were getting a 5 on 3 and he doesnt play for St. Louis

Agreed. I'd sit him for at least a week IF he showed no symptoms today. Fact he is flying tells me he's not showing much.

Call me crazy, but I thought Smith looked OK up there.......Guy wins a TON of board battles and may be one of their best Fs in regards to cycling below the line and coming out with the puck.

Love that kid.
- SteveRain

Yup, but I also love Smith with Kruger. And while I thought Bollig was somewhat underrated (by some) as an actual hockey player (like yahoodi, may he RIP), I am now wondering if (possibly) he didn't hurt that line a bit.

Dunno.

Just as or more likely Smith and Kruger have just taken another step individually and together. They are playing great. The other thing is Carcillo IS underrated as a hockey player, and Nordstrom is a nice lower line player.

Bc we were getting a 5 on 3 and he doesnt play for St. Louis
- nickmo2699

So the Blues are they only team in the NHL that sticks up for each other? Sucks to see any player get hurt.

So the Blues are they only team in the NHL that sticks up for each other? Sucks to see any player get hurt.
- cuethenoise

Are you one of the oblivious Blues fans that dont think they are undisciplined?

Prepare for a used Chevy Cavalier type fine on Seidenberg. NHL player safety is handing those out for everyone this year. Why didn't Kane fight him? It is pretty funny to watch him give Seidenberg what equates to a hug after that hit haha
- cuethenoise

I think the right dudes (Shaw/Carcillo) weren't on the ice for that. Those two guys would have gotten in his face. It would have been nice to see Kane, Hossa, or someone show a little more emotion after that hit (even if it was a dangerous accident). It kind of reminded me (but on a smaller scale) of the hit of from Torres on Hossa a couple years back. Different in a sense that Torres was out to hurt, but similar in the lack of response from the Hawks players on the ice. I'm not saying they had to get in an all-out fight, but it would have been nice to see someone get in Sidenbergs face and push him around a little. Not trying to sound like a "bro fan" here, but you usually see a response from players when one of their teammates is hit like that- regardless of whether or not it was intentional or accidental. But maybe I'm thinking of hockey in the 90's. Haha.

Are you one of the oblivious Blues fans that dont think they are undisciplined?
- nickmo2699

Maybe they were 3-4 years ago when we were rebuilding and had no talent, but we play a quicker, more finesse game now a days. Especially this year with addition of Lehtera and Statsny. So not sure what your talking about. The Blues would definitely react if someone went after Tarasenko like that.

Maybe they were 3-4 years ago when we were rebuilding and had no talent, but we play a quicker, more finesse game now a days. Especially this year with addition of Lehtera and Statsny. So not sure what your talking about. The Blues would definitely react if someone went after Tarasenko like that.
- cuethenoise

Did you not tune in for the game they played the Hawks in Chicago? Or the 6 game series that sent them to the country club golf course?

So once again we get more hypocritical tripe from a coach regarding a "hit".

Boston coach Claude Julien believes some of the onus is on Toews in that situation to be better prepared to receive a hit.

“I’ve been saying that for a long time, we need to educate our players to protect themselves better,” Julien said per WEEI.com. “We keep turning our backs, we keep trying to curl away.

“A player’s job is to finish his check and a player should know he’s going to be hit. It’s not about tonight, it’s about the whole league. I’m one of those guys who has put a lot of pressure on people who look at those kind of things and say, ‘It’s OK to take away those hits from hits from behind when they’re warranted. But what about the other guy? Does he not have a responsibility?’”

Really coach...so if the colors of the jerseys were reveresed this is would be your response. First, Toews did not curl or turn away...he turned with stick on ice at the goal line to retrieve the puck along the boards. what the hell is supposed to do step aside or skate backwards. Seidenburg's left shoulder went into Toews right shoulder in an attempt to seal him off. But he didn't just try to seal him off...he drove through him and toews crumpled into the boards.

If sir julian wants to complain about educating players to take hits by all means but don't use this hit to launch off of.

I don't think the hit was malicious or deserving of a suspension but boarding was the right call. But coaches and their sanctimonious self serving BS on these issues need to stop.

Did you not tune in for the game they played the Hawks in Chicago? Or the 6 game series that sent them to the country club golf course?
- nickmo2699

You mean the series where the Hawks played so cleanly? Esp Seabrook and Keith slashing everything that moved? Please

FIRST?!?

awesome for darling to be playing like he is. I say keep giving him starts, he is fantastic as of right now. Rozy looked like poop last night. TVR dahls as a third pairing later this season would be nice, dont know if Q will roll with it though
- the_dough_boy

Rosi going back after the puck scares the hell out of me....a turnover waiting to happen. Some real poor play last few games.

You mean the series where the Hawks played so cleanly? Esp Seabrook and Keith slashing everything that moved? Please
- cuethenoise

Let's relive this for the 83rd time - certainly, someone will have something new to say.

No suspension per the Sun Times.

IF Toews has any symptoms today, it's imperative that the Hawks keep him out for however long it takes. There is no rush here. Would it be nice to have home ice advantage, win the division or win the president trophy? Of course, but history has shown home ice doesn't carry the weight it used to AND the west 1-8 is a crap shoot.

As far as the hit goes, it was dirty but it was also the perfect storm. Toews was leaning forward and might have lost his edge. Either way, what I don't get is after going head first, having a history, WHY THE HELL is he out there 30 seconds later taking a face off? That is inexcusable from some elite medical staff the Hawks proclaim they have. I hope some beat writer goes to town on that. This wasn't a playoff game and if you recall back in 2013 in game 5 Toews got smoked and was pulled and sat on the bench the entire 3rd period and never played.

Overall, a big win. Had the pace taken to them in 2nd and 3rd, but Darling was huge. I wonder, just maybe, that CC flying to Boston might be him seeing Darling creeping up as a threat the same way Eddie Belfour did with Jeff Hackett back in the day? Not advocating Crawford being dealt, but Q loves this kid and the kid is making Q look a genius.

Might be time to package Raanta and Morin for a high pick or veteran banger.
- SteveRain

100% agree. After their past mishandling of concussions last night was inexcusable and some writer should point that out.

Also, Q obviously has doubts about Raanta's game or simply prefers Darling. They are about the same age so you need to look at Raanta as another piece to possibly move. Lots of teams with back up and starter needs right now....

Jamaal Mayer said Raanta needed to clear waivers last night. Pretty sure he is still on a 2 way deal. Am I wrong?

Pretty happy what I've seen of the kids who've come up. Granted, they're filling bottom line roles, but they're not afraid. Like too seeing Clendening and Klas not being afraid to shoot. Keith seems to get a little pass happy at the point, instead of throwing it on net.

I like Darling. He's solid, if unspectacular. Stays in position, doesn't give up the huge rebounds like Niemi did, and stays big in net.

Any chance if this keeps up that Raanta could be dealt for something decent? Or do you believe they'd rather keep this unexpected surplus in net through the end of the season?
- howiehandles

yes...he does give up rebounds but so far they have been harmless or the hwks have been in position to gobble them up. The leg strength he showed on Chara, who took 5 close in wacks was impressive. Reminds we of a play Craw had in last years playoffs, can't remember the siutation but he stoned a guy like that about 4-5 times.

No goalie is getting traded now. Depth was a concern coming into this season...this as Q like to say is a great problem to have.