The "better team" only had one convincing win in the series (Game 3 in Chicago) in which they dominated the whole game for the most part. The Hawks won two games that they probably had no business winning (Game 6 and especially Game 1) and needed two long OT games to secure the other two wins.

I would agree that the Hawks have more talent on the ice than the Preds...but the Hawks needed some stuff to go the right way for all of that to happen. Play that series 100 times with those factors happening and the Hawks don't win a VAST majority of those series.
- nikoli1206

No business winning two games? Really? So your stance is the Preds should be anointed a win when you think they "clinched", even after 10-20 mins of play. Wow!

If the Preds didn't crap the bed, once on home ice, maybe things would be different. Hey, go ask Neil if he was doing his best Ruberio asshat impersonation last night which lead to a 'Hawks PPG :05 into the PK. So based on your definition, the 'Hawks had no business scoring that PPG, completely turning the momentum in their favor.

Wow, you must be channeling McCann with that one. Come on, you're smarter than that. I read several of you previous comments. This appears uncharacteristic for you.

For the series, the Preds actually outscored the Hawks 21-19
- Ogilthorpe2

This isn't the 80's CCHA.

For the series, the Preds actually outscored the Hawks 21-19
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes, but you get the point Ogi!

Yes, but you get the point Ogi!
- MnGump

See you next round...though I'd like our chances better against the Blues.

what would it take to get jones? guys amazing
- petry_02

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. I don't think Poile would move Jones unless he is getting someone that he just can't pass up because he's viewed as Weber's future replacement. The Predators really need a number one playmaking center and RNH fits the bill. I don't think he would move Jones for Draisaitl because he's not a guaranteed first line prospect like Jones is and he doesn't have near the potential.

The days when sellouts at the United Center and Chicago Stadium were rare and no home games were on local TV.

___________________

You do realize that the Hawk fans sold out (or darn near close) sold out the UC/Chicago Stadium often for the mass majority of their history, right?

I don't understand what your gripe is. It's almost comical and brings down your commentary about your own team.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Yeah, he really has a bug in his bonnet over the Hawks for some reason. You'd think the Preds led the league is attendance compared to the bandwagon Hawks fans.

I'm mean, who was last in attendance in 02/03
third from the bottom 03/04
Weren't filling the place at 90% or better still 2009/10 Bandwagon for sure.

Blackhawks? Nope, the Preds

Check out the attendance numbers. GIYF

I understand Chicago is much larger, but so are the entertainment options. The Cubs get ripped for filling the place up in spite of their being pathetic for most of the past....century? But Hawk fans are deemed bandwagon because they refused to pay a nice chunk of change for a team that blew, and an owner who couldn't give a rat's ass about the fans, and said so.

Always trying to keep a perceived rival's fans out, in spite of hovering at about 87% fill rate.

You would think based on how he, and some fans talk, that they filled the place 110% since their inception, and the Hawks had about 5000 per game. The numbers don't show that. Even in the bleak years, going back to the early 2000s, the Hawk fans filled that place up more % wise than the ever so amazing Pred fans.

Opinon isn't fact.

Preds have a good young team, and most of their fans seem pretty cool, but this narrative that is spread is not based in fact, but in some common rumor.

The "better team" only had one convincing win in the series (Game 3 in Chicago) in which they dominated the whole game for the most part. The Hawks won two games that they probably had no business winning (Game 6 and especially Game 1) and needed two long OT games to secure the other two wins.

I would agree that the Hawks have more talent on the ice than the Preds...but the Hawks needed some stuff to go the right way for all of that to happen. Play that series 100 times with those factors happening and the Hawks don't win a VAST majority of those series.
- nikoli1206

Game 6? The Hawks controlled the game since the last 5 minutes of the third through the end of the game? The only reason it wasn't 6/7-3 was Rinne.

That's the playoffs, ebbs and flows. They had no business winning them, but they did.

Spin it how you want to soothe your butt hurt.

Well, at least the Predator organization found a way to keep the Blackhawk fans out of their arena for game 7.

Well it was a great series but I can't stand around and fart rainbows, and don't piss on me and tell me it's raining. The simple fact is they let this one slip away, I don't care that lavy got them back into the playoffs, that isn't enough, going deep is the key. I'm curious if it will ever be known why they started slipping after the all star break. I'm just too frustrated to even continue to respond. I bid you all a good day
- pred_26

Agreed. Call it lack of experience if you want, but the Preds haven't learned to finish games or have that killer instinct. You don't have a three goal lead at home and lose. You don't have a 3-1 lead in an elimination game and lose. There are guys on this roster who have had enough playoff games to where that shouldn't be a problem. I don't know if we need a new "C" or not, but this where the captain has to be the captain. I also think Rinne saw one too many shots this year and it started taking it's toll on him. I believe the backup needs a few more games during the season. Whether it's Hutton or someone else.

I could also care less about "bandwagon fans" from Chicago or from anywhere else for that matter. It's ridiculous and shouldn't even go there. A fan is a fan. Guaranteed, if the Preds made it to finals or won it someday, the fan base doubles or even triples. Just my 2 cents......

Yeah, he really has a bug in his bonnet over the Hawks for some reason. You'd think the Preds led the league is attendance compared to the bandwagon Hawks fans.

I'm mean, who was last in attendance in 02/03
third from the bottom 03/04
Weren't filling the place at 90% or better still 2009/10 Bandwagon for sure.

Blackhawks? Nope, the Preds

Check out the attendance numbers. GIYF

I understand Chicago is much larger, but so are the entertainment options. The Cubs get ripped for filling the place up in spite of their being pathetic for most of the past....century? But Hawk fans are deemed bandwagon because they refused to pay a nice chunk of change for a team that blew, and an owner who couldn't give a rat's ass about the fans, and said so.

Always trying to keep a perceived rival's fans out, in spite of hovering at about 87% fill rate.

You would think based on how he, and some fans talk, that they filled the place 110% since their inception, and the Hawks had about 5000 per game. The numbers don't show that. Even in the bleak years, going back to the early 2000s, the Hawk fans filled that place up more % wise than the ever so amazing Pred fans.

Opinon isn't fact.

Preds have a good young team, and most of their fans seem pretty cool, but this narrative that is spread is not based in fact, but in some common rumor.
- howiehandles

They always have paid the nice chunk of change because it's a huge hockey town. They chose to stop going because of what I highlighted.

Hell Mike Kennan left after meeting with Wirtz, presenting him scenarios in which to improve the team and Wirtz is quoted as saying along the lines of "Winning costs money, and don't go thinking we are going to spend money".

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. I don't think Poile would move Jones unless he is getting someone that he just can't pass up because he's viewed as Weber's future replacement. The Predators really need a number one playmaking center and RNH fits the bill. I don't think he would move Jones for Draisaitl because he's not a guaranteed first line prospect like Jones is and he doesn't have near the potential.
- Bryant44

understandable. I don't think the oilers could afford to lose nuge, just because that would make our top 2 centers mcdavid and draisiatl, which could very well be disaster if they didn't get veteran help. what about Josi?

Yeah, he really has a bug in his bonnet over the Hawks for some reason. You'd think the Preds led the league is attendance compared to the bandwagon Hawks fans.

I'm mean, who was last in attendance in 02/03
third from the bottom 03/04
Weren't filling the place at 90% or better still 2009/10 Bandwagon for sure.

Blackhawks? Nope, the Preds

Check out the attendance numbers. GIYF

I understand Chicago is much larger, but so are the entertainment options. The Cubs get ripped for filling the place up in spite of their being pathetic for most of the past....century? But Hawk fans are deemed bandwagon because they refused to pay a nice chunk of change for a team that blew, and an owner who couldn't give a rat's ass about the fans, and said so.

Always trying to keep a perceived rival's fans out, in spite of hovering at about 87% fill rate.

You would think based on how he, and some fans talk, that they filled the place 110% since their inception, and the Hawks had about 5000 per game. The numbers don't show that. Even in the bleak years, going back to the early 2000s, the Hawk fans filled that place up more % wise than the ever so amazing Pred fans.

Opinon isn't fact.

Preds have a good young team, and most of their fans seem pretty cool, but this narrative that is spread is not based in fact, but in some common rumor.
- howiehandles

Even their mayor got into the act. People there do not know much about commerce: Restaurants & lodging, both providing tax revenue, from opposing teams' fans. All of them look like a bunch of babies.

Well, at least the Predator organization found a way to keep the Blackhawk fans out of their arena for game 7.
- scottak

understandable. I don't think the oilers could afford to lose nuge, just because that would make our top 2 centers mcdavid and draisiatl, which could very well be disaster if they didn't get veteran help. what about Josi?
- petry_02

Jones and Josi are untouchable. There's no way they will ever be traded. Weber goes before either of those two.

Agreed. Call it lack of experience if you want, but the Preds haven't learned to finish games or have that killer instinct. You don't have a three goal lead at home and lose. You don't have a 3-1 lead in an elimination game and lose. There are guys on this roster who have had enough playoff games to where that shouldn't be a problem. I don't know if we need a new "C" or not, but this where the captain has to be the captain. I also think Rinne saw one too many shots this year and it started taking it's toll on him. I believe the backup needs a few more games during the season. Whether it's Hutton or someone else.

I could also care less about "bandwagon fans" from Chicago or from anywhere else for that matter. It's ridiculous and shouldn't even go there. A fan is a fan. Guaranteed, if the Preds made it to finals or won it someday, the fan base doubles or even triples. Just my 2 cents......
- Predman29

The point you mention about too much work for Rinne doesn't get the attention it should. We can always question if he came back from injury too soon or if he really was overworked, but when you're basically conceding every game your backup plays, your GM has failed. You can't just have a "backup" anymore. You basically need a 1B to complete a season that sets you up for playoff success.

The "better team" only had one convincing win in the series (Game 3 in Chicago) in which they dominated the whole game for the most part. The Hawks won two games that they probably had no business winning (Game 6 and especially Game 1) and needed two long OT games to secure the other two wins.

I would agree that the Hawks have more talent on the ice than the Preds...but the Hawks needed some stuff to go the right way for all of that to happen. Play that series 100 times with those factors happening and the Hawks don't win a VAST majority of those series.
- nikoli1206

Wrong.

Who dominated after say midway through the first last night? The stats, the video and the scoreboard don't lie.

Game 1, the Hawks also dominated parts of, which is how they came back fom a 3-0 deficit.

Jones and Josi are untouchable. There's no way they will ever be traded. Weber goes before either of those two.
- Vegas Trotzkies

If the Preds could figure out a way to keep Josi, Weber, Jones and add a piece or two... watch out. Those defensemen are something special.

Probably the best comment of the series. A tip of the hat, sir.
- Vegas Trotzkies

Oh, don't heap praise on him for this comment ... it was all over twitter last night from some satirical website.

Wrong.

Who dominated after say midway through the first last night? The stats, the video and the scoreboard don't lie.

Game 1, the Hawks also dominated parts of, which is how they came back fom a 3-0 deficit.
- John Jaeckel

Ugh... why don't you go get a head start on trolling Wild fans? The Hawks won, congrats, now go away please. Do all bloggers troll opposing team's fans like you do? We cant even lick our wounds in peace without being told why our opinions are wrong. You're biased (yes, you are), we're biased, GREAT, now how about we call it day? See you next season, best of luck the rest of the way.

Go Wild.

The argument isn't that it was sold out. The argument he's been making is that Hawk fans just started watching hockey when Toews/Kane showed up. And, well... .that's laughable.

That's not what he said. If you don't understand the context of the conversation, then refrain from comment. Otherwise, you look like an "uneducated noob".

understandable. I don't think the oilers could afford to lose nuge, just because that would make our top 2 centers mcdavid and draisiatl, which could very well be disaster if they didn't get veteran help. what about Josi?
- petry_02

Hire professional kidnappers.

The days when sellouts at the United Center and Chicago Stadium were rare and no home games were on local TV.

___________________

You do realize that the Hawk fans sold out (or darn near close) sold out the UC/Chicago Stadium often for the mass majority of their history, right?

I don't understand what your gripe is. It's almost comical and brings down your commentary about your own team.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Ok, I can't speak for Paul but the "bandwagon" Chicago fans comments we Preds fans
Refer to are the people whom have lived in Illinois most of their lives whom have never been to a game, probably haven't even watched a game on t.v or given a sh..t about hockey but since the recent cup years are now red jersey wearing boisterous big time fans now. This includes you folks from Iowa and Indiana etc..that now are huge hawks fans.
Thanks Paul for a great season. Well Done.

The argument isn't that it was sold out. The argument he's been making is that Hawk fans just started watching hockey when Toews/Kane showed up. And, well... .that's laughable.

That's not what he said. If you don't understand the context of the conversation, then refrain from comment. Otherwise, you look like an "uneducated noob".
- donodude20

I very clearly understand what he was trying to, and has said. I stand by what I stated above keeping that "context" in mind.

Ok, I can't speak for Paul but the "bandwagon" Chicago fans comments we Preds fans
Refer to are the people whom have lived in Illinois most of their lives whom have never been to a game, probably haven't even watched a game on t.v or given a sh..t about hockey but since the recent cup years are now red jersey wearing boisterous big time fans now. This includes you folks from Iowa and Indiana etc..that now are huge hawks fans.
Thanks Paul for a great season. Well Done.
- wrister

It's a good thing, then, that a mass majority of Hawk fans don't reside in Iowa and Indiana, such as myself

The comments that Neil took a bad penalty is a joke. That play happens 100 times a game and is rarely called. Even rarer in the playoffs. PP goal did shift the momentum but one could argue the quick whistle on what looked to be a sure fire goal for Fisher was just as damning.

I'm not going to say the better team won but the Hawks did deserve the win and out played my Preds after the first 10 minutes of the first. When the season started I had no expectations. After the impressive start you tend to forget that and start believing that we have something special. This season was a good step forward. We still lack a couple of pieces like a consistent net presence. Not sure we have that in the system and free agency is not looking very good. Looking forward to seeing if Poile is able to improve the team.