Paul McCann: Experience - The Ultimate Difference Maker

While Neal came up big with the two goals, he reverted back to his old self and took a dumb penalty that got Chicago back in the game. It's the reason he was shipped out of Pittsburgh.

Very good analysis. The difference between the two clubs was/is thin. It came down to experience as you mentioned and that is a valuable commodity that can't be bought. It's earned and the Preds did just that.

Fisher has to be signed. This guy adds so much more than any boxscore can show.

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

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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.

Thanks for being gracious to the long time (die hard) Chicago fans. Preds fans have an awful lot to be proud of and hopeful for in the future. Great series. Super fun to watch. Leaving the 300 level of the UC last night I passed a small but hardy band of Preds fans - holding their heads high (as they should) and all of us Hawks fans high fiving or fist bumping each of them - and both sides congratulating one another for a series well played Thanks Nashville for some great hockey!

Thanks Paul, cheers

There have been a number of years when "Dollar" Bill was still in charge where the UC was much closer to being empty than full unless the Bulls were playing.

Great series Pred fans, I hope Poile is able to keep your team together. A lot of great performances by some of the young uns'!

Jones and Forsberg are absolute stars in the making. Watching Forsberg juggle that puck and swat it back into the zone last night was surreal. Jones played like a #1 D all night.

There have been a number of years when "Dollar" Bill was still in charge where the UC was much closer to being empty than full unless the Bulls were playing.

Great series Pred fans, I hope Poile is able to keep your team together. A lot of great performances by some of the young uns'!
- Tuke17

From 1982-the 1993/94 (last season in the Stadium) the Hawks never dipped below 16,800 in attendance. In the 60's, attendance was always maxed out at the Stadium (cannot find data for the 70s)

Attendance at the UC never dipped below 16k+ until the 2000 season again when fans started to revolt against how Wirtz was running the organization.

Folks REALLY need to stop this notion that Hawk fans haven't been loyal fans who went to the Stadium/UC and didn't support their team. The actual FACTS argue otherwise. Otherwise you look like an uneducated noob *COUGH COUGH PAUL MCCANN COUGH COUGH**

Jones and Forsberg are absolute stars in the making. Watching Forsberg juggle that puck and swat it back into the zone last night was surreal. Jones played like a #1 D all night.
- Sandus

What he said.

Congrats to Preds fans on a hell of a season! Losing Fish at the start of the series and Weber after game 2 was huge. Little more depth in the Nashville line up and this series probably goes the other way.

Nothing to be ashamed of losing to a veteran playoff team like the Hawks. They're built for playoff hockey.

what would it take to get jones? guys amazing

Not sure about the "Uneducated Noob" thing but seeing as my family were season ticket holders for both the Hawks and Bulls from 73-04 the literally hundreds of games I attended over that period of time tells me there were countless times when the UC was not sold out. I'm not saying it was empty by any stretch but neither was it sold out every game.

Paul McCann: Experience - The Ultimate Difference Maker
- pmccann

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

Not sure about the "Uneducated Noob" thing but seeing as my family were season ticket holders for both the Hawks and Bulls from 73-04 the literally hundreds of games I attended over that period of time tells me there were countless times when the UC was not sold out. I'm not saying it was empty by any stretch but neither was it sold out every game.
- Tuke17

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.

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

I've read a lot of this - The Preds didn't let this "slip away".

The Preds are, right now, one of the top 4-5 teams in the NHL. Truth. The Hawks are better. Truth.

- The better team came back in two games from a 3-0 deficit to win both games

- The better team, in a close out game, dominated from about midway thru the first throughout the rest of the game to win said game

- The better team... well... won.

JJ posted somewhere on this forum after the game that spoke to this exact point.

Oh, well then I agree, that is laughable. We do have our share of new fans but as an Original 6 I maintain we've always had a solid core fan base even through the lean years.

Oh, well then I agree, that is laughable. We do have our share of new fans but as an Original 6 I maintain we've always had a solid core fan base even through the lean years.
- Tuke17

Having new fans is quite exciting. It's OK to have new fans who need to learn the game - new fans = bigger fan base = buying tickets/memorabilia/promoting the sport = good things.

I've read a lot of this - The Preds didn't let this "slip away".

The Preds are, right now, one of the top 4-5 teams in the NHL. Truth. The Hawks are better. Truth.

- The better team came back in two games from a 3-0 deficit to win both games

- The better team, in a close out game, dominated from about midway thru the first throughout the rest of the game to win said game

- The better team... well... won.

JJ posted somewhere on this forum after the game that spoke to this exact point.
- CaptainBlackhawk

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.

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

Lol

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

Lol

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

Arguing semantics is about as futile as it gets when it comes to sports. It's like saying the only reason the Hawks won is because they scored more goals than Nashville. No matter which team each game seems to favor... bottom line is, when it's all said and done, the only stats that matter are the points on the board, and the best team doesn't ALWAYS win.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda arguments may be therapeutic to a certain extent, but utlimately are losers laments. No offense intended.

Game 1 Preds owned the 1st, Hawks owned the 2nd, rest of the way including most of the OT was pretty much even

Game 2 the Preds owned the 1st, Hawks owned the 2nd, Preds owned the 3rd

Game 3 the Hawks were the better team throughout, especially as the game went along, they owned the final 2 periods for sure.

Game 4 the 1st was pretty much even, the Preds owned the 2nd, but the Hawks controlled the 3rd, and pretty much all of the 2+ OT periods.

Game 5 the 1st 2 periods were even, and then the Preds owned the 3rd

Game 6 the Preds owned the first 12 mins or so....and the Hawks dominated from there on out.


Wasn't by much, but the Hawks were definitely the better team. The better team won. Congrats Nashville on establishing yourself as a legit threat going forward, a very nice young team.

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

I'll stop conversing with you because if you believe they (the Hawks) had no business winning last night, it's not even worth me typing a response back to you. Also - I think it's laughable to argue that a team down 3-0 in a game & 3-1 & coming back to win didn't "deserve to win". It's one of the truest signs of a better team - overcoming adversity to come out ahead. Talent usually always wins, and it did in this case.

They (the Hawks) dominated that game last evening for the better part of 50 minutes, and overall the full game if not for some bad goaltending early in the contest.

Arguing semantics is about as futile as it gets when it comes to sports. It's like saying the only reason the Hawks won is because they scored more goals than Nashville. No matter which team each game seems to favor... bottom line is, when it's all said and done, the only stats that matter are the points on the board, and the best team doesn't ALWAYS win.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda arguments may be therapeutic to a certain extent, but utlimately are losers laments. No offense intended.
- MnGump

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