Note: Versteeg was WAYYYY bettter than Bickel in his limited minutes.

Timonen was bad....but no worse than I thought, and no worse than Cuminsky or Rinbland....there is just no "Right" answer....just which is the least "Wrong" one....

Wasn't Oduya a gritty battler....20+ minutes of battle

Hossa....20+ minutes at 58 yrs old...guy is a monster

Saad.....the younger, next Hossa!!!

The Captain......watta Captain


Great comments...there is no proper solution with 3 games left in the season for our third D pairing. Bowman just has to ensure that Coach Q is NEVER put into this position ever again! I have to say that with a 2 day rest, we should come right back with KT for games 5 and 6.

Oduya? Pure and simple a true warrior, full of heart!

Hoss, wow, huge effort, if he could just hit the back of the net, he might be the Hawks MVP for the post season.

Saad, have to resign him, what a huge, single-handed effort on the winning goal.

Toews is DEAD TIRED, I honestly don't know how much he has left in his tank. Coach Q needs to find a way to play him 19 minutes, the same with Hoss.

Any chance they put him in the press box with Bickell and put Nordy on the 4th line with Krugs/Desjardins?
- Assman22

Holy (frank) Batman, why would any sane person do that?

Nordstrom's lack of what to do and where to be outweighs his attempts at being Bickell-lite hitting people. I don't want to see Nordstrom in this lineup in any of the remaining games -- and if he is inserted, it can only mean we are down a man because of injury or sickness.

Note: Versteeg was WAYYYY bettter than Bickel in his limited minutes.

Timonen was bad....but no worse than I thought, and no worse than Cuminsky or Rinbland....there is just no "Right" answer....just which is the least "Wrong" one....

Wasn't Oduya a gritty battler....20+ minutes of battle

Hossa....20+ minutes at 58 yrs old...guy is a monster

Saad.....the younger, next Hossa!!!

The Captain......watta Captain


Great comments...there is no proper solution with 3 games left in the season for our third D pairing. Bowman just has to ensure that Coach Q is NEVER put into this position ever again! I have to say that with a 2 day rest, we should come right back with KT for games 5 and 6.

Oduya? Pure and simple a true warrior, full of heart!

Hoss, wow, huge effort, if he could just hit the back of the net, he might be the Hawks MVP for the post season.

Saad, have to resign him, what a huge, single-handed effort on the winning goal.

Toews is DEAD TIRED, I honestly don't know how much he has left in his tank. Coach Q needs to find a way to play him 19 minutes, the same with Hoss.
- MexicoHawk

Toews seems like he has the reserve tank though that gets him through each shift.

Usually I am on cloud 9 after a win......not today.

That felt like an end of the road trip win where they just want to go home and find a way to grind out a game. Dear lord.

Crawford was sensational. I hope EVERYONE can see that. He made some huge point blank saves, got some great defense in front of him, and some luck on Stamkos biffing from deads nut in the slot. Those things happen but Crawford EARNED that win for the Hawks.

What I don't get is.........just an uninsipired flat performance. Richards said it best postgame. for a huge game they came out flat, and timid. They couldn't complete a pass, couldn't maintain a forecheck, and Tampa ran a train on them all 20 minutes.

The Sharp-Toews-Hossa line was good........Saad was a beast, Keith played outstanding. Hammer was very solid, and Oduya gutted out what looks to be a busted finger or wrist or some sort of hand injury.

Seabrook was too pumped up and had the yips. Lots of bad turnovers and unforced errors.

As far as 88 goes.........he needs to find it and fast. He needs to engage. Stop staying to perimeter. Kane isn't getting many chances which tells me he isn't working hard enough for them. They say when you hit a slump if you are still getting chances don't be too worried........when you aren't getting chances....worry. Kane isn't getting chances like he should be. He is too damn good of player to be this ineffective.

Game 5.....tampa will come out flying.........unless the Hawks do the same it's on Crawford to withstand what will be an absolute onslaught.

How about my boy 23? Even got a verbal tug from Pierre on a smart dump in play right after that goal by Saad, and even back checked hard. Yeah, but don't worry......he's hockey stupid and should be traded for a bag of pucks..........
- SteveRain

Ummmm they have one guy chasing him and they are boxing the other 4 in front of the goal. There really isn't any space to go to in the middle.

Hopefully Saad can create some space on the off side but TB is doing a great job playing an exceptionally boring brand of hockey and shutting down the Hawks transition and Patrick Kane. Working hard and getting results are not the same thing. If they can get some guys to spread out and commit down low something and lose their shape then that will help. Otherwise its going to be a grind.

The Soccer term for this would be parking the bus.

If Oduya does not come back (and unless Versteeg, Bickell, Crawford and Sharp are all traded to free up cap space he won't be back) I see one of the youngsters being paired with Keith, another with Hammer and the last with Seabrook.

Also, I think everyone is forgetting that Rundblad will most likely be back. Now, I've been wrong before, but I think this will happen.

Rundblad, Reilly, TVR and Johns all making the roster as the 4-7 d-men? Ugh. I guess we'll see.

Maybe Erhoff decides to sign for something like $2 million (or less) on a one year to have a chance to win the cup? He's getting paid by Buffalo anyhow so maybe he signs on for cheap?
- MNHawk

If he is, he will be playing for league minimum wage. And Bowman will make Q aware of the re-signing when he knows he is in a room with 4 rubber walls.

Holy (frank) Batman, why would any sane person do that?

Nordstrom's lack of what to do and where to be outweighs his attempts at being Bickell-lite hitting people. I don't want to see Nordstrom in this lineup in any of the remaining games -- and if he is inserted, it can only mean we are down a man because of injury or sickness.
- savvyone-1

Yeah Nordy in for TT isn't a good idea. If Nordy was a wee bit bigger and his hits actually had an impact then it might be different. But hes not getting any bigger, and even if he was he still cant score a goal to save his life seemingly

Saad can and will play in the tough areas of the ice as well as being capable of playing a finesse game. Kane plays on and is effective only on the periphery and doesn't and has never played in high traffic areas. Saad will skate into tough areas, Kane is looking for open ice and it isn't there.
- paulr

Once again I agree with all your points on Saad. I love watching him play with 19 and the press conference with 20/19 was great. Toews & Saad seem to have developed a great relationship which gives me the utmost confidence he is going nowhere. The bolded is my entire point with Kane. He is looking, hoping, waiting, ect for open ice. It isnt there. You have to create it by moving your feet, making the simple play, and fighting through some body/stick checks. He needs to work hard to create his offense and he is not working, he is looking for it

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST:

Seabrook was battling flu-like symptoms before the game and toughed it out, had to take an IV between periods, teammates were in AWE, from a source.
- John Jaeckel

So he had TB poops, not Bishop

Ummmm they have one guy chasing him and they are boxing the other 4 in front of the goal. There really isn't any space to go to in the middle.

Hopefully Saad can create some space on the off side but TB is doing a great job playing an exceptionally boring brand of hockey and shutting down the Hawks transition and Patrick Kane. Working hard and getting results are not the same thing. If they can get some guys to spread out and commit down low something and lose their shape then that will help. Otherwise its going to be a grind.

The Soccer term for this would be parking the bus.
- fattybeef

Talking about how boring this series has been, then you bring up a soccer reference? Interesting

Once again I agree with all your points on Saad. I love watching him play with 19 and the press conference with 20/19 was great. Toews & Saad seem to have developed a great relationship which gives me the utmost confidence he is going nowhere. The bolded is my entire point with Kane. He is looking, hoping, waiting, ect for open ice. It isnt there. You have to create it by moving your feet, making the simple play, and fighting through some body/stick checks. He needs to work hard to create his offense and he is not working, he is looking for it
- EnzoD

His game is all about open ice as is Stamkos'. Are you suggesting Stamkos is also not working?

Ummmm they have one guy chasing him and they are boxing the other 4 in front of the goal. There really isn't any space to go to in the middle.

Hopefully Saad can create some space on the off side but TB is doing a great job playing an exceptionally boring brand of hockey and shutting down the Hawks transition and Patrick Kane. Working hard and getting results are not the same thing. If they can get some guys to spread out and commit down low something and lose their shape then that will help. Otherwise its going to be a grind.

The Soccer term for this would be parking the bus.
- fattybeef

I'm not buying that. Sorry. Other teams have tried it. LA, Boston, are perfect examples. Nashville under Trotz.

Kane looks disinterested at times and extremely frustrated. He needs to move the puck and then himself and find the soft lanes in coverage. Funny how Hossa or Toews or Saad have been able to find those spots on cycles.

I'm not going to accept that Kane is going to go a Cup Final series with little production and accept that it's OK because the other team is shutting him down.

He is one of the top players in the game. He needs to find a way to help his team win or hope that this teammates can pick up the slack. If they can't, then he better stand at his stall and take responsibility.

Agreed, but where do you put him right now?
- John Jaeckel

Seemed to be working pretty well with Vermette.

The Soccer term for this would be parking the bus.
- fattybeef

I am happy to say I know no soccer expressions or have herad them...

I'm not buying that. Sorry. Other teams have tried it. LA, Boston, are perfect examples. Nashville under Trotz.

Kane looks disinterested at times and extremely frustrated. He needs to move the puck and then himself and find the soft lanes in coverage. Funny how Hossa or Toews or Saad have been able to find those spots on cycles.

I'm not going to accept that Kane is going to go a Cup Final series with little production and accept that it's OK because the other team is shutting him down.

He is one of the top players in the game. He needs to find a way to help his team win or hope that this teammates can pick up the slack. If they can't, then he better stand at his stall and take responsibility.
- SteveRain

Give it time. He's a great player, and will find a way. He just needs to break through his funk.

Sont know if Oduya is here bext year but a start to mext season of 2 7 4 tvr Johns Reilly would be ok.
- mrpaulish

Don't forget about Johns.

His game is all about open ice as is Stamkos'. Are you suggesting Stamkos is also not working?
- paulr

Stamkos is finding space down the wing for shots, has driven the net, is finding soft spots. He is engaged.

That is what Kane needs to do.

Just like 50 yesterday, the criticism of Kane is VERY fair at this point. He has to be BETTER. Period. There is really no excuse. They have Saad who is arguably the Hawks best forward in this series on his line now, and Richards, who has amped up his game.

I'm not buying that. Sorry. Other teams have tried it. LA, Boston, are perfect examples. Nashville under Trotz.

Kane looks disinterested at times and extremely frustrated. He needs to move the puck and then himself and find the soft lanes in coverage. Funny how Hossa or Toews or Saad have been able to find those spots on cycles.

I'm not going to accept that Kane is going to go a Cup Final series with little production and accept that it's OK because the other team is shutting him down.

He is one of the top players in the game. He needs to find a way to help his team win or hope that this teammates can pick up the slack. If they can't, then he better stand at his stall and take responsibility.
- SteveRain

I'm with you on this -- I see a guy "pouting," not working hard. Way too much coasting for my liking and I am just surprised that others are defending him (and/or don't see this). I am not disagreeing that Tampa is playing him tough, that Tampa is not giving him space.

But . . . that's on the O side of the puck. I see him coasting back and seeming totally disinterested in skating and playing hard. Honestly, he looks like the petulant Patrick Kane of his 1st years in the league and not the Kane we saw in 2013, 2014. Seemed that he had made the leap and we saw him skating hard on backchecks and making some of his own space.

Tampa is not going to GIVE Kane anything. If he wants it, he will have to TAKE it but I just don't see that fire.

Sont know if Oduya is here bext year but a start to mext season of 2 7 4 tvr Johns Reilly would be ok.
- mrpaulish

JO would likely be one of the guys to go if the 'Hawks hold on to CC.

Give it time. He's a great player, and will find a way. He just needs to break through his funk.
- BlazinMike

So by G8 I guess we should see the Kane we've been expecting to see?

His game is all about open ice as is Stamkos'. Are you suggesting Stamkos is also not working?
- paulr

Stamkos is a floater at times but he's had more good looks at the net than Kane has this series. Also, Stammer will go to the slot/crease for a good amount of his goals. He had a few good looks from the slot last night that Crow stonewalled.

Go read Crawford's quotes about games 2 and 3 where HE says he was OK but not good enough.........Gee..............are you going to argue with him as well?
- SteveRain

My posts have everything to do with one sided piling on with his game....when his performance and work over the last three years gets marginalized and dismissed.

So called "soft" goals are in the eye of the beholder and that was the point of my post. Unless you and others want to publish empirical based criteria of what separates a "soft" goal from a "hard" goal.

Of course he like every one else on this team has been up and down. And no I won't argue with him about his analysis of his play.

If the hawks lose this series its been predetermined he will be the demonized scape goat. A 1-0 loss last night and some here would hanged that all on him.

I dont disagree that Tampa's gap control, board play and removal of time and space is bar-none this playoffs. Saad isnt having much trouble with their tight checking. Why?? Because he is moving his feet and skating. Kane is coasting around all series and does not have the compete level he needs and usually has. I hope he finds it bc with the 88 we have seen games 1-4 it will be tough to find scoring
- EnzoD

Not even close to comparable. Saad is moving his feet, yes, but he is having better success because the Bolts are having a tough time dealing with his size and strength(with the exception of guys like Hedman).

Talking about how boring this series has been, then you bring up a soccer reference? Interesting
- BlazinMike

They are very similar sports. And both have a limited fan base.

Well played soccer is brilliant. Champions league, darby day. It is fast, intense, has a great flow and a joy to watch.

Hockey is basically the same. Good hockey is fast, intense, has a great flow and a joy to watch.

Both sports suffer when one team decides that it is going to sit back and do nothing but play counter attack. One team will play not to lose instead of trying to win which has Tampa at evens right now.

Exceptionally frustrating to watch, irritating to play against and hopefully the Hawks can grind out the rest of this series because it sucks and no team should be rewarded for that type of play.

Give it time. He's a great player, and will find a way. He just needs to break through his funk.
- BlazinMike

He doesn't have to score....he needs to create.

Hoping 2 days off, and time to watch tape on what Tampa is doing to him will allow him and the coaching staff to be able to exploit that.

I also hope that the Hawks realize that Tampa is sealing off the wall and the defense needs to look at the middle of the ice. Hit a forward with speed through the middle and you may be able to catch one of those giant Tampa defenders pinching the wall on the forward.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST:

Seabrook was battling flu-like symptoms before the game and toughed it out, had to take an IV between periods, teammates were in AWE, from a source.
- John Jaeckel

WOW! It does explain a bit of his slightly lesser performance. That said, he's still a stud. VERY HAPPY to have an extra 24-hrs between games 4 & 5.