Lets go boys and girls gets your brackets in

JJ Buzz


http://bracketchallenge.n...rr_plyfmdl#/league/148836
- mrpaulish

I suck at this...I am usually done by the 1st round...but what the hell.

Well assuming he's an adverse witness and I can cross-examine him...

1) You've previously said that the Blackhawks are at their best when you're able to roll 4 lines?
2) In fact, many attributed the Blackhawks Cup win last year to having unmatched forward depth, is that right?
3) Because rolling 4 lines creates matchup problems for the other team?
4) And it's beneficial to spread out minutes?
5) So you don't tax your top 2 lines?
6) The Blackhawks were widely acknowledged to have one of the best 4th lines in the Finals last year?
7) In the playoffs last year your 4th line had an average TOI of 15+ minutes?
8) This season your 4th line has often averaged less than 10 minutes TOI a game, correct?
9) Inability to roll 4 lines has correlated with many of your losses this season?
10) You've stated that the Hawks have been inconsistent this season with rolling 4 lines?
11) You are the person who determines who will play in each game?
12) You are the person who dictates who plays on which line?
13) And you are the person who decides how much ice time each player will get?

and then you stop without asking the one question too many and then you remind the jury in closing that Quenneville himself told this court that the Blackhawks have been inconsistent with rolling 4 lines this season, that it has negatively affected them in the standings, and he is the person who determines which lines to play and for how long, and as such you must find him guilty of being in love with Brandon Mashinter and/or too old school to see sense sometimes.

Now you can be a lawyer too in 15 steps or less!
- maria_wyeth

you even can add get a JD as step 14 and pass the bar as step 15 and still make it. lol.

Are you sure you don't want to be a Blues fan?

This would be a good time to start.
- carcus

bow wow...I have enough grief being a cub fan.

I gotta say blues have one of the dogiest playoff records in the last 10 years: 4 DNQ's, into the 2nd round 1x where they got destroyed 4-0, 9-21, 2 road wins, no series got past 6 games, 1-12 in combined for their last games 3-6.

But who know maybe that all changes now.

But I have seriously enjoyed watching hitch and his team get blitzed the last 4 years. Next to hawks winning, the blues losing is my bliss.

Just listening to the Scott Powers/Brian Hedger series preview podcast and one of them mentioned that Panik has as many 5-on-5 goals as Hossa this year. Put the issues with that 1st line in perspective.

- carcus

Are you sure it is koolaid?

http://www.mayoclinic.org...asics/causes/con-20032831

Blue urine

Blue urine may be caused by:

Dyes. Some brightly colored food dyes can cause green urine. Dyes used for some tests of kidney and bladder function can turn urine blue.
Medications. A number of medications produce blue or green urine, including amitriptyline, indomethacin (Indocin) and propofol (Diprivan).
Medical conditions. Familial benign hypercalcemia, a rare inherited disorder, is sometimes called blue diaper syndrome because children with the disorder have blue urine. Green urine sometimes occurs during urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria.

I suck at this...I am usually done by the 1st round...but what the hell.
- bogiedoc

Yea, my bracket turned out really weird . Mostly because I do not trust anyone from the East or the Dallas Stars

Chris Hine ‏@ChristopherHine 8h8 hours ago

#Blackhawks lines:
Ladd-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Mashinter-Teravainen-Fleischmann
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw

I'm sure this has been discussed, but Mashinter over Panik borders on criminal negligence.

...and I'd include Weise in that complaint as well.

Either over Mashinter.

Appreciate your well thought out posts. Definitely learn something when you chime in. Are you a former player?
- Dannyboy

I concur. Snapitupstairs really knows what he's talking about. I often use his posts as a measuring stick to judge how much trouble the Hawks are really in when they aren't playing well

Long time reader, first time poster. Regarding Mashinter, I believe Toews, Kane, Keith and other core players feel more comfortable - and want - him in the lineup, particularly against a Blues team that is going to try to run the Hawks out of the building. This is the reason Q has Mash on the team and will play him in the first game.
- BMWChiFan

It's not clear to me that any player has suggested to Q that Mashinter play. I've heard he's well liked, but that's it. I don't disagree that Q has him on the roster to add a physical presence. I suspect that Mashinter's "brawl" with Reaves last week was something that Q suggested. The fight was less about payback for Reave's hit on Ehrhoff, and more about Q signaling his intentions for the coming series. If Mashinter and Reaves or any other Blue go to the box together for 5 minutes, you have to think the Hawks are getting the better part of that penalty.

bow wow...I have enough grief being a cub fan.

I gotta say blues have one of the dogiest playoff records in the last 10 years: 4 DNQ's, into the 2nd round 1x where they got destroyed 4-0, 9-21, 2 road wins, no series got past 6 games, 1-12 in combined for their last games 3-6.

But who know maybe that all changes now.

But I have seriously enjoyed watching hitch and his team get blitzed the last 4 years. Next to hawks winning, the blues losing is my bliss.
- bogiedoc

I enjoyed the choke and decline of the Nucks more but now it is really just pitiful. The Blues are playing more hockey this year and Brouwer is there. Hard to hate them like the past. Backes, Ott, Reaves and "Hitch style" depart and that team may be fun to watch.

I could almost stand a Hawks loss to them if it means a serious re-tool and a chance to resolve the Q/Stan disconnect we have seen this season. Toews and Kane are still younger than Backes and Steen.

The round still has to be played though. Easy to remember the premature gloating from the Blues crowd back in 14. Some of the posts I see here the last few days from them are reminiscent of then. Hope it plays out with the same result.

Chris Hine ‏@ChristopherHine 8h8 hours ago

#Blackhawks lines:
Ladd-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Mashinter-Teravainen-Fleischmann
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw

I'm sure this has been discussed, but Mashinter over Panik borders on criminal negligence.
- ArlingtonRob

It really does. And Panik SHOULD have earned his spot in the lineup by now.

Ya know what, i actually wouldn't mind seeing Panik in there over Fleischmann either, if i had to pick right now. But BOTH should be in.

bow wow...I have enough grief being a cub fan.

I gotta say blues have one of the dogiest playoff records in the last 10 years: 4 DNQ's, into the 2nd round 1x where they got destroyed 4-0, 9-21, 2 road wins, no series got past 6 games, 1-12 in combined for their last games 3-6.

But who know maybe that all changes now.

But I have seriously enjoyed watching hitch and his team get blitzed the last 4 years. Next to hawks winning, the blues losing is my bliss.
- bogiedoc

The good thing is that the previous years are history, and this year is a new year.

History is great to learn from. It doesn't mean that it will repeat itself. You can change and learn from past failures.

Will they, I hope so. I'll find out soon enough.

About the past, since you like to bring it up so much. We didn't play a good series against the Kings when we matched up against them in the 2nd round. They pretty much steamrolled everyone that year. Elliott wasn't good, and we didn't have another option behind him as Halak was hurt.

The next year we played the reigning cup champs in the first round, and every game was a one goal game.

Then we played the reigning cup champs again in the first round, and again every game was a one goal game except game 6. Which was a one goal game until the third when the wheels fell off. A terrible way to end a really good series.

Last year was bad. I think they expected to win and then played like crap.

I can tell you that they aren't talking the Hawks lightly. (obvious) And they are a better team then they were when they jumped out to early series leads before losing a lot of close games.

I know that whatever I say means pretty much nothing until the Blues actually do something. So lets get this series started so one of us can make excuses afterwards.

It's not clear to me that any player has suggested to Q that Mashinter play. I've heard he's well liked, but that's it. I don't disagree that Q has him on the roster to add a physical presence. I suspect that Mashinter's "brawl" with Reaves last week was something that Q suggested. The fight was less about payback for Reave's hit on Ehrhoff, and more about Q signaling his intentions for the coming series. If Mashinter and Reaves or any other Blue go to the box together for 5 minutes, you have to think the Hawks are getting the better part of that penalty.
- etchtech

Mashinter can take Hitch's wife to the PB and the Hawks are getting the better part of the penalty. I expect him to see a game and then go bye bye for Panik or Weise.

Are you sure it is koolaid?

http://www.mayoclinic.org...asics/causes/con-20032831
- tredbrta

Dude, I am not clicking on your links. I don't trust you.

It really does. And Panik SHOULD have earned his spot in the lineup by now.

Ya know what, i actually wouldn't mind seeing Panik in there over Fleischmann either, if i had to pick right now. But BOTH should be in.
- SimpleJack

Q luvs him some Mash...

...and I just don't get it.

I enjoyed the choke and decline of the Nucks more but now it is really just pitiful. The Blues are playing more hockey this year and Brouwer is there. Hard to hate them like the past. Backes, Ott, Reaves and "Hitch style" depart and that team may be fun to watch.

I could almost stand a Hawks loss to them if it means a serious re-tool and a chance to resolve the Q/Stan disconnect we have seen this season. Toews and Kane are still younger than Backes and Steen.

The round still has to be played though. Easy to remember the premature gloating from the Blues crowd back in 14. Some of the posts I see here the last few days from them are reminiscent of then. Hope it plays out with the same result.
- tredbrta

A serious re-tool? Trade 88 and 19, build around Mashinter, Bickell, and Rundblad. Now THAT is a hell of a core right there.

It's not clear to me that any player has suggested to Q that Mashinter play. I've heard he's well liked, but that's it. I don't disagree that Q has him on the roster to add a physical presence. I suspect that Mashinter's "brawl" with Reaves last week was something that Q suggested. The fight was less about payback for Reave's hit on Ehrhoff, and more about Q signaling his intentions for the coming series. If Mashinter and Reaves or any other Blue go to the box together for 5 minutes, you have to think the Hawks are getting the better part of that penalty.
- etchtech

I don't understand this. Mashintner in or out of the lineup isn't going to change the game plan for the Blues or really dissuade them from making heavy hits.

Seems like more Q adjusting unnecessarily. Hawks would be smart to play their game and let all the other stuff go. If we are having multiple fights w Toews or Pararin (seems to get riled up when hit) that has to play into the Blues favor.

Just listening to the Scott Powers/Brian Hedger series preview podcast and one of them mentioned that Panik has as many 5-on-5 goals as Hossa this year. Put the issues with that 1st line in perspective.
- pdx2ord

Ugh. Panik certainly doesn't have Hossa's defensive capabilities but Mashinter sure doesn't either. If they're equally bad defensively (although I do think 53 is probably worse than 14 in that deselect, but even assuming they're the same) why would you take the faster player who is scoring goals?!

Q luvs him some Mash...

...and I just don't get it.
- ArlingtonRob

What don't get is the idea of rewarding those who have played well, and having that message echo throughout the rest of the lineup. Q shows no mercy sometimes with certain players, and others have incredibly long leashes.

I don't understand this. Mashintner in or out of the lineup isn't going to change the game plan for the Blues or really dissuade them from making heavy hits.

Seems like more Q adjusting unnecessarily. Hawks would be smart to play their game and let all the other stuff go. If we are having multiple fights w Toews or Pararin (seems to get riled up when hit) that has to play into the Blues favor.
- Gerk

Agreed, the Hawks can't let the Blues sucker them into their style of gameplay. Hawks need to play tough, but not stupid, and dictate the pace on their terms. And if all things go well, it really shouldn't matter if Mash is in there or not. I just think it sucks for Panik personally because he's been playing so well and wasn't rewarded.

It's not clear to me that any player has suggested to Q that Mashinter play. I've heard he's well liked, but that's it. I don't disagree that Q has him on the roster to add a physical presence. I suspect that Mashinter's "brawl" with Reaves last week was something that Q suggested. The fight was less about payback for Reave's hit on Ehrhoff, and more about Q signaling his intentions for the coming series. If Mashinter and Reaves or any other Blue go to the box together for 5 minutes, you have to think the Hawks are getting the better part of that penalty.
- etchtech

I don't think the Blues will be sad if Reaves is going to the box after a fight. Doesn't matter who he fights, even if it is Mashinter. That basically just takes two low minute guys off the ice, big deal.

Reaves will be playing for his forecheck/hitting. If he plays. He might not even dress much if Ott is actually healthy enough to play. And his job will be basically the same except he is better defensively.

Agreed, the Hawks can't let the Blues sucker them into their style of gameplay. Hawks need to play tough, but not stupid, and dictate the pace on their terms. And if all things go well, it really shouldn't matter if Mash is in there or not. I just think it sucks for Panik personally because he's been playing so well and wasn't rewarded.
- SimpleJack

Q seems to be encouraging it with the the lineup assuming mashinter is in.

Really if there is a big hit Mash and Reaves are going to fight. Both of them are going to be out there at the same time. So I guess I don't get if say Brouwer lays a big clean hit on Panarin and next shift Reaves and Mash fight. Kinda dumb.

The good thing is that the previous years are history, and this year is a new year.

History is great to learn from. It doesn't mean that it will repeat itself. You can change and learn from past failures.

- carcus

Yet there still appears to be a pattern of repetition... and shouldn't they have learned from past failures after the utter humiliation of 14? Is it really simply a lesson or is it about talent and character?

2009–10 Did not qualify
2010–11 Did not qualify
2011–12 Lost in Conference Semifinals, 0–4 (Kings)
2012–13 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Kings)
2013–14 Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Blackhawks)
2014–15 Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Wild)

I don't think Q has a bloody clue what he wants from Weise and hence the player is thoroughly confused.
- philco28

See puck - get puck. How hard is that. Cut him loose on the forecheck.

I don't think the Blues will be sad if Reaves is going to the box after a fight. Doesn't matter who he fights, even if it is Mashinter. That basically just takes two low minute guys off the ice, big deal.

Reaves will be playing for his forecheck/hitting. If he plays. He might not even dress much if Ott is actually healthy enough to play. And his job will be basically the same except he is better defensively.
- carcus

They are both out there to run players. If possible, out of the game with injury. Within the rules if possible but testing the rules is just fine with Hitch.

Whatever line Hitch matches PAK with will be trying to knock them around, interfere, and scrum after the whistle as much as possible. I'm sure Crawford has a target on his back too. Whether the striped vomit bags call it this year will probably determine the outcome as much as anything other than injury.