I want to put the face-off argument into perspective here....

Over the course of the season, Nashville is about 4 percent better at winning face-offs.

On average, if 50 face-offs take place per game, that would equate to Nashville winning 2 more per game.

In my book, that equates to no distinct advantage.
- dahawks8819

I'd rather have the advantage of those 2 faceoffs rather than the disadvantage.

Nashville is 55.2% for faceoffs on the PP. whereas Chicago is 40.4% on the PK. That is a significant difference, especially for the team's struggling PK. Conversely, Chicago is 51.5% on the PP and Nashville is 47.1% on the PK.

I want to put the face-off argument into perspective here....

Over the course of the season, Nashville is about 4 percent better at winning face-offs.

On average, if 50 face-offs take place per game, that would equate to Nashville winning 2 more per game.

In my book, that equates to no distinct advantage.
- dahawks8819

Unless they're both on the PK in a close game late in the third.

Even strength FOs probably don't mean that much in terms of winning/losing/goal for/goals against - but I suggest (anecdotally) that special teams play at the dots can be/are very important.

I'd rather have the advantage of those 2 faceoffs rather than the disadvantage.

Nashville is 55.2% for faceoffs on the PP. whereas Chicago is 40.4% on the PK. That is a significant difference, especially for the team's struggling PK. Conversely, Chicago is 51.5% on the PP and Nashville is 47.1% on the PK.
- DarthKane

Faceoffs are important yes, but teams win Cups without a stellar FO%. Love ya man but Hawks are going to make you eat Crow in 6 or less

EDIT: Hawks Cup winner in 2013 for example was below average 47.5% FO% regular season and even worse in the playoffs at 46.8%.

LA fired their coach and GM

My playoff thoughts: IMO we are better this year than last. Period. We looked tired last year, slow, after top 3, D-men we were less than adequate, Forward lines were deep, but not utilized correctly until it was too late. Goaltending was good enough to win, but...we got few breaks, no puck luck, opposing goalie had stellar series, no wins in the first two home games (back-breaker IMO), and still we took them to late in game 7.

This year Defense is way better than last year. Very experienced group in playoffs. Older guys hopefully will utilize their savvy and brains and not put themselves into too many bad situations. Most of the D have a cup or more in their pocket...they know how to win. Offensively we are weaker experience wise, but overall the young guys have stepped it up. IMO the biggest key: Can they do it when it really counts? They better or it will be a short series. Goaltending: If it continues at the level we have been getting pretty much all year, they will keep us in every game.

With every win our young guys will gain confidence. Once they being to understand how to win, we will just get better and better. Having new blood after 3 cups can only help the vets reinvigorate that drive. And we have arguably the best core in hockey.

LA fired their coach and GM
- pdx2ord

i guess this is what happens after you win 2 cups in 3 years and then win 1 playoff game in the next 3 years with DNQ's for 2 of those years..

adios gumby

i guess this is what happens after you win 2 cups in 3 years and then win 1 playoff game in the next 3 years with DNQ's for 2 of those years..

adios gumby

- bogiedoc

Willie Desjardins is out in Vancouver.

Question on Black Aces--- How many players can they roster as Black Aces--- and any guesses who they might be??
- jb3333

It can be as many or as few as a teams wants to bring up.
There are many reasons teams bring them up besides basic insurance in case of injuries.
It can be a reward for improvement as an AHL player who the team wants to see as a future piece to the parent club.

But it is pointless to try and draw conclusions that any are gonna play.

They will get hotel rooms free meals and plenty of attention from the major league fans...

The hawks already know which guys are gonna be in rotation to play depending upon if the need heavier line-ups or more of what the team's bread & butter is: quick sticks, fast possession and passes, accuracy with the puck and most important backside pressure every shift. And scoring will be needed from the complimnetary players along with the top playmakers.

The idea that any of Rockford is gonna play as part of a game plan is not what Q's crystal ball is showing...injuries will dictate If they do, and sure they know that
Motte had success for awhile as a PK guy and fast player...and that the two Sedish deemen demote all year, Sveddyballs and Gustafsson CAN play IF there are lots of injuries...
but to actually see Latta, Baun, or any other forwards who haven't played with the rest means the situation healthwise means they are pretty much flocked already.

The competition for playing time is gonna be between the guys already here...this is more about how many times we see Rasmussen, Hayden, Jurco, Rozsival, Hinostroza, Kemeny, Motte, and Forsling...not the Rockford Icehogs...
those are the true Black Aces, and the others just in case of emmergency/ organizational reward & window dressing.

LA fired their coach and GM
- pdx2ord

How is this possible? Lombardi was applauded for all the contracts he was handing out WITHOUT any NTCs and NMCs. How can he get fired and a GM like Stan who hands out NTCs/NMCs like they're candy still have a job?

Willie Desjardins is out in Vancouver.
- StLBravesFan

No shock there. He's not a bad coach, he just didn't really have much talent to work with. But the team needs a change so the coach is fired. WD will coach in the NHL again, it just may be as an assistant to start.

Willie Desjardins is out in Vancouver.
- StLBravesFan

And Dale is back in control in Miami...but I doubt Sutter leaves the West coast or Western region.

And Dale is back in control in Miami...but I doubt Sutter leaves the West coast or Western region.
- DK002

Sutter will likely have a few jobs to choose from.

After Rob and I exchanged comments about old school Blackhawks I took a trip down Youtube's memory lane from late 80s/early 90s era Hawks...I just remembered why I hated the friggin Blues and North Stars again.

I didn't remember some of the brawls, but HOLY HELL...some dirty punkass chit went down back then. I guess this is what Vandermeer23 longs for. To see teams like the Blues or Stars literally send out an entire line of goons against the Hawks top line to do you know what. Incredible.

After Rob and I exchanged comments about old school Blackhawks I took a trip down Youtube's memory lane from late 80s/early 90s era Hawks...I just remembered why I hated the friggin Blues and North Stars again.

I didn't remember some of the brawls, but HOLY HELL...some dirty punkass chit went down back then. I guess this is what Vandermeer23 longs for. To see teams like the Blues or Stars literally send out an entire line of goons against the Hawks top line to do you know what. Incredible.
- kwolf68

After Rob and I exchanged comments about old school Blackhawks I took a trip down Youtube's memory lane from late 80s/early 90s era Hawks...I just remembered why I hated the friggin Blues and North Stars again.

I didn't remember some of the brawls, but HOLY HELL...some dirty punkass chit went down back then. I guess this is what Vandermeer23 longs for. To see teams like the Blues or Stars literally send out an entire line of goons against the Hawks top line to do you know what. Incredible.
- kwolf68

RETIRE STEVE LARMER'S #28

RETIRE STEVE LARMER'S #28
- mrpaulish

Amen. He was a fantastic player. It's heart-breaking the Hawks couldn't have snuck one in between 88 and 91...for four years there they were great. It seemed like in 3 of the years a really awesome team was just a bit better (Oilers, Flames, Penguins) and in the other year they laid the egg (North Stars). But it was a fun team and a great group.

I also love JR acting like a little kid on the bench. If you get to see some old videos of Hawks winning games/series back then watch the bench...#27 is acting like a total kid. Love it. That's why he became the great player he became, HE LOVED the sport. Oh yea FU Derrien Hatcher.

I guess I reminiscence about that era because that's MY Hawks, the guys I idolized and grew up on. I SO wish they could have done what the current group did. You all saw it when Jeremy talked about it after the Hawks won in 2010. JR was choking up...just one freaking Cup for that team. Just one. Thanks to the current boys for being the Gold Standard of the NHL for a long while now, lifting 3 (and perhaps counting) Cups, but man I still love "my" Blackhawks. I didn't think the 92 Cup loss would be our last sniff until the Caped Crusaders came to the rescue.

Sutter will likely have a few jobs to choose from.
- DarthKane

If Sutter is smart he'll go to Dallas and have the run of the place. Vancouver sucks

If Sutter is smart he'll go to Dallas and have the run of the place. Vancouver sucks
- Assman22

Delightful isn't it?

Delightful isn't it?
- kwolf68

I guess. I like having bumhole rivalries. DET is gone. VAN sucks. STL took a step back and lost a lot of guys I hate. Who do I hate now? Anaheim? Fugggg IDK

BTW-YES I think the Hawks are the better hockey team than Nashville. Absolutely. But there are plenty of examples of inferior hockey teams beating better ones?

So any OLD SCHOOL Hawks fans interested in discussing how the Presidents Trophy Blackhawks of 1991 lost to the 8th seeded North Stars?

I am just saying slow your roll. I thought the 1991 team was poised for a Cup run and then badly chit the bed in round 1.
- kwolf68

Yeah...I been around long enough that teams get hot, and pucks bounce funny, and nobody in the new NHL can be a team claimed to be unbeatable, because there are quite a lot of good players and even more hungry players.

I sat next to Max McNab's son in that series (because the regular seatholders who owned them simply weren't able to afford them with all that up front money old man Wirtz expected IN ADVANCE.)
Dave McNab (not Boston Centre Peter) and recognized early in game one how the North Stars were able very quickly to get under the Hawks and Keenan's skins and they were thrown off their game, and lost composure and forgot that the goal was scoring goals to win the series and despite the strong forward lines and a solid six man rotation, lost sight of what was most important and imploded as they exploded, and Shane Chula & company took them to the biiter place...

LA fired their coach and GM
- pdx2ord

Probly cause of the bishop trade.

Here's a beauty.

Bob Probert's ashes spread inside Joe Louis Arena penalty box
http://www.thescore.com/news/1277232
(via http://thesco.re/theScore_app )

God rest his soul.

Vesey was GP: 80; G: 16; A: 11; P: 27 and 7 of those goals came in the first 15 or so games. He was also a -13, which wouldn't have played well for Q. First and foremost the Hawks preach defensive responsibility.
- TheTrob

yes, thanks, sorry. fat fingers


the kid has potential but he wouldn't have been the answer this year. I'm still impressed with how well Hartman did (and Schmaltz and Panik.)

So, I have a dilemma. The only game I could possibly make it to is game 6. The problem is that my wife is having back surgery that day. Should I leave the hospital early (it's about an hour north of Nashville) to "make sure the kids get to bed on time," or should I stay there? I mean, she'll probably need her rest, so in a way I'd be doing her a favor if I left early, right?

Maybe the Hawks will just win in 5, and this won't be an issue