Nylander had a couple real nice plays last night, agree.

He also isn't getting a ton of time.
- Tyler Cameron

yeah, I ant to say by the middle of the second I thought it was his best game as non scoring factor.

The thing is...when you begin the march to the Cup, you have to have a strong attack, dee, and having a meat grinder the likes of Vegas' helps too.

...and that strong attack means you expect the "cat and all the kittens to show spurts of dominance.

If I own the hawks, I see that they still haven't solved the problem of all around forwards with scorer's abilities yet.
...and I try and get some.

Yup. I said that last night after the game...page 21 or 22 on the last blog

Today @ 1:11 AM ET
Caggulia-Toews-Kubalik
Saad-Dach-Kane
Debrincat-Strome-Highmore
Carpenter-Kampf-Nylander

Apparently TC does not like my amazing posts and Slobbo had to steal my stuff
- PatShart

How about
Cagiulla-Toews-Kane
Saad-Dach-Kubalik
Pray-Pray-Pray
Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter.

At the beginning of the year, Dach, Saad, Kubalik was the best line for the Hawks. And you hope Toews and Kane can regain their magic. Strome, Nylander, ADB would see 10 minutes per game in this combo.

I'm all for putting Carlsson in the lineup for Boqvist. Can't say it enough, but the kid is not ready for NHL playoff hockey.
- breadbag

I am all for simply letting Boqvist loose.

Add a set of situations where he simply goes, and let him basically forget about the point.
I am not talking about moving up, curling around and looking for a open forward.

I am talking about letting him attack the goalie.

There is enough of a history from juniotr that the kid can shoot and move with the elite players.

Sue, I under stand the Vegas speed and positioning is forcing the chip and chase but why not bring it on now that we know we didn't have enough to go toe to toe?

How about
Saad-Dach-Kubalik

- LAHawk

I am sorry, but I dont have enough confidence in Kubalik as an all around player to handle the responaibily to the scoring option along with playing his end, the attack end, and handling traffic.

He NEEDS a vet to get him the puck and so far it isn't working.
I dont care how many goals he scored all year or in the first game, just like the "cat sighting on milk cartons...they domino get off the hook...
Ok make Dach responsible to get him the puck, worth a try....

Agree, Debrincat and Kane should not be on same line. Net presence is non-existent when those two are together. Debrinca'ts game has been worse than Crow in these playoffs. His decision-making has not been good, and he has trouble keeping pressure in the offense zone. His lines are usually one and done when it comes to scoring chances. More blame should be on the forwards to produce.
- roenick

If 12 and 88 are flanking 77 (which had been the starting 2nd line for a couple of games) - what’s wring with the big rookie going to the net?

I think he needs to learn to be in front of the goalie more, rather than off to the side, but he’s been getting there pretty consistently.

The top line has 3 who can bother the goalie.

I’m not sure how you can distribute the talent to have 3 scoring lines without dilution of the top two lines.

I’m less worried about the line makeups than I am about skaters just playing better.

Just wondering if Boqvist would be better served on a different pairing away from Keith. Maybe he's deferring too much to Keith and not able to exhibit his offensive skills. Or maybe he's hurt or just intimidatied by the playoff game intensity. Granted he's just 19 and too soon to write him off, but possibly he may be surpassed as the future top RD by Mitchell

Considering we are playing with house money. Expectations are we are over matched, blah blah blah. If a player is considered a future long term player they need to play them. CC is a battle tested goalie, 4 posts people 4 posts. Sure the game got away from us but they needed to start taking chances being down. Before we blow it up, throw this kids back out there and see how they respond.

I am sorry, but I dont have enough confidence in Kubalik as an all around player to handle the responaibily to the scoring option along with playing his end, the attack end, and handling traffic.

He NEEDS a vet to get him the puck and so far it isn't working.
I dont care how many goals he scored all year or in the first game, just like the "cat sighting on milk cartons...they domino get off the hook...
Ok make Dach responsible to get him the puck, worth a try....
- wiz1901

Kubalik has scored goals in 2 of the 5 games basically getting pucks from Toews - Toews has scored goals in 3 of the 5 (I think). Thats a pace of 30-35;goals for the Czech, and 35- 40 for the Captain. That’s pretty good coverage - let it be.

Get the second line going and you’ve two nice scoring lines - not as many as Vegas, but perhaps enough. AdB and Dach are more likely to do that with Kane than Strome, Nylander, or Saad. 12 and 77 are probably potentially their 4th and 5th most productive forwards. Let it be.

technically the 1st 2 goals shouldn't of counted, 2 illegal pics and offsides

I’ve see enough of Strome. He doesn’t deserve to be on the ice. I could care less if he ever plays for the Hawks again. Major shake up needed. Here’s what I’d like to see:

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Dach-Nylander
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Highmore-Carpenter-Sikura

Just wondering if Boqvist would be better served on a different pairing away from Keith. Maybe he's deferring too much to Keith and not able to exhibit his offensive skills. Or maybe he's hurt or just intimidatied by the playoff game intensity. Granted he's just 19 and too soon to write him off, but possibly he may be surpassed as the future top RD by Mitchell
- boilermaker100

He’s getting old - 20 on Saturday.

But seriously, folks - certainly not giving up on him - but perhaps sitting him and seeing what Carlsson can do wouldn’t hurt him at this point in his career.

Kubalik has scored goals in 2 of the 5 games basically getting pucks from Toews - Toews has scored goals in 3 of the 5 (I think). Thats a pace of 30-35;goals for the Czech, and 35- 40 for the Captain. That’s pretty good coverage - let it be.

Get the second line going and you’ve two nice scoring lines - not as many as Vegas, but perhaps enough. AdB and Dach are more likely to do that with Kane than Strome, Nylander, or Saad. 12 and 77 are probably potentially their 4th and 5th most productive forwards. Let it be.
- StLBravesFan

You can't score if you can't get it out of your own zone. Getting horsed with a 29% CORSI, you are spending a long time without the puck. ADB is probably the worst forward defensively on the team, and I can't remember the last time he has made a clean break-out pass.

Just wondering if Boqvist would be better served on a different pairing away from Keith. Maybe he's deferring too much to Keith and not able to exhibit his offensive skills. Or maybe he's hurt or just intimidatied by the playoff game intensity. Granted he's just 19 and too soon to write him off, but possibly he may be surpassed as the future top RD by Mitchell
- boilermaker100

I'd be happy to see if his game changes if paired with de Haan or even Koekkoek (who has been playing decent), but I don't think that is the issue.

I think he is in the exact sample position that Leddy was in when he first played in the post season. He needs to figure out how to play in these situations. He wasn't quick enough and didn't produce until he started to get stronger and figure things out. It took him a while to learn to even play, and he never really has produced in the PO's. I think Boqvist has more overall talent, so I'm holding out hope that he can actually start to produce points, but I'm not expecting that to happen this season.

Just wondering if Boqvist would be better served on a different pairing away from Keith. Maybe he's deferring too much to Keith and not able to exhibit his offensive skills. Or maybe he's hurt or just intimidatied by the playoff game intensity. Granted he's just 19 and too soon to write him off, but possibly he may be surpassed as the future top RD by Mitchell
- boilermaker100

Does anyone ever recall seeing Boqvist paired with anyone other than Keith?

I agree Carlsson should be in the line-up. Not for Boqvist, tho. Maatta and Special K are terrible. Maatta will be there but Carlsson can't be worse than Special K. There were at least 3 D-men last night worse than Boqvist. de Haan was borderline. Why does de Haan look so slow?

So replace Nylander, you mean the only one on that line that was remotely dangerous? Strome and Caggs have been useless all 5 games. Remember when people thought Strome was good on FOs? That was fun.

Kane needs to get going. Dach and Dinky won't work rn. Dach is still trying too much 1 on 1 and Dinky benefits from someone setting him up after he finds his spot.

Keith was just plain poop last night. Him I expect to bounce back. Special K and Maatta are both too slow retrieving pucks. Especially Maatta.

You can't score if you can't get it out of your own zone. Getting horsed with a 29% CORSI, you are spending a long time without the puck. ADB is probably the worst forward defensively on the team, and I can't remember the last time he has made a clean break-out pass.
- LAHawk

Strome is far worse. Like one of the 5 worse in the whole league this season.

Yes that was infuriating.

I watched the entire CBJ/TB game (Jeebus that was long), and one thing I noticed was that a lot of times TB has a guy trailing the puck carrier into the zone. The puck gets dropped to the trailer and the original puck carrier goes straight to the front of the net to screen the goalie. Palat was actually really good at this. Having that mentality in the O-zone would do the Hawks well.
- Chunk

Strome hit the post after Lard Ass lost his blade.

Strome hit the post after Lard Ass lost his blade.
- Elbows15

The first time or the second time? I didn't remember seeing even a shot taken the second time, but hey I was drinking at the time.

The ghost of the Danault trade continues to rear its ugly head. What a difference another center like that makes with even this group. But i digress.....

Has Special K ever won a board battle? Might help he got his stick on the ice to at least attempt to play the puck before he gets bounced out of the way.

The first time or the second time? I didn't remember seeing even a shot taken the second time, but hey I was drinking at the time.
- Chunk

Think it was the second. Lard Ass needs stronger blades to support his fat ass.

(frank) it. Get Kurashev in there. He can at least keep up with the play. It hurts to watch Strome try to skate. Strome is vg with puck on his stick. Only problem is the puck is rarely on his stick.

Hawks did OK. But, the result is indicative of the state of both teams. Hawks are a re-building young team not yet prepared. Vegas is a Cup contender.

The final score was one that makes sense, and also makes sense in being the series outcome (4-1).

The young Hawks won a round and are gaining experience in high level competition. Valuable experience.

Strome is far worse. Like one of the 5 worse in the whole league this season.
- Elbows15

Hagel in. Strome out
Carlsson, Boqvist out

Whom do you belive hurts us more in lineup right now, Boqvist or Special K. It's like if you had to choose to vote when you like neither. I say Special K is better right now. But you have a personal hatred of him more than anyone else. Seems that way.

If Nylander shows lack of defensive effort, substitute Sikura. But honestly ADB just doesn't have his game & i would put Sikura in for him. Let Nylander stay in. Whole lot better compete lineup. We give Vegas more than they think we can produce with the changes

Yotes outshot 13-3 in the first period but the game is scoreless.