Agreed...but that just shows if the Hawks can get their crap together, they are a better team. 3 OT games, and have we seen a complete or even remotely solid outing from this team yet?

Not to mention, you have all of 2 goals from Bolland, Toews, Sharp, Kane, Hossa, Keith.....That's the other issue. The stars have to be stars. Can't keep on relying on Bolig and Bickell to win games.....Especially at home when you can dictate matchups....
- SteveRain

I wrote pretty much the exact same thing yesterday but I didn't see the complete effort needed.

The Hawks have all the playoff experience yet they appeared to be the tighter team.

:http://bit.ly/HSgggs



The time to get it together is tomorrow.

Just an FYI, they just released some tickets for game Thursday. I just got 2 in 332 Row 4 for $125 each.

If I remember correctly, he facewashed someone along the boards before Kane stepped in the middle of it.
- EKolb13

How sad is it that the only physical response form the Haws was from Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Crawford? I saw no one taking the body before after or during the hit. Not to run a guy and hurt them, but to let the other team know we won't accept that. I am disappointed, no reaction what so ever other than complaining.

Seems to me you guys were talking about Karma a few weeks ago, no?
You were right, it is a b****.

Sorry yall.
- Whiskey-Tango

First of all tired of ignorant people whom have no clue what Karma is using Karma as a point in a dirty hockey play. Karma is not retribution or payback. Karma is not helping an old lady across the street so a couple weeks later you win a couple hundred bucks in the lottery. Thats simply how its explained initially for a simple understanding. KARMA is a manner in which your soul developed and grows over multiple life experiences in order to garner and heel it to prepare it for nirvana. Karma is a deep and spiritual cornerstone of many MAJOR religions and saying this was karma is like comparing Mike Smiths miraculous recovery in 2 minutes to the resurrection.

What I do think you sheeple mean to say is it somehow its blind retribution. Which again is completely moronic. Id be pressed to believe Hossa has made very few dirty plays in his long career, hes looked upon by his peers as one of the most hard working, stand out two way performers in the game so where is your karma a-hem I mean retribution.

If you somehow are saying that its retribution for Keiths hit you are implying every team-mate of every player who ever made a dirty hit regardless if he actually made the hit or not deserves karma a-hem retribution. Using that utilitarian principle pretty much every player in the NHL is then F--d.

Do you know see how dumb that karma comment is on so many levels?

Did you miss the one Huet let in that was a high dump-in and no one was in the zone, and he even stared down the puck as it bounced in the corner, yet let it bounce off him and into the net?

Frolik was good, and Toews and Leddy were bad... Toews was winded and Leddy kept getting outmuscled. They tried too many cute plays and holding on to the puck too much and not shooting. Kane had so many opportunities squandered because he held onto the puck too long.

Keith... man that guy had the season on his stick with an open net and hit the post from 10 feet away.

But really, the chances of winning the round are even at worst. You talk about Crawford, but what the heck has Smith done? How many rounds has he won? Heck he'll probably win an Emmy first...
- busmaster

Saw the Huet goal against I believe Dallas in the fall of 2009. that was bad. Was that an OT killer in a playoff game? Umm....no.

Sorry, Crawford sucks. he's been an average goalie his whole damn career and when your GM burries you behind a Patrick Lalime, aging Khabibulin, Huet, and you lose out to Niemi....what's the excuse then?

Smith has kept the Hawks from breaking it wide open. Each game they get up by 1, and each game Smith stones them on chances until they solve Crawford...which isn't hard.

I can't believe I'm debating that goal last night....wow.

110% agree with you on Keith...I think it was less then 10 ft away, but the guy has NO CLUE where his shot is going....none. The people at shoot the puck during intermission have better shot accuracy then Keith.

I like the way you think. I'm pretty much thinkng the same thing.
- EKolb13

Thanks....I'm with you....

For the record,

Soft goal by Crawford, killer.

Leddy was horrible in his end.

Toews looked very tired and not 100%. Frolik was the Hawks' best forward.

Sharp, Kane and Kruger were OK.

Hawks lack of size up and down the ice remains a big problem.
- John Jaeckel

I agree. I don't see them matching up well against St Louis (who I think the Hawks will face in the WCF if both you guys and the Blues can make it out of the 1st Round).

Until the NHL starts to actually punish these hits based on malice and not outcome or who the offending player is, it will continue to be a spin the shanahan wheel of BS.

Yes Torres deserves to be suspended.

But if the NHL actually cared, they would start handing out full year suspensions or play off suspensions.

AKA, If you blindside, elbow, rule 48 anyone you are gone for the Playoffs, see you next year, no questions asked. After a half dozen of those suspensions are handed out to offending players (not based on who they are), this game will be cleaned up, until then it will continue to be a gongshow.
- moondawg

Great post. This is how you make an impact..

One can only look foolish predicting Shanny's next move...

But with his history Torres could be done until sometime in October.

Also, I would be surprised if Q. isn't fined for his post game comments...Although 100% correct.

A terrible Tuesday with an awful trifecta, Shaw-Hossa-Game 3 Loss. On My Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/HSgggs
- Al

"Unfortunately the NHL is being shown for what it normally is, but now the stage is bigger. NHL officiating is the worst of any professional sport."

Al it is also beyond and above the officiating. The tolerance if not the promotion of punishment and violence and vigilante justice permeates the NHL from the top on down. And there feeble half assed attempts to want it both ways results in this: instead of talking about the skill and artistry of these games its all about suspensions and felons like Carkner, Torres etal.

NHL is getting exactly what is deserves at the expense of its most skilled and talented players. No other sport comes close to having to deal game in and game out with players being fined or suspended.

And your analysis of the game was spot on. Hawks have been blanketed in this series so far. If this team ever needed a reason to find pulse and explode this is it!

Do you know see how dumb that karma comment is on so many level?
- mvp0207

You are expecting the dumb to understand something beyond their minds capabilities. Your better off talking to a dog............

I feel for you guys. It sucks losing one of your best players (espcially in the playoffs) to a sensless, dirty hit.

Take out the instigator and see if these kinds of hits still happen. I'm sure guys would be a little less inclined to make a stupid play if they new there was a massive a$$ whooping coming their way.
- fiveandagame

I agree here also. Fights now a days serve no purpose other then entertainment and maybe to get your team energized. Its was allowed for so many years cause it served a purpose. It was a pressure valve as where a team could feel some sort of retribution seeing an offender get whipped by their tough guy maybe once maybe twice or maybe three times depending on the severity of the offenders action.

That presure valve as well as that fear is now GONE.

Thanks....I'm with you....
- SteveRain

Steve

I actually wish you were right in saying the game Thursday could get ugly. But there is no way I see that happening because like it or not we are a soft team and beside Bollig and maybe Mayers there is no one else to mix it up. I completely blame Bowman for putting this team together with out any balls. I have been a supporter and season ticket holder for 50 years and never have been as dissapointed in a team as now. Also C2 will not help us win a cup, he just is not dependable in the clutch

Steve

I actually wish you were right in saying the game Thursday could get ugly. But there is no way I see that happening because like it or not we are a soft team and beside Bollig and maybe Mayers there is no one else to mix it up. I completely blame Bowman for putting this team together with out any balls. I have been a supporter and season ticket holder for 50 years and never have been as dissapointed in a team as now. Also C2 will not help us win a cup, he just is not dependable in the clutch
- Maggie

Double Post, sorry about the bold, I am pissed

How does one attach a picture to this blog?

I agree. I don't see them matching up well against St Louis (who I think the Hawks will face in the WCF if both you guys and the Blues can make it out of the 1st Round).
- mxgsfmdpx

No it's a complete reseed. Top seed remaining plays the lowest, so STL would play LA if things hold, winner of PHX-Chicago would play winner of DET-NSH.

One other point, to those defending the Torres' hit or asking for lighter sentences, is simply this: is the league better off for having a player like Marian Hossa (or Malkin or Giroux or Richards or Datsyuk or Sedin) out for the playoffs because of a play like that?
The answer is why Torres needs a max penalty here.

Just in case you guys were wondering.........

Torres had a suspension earlier this year with a less severe head shot than the one on Hossa. Oh and the game prior he had another head shot where he was fined 2500 for elbowing a player. He got thrown a 2 gamer JUST AFTER getting a fine! This guy just doesn't get it and won't change his ways until you suspend him 20+ games. Throw the book at this dbag

http://www.usatoday.com/s...pensio-history/54378776/1

Seems to me you guys were talking about Karma a few weeks ago, no?
You were right, it is a b****.

Sorry yall.
- Whiskey-Tango

Got my broom ready for you Rs-holes

Saw the Huet goal against I believe Dallas in the fall of 2009. that was bad. Was that an OT killer in a playoff game? Umm....no.

Sorry, Crawford sucks. he's been an average goalie his whole damn career and when your GM burries you behind a Patrick Lalime, aging Khabibulin, Huet, and you lose out to Niemi....what's the excuse then?

Smith has kept the Hawks from breaking it wide open. Each game they get up by 1, and each game Smith stones them on chances until they solve Crawford...which isn't hard.

I can't believe I'm debating that goal last night....wow.

110% agree with you on Keith...I think it was less then 10 ft away, but the guy has NO CLUE where his shot is going....none. The people at shoot the puck during intermission have better shot accuracy then Keith.
- SteveRain

I don't disagree on Crawford, though I do think when he has it going he can be above average for a while.

He's allowed one more goal in the series on roughly the same number of shots, and Smith has had his moments too. Hawks just need to throw more pucks at the net and jam their crease and not try to be cute.

The truth is, they were somewhat in shock after the Hossa incident and didn't play their game.

I guarantee: We have not seen the best from the Hawks. They will turn it up in this series, and when they do, their superior talent and experience will make the difference.

No it's a complete reseed. Top seed remaining plays the lowest, so STL would play LA if things hold, winner of PHX-Chicago would play winner of DET-NSH.

One other point, to those defending the Torres' hit or asking for lighter sentences, is simply this: is the league better off for having a player like Marian Hossa (or Malkin or Giroux or Richards or Datsyuk or Sedin) out for the playoffs because of a play like that?
The answer is why Torres needs a max penalty here.
- Jam16sugar

Reading comprehension obviously isn't your strong suit is it?

you are failing to understand the point... nothing with these clows in inevitable regardless of fact or precedence. Torres could've chopped Hossa's head off with his stick and we would still need to wait to see what the wheel of discipline stopped on.
- Sconnie

True...and oh i forgot...Buttman OWNS the Yotes and favors them at EVERY TURN.

I never said he shouldn't have hit him? I said he can make a decision not to railroad someone in that split second. There are plenty of "late" hits every game, he could have eased up and finished his check at the same time.
- droe411

Exactly he made the decision before he even skated over the blue line what TYPE of hit it was going to be. Puck or no Puck A couple seconds before he started the run. He knew it was not going to be a turn sideways and push through the hit to knock hossa of his skates (good clean hockey play) But he knew he was going to explode UPWARDS into Hossas chin. He does this over and over hes good and getting his arm around the chest but driving his shoulder pads and momentum UP into the CHIN. He did it to seabs last year and its no different then a knock out punch.

All he had to do was stop skating, stay on his feet and drive THROUGH hossas body and it would have been a different kind of hit. Other then the fact it was still double the allotted amount of time the NHL implies is OK for a LEGAL HIT.

the thing was just wrong on so many levels. Like Q said yesterday if it was multiple choice it would be all the above.

Got my broom ready for you Rs-holes

- philco28

That's right. I'll be up late tonight writing a paper anyways. Now I'll have something to relieve my stress after I'm done banging that out!

For the record,

Soft goal by Crawford, killer.

Leddy was horrible in his end.

Toews looked very tired and not 100%. Frolik was the Hawks' best forward.

Sharp, Kane and Kruger were OK.

Hawks lack of size up and down the ice remains a big problem.
- John Jaeckel

Lack of size... Can be hidden quite easily in the regular season. It sticks out in postseason play. Roster construction...

OH SNAP!!!!

NEW YORK -- Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=628445

Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.

The hearing will be convened at the NHL's New York office for a hit Torres delivered to Chicago forward Marian Hossa 12:42 into the first period of Game 3 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Chicago on Tuesday, April 17.