Yeah, I am impartial as well, but I think I know why the call was made:

a) it was the second smash down that did the injury and maybe that is an infraction besides the face-off stick.

b) It was a star player a vet and it was basically a violent take downs nd injury occurred.

c) The zebras could have called two penalties, a 2 minute f-o penalties and and 4 minute "take-down penalty but not wasn't convenient, as they would have had to explain why they dis over the easy 5 minute penalty...
- wiz1901

2 and 2 seems to be what should have been called - at the most.

Walley, that was the right call. Enzo would have called that one!!!!
- glennjpawlak22

They had already killed four penalties in the game and suddenly forgot how to do it.

Yeah, I am impartial as well, but I think I know why the call was made:

a) it was the second smash down that did the injury and maybe that is an infraction besides the face-off stick.

b) It was a star player a vet and it was basically a violent take downs nd injury occurred.

c) The zebras could have called two penalties, a 2 minute f-o penalties and and 4 minute "take-down penalty but not wasn't convenient, as they would have had to explain why they dis over the easy 5 minute penalty...
- wiz1901

and the Gallant should have called time-out to be is bullpoop until maybe after the SECONG PP goal...to say, Hey guys, we got this, right? and a breather.
You have to show confidence in your guys and go with them.

Go Canes!!!

You have a chance, you have a former Hawk playing defense for you.
2018 Kempny
2017 Daley
2016 Daley

Giving up 4 pp goals in the third is very bad. The cross check / interference was 2 minutes that is never called but 4 goals. Wow. They still should have closed.

Seeing Babcock lose is great.
- fattybeef

I loved watching Toronto lose last night. They only way it could have been better would have been if Boston could have lost too. Oh, well, time to root against them in round 2..

I loved watching Toronto lose last night. They only way it could have been better would have been if Boston could have lost too. Oh, well, time to root against them in round 2..
- Spec41971

Why is nobody talking about ex-Hawk Joakim Nordstrom and his game 7?

Yeah, I am impartial as well, but I think I know why the call was made:

a) it was the second smash down that did the injury and maybe that is an infraction besides the face-off stick.

b) It was a star player a vet and it was basically a violent take downs nd injury occurred.

c) The zebras could have called two penalties, a 2 minute f-o penalties and and 4 minute "take-down penalty but not wasn't convenient, as they would have had to explain why they dis over the easy 5 minute penalty...
- wiz1901

I agree that the call was questionable, but the primary blame lies with Eakin / Stastny. You need to be disciplined to be a champion. You can't fix stupid. Have to think situationally there. You are up 3-0 in GAME SEVEN with TEN MINUTES to go. There is no reason to hit someone with both hands on your stick at any time, least of all after a faceoff.

I hope Eakin feels horrible today. He cost his team the entire series. You can't fix stupid, and you can't win with it either.

that was the worst situational decision making I've seen since the Hawks beat the Preds on the Hossa OT goal. We never would have got Kane's shorthanded goal to get to OT if the Preds player just skated back out of the offensive zone and killed time (was that Marin Erat?) Like I said, you can't win being situationally unaware. All it takes is giving the other team a small opening to lose an entire series.

Why is nobody talking about ex-Hawk Joakim Nordstrom and his game 7?
- stan-ley-cups

Boston’s 4th line was very good last night.

Debrincat is 8 million easy. 40 goals is kind of a big deal. Maybe they get away with 7 if they extend him this summer.
- fattybeef

I think Toronto misplayed Nylander big time.

Hawks have some leverage in that Strome and ADB will only be RFA's. If he signs an offer sheet over $6 mil the paying team not only has the extra salary they also give up a 1st, 2nd, and 3round pick in the next draft. Not many teams willing to do that. I would expect some kind of bridge deal for both of them at a high, but reasonable, amount.

Eakin/Stastny didnt do anything egregious. Those scrums happen every single faceoff.

I still dont know how Pavelski even fell like he did, to be honest. It was so awkward looking to fall on his head from a push to the chest

Did anyone else focus in (especially the last 10 min of regulation outside of the penalty) on how beautifully Vegas was able to move the puck?

I'm not sure whether it was their team chemistry as a whole or they were simply faster and more "technically" disciplined, but my goodness they absolutely carved up the neutral zone and had no problem entering SJ's zone. They did it with ease with quick, sharp passes where it almost seemed second nature to them. It almost seemed USSR-like. Only salivate at the Hawks playing like Vegas did but with better forwards and more
- TommyHawk[offensively] capable d-men.

That's an issue that the Hawks struggled with consistently this season. They either had to effectively dump and chase, or waiting on an open window and relying on a terrific outlet pass (carrying over from the Q days) The Hawks are a more talented team than the Knights on paper, but you could tell there was a huge disparity in coaching and in schemes between us and them.

Hopefully improving our overall defense play (however it may be) will be on display next season, because from what I saw from at least Vegas last night, they would have tore the Hawks defense and forecheck into shreds. It's a travesty they got screwed over by that 5 min major. They should be playing Colorado.

I thought they were exceptional with ALWAYS getting pucks, handling's pucks, knowing where not was going to go even on the one man in's - that man would always seem to predict his guy was at the blue line wall or wherever and smartly get them the puck while pressured.
This is a combination of good coaching and a large bunch of players (who were delegated with they former teams as low ends, who HAD to play in all situations where
they were pressed to home those parts of their games.

And the zone entires were good but I didn't think they were exceptional. I think the hawks are fast and have gotten pretty good entering, but what was impressive is Vegas made Sharks look slow all night.

Eakin/Stastny didnt do anything egregious. Those scrums happen every single faceoff.

I still dont know how Pavelski even fell like he did, to be honest. It was so awkward looking to fall on his head from a push to the chest
- PatShart

like he was trying to sell it?

Why is nobody talking about ex-Hawk Joakim Nordstrom and his game 7?
- stan-ley-cups

Ok I'll bite:

GM Bowman is a dumb/c he let Joakin Nordtrom go...

Eakin/Stastny didnt do anything egregious. Those scrums happen every single faceoff.

I still dont know how Pavelski even fell like he did, to be honest. It was so awkward looking to fall on his head from a push to the chest
- PatShart

I have no issue calling a 2 minute cross check, but a 5 minute MAJOR!!?!? Ummm no.

like he was trying to sell it?
- wiz1901

No...not at all. Just like he was trying to go towards Stastny to run interference on him while Eakin engaged with pushing him then him not being able to even brace himself. Just weird to go down that way

Four of the teams with the most serious cap problems this summer, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vegas, and Winnipeg all ousted in the first round of the playoffs. They will have to shed a few depth players each and bring in a bunch of prospects on ELC's or veterans on cheap contracts, making their quest for the Cup next year a little bit harder.
- boilermaker100

Spector's hockey:
They’ll get $5.3 million in salary-cap relief by placing all-but-retired winger Nathan Horton on long-term injury reserve to start the season. Assuming an $83-million salary cap for 2019-20, Dubas will have around $13 million to work with. Most of that, perhaps at least $10 million, will be taken up by Marner’s contract, leaving little room to address the other roster needs, or for resigns...unless Kyle Dubas trades Kadri, he could still end up being forced to move an RFA like Kapanen or Johnsson

Eakin/Stastny didnt do anything egregious. Those scrums happen every single faceoff.

I still dont know how Pavelski even fell like he did, to be honest. It was so awkward looking to fall on his head from a push to the chest
- PatShart

Didn't he get pushed over some other guys hip?

Did anyone else focus in (especially the last 10 min of regulation outside of the penalty) on how beautifully Vegas was able to move the puck?

I'm not sure whether it was their team chemistry as a whole or they were simply faster and more "technically" disciplined, but my goodness they absolutely carved up the neutral zone and had no problem entering SJ's zone. They did it with ease with quick, sharp passes where it almost seemed second nature to them. It almost seemed USSR-like. Only salivate at the Hawks playing like Vegas did but with better forwards and more
- TommyHawk[offensively] capable d-men.

That's an issue that the Hawks struggled with consistently this season. They either had to effectively dump and chase, or waiting on an open window and relying on a terrific outlet pass (carrying over from the Q days) The Hawks are a more talented team than the Knights on paper, but you could tell there was a huge disparity in coaching and in schemes between us and them.

Hopefully improving our overall defense play (however it may be) will be on display next season, because from what I saw from at least Vegas last night, they would have tore the Hawks defense and forecheck into shreds. It's a travesty they got screwed over by that 5 min major. They should be playing Colorado.

Totally agree...... disciplined and fluid in their passing of the puck. When they came back and tied it at the end of regulation, I would have bet big money that they would win it in OT. They seemed to be the better team throughout the series so I have to give credit to San Jose.

Vegas is obviously an extremely well coached team. Hopefully we can be a good trade partner with them in the summer now. Let's see what Stan and company can accomplish here.

I have no issue calling a 2 minute cross check, but a 5 minute MAJOR!!?!? Ummm no.
- z1990z

Lie I said call a 2 and 2 on each player, even a 2 and 4 for the "violent act," but I ma pretty sure the refs thought the 5 was going make the end interesting not game changing like it did.

Spector's hockey:
They’ll get $5.3 million in salary-cap relief by placing all-but-retired winger Nathan Horton on long-term injury reserve to start the season. Assuming an $83-million salary cap for 2019-20, Dubas will have around $13 million to work with. Most of that, perhaps at least $10 million, will be taken up by Marner’s contract, leaving little room to address the other roster needs, or for resigns...unless Kyle Dubas trades Kadri, he could still end up being forced to move an RFA like Kapanen or Johnsson
- wiz1901

And what do they do to shore up that poop of a defense ?

Totally agree...... disciplined and fluid in their passing of the puck. When they came back and tied it at the end of regulation, I would have bet big money that they would win it in OT. They seemed to be the better team throughout the series so I have to give credit to San Jose.

Vegas is obviously an extremely well coached team. Hopefully we can be a good trade partner with them in the summer now. Let's see what Stan and company can accomplish here.
- Hawkytalk

Exactly, did you notice the defenseman constantly aggressively pinching to keep pucks in KNOWING that the high forward was always back for support.

Ok...just watched it again (and he wasnt moving to Stastny as I thought)

Stastny's contact was incidental but what caused the fall when Pavelski was shoved/cross checked by Eakin. Pavelski was completely shoved off balanced but definitely not a 5 min call

I brought this up on an earlier blog about the possible log jam of Hawk forwards going forward. We already know about the many defensemen in the pipeline.

Signed for next year - Toews, Kane, AA, Saad, Cat, Strome, Kahun, Caggiula, Hayden = 9. Assume Sikura, Kampf and Perlini are signed as RFA's = 12. Assume Kubalik signs = 13. Assume 2 new faces via trade or FA less 1 forward being part of the trade= 14. Another Euro could be in the mix as well. Who goes?

20/21 season - Under contract would be Toews, Kane, AA, Saad, Sikura, Kampf, Perlini, Kabulik, the 2 new faces obtained this year = 10. Assume Cat, Strome, Kahun, Caggiula sign as RFA's =14. The #3 pick, Entwhistle, Hagel, Highmore, Kurashev possibly make the jump after another year of seasoning. Even if only two of the prospects make the team that brings the forward count up to 16. I'm already assuming Hayden is history. Who else goes?

The only weak spot on the future roster is in goal. Stan could use some of the forward and D depth to obtain a future #1 goalie after Cro's contract is up at the end of 19/20, or to make other improvements to the roster.
- boilermaker100

I'm going to respectfully disagree on the goalie situation. If Crawford is 100% healthy, I'd have no problem with giving him another contract. Watching these games with these goalies makes me appreciate Cro even more. He's a winner and not too many, if any, better than him in crunch time. GET HEALTHY CRO !!

I'm going to respectfully disagree on the goalie situation. If Crawford is 100% healthy, I'd have no problem with giving him another contract. Watching these games with these goalies makes me appreciate Cro even more. He's a winner and not too many, if any, better than him in crunch time. GET HEALTHY CRO !!
- Hawkytalk

Yup, that first goal on Anderson cannot happen in an elimination game. Not the first time Anderson has failed in a game seven.

Spector's hockey:
They’ll get $5.3 million in salary-cap relief by placing all-but-retired winger Nathan Horton on long-term injury reserve to start the season. Assuming an $83-million salary cap for 2019-20, Dubas will have around $13 million to work with. Most of that, perhaps at least $10 million, will be taken up by Marner’s contract, leaving little room to address the other roster needs, or for resigns...unless Kyle Dubas trades Kadri, he could still end up being forced to move an RFA like Kapanen or Johnsson
- wiz1901

I haven’t seen enough of his play to have a firm perspective on his value - but is Marner worth $10M per year? I know he’s offensively gifted - but does it make sense for Toronto to ink this deal and reinforce an already top-heavy roster?