Or Ladd...or Brower or buff or hell frasier...
- southernhawk

Except for Cub fans wishing for the reincarnation of Santo, Kessinger, Beckert, Williams and Jenkins, no sports fans wish for the return of past heroes like us Hawks fans.

They are gone. The issue is not that they aren't here, but that they weren't effectively replaced.

And yet - and still - Stanley Cup Finals, 3 games from a championship.

Totally agree and we had more hits than they did Game 1 and we won!!!
- Maggie

You know it Maggie...hoping for a ROAD GAME FOR THE AGES tonight. Boston showed they could keep things close in Chicago. We need to do likewise in hostile territory.

You realize the forwards are in front of d-men and offsides exists. When Leddy chooses to rush the puck (sometimes he has to with no one open, sometimes he does because he wants to) the forwards have to slow down in order to stay onsides, meaning they can't enter the zone with speed, meaning the timing is off to get someone to the net. How about Leddy headmans the puck then rushes himself. Also you calling people "Toews defenders" when all you do is defend the teams 6th defenseman is rather ironic. Toews is averaging almost exactly the same shots/game as his regular season. So either he is playing so well that he's generating a ton more chances to screw up, or he's playing the same and is shooting an unbelievably poor percentage due to bad luck/lack of execution
- rollpards19

I think the expectation on/of Jonathan Toews is a little bit higher than on Nick Leddy. Toews has won a Conn Smythe and has his name on a CUP, right? My expectation and that of many is that over 19 games, he's got to do more.

Defending Leddy is more about holding him up to some "standard" that doesn't seem to be applied to the other defensemen. In particular, Seabrook has been AWFUL and other than 1 game where it was clear he was benched, what was the outcome?

Oh right, move Seabrook BACK into a #2 role with Keith and give him way more minutes. That fixed the problem. Seabrook is coughing up the puck and falling down at an alarming rate, yet it doesn't seem to register with Q. Will Seabrook see less ice time for all the giveaways? Hell no. Not Q's way.

As for Leddy rushing the puck, when I have seen it, the forwards have typically been no further than the blue line -- and the point really is -- if he has the momentum and speed, let him go. It's amazing, isn't it, that not a single time have I seen a Hawks forward in any position to take a pass or get a rebound when Nick DOES make the rush?

I'm not saying he is the best D-man out there -- but he does have some great talents that aren't being used to the team's benefit. The forwards don't seem to be too capable of doing the same thing -- how many rushes have we seen by any of the forwards capable of pushing the Bruins D back and open up lanes?

Set the same standards -- I get it -- most of you guys don't like Leddy for whatever reason. I see talent in him that is not being used and could be -- to the team's benefit. It's up to the staff to figure it out. But since Q hasn't been able to figure out the PP for 3 years, I don't hold out much hope there. As I have railed before, Q is NOT a coach for young players, he more tolerates them -- and my belief is the improvements and learnings gained by Saad and Leddy in particular have come more from their own desire and the help of good teammates (Saad could not have a better pair of teachers/models than Toews and Hossa -- 2 great 2 way players). And Leddy seemed to bloom since being paired with Rozsival.

Hard to figure what Vik's game is...he's been scratched (rightly or wrongly) on two separate occasions now. Boss hasn't been satisfied with 25.
- philco28

His game is speed. Pure and simple.

Vegas has BOS -125, total goals scored at 5.

Totally agree and we had more hits than they did Game 1 and we won!!!
- Maggie

FYI, teams leading in hits have lost more than they have won in these playoffs.

Yo Savvy

One thing i've loved seeing this year is the blur of Bickell flying in and hammering guys cleanly, but he's gotten away from that and better find it in Beantown if he wants to cash for the max this summer.
- philco28

Yo Phil

I've heard Bicks is cashed -- as in -- having no gas in the tank. Whether true or not, if that's the case, not hard to understand why he isn't trying to light guys up. Maybe the LA series did him in? And if true, maybe why he's not on the PP. Although again, it's the CUP -- geez, get an IV or something or go into a chamber to get oxygen infused into you but this chance might never come 'round again for Bicks. Gotta leave it all out on the ice. 5 potential games left -- nothing to save it for!

cant wait to see Jamie Tampon's power play genius in effect tonight
- FourFeathers773

Again, Doesn't matter about #25, #52 or Carcillo. No PP = no victory

His game is speed. Pure and simple.
- andru2797

Listening to Q's comments today, he says he's looking for Vik to use that speed and give the Bruins "something to contend with."

I'll be curious to see if Vik wilts when he gets a taste of the B's physicality. Let's hope not.

Q also saying that the boards in Boston are livelier than other rinks and he's looking for a "response" from his team after how the last game ended.

AREN'T WE ALL

FYI, teams leading in hits have lost more than they have won in these playoffs.
- andru2797

I don't really give a sh!t about that, the bottom line is we outhit them in game #1 and won. In Game#2 we played like a bunch of scared pussies and lost

Listening to Q's comments today, he says he's looking for Vik to use that speed and give the Bruins "something to contend with."

I'll be curious to see if Vik wilts when he gets a taste of the B's physicality. Let's hope not.

Q also saying that the boards in Boston are livelier than other rinks and he's looking for a "response" from his team after how the last game ended.

AREN'T WE ALL

- philco28

I also heard on the Score this AM in a interview with the Sun Times reporter Lazarus who saw the practice that they did not work on the PP

Yo Phil

I've heard Bicks is cashed -- as in -- having no gas in the tank. Whether true or not, if that's the case, not hard to understand why he isn't trying to light guys up. Maybe the LA series did him in? And if true, maybe why he's not on the PP. Although again, it's the CUP -- geez, get an IV or something or go into a chamber to get oxygen infused into you but this chance might never come 'round again for Bicks. Gotta leave it all out on the ice. 5 potential games left -- nothing to save it for!
- savvyone-1

The L.A. series was extremely intense for a 5 game series, but that triple o/t game ZAPPED a lot of players and Bicks looks like one of them.

I often think the Chicago Blackhawks are the only team that can beat the Chicago Blackhawks and unfortunately.....it could be argued that happened in Game 2.

I hope it doesn't happen again this post season.

I dunno Boys, Im not nervous for tonight , Im excited like it will be a great memory in Chicago sports history .... Im usually very nervous almost to the point of not being able to enjoy the game !

Great post
- rollpards19

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.

The Bruins do throw effective hits at the right time....But the reason they had so many on Saturday is because they never had the puck the first 15 mins.

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.

FYI, teams leading in hits have lost more than they have won in these playoffs.
- andru2797

The Boston Bruins haven't.

I also heard on the Score this AM in a interview with the Sun Times reporter Lazarus who saw the practice that they did not work on the PP
- Maggie

Probably a smart move given all the spies in the arena.

I dunno Boys, Im not nervous for tonight , Im excited like it will be a great memory in Chicago sports history .... Im usually very nervous almost to the point of not being able to enjoy the game !
- mrpaulish

As long as your not praising Allah, you should be nervous

I dunno Boys, Im not nervous for tonight , Im excited like it will be a great memory in Chicago sports history .... Im usually very nervous almost to the point of not being able to enjoy the game !
- mrpaulish

That's the double edged sword of being a fan Mr. P.....your team can take you to the summit one minute and the valley the next.

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.

The Bruins do throw effective hits at the right time....But the reason they had so many on Saturday is because they never had the puck the first 15 mins.

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.
- Al

Totally agree... This game can start as fast as it did last game , Hawks just have to get 2 goals instead of 1. .. That is a possibility...

!!

Once again, if the Hawks try to win playing Bruins hockey, they will end up like the Penguins (who tried to out-Bruin them as well). We need to play to our strengths.
- andru2797

And if our "strength" is to try to play a finesse game, we will lose.

The refs will not call the clutching and grabbing. Too many Hawks will start pulling up to avoid contact. Some will quit.

Game. Set. Match.

Game 1 and parts of the Detroit and LA series are the prescription. Play smart and play hard. And take the body when it's available. Bodies in front of the net. Get the puck on net, not overhandling or overpassing and going for pretty plays.

I also heard on the Score this AM in a interview with the Sun Times reporter Lazarus who saw the practice that they did not work on the PP
- Maggie

He said they didn't work on the PP on today's morning skate - not the same thing as a full practice.

Didn't say anything about yesterday's practice (I assume they had one - maybe not).

As long as your not praising Allah, you should be nervous
- Maggie

So Mote It Be !

And if our "strength" is to try to play a finesse game, we will lose.

The refs will not call the clutching and grabbing. Too many Hawks will start pulling up to avoid contact. Some will quit.

Game. Set. Match.

Game 1 and parts of the Detroit and LA series are the prescription. Play smart and play hard. And take the body when it's available. Bodies in front of the net. Get the puck on net, not overhandling or overpassing and going for pretty plays.
- John Jaeckel

I'm thinkiing the Hawks will play simpler game tonight and won't blow their load the first 15 mins.

His game is speed. Pure and simple.
- andru2797

Phoenix had Derek Morris and Adrian Aucoin on D. How did Stalberg's speed do against them?

Boston plays the same style, with better, more mobile guys.

I hope Viktor lights it up and helps open the floodgates. I have a feeling we will see him losing the puck a lot along the wing . . .

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.

The Bruins do throw effective hits at the right time....But the reason they had so many on Saturday is because they never had the puck the first 15 mins.

B) The Hawks lost Saturday because they scored one goal in regulation. They didn't lose because they were ran out of the building by the big, mean Bruins.
- Al

>Al, what do you think the Hawks will do to generate more shots? (a lot more dump, hit, and chase?)
>What do you do with the PP?