I'm already sick of all the "Sharks got screwed" talk. Yes, he should have been penalized instead of kicked out, but you can't leave your feet...plain and simple. Plus, the Hawks lost Keith for basically a period. If I was a Sharks fan, I'd take that trade off every time. On top of being slower than the Hawks, Sharks looked tired in the third period. Hawks NEED another faceoff guy YESTERDAY!!!

I thought the Kane goal was score during the resulting 4 on 4? Isn't that why Kane and Toews were out there together?
- Ogilthorpe2

It was.

On bright side...glad to see some contribution from 3rd and 4th line! Need those when our top lines are getting checked!

Remember physics also theorizes that a curveball is an optical illusion.
- paulr

errr....no it doesnt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...i/Bernoulli%27s_principle

errr....no it doesnt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...i/Bernoulli%27s_principle
- dr_boloney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curveball

Crawford look weak again.

Hey Man at least they keep winning. This schedule is crazy keep piling up them points ! If the Hawks end up with a bit of a buffer they could rest guys down the stretch which would be a luxury.
- mrpaulish

He looked weak early. I would have pulled him too.

But props to Q for leaving him in there, he turned it around and played very well for the rest of the game. For a goalie with questionable mental toughness, a game like this - i.e. overcoming adversity early to win a game, making some difficult saves down the stretch - coudl do wonders for Crawford in terms of confidence.

I'm already sick of all the "Sharks got screwed" talk. Yes, he should have been penalized instead of kicked out, but you can't leave your feet...plain and simple. Plus, the Hawks lost Keith for basically a period. If I was a Sharks fan, I'd take that trade off every time. On top of being slower than the Hawks, Sharks looked tired in the third period. Hawks NEED another faceoff guy YESTERDAY!!!
- hawks2010

Good call

Just watched the video of the hit on Jam. Sure looks like Desj. left the ice to me.

FWIW I didn't think it was a dirty hit after seeing it in slow motion. I agree that the whole "Sharks got screwed" bit is already old. Calls will even out over the course of a year. Some go your way and some don't.

Also put me in the camp of breaking up the 2nd line. Switch centers and see what happens. New top 6.

10/19/88
20/36/81

clean hit for sure...and when any player leaves his feet he's reducing the force of the hit. the only downside of the dreaded "leaving your feet" is if it results in head contact. in last nite's game, the contact was shoulder to shoulder.
- isaiah520

When you are lining up another player your body is automatically in the air as you make contact unless you make an effort to slow your momentum

its not easy to do especially when the intended target turns away from you or in mayers case changes his angle towards you. For posters who play contact this is common knowledge

its a clean hit by todays standards but its up to the league and the players to cease head hunting....The Hawks do it to and it pisses me off when fans only react when it happens to us

He looked weak early. I would have pulled him too.

But props to Q for leaving him in there, he turned it around and played very well for the rest of the game. For a goalie with questionable mental toughness, a game like this - i.e. overcoming adversity early to win a game, making some difficult saves down the stretch - coudl do wonders for Crawford in terms of confidence.
- FredoXV

I was thinking the same thing. Then he came up with those back to back saves where it seemed he "clicked." That was impressive, plus he started limiting rebounds and sucking up shots.

I agree that the hit was clean. Mayers put himself in a vulnerable position and got tagged for it.

Was the SJS player driving up through the hit as they made contact? Yes, but that alone doesn't make it a dirty hit. He didn't leave his feet prior to the hit, and the contact was shoulder-to-shoulder.

The speed of the game, and the fine line the NHL is asking it's refs to walk in these instances, is going to lead to these types of calls. At the end of the season, you just assume (or hope) that they even themselves out.

The Physics of Baseball (3rd Edition) [Paperback]
Robert K. Adair (Author)

this is the study commissioned by bart giamatti, president of yale, after he left to become commish of baseball but tragically died at 51 (also likely would have ended all the nonsense about corked bats)

you simply cannot replace patrick kane and when our 3rd line is showing this kind of dynamic, we are something to behold.......when bickell hits and stalberg isn't in the glide.........

i thought it was just an unfortunate (for jamal) blind side shot that's part of the game and also am sure sharks would trade desjardin and a 1 minute pp for keith everygame

mcclellan has always been about excuses for losing

I think the biggest takeaway from last night, and something I have been skeptical about since 2010, is the Hawks were more that willing to engage physically.

Bickell was trucking people all over the ice and it was clear the sharks noticed when he was on the ice.

You even were getting a big hit here and there from hammer, kruger, brookbank, SHARP! That stuff is shades of 2010 that actually gets me excited and is worth the comparisons.

Make no doubt about it, the sharks were skating in motor oil last night in the third period, not sure if they are a for real team for a deep cup run because of this. Age shows on this team along with lack of speed with an intense and packed schedule.

Again, kudos to crawford for hitting the reset button and shutting the door.

Meh, the hit looked nasty in real time. Tough call for the officials to make. Maybe not 100% correct but w/e. I could live with that if a Hawk player was called for a similar play (haha not likely but you know).

Also, massive difference between leaving your feet and exploding through someone and leaving your feet to lessen a blow. It happened, wasn't a huge factor in the game and moving on now.

Really really dislike the Sharp, Bolland, Kane line. I hate it. On paper it looks awesome and Kane because he is Kane will get his points either on the PP, being double shifted or just because he is that good. They either need a masher of a center who create space or a LW who is better equipped to do dirty work.

Ummm the third line. Wow. Those three just seem to be clicking. First time ever Edzo complimented Stalberg on multiple occasions.
- fattybeef

Love the line initially, but looks like they have become stale. Bolland and Sharp might have been the two worst Hawks on the ice last night. And still not thrilled with what little Jammer brings to the party these days.

Also put me in the camp of breaking up the 2nd line. Switch centers and see what happens. New top 6.

10/19/88
20/36/81
- dan9189

Many who watch the club, and me in particular, have pointed out that in order for a young team to mature as individuals and a group is to provide some consistent infrastructure.

Specifically, it is allowing guys to make mistakes or struggle at times, without pulling the carpet on them. It allows them the opportunity to make adjustments and get back on track. A great example is CC last night. Started flat, few soft goals, but in the end righted the ship and made the saves he needed to after that. That goes a long way in player developing confidence.

Even more important to me, is consistent lines. While we have had unprecedented consistency from Q, given his inclination to juggle, a lot of the credit to that may not go to a changed Q, but a Q rule of not juggling things in a streak. The value of this, to me again, is that as players find their legs they are actually working through their slump or dry spell. I have been on this board pumping this concept for a few years. That is allowing guys to grow and work through their issues, as opposed to shuffling deck always and changing things, thus giving them an out or way out of working through things.

So as to your idea....save it for another time. There will be a time to mix stuff up, but as of now, all lines are dangerous.

Love the line initially, but looks like they have become stale. Bolland and Sharp might have been the two worst Hawks on the ice last night. And still not thrilled with what little Jammer brings to the party these days.
- philco28

Jammer/Oduya have been the best defensive pairing the Hawks have to start the season.

Kudos to Bickel...great game. Boy if he does that every night, the guy will make some money next contract.

CC tough start, but worked through it and was perfect there after.

All those doubting the Hawks have the ability to overwhelm the sharks yesterday on the board....

Regardless of back to back stuff, the Sharks, especially on back end, have no answer for Hawks speed.

Had the SJ feed for game, and they talked to Logan Couture in Second period, and as suspected, he pointed out how it was important for the Sharks to control the puck more and not get into the track meet the hawks like to play. Thus confirming my assessment yesterday.

Jammer/Oduya have been the best defensive pairing the Hawks have to start the season.
- Holes02

They had a stat on the pre-game.. they are a combined +15

You simply cannot put your shoulder down, leave your feet and hit someone with your shoulder in their head - end of story. They're going to call this every single time.

As someone else pointed out - Keith was lost for a significant amount of time and the Sharks should want to take that tradeoff every single time. The Hawks survived without their best defensive player for a long stretch of that game.

I agree that the hit was clean. Mayers put himself in a vulnerable position and got tagged for it.

Was the SJS player driving up through the hit as they made contact? Yes, but that alone doesn't make it a dirty hit. He didn't leave his feet prior to the hit, and the contact was shoulder-to-shoulder.

The speed of the game, and the fine line the NHL is asking it's refs to walk in these instances, is going to lead to these types of calls. At the end of the season, you just assume (or hope) that they even themselves out.
- Holes02

Mayers didn't see it that way.

Mayers was convinced he took a blow to the head.

"Yeah absolutely," he said. "It was a hit to the head. I’m not sure if it was elbow or forearm or whatever it was. We’re trying to get that out of our game. "

I'm glad the league is clamping down on these kind of hits.

Also put me in the camp of breaking up the 2nd line. Switch centers and see what happens. New top 6.

10/19/88
20/36/81
- dan9189

To be honest. I would roll with

29/19/81
10/16/88
20/36/25
52/65/67

Kudos to Bickel...great game. Boy if he does that every night, the guy will make some money next contract.

CC tough start, but worked through it and was perfect there after.

All those doubting the Hawks have the ability to overwhelm the sharks yesterday on the board....

Regardless of back to back stuff, the Sharks, especially on back end, have no answer for Hawks speed.

Had the SJ feed for game, and they talked to Logan Couture in Second period, and as suspected, he pointed out how it was important for the Sharks to control the puck more and not get into the track meet the hawks like to play. Thus confirming my assessment yesterday.
- TrueGrit

Fat Douglas Murray cant stay with the Hawks for 60 min, and I dont think Brad Stuart can either. If the Hawks can roll four lines consistently, I dont see another team in the league that can stay with them. Sharp needs to find his game soon, if he goes up the half wall towards the blueline and looses it, one more time...

Hit a guy straight on - NOT with you shoulder coming up and your skates coming off the ice - only reason to do those is to get the head.

Want to reduce concussions? Eliminate hits like that.
- StLBravesFan

I agree and it should be a new penalty called "Launching". Anytime a player leaves his feet to deliver a hit should be a penalty, regardless of making contact with the head. I'd go so far as to say it should be a match penalty. Make the penalty strong enough and players will stop doing it.