Lotta that grit and toughness was absent that regular season...

That wasn't brute force that knocked out Toews and Hossa. Those were ass holes. Being tough did nothing for Philly, Pitt or NYR or STL or SJ. The hardest working team in the East with timely goaltending came through. LA was pretty much the same way though Brown wrecked what one of the Sedins? I wouldn't say they threw any cheap shots though they were just tenacious.

Throw them in the fire and see what happens. This Hawks team as built is well equipped to forecheck efficiently and score goals from at least 3 lines consistently. Should be enough to do some damage if they combine that with the right amount of luck and health.
- fattybeef

Going to respectfully demur.

Big hits by Hawk forwards on opposing d-men directly impacted the outcomes of the following playoff series: Calgary, 2009, Vancouver 2009, Vancouver 2010, Philadelphia 2010.

Conversely, I'm not sure the Hawks wouldn't have given Detroit more of a run in the 2009 WCF if (a--hole) Kronwall doesn't take Havlat out on a "clean" hit.

Game 1 of Vancouver in 2011 likely goes to the Hawks if Vancouver doesn't come oput and check the Hawks out of the building over the first 30 minutes. And likely the Hawks then take the series.

You Kept this from us?

Having Toews-Brassard-Bolland down the middle would be tough to play against
- nickmo2699

Nahh, I mentioned it either in a blog or in the thread. There was a LOT of stuff going on then.

Nahh, I mentioned it either in a blog or in the thread. There was a LOT of stuff going on then.
- John Jaeckel

Any idea why it fell through?

Any idea why it fell through?
- nickmo2699

Dunno. As I recall Howson decided not to have a total rebuild/fire sale. I am also not sure if the Brassard to the Hawks thing was valid. The Hawks were interested in him and there were talks. Then I heard at one point the Jackets were getting ready to announce a deal for him. Then nothing.

You may be right about Hossa's hit but do you really think Thornton would have got in more than 1 shot at head Toews' head, let alone had Pavelski join him had a more truculent player been on the ice? If two guys don’t use Toews’ head as a speed bag, Toews doesn’t miss the last 1/3 of the schedule and is available and healthy for the playoffs.

And I do not want a one dimensional goon. I want a player who can play and if necessary drop the gloves, not pretend they don’t see a teammate being pummeled and get away fast. And while I’m on that subject, nothing will break team chemistry, cohesion and morale more quickly than players who allow their teammate to take the beating Toews did.
- paulr

Jumbo Joe is called Jumbo because he is 6'4 230

I don't think he cares who does what on the ice. Anyone attacking him will get an instant penalty and he wont fight them (advantages to multiple 100pt seasons and being a "star" player). The dude has been doing that since he came into the league, hasn't stopped yet and is a consistent loser for a reason. It is silly to think anyone would deter that behavior.

Torres, does/did not care much the same way Matt Cooke (still throwing elbows btw) is less obvious about it now. Hartnell skating with Giroux offered zero protection like I have mentioned several times and was mentioned above.

Going out on a short limb here, I'm saying Kane has a big night tonight.
- John Jaeckel

AND Sharp if the only the damn pipes would stay out of the way....

http://www.nhl.com/ice/bl...=14037&navid=nhl:topheads

Melrose kiss of death....

Ducks 2 days rest enjoying this wonderful February weather...suspect they will come out with some intensity and push the hawks around...

(A) The Astros were a really good team that year. They were right in the midst of the killer B's era and won over 100 games that season.

(B) I'm fairly certain it wouldn't have been a perfect game. My recollection is that Wood hit Biggio. Granted this is 15 years ago, but I'm fairly certain that there was at least that one HBP.
- QStache

Yes, you are correct on both counts.

Big hits by Hawk forwards on opposing d-men directly impacted the outcomes of the following playoff series: Calgary, 2009, Vancouver 2009, Vancouver 2010, Philadelphia 2010.
- John Jaeckel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBbHPoqv08

PK: 92.9 tops mark in the League. The Hawks have been shorthanded just 42 times (eighth in League), but have allowed just three power-play goals all season. With Crawford in net, the Hawks have killed 31 of 32 opposing power plays.

Stat of the year so far given 10 of 12 road games.

A close 2nd: C2 @ 1.6 GA and .935 Save%

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBbHPoqv08



- PhatJoeSki

thats my favorite hit of that series...always best viewed with the sound all the way up..

(A) The Astros were a really good team that year. They were right in the midst of the killer B's era and won over 100 games that season.

(B) I'm fairly certain it wouldn't have been a perfect game. My recollection is that Wood hit Biggio. Granted this is 15 years ago, but I'm fairly certain that there was at least that one HBP.
- QStache

here ya go...


http://www.baseball-refer...es/CHN/CHN199805060.shtml

Jumbo Joe is called Jumbo because he is 6'4 230

I don't think he cares who does what on the ice. Anyone attacking him will get an instant penalty and he wont fight them (advantages to multiple 100pt seasons and being a "star" player). The dude has been doing that since he came into the league, hasn't stopped yet and is a consistent loser for a reason. It is silly to think anyone would deter that behavior.

Torres, does/did not care much the same way Matt Cooke (still throwing elbows btw) is less obvious about it now. Hartnell skating with Giroux offered zero protection like I have mentioned several times and was mentioned above.
- fattybeef

I don't think that what Thornton did would have been deterred, and I stated that very clearly. I said he wouldn't have had free reign to get the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th .... shots in and there is no chance he would have been joined by Pavelski doing the same thing had someone with a little backbone been on the ice. Had the Hawks had a player like say Iginla (for arguments sake only) do you think Toews would have had two guys teeing off on his head?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBbHPoqv08



- PhatJoeSki

At that point, Pronger had been rendered a non-factor in the series. Beaten up. Worn down.

Another big hit that I don't think there is any tape of was when Byfuglien blasted him through the boards a couple of years earlier in the UC.

At that point, Pronger had been rendered a non-factor in the series. Beaten up. Worn down.

Another big hit that I don't think there is any tape of was when Byfuglien blasted him through the boards a couple of years earlier in the UC.
- John Jaeckel

Hanging a Cup L on that p rrrrrrr ick made me


and still does

At that point, Pronger had been rendered a non-factor in the series. Beaten up. Worn down.

Another big hit that I don't think there is any tape of was when Byfuglien blasted him through the boards a couple of years earlier in the UC.
- John Jaeckel

Get real! Are you actually suggesting physical hockey makes a difference in the outcome of a game or series???

I have a Sharp t-shirt which I have worn nearly every Hawk game this year, the only 2 games in which I didn't wear it the Hawks lost. So I have become very superstitious. I have not worn it under my work clothes today as it has been around 30 degrees lately (that's Celsius for you Fahrenheit people). So if the Hawks lose today, you can blame it on me.

I don't think that what Thornton did would have been deterred, and I stated that very clearly. I said he wouldn't have had free reign to get the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th .... shots in and there is no chance he would have been joined by Pavelski doing the same thing had someone with a little backbone been on the ice. Had the Hawks had a player like say Iginla (for arguments sake only) do you think Toews would have had two guys teeing off on his head?
- paulr

Yes. Thornton has made a career of playing like that. That is why most fans across the NHL hate him. That and he is a loser. Cooke, Carcillo, Torres, Bertuzzi, Kronwall - they do what they do.

A lil guy like Pavelski maybe can be swayed but attacking Toews in that manner seemed to me more of the "game plan" in that situation as opposed to some guys just being uncouth.

Hanging a Cup L on that p rrrrrrr ick made me


and still does
- philco28

Hey, at least he has the pucks from the first couple of games to keep him warm at night.

Point taken, I will go skate to the box for a 10 minute misconduct.
- TrueGrit

Suggest a message with a happy ending

Hey, at least he has the pucks from the first couple of games to keep him warm at night.
- PhatJoeSki

He can keep the pucks...we'll keep the banner and bling

Yes. Thornton has made a career of playing like that. That is why most fans across the NHL hate him. That and he is a loser. Cooke, Carcillo, Torres, Bertuzzi, Kronwall - they do what they do.

A lil guy like Pavelski maybe can be swayed but attacking Toews in that manner seemed to me more of the "game plan" in that situation as opposed to some guys just being uncouth.
- fattybeef

But you didn't address my point! Do you think a teammate like Iginla would have allowed Thornton to keep pounding Toews' head or would he have stepped in to help? I think you know as well as I, Thornton would never had been able to pummel Toews in that situation.

But you didn't address my point! Do you think a teammate like Iginla would have allowed Thornton to keep pounding Toews' head or would he have stepped in to help? I think you know as well as I, Thornton would never had been able to pummel Toews in that situation.
- paulr

You asked if I thought Toews would have two guys tearing off his head and I said "yes"

You don't know, and IMO he would have continued to rock him as that is the scum of a player he is and what the Sharks game plan was for that particular evening. How is any one going to deter that? You skate over push him or face wash him get two minutes they go on the power play (worst PK last year btw) and he stays on the ice. Awesome game plan.

The only thing that stops that is a brawl with 8 or 9 guys sitting in the box and the referees so uptight any contact is a penalty. Pretty unrealistic scenario.

Going to respectfully demur.

Big hits by Hawk forwards on opposing d-men directly impacted the outcomes of the following playoff series: Calgary, 2009, Vancouver 2009, Vancouver 2010, Philadelphia 2010.

Conversely, I'm not sure the Hawks wouldn't have given Detroit more of a run in the 2009 WCF if (a--hole) Kronwall doesn't take Havlat out on a "clean" hit.

Game 1 of Vancouver in 2011 likely goes to the Hawks if Vancouver doesn't come oput and check the Hawks out of the building over the first 30 minutes. And likely the Hawks then take the series.
- John Jaeckel

Yes. Play that was lacking during the regular season that just about everyone was complaining about.

And aside from stellar goaltending, the two hardest working - maybe not hardest hitting but hardest working teams made it last year so success being possible in more than one way is possible (not do be redundant) possibly.

More than one way to skin a cat.

At that point, Pronger had been rendered a non-factor in the series. Beaten up. Worn down.

Another big hit that I don't think there is any tape of was when Byfuglien blasted him through the boards a couple of years earlier in the UC.
- John Jaeckel

JJ
I contend that once the nhl was sure the series would go more than 4 they started calling pronger for all the cross checking they were allowing him to do in the first few games.
without cross checking he turned into a below average defenseman