Every game seems kind of like having the potential of a trap game at this point.
- fattybeef

seems that way, doesn't it?

I guess that's the peril of having a long 'regulation unbeaten' streak. Odds say the Hawks have to lose one eventually, which when that happens will surely cause a mild panic and calls for blockbuster trades and goalie swaps.

You know, business as usual.

Kings usually aren't good in these day games, it'll still be noon in LA. I think in order to win this game Quick will need to play out of his mind, he hasn't really done that this year yet. He was pretty pissed after the Detroit game, and he usually follows it up with a great game, but it's hard to say what'll happen.

Win or lose I just hope it's a good clean game.
- bluecoconuts

There have been studies done on the disadvantage West Coast NFL teams face when going East......Body time clock stuff etc...

Although this time zone might not be ideal for LA....The Kings played in Columbus the other night and have been here for awhile.

The team that has the biggest disadvantage by far in the NHL is Winnipeg as they play West Coast teams but are in the CST zone.

I would think that will change next year.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

seems that way, doesn't it?

I guess that's the peril of having a long 'regulation unbeaten' streak. Odds say the Hawks have to lose one eventually, which when that happens will surely cause a mild panic and calls for blockbuster trades and goalie swaps.

You know, business as usual.
- AceRatbang

Yeah we need to make up some new trade proposals to mix it up. This team playing so well is making things kind of boring I suppose.

That figure might be deceptive because Kopitar was out for that extended period, but this hawk team seems to have determined their wins by dilligently improving in the areas that are now important to the new age speed game.

Having fast players with sticks down you swarm the puckcarriers and loosen them away,
Not falling far behind in the face-off wins to the point where the totals are lopsided.
...and motion.

I'll bet this Kings team has enough pride after that early loss to play hard early today.

Despite the Dee injuries, their pairings have one reliable fella on al three.

I really don't know if at the pro level they change tactics to try attack the weaker links on dee, like the coaches do in football, but the Kings need to continue to play 50/50 and better on the road, and I am sure their coaching staff has drummed the fact they are about 6 points out of the points race, and need to continue winning now and not linger where they presently are in the standings.

Whether Chicgao Football or Hockey, it truly does seem like the teams are not awake aware or in tune when they play "early."

Go game to come in ready to play.

The presently have garnished 89% of their possible points and if they can continue to get a few more, close losses, even blow outs will be a lot easier to take.

If you are one of the Hawk players, you must feel good about the team effort, your effort, and know "what it takes" so me thinks that they can handle a bit of negative energy whenever it arrives...oh, and I ma sure it will.

Nice to see Crawford skated with the team and Carcillo is improving.
- wiz1901

When a team doesn't score all that much there is a finer line for error.

Anyone who thought there wouldn't be a Cup hangover because the season started later was incorrect.

The Kings are 21 st in goal differential for a reason....Players haven't been as dialed in as they should be.

Kane and Toews have together scored 34 points this season.

The top 5 LA scorers together have recorded 35 points.....

Always nice with early games when Im sitting in Stockholm. Hope my home boy Marcus krüger scores, so I can tell the kids at school tomorrow.

Yeah we need to make up some new trade proposals to mix it up. This team playing so well is making things kind of boring I suppose.
- fattybeef

but... but... I like boring!

Always nice with early games when Im sitting in Stockholm. Hope my home boy Marcus krüger scores, so I can tell the kids at school tomorrow.
- barcheus

He has been lighting the lamp with regularity this year. He has 3 goals in the last 5 games.

My biggest concern right now is still their play with he man avantage. Would be nice to see like 2 or 3 PP goals today.

You know the kind of frantic urgency a team shows when they are awarded a PP while trailing late in a game, or when the goalie's off for a sixth attacker? Guys and pucks absolutely buzzing around the zone, bodies crashing the net, shots flying everywhere. Not necessarily pretty, but often effective...that's what I would like to see on every PP.

I know earlier in games you can't risk being caught out of position by pinching at the point or getting everyone in too deep, but some urgency would be nice. Please. Thank you.

Don't look now, but those two consecutive LA wins have come against Brian Elliot and the Blue Jackets.

Hope the Hawks power play can get things done. That is still my top area of concern, especially against a good one like Quick.
- AceRatbang

A strong powerplay is normally a 'nice to have' for a good playoff team. Look no further than the 2011 Bruins. However if the Hawks aren't in the market to beef up their team and think they can go with the one we currently see, I feel the Hawks need to have a very strong powerplay to dissuade other teams from trying to run them out of the rink physically. As well as the Hawks are currently handling the physical stuff and as well as the team is sticking together, this is my one concern about this team. Can they get through 3 or 4 potentially physical playoff series without either beefing up the lineup or having a strong powerplay.

Not a big fan of the Sunday Matinee, hopefully Kane and Company got more sleep than I did last night. If they keep their foot on the pedal there's no reason to believe they shouldn't win again, but this streak has to end sometime, and I don't have a good feeling about today. Emery's first time starting in consecutive starts too, here's hoping his hip is up to it.
- Ogilthorpe2

This +1....hopefully the start time wreaks more havoc with the body clocks of the champs.

Always nice with early games when Im sitting in Stockholm. Hope my home boy Marcus krüger scores, so I can tell the kids at school tomorrow.
- barcheus

I think this Krüger kid is only going to get better too. We have seen a huge improvment from the little 'boy' who was pounded all over the rink last year to a young man who can now more than handle himself physically and is showing us some skill and a high hockey intellegence. Can't wait to see him in a more prominent role in future. I think he'd look good lining up with Toews and Hossa on the left side.

Another vet that might look good with us ? Ryan Smyth ! He was benched last week and wasn't pleased. He played last night and played well and afterward said he still has a 'lot of hockey' left in him.

Quality cat that is great in front of the net and adept at tipping pucks while taking a beating. Hey Bowman.....HEAR DAT ?

Another vet that might look good with us ? Ryan Smyth ! He was benched last week and wasn't pleased. He played last night and played well and afterward said he still has a 'lot of hockey' left in him.

Quality cat that is great in front of the net and adept at tipping pucks while taking a beating. Hey Bowman.....HEAR DAT ?
- philco28

Can he still skate well enough to keep up somewhere in our top 6, or at this point is he more of a bottom 6/PP specialist?

What's your trade proposal? Who goes?

From my experience, it's way easier to travel east to west rather than west to east. Always takes me a couple of days to correct for the lost hours.

Can he still skate well enough to keep up somewhere in our top 6, or at this point is he more of a bottom 6/PP specialist?
- Ogilthorpe2

Think his burst is gone....i'd see him as a 3/4 line guy who do the dirty work on the pp

From my experience, it's way easier to travel east to west rather than west to east. Always takes me a couple of days to correct for the lost hours.
- scottak

Depends on when you are expected to be alert/awake/at your peak performance. If you want to be at your peak early in the day, then I agree, but try traveling to the west coast and then being asked to be "at your best" after 10pm local time. The opposite is true going east.

Can he still skate well enough to keep up somewhere in our top 6, or at this point is he more of a bottom 6/PP specialist?

What's your trade proposal? Who goes?
- Ogilthorpe2

Nobody off the current roster...maybe Lalonde and his brother

My biggest concern right now is still their play with he man avantage. Would be nice to see like 2 or 3 PP goals today.

You know the kind of frantic urgency a team shows when they are awarded a PP while trailing late in a game, or when the goalie's off for a sixth attacker? Guys and pucks absolutely buzzing around the zone, bodies crashing the net, shots flying everywhere. Not necessarily pretty, but often effective...that's what I would like to see on every PP.

I know earlier in games you can't risk being caught out of position by pinching at the point or getting everyone in too deep, but some urgency would be nice. Please. Thank you.
- Ogilthorpe2

I have a feeling at least one PP goal will be needed to win today.

Don't look now, but those two consecutive LA wins have come against Brian Elliot and the Blue Jackets.

Hope the Hawks power play can get things done. That is still my top area of concern, especially against a good one like Quick.
- AceRatbang

I agree that the power play is the key. With all the steroid abusers on the kings, you know they will take a lot of stupid penalties. With Quick in net, they are a tough team to score against 5-on-5

I don't think you can call this a "trap game"....It's not like the Hawks are looking past the Stanley Cup champions.... Of course, I've had at least three or four games pegged as "trap games" only to be totally wrong. The Hawks are going to lose one eventually. Maybe even today, but I doubt it comes because they took their opponent, certainly THIS opponent, lightly.

So according to Hotstove, the Rangers were asked about Michael Del Zotto as part of the package for Ryan O'Reilly. And apparently they wanted much more than him. So any pipe dream of landing ROR starts with Leddy, probably includes a top prospect like Dannault, and giving him the contract he wants, and suddenly, signing ROR to an offer sheet and just surrendering draft picks sounds like a much better plan....

If you haven't seen the video yet of the Hawks skating at Soldier field with the vets, it's worth a look.

http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videocenter/

Then click on Soldier Field sights and sounds.

Nobody off the current roster...maybe Lalonde and his brother

- philco28

Meh, Captain Canada is overpaid at this point in his career in my opinion (last year was even worse paycheck wise!) 2.25 mil cap hit for this year and next. If he can barely keep up with a young Oilers team, is it likely is it he will keep up with the Hawks?

PP specialist is an interesting idea though, I'm just not personally sure Smyth has a lot left in the tank.

Smyth's PP goal #s past 4 seasons:

08-09 (COL)- 10 goals, 09-10 (LAK)- 11 goals, 10-11(LAK)- 9 goals, 11-12 (EDM)- 4 goals

Meh, Captain Canada is overpaid at this point in his career in my opinion (last year was even worse paycheck wise!) 2.25 mil cap hit for this year and next. If he can barely keep up with a young Oilers team, is it likely is it he will keep up with the Hawks?

PP specialist is an interesting idea though, I'm just not personally sure Smyth has a lot left in the tank.

Smyth's PP goal #s past 4 seasons:

08-09 (COL)- 10 goals, 09-10 (LAK)- 11 goals, 10-11(LAK)- 9 goals, 11-12 (EDM)- 4 goals
- prd797

Yes its that second year at that cap hit that troubles me. Otherwise it would be a good move later in this season when the cap hit would be more easily absorbed.

Another vet that might look good with us ? Ryan Smyth ! He was benched last week and wasn't pleased. He played last night and played well and afterward said he still has a 'lot of hockey' left in him.

Quality cat that is great in front of the net and adept at tipping pucks while taking a beating. Hey Bowman.....HEAR DAT ?
- philco28

I agree.. I did see Ryan in the line up last night against the Avs. Edmonton is in the youth movement, so prying Ryan away at this stage should not be to hard. That being said, the Oilers really respect him for what he has done and will honor his input on a trade. If Ryan were to agree, the Hawks could get him in a trade. He would be an ideal piece for what he brings. A quality 2 way C with grit. But will Stanley ever part with his coveted picks and prospects?

I agree.. I did see Ryan in the line up last night against the Avs. Edmonton is in the youth movement, so prying Ryan away at this stage should not be to hard. That being said, the Oilers really respect him for what he has done and will honor his input on a trade. If Ryan were to agree, the Hawks could get him in a trade. He would be an ideal piece for what he brings. A quality 2 way C with grit. But will Stanley ever part with his coveted picks and prospects?
- z1990z

He's a center??