Prior to the game on the radio side, Q said something to the effect that the hawks needed to dictate the style of game and not react to what the other team was doing. Opening up the game with hitting anything in white while not taking penalties did allow the hawks to play their game. I thought that 2nd and 3rd periods were completely dominated by the hawks. The wild appeared to block a ridiculous amount of shots and Harding nearly stole this one. Kudos to the wild for making a game out of it.

MN lost their starting goalie in warmups, and is missing Heatley and Pominville. I am thrilled the Hawks pulled it out, but think it is too soon to start chest thumping and proclaiming the series over. I guessed this series will be the Hawks in 6, but living in MN now, I know how the Wild have kept every game against the Hawks close. If the three aforementionned players return in this series, the Hawks are going to have to play a lot better than last night. Props to Crawford for coming back froma bad first goal and shutting the door the rest of the night. The Wild fans up here were going nuts on the Broziak goal.....wait now, Crawford stoned him twice!

Getting off the soapbox, great game, and Let's Go Hawks!
- ikeane

All the Hawks need is the real Josh Harding from the Oilers game last Friday night. It wasn't him in goal last night, it was Caesar Maniago re-incarnated.

Good point, but you have to believe the coaching staff is telling him to get open for a shot, as he's basically been doing that all year.
- John Jaeckel

Make B52 into a finesse player?? Makes sense that because he does it all the time the coaching staff is on board with it, but he would be 1000000000 times more effective tying up an defenceman infront of the Wild net.

What's with their incessant desire to throw guys out of the dot? Half of them were total BS. It's funny that the first 2 players can't get it right half the time, but throw out 1 and bring in a 3rd and there's a 100% success rate on actually dropping the biscuit.

I must have yelled at least a half dozen times, "DROP THE PHUCKING PUCK!"
- blackhawk24

well there is a good reason for the %100 success rate on the guy brought it...if the linesman elects to throw him out = 2 min penalty; and you don't see that very often; I can only remember one: Frolik got sent to the box for this violation

Happy about the win don't care how it happened. My 2 takeaways: 1. Why for the last however many years do we start every playoff game slowly? 2. Can we please practice the power play with someone other than Keith running the point and do it that way in the game? That PP in OT when we had to "stop it right there " and praise the rotation and then say unfortunately someone got a piece of it out front. When he said that I screamed of course it effing did look who shot it!

well there is a good reason for the %100 success rate on the guy brought it...if the linesman elects to throw him out = 2 min penalty; and you don't see that very often; I can only remember one: Frolik got sent to the box for this violation
- bogiedoc

Which means, besides putting a secondary FO guy at the dot, he can't be as aggressive, giving a tremendous FO advantage to the other team.

Happy about the win don't care how it happened. My 2 takeaways: 1. Why for the last however many years do we start every playoff game slowly? 2. Can we please practice the power play with someone other than Keith running the point and do it that way in the game? That PP in OT when we had to "stop it right there " and praise the rotation and then say unfortunately someone got a piece of it out front. When he said that I screamed of course it effing did look who shot it!
- Morganskaner88

About 3 weeks ago Keith was moved to the right point to take avantage of his left hand shot just like he was in 2010. More of his shots are getting through because now instead of taking a pass adjusting it to his left side before shooting he can now one time a pass and has his stick in the middle of the ice. Give him some time.

The 4th line was great last night, they played with lots of hustle. I like our chances every night if the bottom 6 play like they did last night. Frolik and Kruger were relentless and excellent on the PK. By no means are these guys regular 4th liners, but they've done an exceptional job this season.

I was at the game, so I'm not sure if either the radio or tv call mentioned this, but it certainly seemed like Q was matching up our 4th line with their 1st line often.

that is insane. and I don't mean that in a bad way. we really have two second lines and REALLY, we have two first lines, one second line and one third line.

didn't notice Parise or Koivu all night - Suter is fantastic (much better than I gave him credit for in the past) but those minutes are going to have to eat him up by the end of this series.

fun time.
- dr_boloney

Foley did mention it often.

And yeah, the Hawks made Parise a non factor. They've done that a few times this year. I like it a lot

I think the 'Hawks retain Bickell for a reasonable pricetag ($1.3-$1.5M).

Stalberg will probably get somewhere around $3-3.5M. Honestly, if he keeps this type of play up, I'd be more inclined to try and re-sign him and shed some salary elsewhere (see David Bolland) if I were Stan.
- FredoXV

I love Stalberg's game. The Preds just re-signed Hornqvist at 4.25m/year. I would not be shocked if some team gives Stalberg close to that if he hits the market.

About 3 weeks ago Keith was moved to the right point to take avantage of his left hand shot just like he was in 2010. More of his shots are getting through because now instead of taking a pass adjusting it to his left side before shooting he can now one time a pass and has his stick in the middle of the ice. Give him some time.
- paulr

It's not just the blocked shots, it's the horrid shot fakes, it's the incredible amount of times where he seems to not hold the puck in the zone, it's the back skating the whole width of the zone along the blue line. I just don't think he should "run" our PP. not that our PP is great with anyone else, but it's worth a try. If you're worried about the defense aspect why not Seabrook, arguably heaviest shot on team.

What's with their incessant desire to throw guys out of the dot? Half of them were total BS. It's funny that the first 2 players can't get it right half the time, but throw out 1 and bring in a 3rd and there's a 100% success rate on actually dropping the biscuit.

I must have yelled at least a half dozen times, "DROP THE PHUCKING PUCK!"
- blackhawk24

I can't remember the last time I saw a game with so many guys thrown out of the faceoff circle AND so many offside calls. Whenever I heard Peel's name called, I always know that the Hawks are going to get the first penalty, and usually a soft one. I was surprised that Koivu got the first call last night. Peel usually seems to have it out for us.

I love Stalberg's game. The Preds just re-signed Hornqvist at 4.25m/year. I would not be shocked if some team gives Stalberg close to that if he hits the market.
- Predville

Poile has lost his mind paying that guy $4.25M/year. But I suspect alot of players want to get off of that sinking ship so he has to overpay.

Unfortunately the Hawks will have to deal with that kind of comparable when negotiating with Stalberg.

Poile has lost his mind paying that guy $4.25M/year. But I suspect alot of players want to get off of that sinking ship so he has to overpay.

Unfortunately the Hawks will have to deal with that kind of comparable when negotiating with Stalberg.
- RickJ

I'm not sure anyone knows yet which teams will be players in the UFA/RFA market this summer: too many unknowns -

Effect of lower cap (reducing number of teams in the market?)

Effect of compliance buy-outs (increasing the supply of players in the market?)

This one will (should) be unlike any we've seen in a long time.

well there is a good reason for the %100 success rate on the guy brought it...if the linesman elects to throw him out = 2 min penalty; and you don't see that very often; I can only remember one: Frolik got sent to the box for this violation
- bogiedoc

Figure the zebra could go the d!ck-route another step; throw the other teams' FO guy out.

Remember the Frolik situation too; silly. These guys are taking themselves way too seriously.

Poile has lost his mind paying that guy $4.25M/year. But I suspect alot of players want to get off of that sinking ship so he has to overpay.

Unfortunately the Hawks will have to deal with that kind of comparable when negotiating with Stalberg.
- RickJ

Stalberg is gone.

Just pray he goes bananas in the next few weeks and really drives his price up. Let the Hawks get a great run out of him and then have someone else overpay.

I'd much rather see that happen than having him flop in the post season and then hold the Hawks ransom looking for a good pay day.

and these guys are suppossedly the highest graded refs...I wonder what criteria they use. Peel...not a fan!!
- bogiedoc

Peel is a complete (frank)ing clown out there, should be the first ref ever fired from the modern NHL.

Anyone see this absolute gem of a report?

B52 is sort of like Herman Munster with a ton of energy out there. And then he lets that shot go and everyone is like "WTF was that?!"

That line was very good. IMO, although the top PP guys got one goal, the lower lines won the game. Suter can't platy 60 minutes. it's that simple.
- John Jaeckel

Like BB but would much rather see Carcillo.

I'm SERIOUSLY PISSED at the way he's been treated. There might be a lot of behind doors stuff we don't know...but the org has basically given Carcillo

the big FUNGULA.

I can't remember the last time I saw a game with so many guys thrown out of the faceoff circle AND so many offside calls. Whenever I heard Peel's name called, I always know that the Hawks are going to get the first penalty, and usually a soft one. I was surprised that Koivu got the first call last night. Peel usually seems to have it out for us.
- Lash8

Not sure if anyone saw the Wings/Ducks game. There was an icing late in the game. Cleary lined up and then went to change his stick. Getzlaf makes a comment and got tossed out of the circle. Zetterberg wasnt even at the dot/lined up yet and Getz got tossed.

Peel is a complete (frank)ing clown out there, should be the first ref ever fired from the modern NHL.

Anyone see this absolute gem of a report?


- TommyDeVito

Damn, she's some kinda wonderful isn't she ?

Stalberg is gone.

Just pray he goes bananas in the next few weeks and really drives his price up. Let the Hawks get a great run out of him and then have someone else overpay.

I'd much rather see that happen than having him flop in the post season and then hold the Hawks ransom looking for a good pay day.
- AceRatbang

I think the Hawks will make a valiant effort to retain #25. Sure would like to keep that 3rd line together. Might mean they have to shove Bolland and Frolik overboard the good ship Blackhawk to do it.

To think Olescz is hauling down $4M+ and Stalberg is making $850K - market correction required.

Hey Phil -- howyadoin?!

Sort of buried in work (gotta finish some proposals due out today) but I posted this last night about Leddy. Leddy and his "sidekick" Seabs with the biggest hits dished out by the Hawks D-men. I know a bunch of you guys think my boy is Charmin-soft, but upon closer inspection, I think the play of ALL our D men in the slot area falls into that category. And the more I think about it, it HAS to be coached into these guys.

Apparently, Nick has no problem hitting guys along the boards and engaging. Except he is better at it (and not taking a brutal beating in the same way) then say Hjalmarsson.

He was solid -- very solid -- and as long as he continues to play with confidence, I think it bodes well for the Hawks.

Thanks again for the shout-out!
- savvyone-1

No problemo Savvy...good to hear you chime in. Your boy will be in line for a huge raise 444444444444444444 Sure.

Damn, she's some kinda wonderful isn't she ?
- philco28

I was pretty crushed when Kustok left. I've warmed up to Ms Collins quite a bit. (i'm sure that makes her day)

Not sure if anyone saw the Wings/Ducks game. There was an icing late in the game. Cleary lined up and then went to change his stick. Getzlaf makes a comment and got tossed out of the circle. Zetterberg wasnt even at the dot/lined up yet and Getz got tossed.
- eburgio

Getzlaf yelled "Oh F*** THAT!"

It was hilarious.

I was pretty crushed when Kustok left. I've warmed up to Ms Collins quite a bit. (i'm sure that makes her day)
- eburgio

Kustok was great too...really liked her style as well.