Jimmy,

No offense but, I'll just say if you really thjnk Parise didn't show up (as others have said), you are missing what's really happening. Parise shows up and shows up hard every night. 2 and 4 are a little like your furnace. You don't notice them or really appreciate them til that rare occasion when they break down. For all of Pierre's fawning over Suter, the Hawk blueliners were very good last night, limiting Minnesota chances. Also some very good backchecking by the forwards.

Give the Hawks some credit. Minnesota played the game that ALWAYS gives the Hawks trouble, taking away the middle of the ice, forcing them outside. I like the fact that the hawks took the body all night and really worked for the victory.

Stalberg was the Hawk MVP last night IMO, good al over the ice and his speed is a problem for MN if he keeps churning through the series.
- John Jaeckel

JJ - I never take offense I definitely agree Parise was shut down more than "he didn't show up" and also that our D playing fantastic last night (still can't get over Pizza's delivery). Keith seemed more "noticeable" in this way than in his recent rock-solid past. Other than than that and some fumbling in the first period, good game by all, really. Very glad the Hawks took all Minn gave them and came out with the win. Big time team effort all around.

Seemed at times like the linesmen were trying to slow the game down, that's for sure. Plus, the worst ref currently in the NHL—Tim Peel— was out there last night.
- John Jaeckel

It was very bad officiating - regardless of what team you support. The offsides calls alone were aggravating - but there so many poorly handled situations during the game - bad calls and even worse non-calls.

Agreed - Tim Peel is easily the worst referee in the NHL. He seems committed to inserting himself as a focal point for attention in the game - which is an indication of an overly large ego.

How much of that cap is Leddy, Kruger, Bickell, Stalberg and Emery going to eat up? I don't think the Hawks will be able to keep them all.
- EKolb13

The big one obviously is Leddy at the $3.5 or 4 mil he's likely going to get. If Stalberg is demanding $3 mil or so, then he's likely gone. They can buy out Montador and Olesz but we still need to sign a decent backup goalie and our own RFA's. Ben Smith could partially replace Stalberg, but I've thought since Stalberg arrived he has the potential to be a fantastic player if he ever puts it all together. I'd hate to see that happen, if it's ever going to, with another team. He's kind of a younger, mini-Hossa in a way.

JJ - I never take offense I definitely agree Parise was shut down more than "he didn't show up" and also that our D playing fantastic last night (still can't get over Pizza's delivery). Keith seemed more "noticeable" in this way than in his recent rock-solid past. Other than than that and some fumbling in the first period, good game by all, really. Very glad the Hawks took all Minn gave them and came out with the win. Big time team effort all around.
- JGould70

Keith had some bonehead moments. I just think his real value is so hard to quantify (like 4) in that it's about what he takes away fomr the other team.

Actually, I thought Seabrook looked slow and had at least a couple of bad giveaways early on. He got better. Leddy, Hjalmarsson, Mikey White Rozes and the Pizza Man were all terrific.

It was very bad officiating - regardless of what team you support. The offsides calls alone were aggravating - but there so many poorly handled situations during the game - bad calls and even worse non-calls.

Agreed - Tim Peel is easily the worst referee in the NHL. He seems committed to inserting himself as a focal point for attention in the game - which is an indication of an overly large ego.
- Chief4Feathers

Just carrying on the Bill McDreary tradition.

What are the odds that Kruger is back next year? I know he's good on the PK, but really doesn't bring much else to the table. Out of all of the names listed, I can see him outta here next season.
- Fooseshark

You must be watching different games than I do. Kruger is a very valuable asset who can play up and down the lineup and in different positions and situations. Coaches just love players like that. He's not a 'outta here' player.

i assume you're joking about all the money to play with. with cap projected to go down $6M, no backup goaltender signed, leddy RFA, bickell UFA, and kruger RFA... i don't think there's any way they are going to be able to squeeze in what the market will bear ($3-4M+) for stalberg
- Sconnie

Other teams are facing the same problems for next year -with either the league cap or owner directed one. If some idiot GM wants to overpay for a particular FA, go and get the next one who might be just marginally less talented but a whole lot cheaper. A deep lineup is more effective than one loaded with high-priced players with no supporting cast.

Disagree.

The difference late in the 3rd and in the 4th period last night was the energy and legs the Hawks' third and fourth lines had. Carcillo, Mayers, Handzus, guys like that, are not going to give you that. Bollig is very well-conditioned (and strong as hell) and he and Frolik, Bickell, Kruger and Stalberg, and Shaw were the guys taking it to the Wild late in the game.
- John Jaeckel

Without question the 3rd and 4th lines brought energy, not denying that at all. However, the 4th line energy came from Kruger and Frolik while Bollig came along for the ride.

Just saying that adding Bolland to the 4th would make it even harder for teams to play against.

There will be a time for Carcillo in the playoffs. Can't see why anyone would have a problem with the way Bollig played yesterday. Agree 100% what we saw last nite was the outcome of not having to play your top dogs 40 minutes a night. Fresh legs in the bottom 2 lines killed the Wild.
- droe411

Bingo! Anyone at the game or watching on TV should have seen this dynamic. The Wild played an excellent road game - blocked shots - clogging the middle, etc. But just when they needed to get a little breather from the intense focus they placed on our 1st and 2nd lines - the 3rd and 4th lines would roll over the boards and keep turning the screw. That cycle possession sequence in the offensive zone by the 3rd line during the 3rd period was a beauty! And it was also the 3rd line that eventually netted the game winner.

Bollig played what you would expect a 4th liner in his role to play and I'm not diappointed in is effort or contribution.

On a seperate note, anyone lese catch the end of the Det/Ana game? Not sure who the announcers were but they were horrible. At one point late in the game the Ducks iced the puck and the debate between the announcers was whether Boudreau was going to switch the line or stay with what had on the ice. I was yelling at my TV, hey d u m b a s s, you can't switch after an icing....is this your first Hockey broadcast? Only 3 games last night and this is the best they can do?

If we want to keep Leddy and Stalberg is it possible beside trading Bolland we just might consider trading Oduya. I think we also have to keep in mind Frolik is making 2.3 mill and he could be expendable.

If that's a penalty, They should just cancel the playoffs.
- Jocelyn26

Love that avatar. Jocelyn "canon ball" Lemieux. That dude could hit!

Saw some of that from Bickell and Shaw last night.

Box score shows 7 hits for Shaw and 6 for Rosie. More of this, combined with the Hawks speed will wear out the Wild (especially with how much they play their top guys).
- mohel

Roszival was a force. Can he keep it up? Was he the ice time leader for Hawks D? Seemed like it.

If we want to keep Leddy and Stalberg is it possible beside trading Bolland we just might consider trading Oduya. I think we also have to keep in mind Frolik is making 2.3 mill and he could be expendable.
- RobFEG

Oduya's NTC might make that difficult. It's not like both Oduya and Frolik are in high demand on the trade market.

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

Koivu was throwing cheap shots all night long. The Wild were definitely trying to make contact with Crawford to... He really showed something after goal 1. He needs to keep it up and, if he gets hurt and Emory isn't ready....

Koivu was throwing cheap shots all night long. The Wild were definitely trying to make contact with Crawford to... He really showed something after goal 1. He needs to keep it up and, if he gets hurt and Emory isn't ready....
- tredbrta

...we're (frank)ed!

1) 100%
2) Disagree, 110%. And I'll be glad to tell you all he does aside from the PK.
- John Jaeckel

I'm a big Kruger fan too John, but he's got to stop losing draws clean in the d-zone. At worst you've got to turn it into a 50-50 puck. Its strange to me that he's not good at faces because he is strong with a good stick along the boards. I really didn't feel comfortable in the OT 4 on 4 with that draw and he lost it, so Toews had to come out earlier than the PP

Bickell's new deal is basically done (with the Hawks). You are probably right on Viktor.
- John Jaeckel

Bickell is basically done? I hope a big playoff run doesn't get his agent to withdraw.

I was thinking their agents were probably seeing $$$$ in OT last night.

No way that's happening. If anything he"ll get time as on the second line at center to spell off Handzus.
- RickJ

IDK what other people thought, but I thought Handzus was terrible last night. He showed absolutely no aggression, never helped Sharp or Kane in the corners, was bad in his d-zone coverage. Didn't check the faceoff stats but he lost more than a few clean, which was bad. I was actually really hoping for Bolland to come back and thats saying something

Bickell is basically done? I hope a big playoff run doesn't get his agent to withdraw.

I was thinking their agents were probably seeing $$$$ in OT last night.
- tredbrta

I was thinking that after Bickell put in the net last night.

Who knows, maybe Bickell wants to stay in Chicago, regardless of his potential for a big payday?

Credit the Hawk bluline and the fourth line. When your fourth line can be your shutdown line and you have three scoring lines, that is a very tough matchup for a 1-2 line team like MN.

Hawks did not play their best game last night, MN arguably did (albeit without Heatley and Pominville). Hawks were down a good top 9 forward too.
- John Jaeckel

Also credit 19 and 81, who they played a ton of shifts against and dominated territorially.

B52 is driving me nuts with his insistance on doing his Mike Bossy impersonation, standing in the slot looking for a one timer instead of going to the net and creating a disturbance. While the line played very well last night they have more chance of scoring with Big Bollig camping in front of the crease.
- paulr

Listen to any of his interviews and all he talks about is defense. They are clearly coached to always have the 3rd man high, and Bollig is very defensively sound. Krugs and Fro have some good cycle action most games, so let those two eat up zone time, and if Bollig gets a shot great, but if not, no odd man rushes the other way. Its that kind of smart, defensive-minded hockey that has really defined the Hawks all year

JJ excellent write up! A PPG and one small lapse gives the Hawks a 1-0 lead in the series. The best part, it was at home where the hawks lost all three times in the first round last year. I agree 100% that the wild played the best possible game and attention to detail that they can possibly throw at the Hawks. I would expect more action friday as I find it very hard to repeat that stellar of play turned in by Minny.

All in All, it was a good start and after the first 20 it was the Hawks game. Hopefully the dominance continues.

I didn't it possible to win 4 out of 7...

agree with JJ on all points...it looked like they were going to get coyoted again...wasn't that really M Smith in net?

I don't think the wild are not as deep as the Phx team last year...in particular at the blueline.....Suter playing half the gme....good luck with that over the rest of the series.

They have to play a extremely disciplined defensive gme...if bstrom is out...Harding can't play like that the whole series none-the-less what truly gutty/remarkable performance.
- bogiedoc

Harding is a real hero. A long game like that could have been a real test for his MS.

I believe his mother was sitting just below us. She had a Harding jersey but it didn't appear to be a Wild jersey. During the anthem, she stood and held her hand in the air - kind of pointing his way so he could try to find her I think.

Worst Officiating I've ever seen in an NHL Game.

They better get control of all the "After the whistle Stuff" or it may become a blood bath..
- Bambino68

What? Are you talking about last night against the Wild? Peel sucks but I have seen far worse games - at least 3 against Phoenix last year.

No idea why Peel is even officiating in the POs. He seems to blow big calls like last night at least 4-5 times a year.