Always a playoff factor, especially in the first couple of games: the refs.

Will they swallow the whistles. Will they let certain things go and what things? Wings got away with a lot of clutchy/grabby in round 1.

Dunno if the league will want that kind of hockey in a marquee series like this, but NBC probably definitely wants this to go 7. Does that matter? Hard to prove but money talks.
- John Jaeckel

I am guessing you will have a new blog later when lineups are clearer. Any thoughts/insight into whether Stalberg plays?

Guessing we see a lot of calls, at least early in round to create pp/scoring chances. Entertainment value....but who knows.

Meh, it doesn't surprise me that Torres hit Stoll up high. The guy may have "changed his tune" for this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game or two suspension.

http://www.nhlwheelofjustice.com/
- prd797

Nobody is saying anything about the hit he laid on Regehr earlier which was very dangerous. It's just that Regehr wasn't injured on the play but he could have been hurt badly.

The CURSE of Raffi =

Any team that ever employs him will go cupless forever.


The hockey Gods must agree with me. That guy is one of the biggest turds of all time
- mrpaulish

If there are hockey Gods, then his career will be ended with a devastating hit. Period.

If there are hockey Gods, then his career will be ended with a devastating hit. Period.
- blackhawk24

And his head on a spike

Meh, it doesn't surprise me that Torres hit Stoll up high. The guy may have "changed his tune" for this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game or two suspension.

http://www.nhlwheelofjustice.com/
- prd797

The good ol' Shanaban wheel of justice. I wonder if he really has one of these in his office?

As far as I'm concerned, the order on this list can stay just the way it is.

http://bleacherreport.com...s-following-draft-lottery

I vow to keep calm tonite, and to remember, no matter what happens:

In 2009, Hawks lst the first game in the 2nd round to Vancouver - won the series in 6.

In 2010, Hawks lost the first game in each of the first two rounds - won each in 6.

Seven game series are pretty good in seeing that the best team wins - if the Hawks are the better PLAYOFF team (and play like it, and there is no reason why they shouldn't), there WILL be joy in Mudville.
- StLBravesFan

Good mindset to have. One that will be tested tonight. I predict hawks come out flat and rusty and lose 5-1 to a ramped up wings team. But like you said, they have bounced back before. I see it being tied 2-2 and hawks win games 5 +6 to win series. Like they always seem to do

Nobody is saying anything about the hit he laid on Regehr earlier which was very dangerous. It's just that Regehr wasn't injured on the play but he could have been hurt badly.
- RickJ

I didn't see that hit (and can't due to NHL.com's video player not loading properly in Scotland) but it sounded like he got 2 for boarding or something like that.

IF Shanahan was smart/consistent, Torres would sit for a couple. But he isn't either of the two, and so it wouldn't surprise me to see no supplemental discipline at all.

The good ol' Shanaban wheel of justice. I wonder if he really has one of these in his office?


- EKolb13

Based on his decisions, you'd have to think so. The fact that the Wheel O' Justice applied to Campbell and now Shanahan's terrible job really makes one go

I didn't see that hit (and can't due to NHL.com's video player not loading properly in Scotland) but it sounded like he got 2 for boarding or something like that.

IF Shanahan was smart/consistent, Torres would sit for a couple. But he isn't either of the two, and so it wouldn't surprise me to see no supplemental discipline at all.
- prd797

I didn't see that much wrong with the Stoll hit - contact was shoulder to shoulder with Stoll extended, reaching for the puck. Charging on Torres? Ovechkin ran the Ranger player after taking about 10 steps. No penalty.

The problem Torres has is the same as Cooke and Carcillo have - no leniency from the officials anymore because he is high risk to re-offend.

Leaving Toronto and heading to Chitown for games 1 and 2!!
- Ruboy88

And the weather might not totally and completely suck

New blog up

I didn't see that hit (and can't due to NHL.com's video player not loading properly in Scotland) but it sounded like he got 2 for boarding or something like that.

IF Shanahan was smart/consistent, Torres would sit for a couple. But he isn't either of the two, and so it wouldn't surprise me to see no supplemental discipline at all.
- prd797

Whelp. It looked like Torres's shoulder drove straight into his head in real time. Either way, Stoll's head was down, Torres skated across ice real fast and drove through hit. Stoll's head snapped back and it looked kind of bad.

In my opinion Torres launched himself through a player who had his head exposed in an indefensible position.

No previous would be like 3 games. Since this bozo does it every year in the playoffs it should probably be 15.

Good mindset to have. One that will be tested tonight. I predict hawks come out flat and rusty and lose 5-1 to a ramped up wings team. But like you said, they have bounced back before. I see it being tied 2-2 and hawks win games 5 +6 to win series. Like they always seem to do
- tomcat24

not enough ledges out there if this happens...

wings scoring 5? vs the Hawks? in one game?

New blog up
- John Jaeckel

Where!?!?!

Whelp. It looked like Torres's shoulder drove straight into his head in real time. Either way, Stoll's head was down, Torres skated across ice real fast and drove through hit. Stoll's head snapped back and it looked kind of bad.

In my opinion Torres launched himself through a player who had his head exposed in an indefensible position.

No previous would be like 3 games. Since this bozo does it every year in the playoffs it should probably be 15.
- fattybeef

I would actually go further and say he should be banned from the NHL. One of these days he is going to kill or cripple somebody.