And a little help from an inexcusably quick whistle, by a sh!t for brains ref.
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly. How dare the red blow the play dead when he loses sight of the puck.

You can argue he was in a bad position, and that's on him. But it was not a quick whistle.

Also, you can't ram a goalie and/or his pad into the net.

Bickell is not on the Power Play because it's the old man Wirtz theory of attempting to under value him come contract time. "You didn't produce in the Finals so here's a mil a year for the next 4 years " . There is absolutely NO reason why Bickell is not on the first PP unit to station himself in front of the net where he's had considerable success so far this playoff season. IMO..... they do not want the media circus all over again when they don't sign ANOTHER big man in front of the net...... a la Dustin Byfuglien. And don't tell me that our big 4 forwards have to do a better job of net presence !! They don't have the size or strength to do it. In the playoffs.......... that should now be Bickell's job !!
- Hawkytalk

Shoutout to Glen Ellyn...me Maw was born and raised there.

As for your theory. It's interesting. And IF it were true...i'll trade in my head dress right now.

First place, "all this board" does not look to Stalberg as the savior: some (like me) question the value of Bollig over him, especially when Bollig had bupkis in the hit department.

Second, winning in Boston is possible with the right adjustments: more physicality along the lines of game 1; Q working his line magic to somehow free up Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp; more of a full game of forechecking and putting pressure on Rask.

Can the coaches and players do that?
- StLBravesFan

I think the Stalberg-hating should all focus right on the bolded above. I don't think anyone is accusing him of being the Swedish Gretzky (or Swedish Ott)? But if Bollig is going to be in there he has to mash someone. He played 8 minutes last night and had zero (0) hits.

Yes, Stalberg can turn the puck over, but how is that different than the D-corps last night? In their own end no less.

If the Hawks dressed Andrew Ladd instead of Stalberg, I don't think we would be screaming for 25 to get his shot. But it's a 4th liner who contributes very little to the end game here. I like Bollig and he has his purpose, but I don't think he helps this team as much as Stalberg can.

First place, "all this board" does not look to Stalberg as the savior: some (like me) question the value of Bollig over him, especially when Bollig had bupkis in the hit department.

Second, winning in Boston is possible with the right adjustments: more physicality along the lines of game 1; Q working his line magic to somehow free up Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp; more of a full game of forechecking and putting pressure on Rask.

Can the coaches and players do that?
- StLBravesFan

Not a shot at you, but this whole idea we have to Free up Toews or anyone is the biggest wussy talk out there. This is freaking hockey. Be a man and figure out how to do it. Is Toews sitting pouting at his locker saying....man this is too hard....jeezus...

Nobody loves 19 any more than I do, but the irony of digging into the bag of excuses, dumping it out, looking for some reason our hero is not getting it done is so moronic. Especially when everyone goes out of their way to take any shot at CC or Saad or anyone, because it is just cool to do .

All year, imo, Q stayed out of the way. That is right, OUT of the way, rolled his lines, made small adjustments here and there and let the guys on the ice win/lose games. Competing is not complicated. Either you want it more than your opponent or not. Either you are willing to pay the price to make plays or not. The idea that somehow the hawks are gonna all of a sudden waste all their energy running around at guys to make some STATEMENT, along with giving up goals, is just insane on its face.

The extent of playing physical is simply finishing checks when presented with opportunities, and taking hits when you need to make a play. All the other hoopla is just that.

I said it last night and ill say it again....

Hawks are not winning this series unless they get major contributions from the pp. it's going to end in 6 and the refs, Crawford, Bolig, or stalberg will have very little to do with it.

Boston has dominated this series. Half of period 1, all of period 2, half of period 3, and 90% of ot in game 1. Game 2....the last 35 minutes plus ALL of ot.

Leddy....awful. Seeing him get walked by a 3rd line player by choosing to throw a half @ss attempt at a stick check is a joke. He's been brutal all playoffs. He and seabrook are neck and neck for the title.

Core.....a goal from sharp, and an assist from hossa. Are toews and Kane playing? Getting very tired of all the lap articles for toews as he hits at 1 goal tied with bollan and saad.

70% of game 2 winners win the cup. Boston has proven they can handle the hawks without their ideal matchups what happens in Boston? I sense at least 1 blowout.

So let the stalberg militia let loose. He can come down from a top mt hockey elite and bless all of us with his once in a lifetime skill set.
- SteveRain

The PP is not the end all be all.....many teams in the past have won a cup with a terrible PP like Boston did against Vancouver. 5 on 5 production will win this series . The Hawks need to do two things....get bodies in front and crash the net, and shoot shoot shoot .....with those bodies in front. I also think it's funny that in every series you are always quick to remind everyone it is a long series, far from over....yada yada yada and now claim the Hawks are done after two games. Chicago is a good team as is Boston and more than likely will spilt in Boston, don't forget the Maple Leafs won twice in Boston so it can be done. As Stalberg versus Bolling goes, you're right neither one should be the sole reason why the Hawks win the cup but as Stalberg has been at times Bollig was largely invisible last night. An interesting stat though and you can take it or leave it....in both series that Stalberg has played every game the Hawks are 4-1.

Shoutout to Glen Ellyn...me Maw was born and raised there.

As for your theory. It's interesting. And IF it were true...i'll trade in my head dress right now.
- philco28

This front-office group has too much of an ego to let what 'might become' stand in the way of winning a championship. I am not a McD fan, but you know this guy wants HIS cup, with HIS (I mean, Stan's) players.

And I like Q, so this is not a bash on him...but I think he feels like he can exploit some other areas, which is why Bickell isn't on the PP. But he will be there come tomorrow night. There's too much outrage from the national media about their flaccid Power Play for him not to adjust something. It's one thing if we b*tch about it, but if morons like Mike Millbury are calling you out, you know you've got to do some tweaking.

OMG, can't believe the guys have courage to get on the ice against these guys.

Wish there was some evidence out there of what works or does not work against the Bruins. Hey lets try to out Bruin the bruins...you know like the Penguins did. That worked out great.

Who gave Bruins biggest test? Leafs, who did what? After sitting their bangers down after the first few games, went with speed and playing THEIR game...and guess what? OMG, it was a series.

But lets keep REACTING to the opposing team, instead of imposing our game and using all of our STRENGTHS, but I know, they just can't work right...we all know this....because...whenever we have tried them....they freaking work...
- TrueGrit

In case you weren't watching the Hawks did impose their game on the Bruins in the first period and it didn't work. Then the Bruins imposed their will on Chicago and it seems to have worked .... no?

My goodness. Some of you guys are the most wishy-washy, weak willed sports fans I have ever seen. We lose one game, and the you are packing it in and calling it a season? Where is your constitution? Where are your guts?

If you thought this was going to be easy, you were setting yourself up for disappointment.

Now put your shirt back on and get ready for some more hockey.

Hooking, holding, cross checking, interference, high sticking and slashing are rule violations, and it is cheating. If you contend that it is not, then there should be a different "playoff rule book" we can all look at? They selectively and arbitrarily call all sorts of penalties during the PO's; they just "use discretion" to keep the number of calls low and even.

Have you also noticed that the zebras went out of their way to even out the penalties again? 3-3 in game 1, and 3-2 in game 2. Gimme a break.
- Q...argh

That has always....... and will always........... be an NHL thing. The zebras are told to keep these games as even as possible when it comes to penalties. It's unfortunate because this Hawks team needs about 20 power plays a game to maybe score once.....and that will go off a defenseman's skate !!!! The question is.....who will be coaching this PP next year ??

Got it from a good source that Stalberg got it on with oneofbQ's daughters and he found out which of course has led to his benchings.

If it was solely on a few turnovers, then half of the team would be in the press box.

Today's article...

Incredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT - My Fox Chicago- FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5


Hawks fans please don't blame the officating...

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

In case you weren't watching the Hawks did impose their game on the Bruins in the first period and it didn't work. Then the Bruins imposed their will on Chicago and it seems to have worked .... no?
- paulr

I was watching and we should have been up 2-0 if not for a bad call and some great goaltending.....IT DID WORK.

In case you weren't watching the Hawks did impose their game on the Bruins in the first period and it didn't work. Then the Bruins imposed their will on Chicago and it seems to have worked .... no?
- paulr

You won't like it, but with the we will dress Bollig to counter Thortons 3 mins of ice...the advantage goes to Boston. But I know, this is the one roster spot in sports history that can not and will not effect the outcome of the series. It is a cosmic anomaly.

1 - 1, we have another week of this back and forth. BTW, I totally get what you and others say about Boston's size and style. My point is rather than sitting and wringing our hands of what we are not or what many of you would like, how bout simply embracing what we have been all year and getting after it? If you are going to lose, lose being who you are, instead of trying to be all things to all people, which history shows us fails. Just my view point.

I mean why not stick with the line up that has not FAILED all spring. Funny how 25 came back in Detroit series and they rolled through LA. Now...we just know that can't work again right?

That is it....

My goodness. Some of you guys are the most wishy-washy, weak willed sports fans I have ever seen. We lose one game, and the you are packing it in and calling it a season? Where is your constitution? Where are your guts?

If you thought this was going to be easy, you were setting yourself up for disappointment.

Now put your shirt back on and get ready for some more hockey.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

Give THE QUITTERS shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit Fat Tony

OMG, can't believe the guys have courage to get on the ice against these guys.

Wish there was some evidence out there of what works or does not work against the Bruins. Hey lets try to out Bruin the bruins...you know like the Penguins did. That worked out great.

Who gave Bruins biggest test? Leafs, who did what? After sitting their bangers down after the first few games, went with speed and playing THEIR game...and guess what? OMG, it was a series.

But lets keep REACTING to the opposing team, instead of imposing our game and using all of our STRENGTHS, but I know, they just can't work right...we all know this....because...whenever we have tried them....they freaking work...
- TrueGrit

Also if you watched the Leaf Bruin series, as I did, you'd know that your statement is false. The Leafs pounded the Bruins along with using their speed. ANd their main target was Chara. Also they did not sit the all their tough players. You see TG the Leafs built their team on speed AND size and toughness ... FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

In case you weren't watching the Hawks did impose their game on the Bruins in the first period and it didn't work. Then the Bruins imposed their will on Chicago and it seems to have worked .... no?
- paulr

Ummmm. 1st period did work. Hawks were running the show.

Got it from a good source that Stalberg got it on with oneofbQ's daughters and he found out which of course has led to his benchings.

If it was solely on a few turnovers, then half of the team would be in the press box.
- HockeyMat

Have some issues with Vik...but we're 11-4 with him IN.

I appreciate your dour perspective, but we lost 1.... 1 goal game. Sure Boston imposed their will on us in the latter half of Game 2, but it's one game.

I'm not a Stalberg Kool-Aid guy. He's a great skater, but a turnover machine who needs diapers if he played in Boston. Wouldn't mind seeing Ben Smith, but his insertion is highly unlikely due to rust and fitness issues.

The answers to success are simple. Get the puck OUT FAST...no 3, 4, 5 passes inside our red/blue line and GET IT DEEP and GO GET IT.

Get Bickell, Shaw and Bolland in front of Rask as much as possible. That was strangely abandoned again by The 'Stache and his fellatio boys.

On the pp...GET IT DEEP AND GO GET IT. None of this Keith and Kane wussy A S S entry shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit.

Have to get a lot of hard, low shots on Rask and look for rebounds. And most importantly....WE HAVE TO HIT. Lucic and Chara are getting a FREE RIDE.
- philco28

This x 1000 plus they have to be more clever with the chip-ins. Key is getting the big dumb juice head Chara to turn. All D for that matter. Maybe go one way and dump in another so they have to make turns. And not so hard so it just goes around boards to the other d-man

My goodness. Some of you guys are the most wishy-washy, weak willed sports fans I have ever seen. We lose one game, and the you are packing it in and calling it a season? Where is your constitution? Where are your guts?

If you thought this was going to be easy, you were setting yourself up for disappointment.

Now put your shirt back on and get ready for some more hockey.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

Preach. Brother preach... We are in the Stanley Cup Finals aren't we? 2 OT games. Tied 1-1. I for one am enjoying the hell out if it.

This front-office group has too much of an ego to let what 'might become' stand in the way of winning a championship. I am not a McD fan, but you know this guy wants HIS cup, with HIS (I mean, Stan's) players.

And I like Q, so this is not a bash on him...but I think he feels like he can exploit some other areas, which is why Bickell isn't on the PP. But he will be there come tomorrow night. There's too much outrage from the national media about their flaccid Power Play for him not to adjust something. It's one thing if we b*tch about it, but if morons like Mike Millbury are calling you out, you know you've got to do some tweaking.
- eburgio

Nice post Burgy and SPOT ON. Hope Q acts.

And JJ mentioned something about putting in a call to Scotty for his input....i hope so...isn't that what he's being paid for ?
For his EXPERIENCE AND GENIUS ?

I was watching and we should have been up 2-0 if not for a bad call and some great goaltending.....IT DID WORK.
- philco28

Not to blame the refs or one bad call, but I wonder what the game would have been like we did have that 2-goal lead? Boston kept telling themselves sure we were badly outplayed but it is just 1 goal and anything can happen. But 2 goals are different. Could have been a big mental turn, too, to get that 2nd goal

Today's article...

Incredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT - My Fox Chicago- FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5


Hawks fans please don't blame the officating...

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

This!

Not to blame the refs or one bad call, but I wonder what the game would have been like we did have that 2-goal lead? Boston kept telling themselves sure we were badly outplayed but it is just 1 goal and anything can happen. But 2 goals are different. Could have been a big mental turn, too, to get that 2nd goal
- tomcat24

Everything after the 1st period tells me Boston had a much better chance of winning the game...2 goal lead or not. The Hawks have had more than their share of breaks.

Incredible start, no finish as the Blackhawks drop Game 2 in OT - My Fox Chicago- FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/11IESN5

OMG, can't believe the guys have courage to get on the ice against these guys.

Wish there was some evidence out there of what works or does not work against the Bruins. Hey lets try to out Bruin the bruins...you know like the Penguins did. That worked out great.

Who gave Bruins biggest test? Leafs, who did what? After sitting their bangers down after the first few games, went with speed and playing THEIR game...and guess
what? OMG, it was a series.

But lets keep REACTING to the opposing team, instead of imposing our game and using all of our STRENGTHS, but I know, they just can't work right...we all know this....because...whenever we have tried them....they freaking work...
- TrueGrit

Funny....didnt see you after game 1. Wonder why?

Help me out everyone. I just landed back to earth and have been gone for a while. My gosh, from the sound of it, 25 almost cost us every series with all his turnovers. There are so many, can someone point to me on example from the playoffs............point to that shift or game........crickets.

It is asinine to point to some made up hype and group think talking point as a reason to keep the guy out of the line up.

I look for patterns. Pattern is, when Q leaves him alone and in the game. The team wins consistently. But that is just coincidence I am sure. There is only what 60 games of evidence of that....but then again...not enough of a body of work.

Is it that 25 just looks back and Kompon and laughs hysterically? That might be annoying. Having that guy, tell you, you can't help make what he does better. Like a guy drowning shooing away a guy with a life preserver.....