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

- SteveRain

I was here and pointed out and complimented Q for actually rolling Bollig thru the overtime. But go ahead and assume away.

Since the power play is terrible why not send the third and fourth lines. We have seen that Shaw isn't afraid of battling with the Bruins in front of the net. Plus, this rests the top 2 lines.

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!
- paulr

They started the series with Fraser Mclaren, trying to out bruin the bruins and realized that was a mistake. That is my point. See my points on finishing checks and taking hits to make plays, has nothing to do with hoopla of physical hockey...it is playing hockey....

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 ??
- Hawkytalk

It's not PP's I'm worried about (hell, I DREAD when they get one ... kills all their momentum and seems to result in potential shorties too often). Simply deterrent effect. Give the Hawks SOME chance (hell, not even a "fair" one) to play their game.

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.....
- TrueGrit

Grit,

Stalberg wouldn't have made much diffference in Game 1 or 2.

The more determined team with the stronger will won....Period.

Hawks played their best period of hockey in the playoffs and followed up by getting 9 shots on goal over the next 40 minutes....Enough said.


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

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....
- TrueGrit

So after watching the Hawks fly using the speed game in the first period and it didn't work then watched as the Bruins pounded the Hawks for the win you hang your whole argument on the fact Q took Stalberg out of the line up in favour of Bollig? Really TG? Is that what your argument has come down to? You do know that with that assertion you are effectivly saying Stalberg is Chicago's most important and valuable player.

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

- SteveRain

BTW, way to refute my comments point by point. Back to the drawing board for me.

I would like to see Stalberg in the lineup. No he isn't the end all be all. But if he makes that turnover Bollig did... He would be sent to permanent purgatory. And if he was such a liability... Why was he in he lineup all year?

Also time to re ignite once again Kane and Toews. Q does so much that makes me wonder. Including defusing a dominant Kane and Toews line late in the LA series.

They started the series with Fraser Mclaren, trying to out bruin the bruins and realized that was a mistake. That is my point. See my points on finishing checks and taking hits to make plays, has nothing to do with hoopla of physical hockey...it is playing hockey....
- TrueGrit

Again one player TG ... REALLY?

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.
- TrueGrit

Coaches have to make sure to put players - including superstars and $6MM men - in the right position to succeed - is Q doing that with the core?

As far as Q staying out of the way: as we keep saying, regular season is different - you don't play the same very good team - certainly a team as god as you are - 4-7 straight games. By game two/three/four, each team knows the other in and out, strengths and weaknesses. Now it's up to the coaches to figure out the right adjustments - and the players to execute.

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 ??
- Hawkytalk

I assume you can cite sources for this.

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

I could understand if it were Trestman's daughters....

Coaches have to make sure to put players - including superstars and $6MM men - in the right position to succeed - is Q doing that with the core?

As far as Q staying out of the way: as we keep saying, regular season is different - you don't play the same very good team - certainly a team as god as you are - 4-7 straight games. By game two/three/four, each team knows the other in and out, strengths and weaknesses. Now it's up to the coaches to figure out the right adjustments - and the players to execute.
- StLBravesFan

Because the Hawks refused to get grunt players you need the star players doing grunt work. Do we want Toews checking people exclusively or adding some offense to a responsible defensive game? Right now he is playing extreemely well but isn't scoring because the Hawks don't have a good balance of skill and grit.

Coaches have to make sure to put players - including superstars and $6MM men - in the right position to succeed - is Q doing that with the core?

As far as Q staying out of the way: as we keep saying, regular season is different - you don't play the same very good team - certainly a team as god as you are - 4-7 straight games. By game two/three/four, each team knows the other in and out, strengths and weaknesses. Now it's up to the coaches to figure out the right adjustments - and the players to execute.
- StLBravesFan

Bruins dictated the pace of play after the opening 20....Their third line was better than any Hawk line and their goalie was better too.

Stalberg wouldn't have changed any of the above.


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

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

When the goal was being reviewed, one CBC announcer said this could be a game changing decision...then another prophetically said...'maybe series changing'.

This team has proven its resiliency all postseason. They know they sucked yesterday. They'll have to be ready for an amped up crowd and bruins team but I'm confident they'll win at least one of the next two.

So after watching the Hawks fly using the speed game in the first period and it didn't work then watched as the Bruins pounded the Hawks for the win you hang your whole argument on the fact Q took Stalberg out of the line up in favour of Bollig? Reallt TG? Is that what you argument has come down to? You do know that with that assertion you are effectivly saying Stalberg is Chicago's most important and valuable player.
- paulr

Exactly, that is it. First, in a series, you are not going to win every game. I am not climbing off the ledge looking to blow up the roster as many do after a loss.

For the millionth time, I will point out to you again...AGAIN, that if you are going to REACT to every opponent by taking away from your teams strength, you are asking for trouble. That is it..It is that simple. What Q does is akin to the 80s Oilers sitting someone because of what the other team might do. Instead of saying. yes you have physical advantage against us, big deal, but you dare the other team to risk being burned by your speed and style of game. So far, in this series its a draw and we have handicapped ourselves by making it fair by dressing Bollig to match up with Thornton in case there is a fight that you and I know will never occur in the finals...but go ahead and plan for that possibility...

BTW, since you like to be absurd at times, let me counter with my absurdity, send over that hits conversion ruler so I can figure out how many hits equals a goal.

When the goal was being reviewed, one CBC announcer said this could be a game changing decision...then another prophetically said...'maybe series changing'.
- philco28

What could be series changing is the difference in performance after period 1....That was like night and day....

9 shots on home ice in 40 mins....Forget the no goal call that is a lot of ineffective hockey.

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

Bruins dictated the pace of play after the opening 20....Their third line was better than any Hawk line and their goalie was better too.

Stalberg wouldn't have changed any of the above.


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

I didn't say anything about Stalberg there - was referring more to the core.

I didn't say anything about Stalberg there - was referring more to the core.
- StLBravesFan

My point is the same and the "core" on either team really hasn't done much throughout the two games.

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

Exactly, that is it. First, in a series, you are not going to win every game. I am not climbing off the ledge looking to blow up the roster as many do after a loss.

For the millionth time, I will point out to you again...AGAIN, that if you are going to REACT to every opponent by taking away from your teams strength, you are asking for trouble. That is it..It is that simple. What Q does is akin to the 80s Oilers sitting someone because of what the other team might do. Instead of saying. yes you have physical advantage against us, big deal, but you dare the other team to risk being burned by your speed and style of game. So far, in this series its a draw and we have handicapped ourselves by making it fair by dressing Bollig to match up with Thornton in case there is a fight that you and I know will never occur in the finals...but go ahead and plan for that possibility...

BTW, since you like to be absurd at times, let me counter with my absurdity, send over that hits conversion ruler so I can figure out how many hits equals a goal.
- TrueGrit

No one reacted TG, Q proactively changed his tactics based on the opposition. This tactic is tried and true and practised by all successful teams.

You are correct. The guy never gives the opposition any credit. I don't know what drugs JToes is on, but he should take a reality pill instead. The Bruins executed their gameplan last night.

They set the tone early by hitting guys like Keith regularly and making the D nervous. The Hawks attack starts from the D with a good first pass or rush and if they are nervous its not going to happen. The Hawks are not going to keep up with the hitting, game in and game out. It takes a physical toll to lay a hit and to take a hit.

The Bs were content to play rope a dope the first period and then took it to the Hawks after they got into a lull. They couldn't get their legs back in the 2nd and it carried through to the third.

The crowd in Boston is going to pump up guys like Lucic and scum like Marchand. Bergeron, Jagr, Chara are stars in this league and will show it with the crowd support behind them.
- kaptaan

I agree with you

After watching the game again this morning I don't think either team played their best game by any stretch.

A lot of turnovers on both sides
Not a great game so lots of room for improvement by both teams. A couple of OT games
Hawks could be up 2-0 or down 2-0 so 1-1 is fair.

Also interesting that with all the chatter about the importance of scoring the first goal in each game the team that did lost bth games

Captain Jonathan Toews tells Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com that the Bruins penalty kill has plenty to do with their power play failure.

“They’ve got a good penalty kill and so do we,” Toews said. “It’s tough to go out there and do everything that you want to do every single time you get the chance. We had a good first power play. We created some chances there.”

Toews attributes some bad luck and bad breaks to coming up empty. Broken sticks will happen sometimes. Truth is, the Blackhawks have enough talent on their power play to do better than they have. Not scoring in 15 straight power plays, however, shows that it may be more than the Bruins’ PK that’s making things happen.

Grit,

Stalberg wouldn't have made much diffference in Game 1 or 2.

The more determined team with the stronger will won....Period.

Hawks played their best period of hockey in the playoffs and followed up by getting 9 shots on goal over the next 40 minutes....Enough said.


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

Al, with all due respect to you and the other informed posters, how can you possibly know that he makes no difference? Fresh legs and some spark would have been an advantage vs a tired team. I am really shocked by many smart peoples flippant view that a roster spot in the finals is not a big deal.

Moreover, and this is actually to my point, why have we made adjustments first to our opponent.? I know I beat the horse on this, but it is baffling to me how you mess with a winning line up to try to match up to the other team, when maybe you should get behind your guys, your style of play and all the momentum you have built over a season being who you are and let Bos worry about all the matchup headaches?

Then adjust.

What could be series changing is the difference in performance after period 1....That was like night and day....

9 shots on home ice in 40 mins....Forget the no goal call that is a lot of ineffective hockey.

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

True Al...the Hawks' DEFLATED BADLY after the Kelly goal. And it showed for the rest of the game.