http://thecommittedindian...things-that-nobody-cares/

a lot of good points in this blog regarding Q's handling of Hossa situation, lines, etc..

The margin between these two teams is miniscule - regardless of the outcome last night. That little edge was something what it was.. a small edge. Not overthinking.. that's Q trying to find SOME advantage.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I know what you're saying, but how bad could Smith's nerves have been? He's played in 7 or 8 playoff games and potted a couple of GWG. Not a big deal, but the overall story starting with Smith's extensive skating drills yesterday in the morning combined with Q, Toews, and Smiths' quotes postgame and then this presser today makes the whole situation look pretty sketchy.

Then the question is: Has Ben Smith taken warmups in Games 1 and 2
- CaptainBlackhawk

you are missing the point... nobody on Boston's staff gives a flying FK about Ben Smith or any other black ace taking warmups because if Hossa sits, its gravy. you think the B's need to game plan around Ben Smith??

I hate to admit it, but this is an interesting reality. I won't read too much in it right now, but THIS question will be asked if Hossa does indeed play tomorrow night. We need all hands on deck against this Boston team...
- kwolf68

If it's his neck: isn't it probable that he felt he couldn't go and better back out so the Hawks don't have to play only 11 forwards?

When has Hossa been known to be a slacker? ESPECIALLY at game 3 of the SCFinals?

I hate to admit it, but this is an interesting reality. I won't read too much in it right now, but THIS question will be asked if Hossa does indeed play tomorrow night. We need all hands on deck against this Boston team...
- kwolf68

if bergeron or horton or whomever, pulled himself out of a Stanley Cup final game only to be ready for the next one in 48 hours i'd be really upset.

Oh not to say I wouldn't love the Beak on the Hawks. But Marchand is more an agitator with no real interest in dropping the gloves. Shaw, while reducing his fighting load since coming up, is more than willing to dance. Not that who can beat whose ass is going to mean the difference in the series...I mean, other than Patrick Sharp has there been a better forward for the Hawks than Shaw?
- kwolf68

I'd love The Beak on the Hawks too...Kruger and Frolik have played great hockey for us all along...but they were miscast on the top line that Q's line blender barfed out.

you are missing the point... nobody on Boston's staff gives a flying FK about Ben Smith or any other black ace taking warmups because if Hossa sits, its gravy. you think the B's need to game plan around Ben Smith??
- Sconnie

Nope - but game planning knowing that Hossa isn't playing is huge.

if bergeron or horton or whomever, pulled himself out of a Stanley Cup final game only to be ready for the next one in 48 hours i'd be really upset.
- Fountain-San

Yes - because not knowing what the injury was... you'd be upset.

Please.

if bergeron or horton or whomever, pulled himself out of a Stanley Cup final game only to be ready for the next one in 48 hours i'd be really upset.
- Fountain-San

Then you don't trust your guys to make rational decisions about their own bodies - whether they can (a) go at all, and (b) go and actually contribute.

I would trust Hossa to make that decision.

I know what you're saying, but how bad could Smith's nerves have been? He's played in 7 or 8 playoff games and potted a couple of GWG.
- PhatJoeSki

Exactly, he is a professional hockey player who has played in a Game 7 before.... treat him like one.

Supposedly Hossa had a groin injury. Tony Amonte said in a interview in Boston that he had a source from the Hawks that told him this.

- He didn't pull himself out of a game

- He had/has a neck injury.. those type of injuries come and go. It's not like he had a torn knee.

- Hossa is one of the biggest competitors in the NHL. For you to infer he was "pulling himself out of a game" is stupidity at its finest.
- CaptainBlackhawk

meh. pretty weak on his part. sorry.

he skated in warmup and i'm sure it was his call. can't go coach.

Nope - but game planning knowing that Hossa isn't playing is huge.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Again, Smith's inclusion into warmups could have easily been for Bollig. Its all the other stuff around this story that has me feeling weird. Oh well.

BTW, Haviland has been hired as coach of the Hershey Bears.

Yes - because not knowing what the injury was... you'd be upset.

Please.
- CaptainBlackhawk

stanley cup final.

better have a ruptured spleen to not play.

Nope - but game planning knowing that Hossa isn't playing is huge.
- CaptainBlackhawk

yeah, i could tell last night.

game planning around hossa being out is huge? you think if they found out that hossa wasn't playing they would've ran back to the locker room and changed their game plan?

if bergeron or horton or whomever, pulled himself out of a Stanley Cup final game only to be ready for the next one in 48 hours i'd be really upset.
- Fountain-San

Technically, didn't Horton stay out of 2 + periods of game 1, and then play in game 2? Does that same logic apply? Was he really injured?

Nope - but game planning knowing that Hossa isn't playing is huge.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Just go out and play - by 2 minutes into the first period, the Bruins had the "no Hossa" game plan in shape.

It's hockey, not brain surgery, not rocket science, not inside baseball, for God's sake.

If it's his neck: isn't it probable that he felt he couldn't go and better back out so the Hawks don't have to play only 11 forwards?

When has Hossa been known to be a slacker? ESPECIALLY at game 3 of the SCFinals?
- StLBravesFan

Yea I don't know...Hossa certainly has never been anything but a top shelf professional. Part of me worries that he's now 34, has a family, is financially secure and maybe he's now making 'business decisions' and not 'hockey decisions'...because him coming off the ice is a MAJOR blow to this team in all zones. For him to NOT play is huge...but now he may play?

Hey at least with us talking about Hossa, we won't talk about the cruddy powerplay anymore...

Pirri and Leblanc are tiny guys who play small. Danault is decent, meh, ok sized, but plays big (a lot like Kruger, though Danault has more 2C qualities, IMO). The Hawks could use 3-4 mature, developed McNeills right now.

I hope John McDonough and his hockey and marketing flunkies are enjoying Drew LeBlahhhh's "youtubes" and his "mad skills."

More tiny is not what this team needs.

Same probably applies to Ben Smith. Good kid, marginal skills, small.

This team needs to get bigger upfront—and bigger in terms of playing style—not Viktor Stalberg/Brandon Saad "big" (which means 210 pounds on the roster and 175 pounds on the ice).
- John Jaeckel

6'0 195 is not a small man. Especially when you are talking about guys who are 5-7.5% body fat. That is a stout man and probably a very strong man.

This past game had little to do with size or playing size or whatever immeasurable buzz word you want to throw out there and the Hawks inability to sustain any type of forward pressure and maintain possession of the puck. It is exactly the same as the Detroit series where if they simplify their game, start defending 250 feet away, establish a cycle and wear down those big guys on Boston by making them chase is how they will win and how they have had success in the playoffs.

ZERO to do with size and everything to do with having the mental fortitude to execute a game plan, be patient with the puck, make the simple safe play and the stones to win ugly. They did that last series and the tail end of the one before.

Hossa out sucks but they are far from done. No reason they cant steal the next one if they all commit to the same thing.

Technically, didn't Horton stay out of 2 + periods of game 1, and then play in game 2? Does that same logic apply? Was he really injured?
- powerenforcer

his shoulder popped out. popped it back in and got a shot to play the next game. shoulder has been hurt since his fight with iginla right before the season ended.

Just go out and play - by 2 minutes into the first period, the Bruins had the "no Hossa" game plan in shape.

It's hockey, not brain surgery, not rocket science, not inside baseball, for God's sake.
- StLBravesFan

agree. these conspiracy theories about telling, not telling are silly.

I weigh 175 and I could play bigger than they do
- Maggie

You ever try to move a 215 pound man out of the way?

Amonte also said Hossa doesn't have the highest pain threshold either.

The strategy of dump and chase with the hope that Kane will win the physical battle in the corner is getting very annoying.