- HawkintheD

STOP IT!!!
We want modern hockey players.

The national media and the broadcasters have been LA knob gobblers this whole series, and the more games LA has won the worse it has gotten. They spent minutes slobbering over the Kopitar play on the 2nd LA goal, about how great he was starting the play down by his net, and how was down there because of what great instincts he has, blah, blah, blah. He was there because a) his man, Toews just beat him to the puck and the net and 8 of 10 times scores on that play. b) as the center is supposed to be there as the center is usually the second man in on plays down low with the defense being 1st man.

It was a basic Hockey play, that 90% of the first line centers in the league make regularly because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO. There was nothing exceptional about it. If Toews scores on that chance do we get to hear how much Kopitar wasn't on his man?

Just call a neutral game.
- TheTrob

I don't disagree....but how many times do we hear about the great Duncan Keith and you never hear anyone criticize him for blatant bad plays.....The Gaborik goal keith got back, completely misplayed that pass and boom...goal. The 4th goal, a very soft one, Keith pinches at the point loses a very winnable battle that he had the leg up on...and lost that battle.

The national guys always gush over the stars. The Kings deserve praise. They are on fire. Koptiar leads the league in scoring. the whole opening montage was all Kings. I don't care. I don't care when Pierre McGuire nuts over al the Hawks players and tells me tales of Keith at Michigan State or Toews at ND or god knows what else.

Point is.....Crawford can be better. If he is, this team will win the next 2 games. Guaranteed.

i think it was more than just Hawks second line catching fire, it was sending them out against defense pairings that weren't doughty/muzzin, and they were feasting on the slow footed mitchell and greene. also, they were matched up on a few goals against the king/richards/clifford fourth line, with the game winner on a bad change where richards got on the ice about four strides after the play.

with LA getting the last change in game 6, you can bet Sutter won't expose the fourth line to the saad/shaw/kane line any more than he has to.
- hiway39

If the visiting team can get/maintain possession, adjustments can be made to mitigate the last change advantage.

This is why face off wins are so important, and why LA's four legit centers versus one legit center for the Hawks is the real matchup problem.

Game six will only have a good outcome for the Hawks if they play a damn near perfect game. Stay out of the box, take the puck to their zone not relying on the stretch pass, and getting quick crisp transitions out of cycles in their zone.

And yeah - 23 gets a press box pass.

How do you know he could do better than Q with this team?
- paulr

Don't know about better but if Q wasn't coach, I'd take Babcock.

Perason's shot gets in because he times it perfectly when Oduya sets a split second screen. Puck just came out from behind them as Crawford began going low to find the puck. It should be saved, but I see why it got in, once Pearson got Crow moving down, he threw the puck up.
- OnlySix

I luv the high end goalie acumen around here that KNOWS which saves they SHOULD make and what goals are BAD goals....but sit in utter amazement and cluelessness with the HOW DID HE DO THAT saves we witness 3-10x a game.

Don't know about better but if Q wasn't coach, I'd take Babcock.
- HawkintheD

Where did you learn the fine art of circular argumentation???

The national media and the broadcasters have been LA knob gobblers this whole series, and the more games LA has won the worse it has gotten. They spent minutes slobbering over the Kopitar play on the 2nd LA goal, about how great he was starting the play down by his net, and how was down there because of what great instincts he has, blah, blah, blah. He was there because a) his man, Toews just beat him to the puck and the net and 8 of 10 times scores on that play. b) as the center is supposed to be there as the center is usually the second man in on plays down low with the defense being 1st man.

It was a basic Hockey play, that 90% of the first line centers in the league make regularly because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO. There was nothing exceptional about it. If Toews scores on that chance do we get to hear how much Kopitar wasn't on his man?

Just call a neutral game.
- TheTrob

THANK YOU! Announcers are terrible, that guy sounds like he's got the entire top six of LA in his mouth... Makes me mad that NBC actually puts that guy on the Cup defending series.

How do you know he could do better than Q with this team?
- paulr

Nobody does...but he took an undermanned Wings team to 7 games against the Hawks last year. He won 2 gold medals for Canada. He has taken 2 different teams to the Cup final. The guy is a very good coach. If he can get everything out of Team Canada when they were supposed to win gold, I'm sure he could get everything out of the Hawks. That's no disrespect to Q. I love Q, but Babcock is the best coach in hockey.

If the visiting team can get/maintain possession, adjustments can be made to mitigate the last change advantage.

This is why face off wins are so important, and why LA's four legit centers versus one legit center for the Hawks is the real matchup problem.

Game six will only have a good outcome for the Hawks if they play a damn near perfect game. Stay out of the box, take the puck to their zone not relying on the stretch pass, and getting quick crisp transitions out of cycles in their zone.

And yeah - 23 gets a press box pass.
- Return of the Roar

Maybe they could not give him a plane ticket?

Would rather see Regin in than Steeg.

Nobody does...but he took an undermanned Wings team to 7 games against the Hawks last year. He won 2 gold medals for Canada. He has taken 2 different teams to the Cup final. The guy is a very good coach. If he can get everything out of Team Canada when they were supposed to win gold, I'm sure he could get everything out of the Hawks. That's no disrespect to Q. I love Q, but Babcock is the best coach in hockey.
- SteveRain

He is a very good coach no doubt, but I'm not so sure Quenneville isn't that far behind.

THANK YOU! Announcers are terrible, that guy sounds like he's got the entire top six of LA in his mouth... Makes me mad that NBC actually puts that guy on the Cup defending series.
- OnlySix

yep...I will take emerick/edzo over the LA Kings Broadcasting Network anytime. I turned'em off and listen to the radio guys despite the delay between radio and tv

the hawks didn't "show" anyone anything new last night. teams have known that's where he's vulnerable. the hard part is getting in tight enough to make that shot or make that shot on a rebound.

its like saying "we have to have traffic in front of him"...yeah him and every other goalie in the league.

and judging by pearson's shot, crawford must be very very very average when you shoot it upstairs on him.
- hiway39

Tell that to Gaborik when craw stopped his high shot in ot. Tell that to the bruins last year when they said his glove hand was weak.

He is a very good coach no doubt, but I'm not so sure Quenneville isn't that far behind.
- paulr

I'd almost say it's 1a and 1b. That's my take.

That's also why I knew the USA had ZERO chance of beating Canada when idiot Bylsma was up against Babcock. End of the road for team USA> Blysma is a god damn moron. Thankfully, the Penguins keep him around every year, so they arent' a threat to get back to the cup final.

yep...I will take emerick/edzo over the LA Kings Broadcasting Network anytime. I turned'em off and listen to the radio guys despite the delay between radio and tv
- bogiedoc

I can't believe I'm saying this but even Pierre would be better...

yep...I will take emerick/edzo over the LA Kings Broadcasting Network anytime. I turned'em off and listen to the radio guys despite the delay between radio and tv
- bogiedoc

I mentioned it last night, but Kenny Albert is the third guy on the announcer depth chart for NBCSN, isn't he? I get it if they want to put Emerick on the eastern conference since it's NYC / Montreal ... but why no Dave Strader? He's sooooo much better than Kenny Albert.

Kenny Albert is like a cheese grater to your ears. Painful.

I have been a loyal Versteeg supporter, but he has to sit. Maybe that quick step that allowed him to do his dangling crap yet occiasionally score is gone for good? Either way, he was BAD last night. Cant' be trusted and if he can't at least be responsible you can't dress him in an elimination game.

Regin dresses. That's the only move that I can rationally see happening.
- SteveRain

I'm right there with you. It's one thing to not contribute, but now he's a liability in addition to not contributing. I seriously hope he doesn't play for us again.

Where did you learn the fine art of circular argumentation???
- paulr

I know stuff!

I mentioned it last night, but Kenny Albert is the third guy on the announcer depth chart for NBCSN, isn't he? I get it if they want to put Emerick on the eastern conference since it's NYC / Montreal ... but why no Dave Strader? He's sooooo much better than Kenny Albert.

Kenny Albert is like a cheese grater to your ears. Painful.
- stp1978

Excellent announcer. Very objective and just calls the game.

Excellent announcer. Very objective and just calls the game.
- Return of the Roar

I couldn't agree more. He does a very good job.

Also, Joe Micheletti doesn't help ... he just has to say something, anything, non-stop. Maybe I could take Kenny Albert a little more if there was just a little more silence.

I can't believe I'm saying this but even Pierre would be better...
- OnlySix

The Engbloom crew is awful. However, Kings deserve their love. It doesnt' make a difference. Games are hard to listen to as the color guy, John Michelleti is lost as soon as he opens his mouth, and KennY Alberts just blurts out crap......but otherwise they are fantastic.

I'm sure Penis head will be in rare form tonight...he'd love to get back to the Bell Center so the Habs fans will kiss his ring that he loves to showcase as he stands between the boards. The narratives about junior hockey are just horrible. NOBODY GIVES A F!!!!

"Ahh.....Bob Gainey up in BFE Alberta told the Habs management, you gotta sign this kid. he will be a productive NHL player." Great. Thanks Pierre.

The Engbloom crew is awful. However, Kings deserve their love. It doesnt' make a difference. Games are hard to listen to as the color guy, John Michelleti is lost as soon as he opens his mouth, and KennY Alberts just blurts out crap......but otherwise they are fantastic.

I'm sure Penis head will be in rare form tonight...he'd love to get back to the Bell Center so the Habs fans will kiss his ring that he loves to showcase as he stands between the boards. The narratives about junior hockey are just horrible. NOBODY GIVES A F!!!!

"Ahh.....Bob Gainey up in BFE Alberta told the Habs management, you gotta sign this kid. he will be a productive NHL player." Great. Thanks Pierre.
- SteveRain

You sound just like him!

I don't understand why they need a pseudo sideline reporter in hockey...football either for that matter.

STOP IT!!!
We want modern hockey players.
- paulr

Mashintor would look good in teal.

He was right until last night. I think that game might have been a 4-2 win for the Hawks and pretty easy if Crawford had played a little better. The Kings and their fans thought they were invincible because Sutter found a combination that got carter going and gave the Kings a second scoring line. Now q's done the same and the Kings have yet to answer.

The other issue is this: Saad's speed and the fact that they have to always be aware of where Kane is is putting immense pressure on a slowish Kings defense. Which is jhy I say, if Crawford can tighten it up (and he is capable of it) the Hawks have a very good shot tomorrow night.
- John Jaeckel

And this series would be over with the Kings playing for the Cup if Quick had played better. Fact is, they both had weak games and "if this..." arguments are always pointless. I completely agree that Crawford can take his play up a couple notches from what we saw last night, but again, so can Quick. I just hope game 6 is as entertaining as this one was.

i don't think Crawford was very good last night. Few nice saves here and there, but also he let in a couple of softies, as he had in the previous two games. If he tightens it up, and he can, the Kings, not the Hawks, need to be worried.
- John Jaeckel

Again, same can be said about Quick. If he tightens up his game, which he usually does after a weak one, Chicago will have a more difficult time beating him.

I also just don't buy the argument that the pressure's on the Kings now. Yeah, they definitely do have much more pressure on them than before last night's game, but to say the Hawks aren't under more is a joke. They're still one bad period away from the offseason. They have the talent to take this series in 7, no doubt, but there's just as much pressure, if not more, on them in game 6 than the Kings.

And I'll just reiterate something I've said here in the past:

If Marcus Kruger can avoid getting a serious concussion in the next couple of years, and his body matures more physically, he has a great future in the NHL. That kid has a gigantic heart and he is tough as nails. There's some skill there, too.
- John Jaeckel

I like Kruger a lot - wish he would get a longer look as a potential 2C - but JJ, you've been saying this for two years now at least: he's 24 - when does his body mature?

Id put Sharp back with Toews and Hossa and hope that he can find the back of the net playing with those 2, then put Bickell with Regin and Smith(have Regin and Smith hold up the best they can on faceoffs), obviously 20,65,88 stay together, and then my 4th line would be Handzus, Kruger, Nordstrom. Get rid of Steeger and Bollig.