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.
- golfbard

gaborik was too in tight, hit him in the chest.

my comment on crawford was sarcasm (hence "very very very"). he made a ton of saves to keep the hawks in the game. just like quick has too. to see one or two goals go past and immediately label the goalies as average is laughable. granted, everyone on here taught francois allaire everything he knows, right?

to the other comment if i'm nervous, hell yes. i've been nervous every game. i pointed out in a thread yesterday that to assume chicago can't adjust and fight adversity is ridiculous. this is a veteran team with solid leadership that wasn't going to roll over and die, esp at home.

friday should be an epic battle.

Guess I'm in the minority here. I don't have a problem with Bollig's play. He had a few hard hits last night. Basically does what he's supposed to for a 4th line guy.

IMO, the problem is not playing him much and forcing others to take his minutes during a tough series. That's not on Bollig.

Quite frankly, it doesn't appear to be Q's intent to roll 4 full lines an entire game

Now Steeger is another matter

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

Why doesn't Sutter get any props?

What he's done with LAK is amazing: took over halfway thru the season two years ago and led an 8th-seed to the Cup; back to the WCF last year; comeback from down 3-0 to SJ and 3-2 to Annie to win 7th games on the road this year - that sounds pretty good to me.

gaborik was too in tight, hit him in the chest.

my comment on crawford was sarcasm (hence "very very very"). he made a ton of saves to keep the hawks in the game. just like quick has too. to see one or two goals go past and immediately label the goalies as average is laughable. granted, everyone on here taught francois allaire everything he knows, right?

to the other comment if i'm nervous, hell yes. i've been nervous every game. i pointed out in a thread yesterday that to assume chicago can't adjust and fight adversity is ridiculous. this is a veteran team with solid leadership that wasn't going to roll over and die, esp at home.

friday should be an epic battle.
- hiway39

Agreed, and I expect your Kings to treat Friday as their game 7, much like the Hawks did in round 1 against STL.

These are the two best teams in hockey. Period. The winner here, it's their cup to lose next round. Unless some injuries or ridiculous goaltending occurs from the East.

Kings are loaded. Deep, talented. D is a bit slow, which I think the Hawks have to capitalize on more. Need to fore check heavily.

Lastly...I agree on Quick/Crawford. Crawford can be better and has shown it in rounds 1 and 2. Quick can too....but he's still making some big saves. Outside of OT last night, Crawfords big/timely saves have been few and far between.

Friday night is going to be a war.

Guess I'm in the minority here. I don't have a problem with Bollig's play. He had a few hard hits last night. Basically does what he's supposed to for a 4th line guy.

IMO, the problem is not playing him much and forcing others to take his minutes during a tough series. That's not on Bollig.
- grinder10

Playing 8:20 in a double OT isn't ideal. But I agree that overall Bollig's game hasn'rt been that bad (see Versteeg). Assuming Regin plays for Versteeg that leaves Morin or Nordstrom to replace Bollig. If they're only playing 5 minutes a game (without OT) it doesn't really matter who plays.

Why doesn't Sutter get any props?

What he's done with LAK is amazing: took over halfway thru the season two years ago and led an 8th-seed to the Cup; back to the WCF last year; comeback from down 3-0 to SJ and 3-2 to Annie to win 7th games on the road this year - that sounds pretty good to me.
- StLBravesFan

Fair point...I just always saw a Kings team that was very talented and just didn't have the right coach. Murray was a moron. They almost traded brown which would have been a huge mistake, but instead fired Murray, hired Sutter, traded for Carter and away they went.

You know who else reminds of the Kings from 2011? The Sharks. They are talented just a horrible coach.

West is ridiculous.....top to bottom the skill level gap is closing, but coaching wise.....these are the best 2 in conference.

- PancakesPenner

Hey buddy....

I disagree. And, usually, I'm the one always saying pressure is always on both teams. Here's why the Kings certainly have more pressure, at this point:

They know they can't have this series reach a 7th game, here in Chicago, where teams in general don't win. Yes. I know the Kings won here in Game 2. If the Kings end up coming back to Chicago for a Game 7, the Hawks are incredibly heavy favorite to NOT touch hardware that evening (in a good way).

Saying that.. I think winning Game 6, against the Kings, in LA, tomorrow evening might be one of their biggest tests in ALL of their postseason runs.

Playing 8:20 in a double OT isn't ideal. But I agree that overall Bollig's game hasn'rt been that bad (see Versteeg). Assuming Regin plays for Versteeg that leaves Morin or Nordstrom to replace Bollig. If they're only playing 5 minutes a game (without OT) it doesn't really matter who plays.
- DarthKane

Just added an edit and saw your response...same page on this

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

Believe me, there are no lovers of Pierre McGuire in Canada. Unfortunately for the USA, they gave that jerk a Green Card to work ... so he became an export nobody cared about, wanted or missed.

Except for some 5 minute daily gig on radio in Toronto that he has, we don't even have to listen to his B.S. However, I do hope the Penguins sign him as their General Manager so his brilliant hockey mind f's up that team for 15 years.

Agreed, and I expect your Kings to treat Friday as their game 7, much like the Hawks did in round 1 against STL.

These are the two best teams in hockey. Period. The winner here, it's their cup to lose next round. Unless some injuries or ridiculous goaltending occurs from the East.

Kings are loaded. Deep, talented. D is a bit slow, which I think the Hawks have to capitalize on more. Need to fore check heavily.

Lastly...I agree on Quick/Crawford. Crawford can be better and has shown it in rounds 1 and 2. Quick can too....but he's still making some big saves. Outside of OT last night, Crawfords big/timely saves have been few and far between.

Friday night is going to be a war.
- SteveRain

Both Crawford and Quick have the ability to step up and play better. If they can actually do that it improves their teams chances greatly. Although I'd argue that Chicago needs more than a great performance from Crawford, they rest of the team needs to play like they did last night (with the exception of Versteeg).

Crawford is taking a lot of heat, but his stats are fine when compared to Quick:

Playoffs
Crawford: 17 GP, 2.38 GAA, .917 SV%
Quick: 19 GP, 2.75 GAA, .909 SV%

Conference Finals
Crawford: 3.60 GAA, .882 SV%
Quick: 3.00 GAA, .894 SV%

Agreed, and I expect your Kings to treat Friday as their game 7, much like the Hawks did in round 1 against STL.

These are the two best teams in hockey. Period. The winner here, it's their cup to lose next round. Unless some injuries or ridiculous goaltending occurs from the East.

Kings are loaded. Deep, talented. D is a bit slow, which I think the Hawks have to capitalize on more. Need to fore check heavily.

Lastly...I agree on Quick/Crawford. Crawford can be better and has shown it in rounds 1 and 2. Quick can too....but he's still making some big saves. Outside of OT last night, Crawfords big/timely saves have been few and far between.

Friday night is going to be a war.
- SteveRain

It's really sad that a team gets this far, and the D is helped by being allowed to hold, hook, interfere. Everybody knows it, yet they are allowed to get the advantage. They should not need the help.

IMO, over the past 4 games iv seen Quick make a save on what would have been a FOR SURE goal AT LEAST 5-6 times. Iv seen Crawford over that same stretch make MAYBE one of those kinda saves. Im not sure how much better Quick can play, even though the Hawks did just put up 5 goals, they could/should have had 8. I think Crawford though can be MUCH better. Hopefully game 6 is one of those games where he shows up big time and makes a statement.

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

I like Brian Engblom (and his horrible spray tan, he was oompah, loompah orange last night) better than Pierre, but Kenny Albert and Michelliti need to go. Theyre embarrassingly bad. Have they seen/broadcasted ANY western conference games? They don't seem to know who anyone is, how they play, etc.

Agreed.

The Shaw/Saad/Kane line is to the Kings what Pearson/Carter/Toffoli was to the Hawks. A giant pain in the butt that they didn't have an answer for. Now they do.

Will be real tough to win in L.A. but if they do, the Kings will be tight as drums coming back to Chicago and the hawks should be able tot ale it.
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

I know Shaw finished the game, but he looked like he was hurting really bad. Any word on if its being talked about as an injury or not? Have they officially said "lower body" or anything like that? That would suck

As much as Babcock gets praised, he has had as much talent to work with over the years as anyone and even when guys get injured, he gets an infusion of over ripe talent from the minors or the front office pulls guys out of FA or via trade

I think Babcock is a very, very good coach, but too many people put him on a pedestal
- FourFeathers773

Great coach, and i get that the Wings switched conferences and confronted all of the challenges associated with such a move, but they finished 7th...SEVENTH.
And Babs is a finalist for coach of the year ??????????????

Fair point...I just always saw a Kings team that was very talented and just didn't have the right coach. Murray was a moron. They almost traded brown which would have been a huge mistake, but instead fired Murray, hired Sutter, traded for Carter and away they went.

You know who else reminds of the Kings from 2011? The Sharks. They are talented just a horrible coach.

West is ridiculous.....top to bottom the skill level gap is closing, but coaching wise.....these are the best 2 in conference.
- SteveRain

In all fairness, Murray went to a very young LA team and installed a rock solid defensive system. Kopi's 2-way play started there. Just did not have the offensive strategy to get LA over the hump, sending only 1 wing deep to forecheck, etc so he had to go.

I've said elsewhere, grab him for a young team needing a D identity. Edmonton anyone?

Believe me, there are no lovers of Pierre McGuire in Canada. Unfortunately for the USA, they gave that jerk a Green Card to work ... so he became an export nobody cared about, wanted or missed.

Except for some 5 minute daily gig on radio in Toronto that he has, we don't even have to listen to his B.S. However, I do hope the Penguins sign him as their General Manager so his brilliant hockey mind f's up that team for 15 years.
- RickJ

he drives me nuts....However, he's a helluva lot better then Darren Pang when I used to get Thorne and Clemet. So I'll give Penis Head that.

Great coach, and i get that the Wings switched conferences and confronted all of the challenges associated with such a move, but they finished 7th...SEVENTH.
And Babs is a finalist for coach of the year ??????????????
- philco28

Considering that for large stretches of the season he was actually coaching the Grand Rapids Griffins every night, it is props to him for his efforts to get them to the playoffs in spite of that.

Both Crawford and Quick have the ability to step up and play better. If they can actually do that it improves their teams chances greatly. Although I'd argue that Chicago needs more than a great performance from Crawford, they rest of the team needs to play like they did last night (with the exception of Versteeg).

Crawford is taking a lot of heat, but his stats are fine when compared to Quick:

Playoffs
Crawford: 17 GP, 2.38 GAA, .917 SV%
Quick: 19 GP, 2.75 GAA, .909 SV%

Conference Finals
Crawford: 3.60 GAA, .882 SV%
Quick: 3.00 GAA, .894 SV%
- DarthKane

Hopefully Corey's confidence is back to high after that OT and 3rd period.

Corey outplayed Quick last night. Just need that 2 more times.....

In all fairness, Murray went to a very young LA team and installed a rock solid defensive system. Kopi's 2-way play started there. Just did not have the offensive strategy to get LA over the hump, sending only 1 wing deep to forecheck, etc so he had to go.

I've said elsewhere, grab him for a young team needing a D identity. Edmonton anyone?
- cryptical77

That's fine, but that's why I never sweated Vancouver in 2009/2010/2011. AV was awful, and trust me IF the Hawks were to face the Rangers, they will run a train on them...because they know how to exploit that system to a "T".

Fair point...I just always saw a Kings team that was very talented and just didn't have the right coach. Murray was a moron. They almost traded brown which would have been a huge mistake, but instead fired Murray, hired Sutter, traded for Carter and away they went.

You know who else reminds of the Kings from 2011? The Sharks. They are talented just a horrible coach.

West is ridiculous.....top to bottom the skill level gap is closing, but coaching wise.....these are the best 2 in conference.
- SteveRain

if there's only one criticism i have of sutter, its that he takes too long to play younger guys who are clearly upgrades over the existing roster. pearson deserved a longer look earlier in the season than he got. martinez the same thing.

i actually think the sharks have the right coach, but the players have been mired in underachieving for so long, its seeped into them. signing both thornton and marleau to extensions was a mistake.

Now for my Bollig rip. I just don't understand why he is in the lineup and plays only 8 minutes. If Q doesn't trust him to be in there bring in Regin and Nordstrom and dump Versteeg too. The top 3 lines are going to get tired and the Kings rotate 4 lines so wouldn't it make sense to play the new guys? Regin has been a horse IMHO.
- Canardhawk

Put Regin in for Nordy and I agree with you

Considering that for large stretches of the season he was actually coaching the Grand Rapids Griffins every night, it is props to him for his efforts to get them to the playoffs in spite of that.
- Return of the Roar

Good points Roar....i knew Detwat had a tough year for man games lost due to injury, but they were a M.A.S.H. unit.
Like i said "Babs for COACH O' THE YEAR."

Hey buddy....

I disagree. And, usually, I'm the one always saying pressure is always on both teams. Here's why the Kings certainly have more pressure, at this point:

They know they can't have this series reach a 7th game, here in Chicago, where teams in general don't win. Yes. I know the Kings won here in Game 2. If the Kings end up coming back to Chicago for a Game 7, the Hawks are incredibly heavy favorite to NOT touch hardware that evening (in a good way).

Saying that.. I think winning Game 6, against the Kings, in LA, tomorrow evening might be one of their biggest tests in ALL of their postseason runs.
- CaptainBlackhawk

All valid points, but out of three games in Chicago so far, the Kings have lost one, won one, and lost one in double overtime. The Hawks aren't dominating at home against the Kings like against other teams, or like they did in last year's WCF. Playing well for sure, but not enough to say that if it goes to 7 it's a guaranteed Chicago win. In LA, the Kings won both. Not a guaranteed Kings win by any means, but they have played well there. Chicago would need the same team effort as last night, and a better one from Crawford to take it. They definitely could do that, but it remains to be see. Bottom line, I can't wait for tomorrow's game because it promises to be a beauty.

That's fine, but that's why I never sweated Vancouver in 2009/2010/2011. AV was awful, and trust me IF the Hawks were to face the Rangers, they will run a train on them...because they know how to exploit that system to a "T".
- SteveRain

Sure, far from the best coach for a contender. But for a young team, one could do worse than Murray. Hell, even bring him in as an asst somewhere.