I feel like I'm going to be able to relax and enjoy this years playoffs (however long they may be) a little more as I don't have as high of expectations.

It wouldn't surprise me if they got bounced in the first round by St. Louis and it also wouldn't surprise me if they made a lengthy run. My gut feeling is that they don't have it this year (and there's a lot of underlying numbers that support this), but I've learned better than to ever count the Hawks out.

I could care less whether Mashinter, Panik, or Weiss are in at this point. Q is going to do what he does regardless of whether I disagree (and in this case I disagree). With that said, game 1 can't come quick enough...not a fan of the 8:30 Central start.
- Coca

McD has only one box that can be checked on his employee performance review forms - EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS.

If that box isn't checked, there is usually a pink slip stapled to the back of the form.

And if the players are thinking like you, they have zero chance in this series. Real champs don't go down easy.

Ladd playing for his last contract and winning a Stanley Cup would help that baby, who won't remember if Andrew was there or not. And his wife will get over it if he gets better money! Women.
- DirkGraham

Some things are more important than money.

I have a feeling that you were being sarcastic. I hope so at least.

Yeah, I read it was a May 23 due date... eager little baby
- maria_wyeth

It's the playoffs, I'd be in a hurry to see this too!

Some things are more important than money.

I have a feeling that you were being sarcastic. I hope so at least.
- carcus

I'm shocked to see you on this side of the Ladd should/shouldn't play tonight debate...

Some things are more important than money.

I have a feeling that you were being sarcastic. I hope so at least.
- carcus

Nope Carcus. Not in the least. These guys get paid in a different league than I do and it would sure as hell change my family's life for the better if I earned a better last contract for them by playing.

I did read that this is very premature, and if that's the case I will retract... but absent that I stand by my position.

Nope Carcus. Not in the least. These guys get paid in a different league than I do and it would sure as hell change my family's life for the better if I earned a better last contract for them by playing.

I did read that this is very premature, and if that's the case I will retract... but absent that I stand by my position.
- DirkGraham

almost 6 weeks premature

Way too much made of the Mash Unit here. Its a diversionary tactic coaches use. Call it deterrence if necessary. Q is looking to get into Hitch's noggin, pure and simple.

Like the great Greg Maddog Maddux would set up hitters for pitches 3-5 with pitches 1 & 2, so too is Q doing here with game 1.

[quote=DarthKane]Ladd and his wife are having a baby....you can hardly get upset is if misses a game because of that. (quote)

If it was a regular season game I would off course have no problem but its a playoff game and we gave up 2 huge assets for him. What if we lose tonight and are out in 5 games. We got him for 4 games. I'm not as much upset about it as I hope it was discussed prior to giving up that much value. Pretty sure we could have got boedeker or Droin for Dano. If he said he would probably need to miss a game in the playoffs I hope we considered that when making a offer. he could leave Chicago on a private jet at 6:30 and be back at midnight. I do understand why he would like to be there.
- kmw4631

http://chicago.suntimes.c...t-duncan-keith-in-game-1/

I did not realize this but the Hawks scored 4 or more goals in 8/15 games that Keith missed this season... Generally I feel like the forwards play a tighter defensive game when missing a player like Keith and it results in low scoring so I was a bit surprised by this stat. I wonder if it's because with Seabs on the PP instead of Keith they were way more successful than with 2 in there.

If it was just the boys stepping up in his absence, hopefully we see that tonight!

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/rozsival-d-men-face-big-challenge-without-duncan-keith-in-game-1/

I did not realize this but the Hawks scored 4 or more goals in 8/15 games that Keith missed this season... Generally I feel like the forwards play a tighter defensive game when missing a player like Keith and it results in low scoring so I was a bit surprised by this stat. I wonder if it's because with Seabs on the PP instead of Keith they were way more successful than with 2 in there.

If it was just the boys stepping up in his absence, hopefully we see that tonight!
- maria_wyeth

It also could be due to the opponent, Maria. I am FAR too lazy to look up who they played when 2 was out with an injury, but they did have a fairly favorable schedule during the suspension.

For fun, I did a quick analysis of the last 10 years of cup finalists looking at how each team ranked (rounded rank out of 30 teams) in goals for, goals against, PP, PK and overall standings. The results are not surprising, but wanted to at least see the numbers

For Cup Finalist (winner and loser both)
Goals for - 9th - 45% of teams in the top 5, 65% in the top 10.
Goals Against - 8th - 50% in top 5, 70% in top 10
PP - 13th - 30% in top 5, 30% in top 10
PK - 9th - 40% in top 5, 70% in top 10
Standings - 7th - 50% top 5, 80% top 10

Cup Winners
Goals for - 10th - 50% top 5, 70% top 10
Goals Against - 6th - 70% top 5, 80% top 10
PP - 15th - 20% top 5, 20% top 10
PK - 8th - 40% top 5, 70% top 10
Standings - 6th, 50% top 5, 90% top 10

The trends point towards GA and PK being darn important...

Hawks this year
Goals For 6th
Goals Against 10th
PP 2nd
PK 22nd
Standings 6th

This will be a real uphill battle for the Hawks this year. Defense wins championships by the numbers.

The last 5 winners Chicago, LA, Boston, all were either 1st or 2nd in goals against in the regular season.

Two team in the cap era have won the cup with worse GAA than the Hawks. The 2009 Pens outscored their defensive problems and beat a very injuried Red Wings team.
The 2006 Hurricanes won against an unlikely opponent in the Oilers who rode a hot goaltender through a number of upsets, only to lose that goaltender to injury in game 1 of the finals when Andrew Ladd was shoved into the Roloson.

It really seems that the repeat chances are going to hinge on how much the Hawks can tighten up the defensive game, because right now their weaknesses are the areas they need to be strengths. Here is hoping they show up big time and show the championship form.

Let's go Hawks!

Yeah, I read it was a May 23 due date... eager little baby
- maria_wyeth

Could be complications. Oshie had a kid and she had some issues as well. Im sure it stressful and just like regular people it carries over into their work lives. However he is in a position to take the time he wants and walk at the end of the playoffs.

It also could be due to the opponent, Maria. I am FAR too lazy to look up who they played when 2 was out with an injury, but they did have a fairly favorable schedule during the suspension.
- Hank_Greenberg

Good point. I am also far too lazy right now to look it up

Could be complications. Oshie had a kid and she had some issues as well. Im sure it stressful and just like regular people it carries over into their work lives. However he is in a position to take the time he wants and walk at the end of the playoffs.
- Gerk

Luckily it all worked out for the Oshies because that is an understatement.

For fun, I did a quick analysis of the last 10 years of cup finalists looking at how each team ranked (rounded rank out of 30 teams) in goals for, goals against, PP, PK and overall standings. The results are not surprising, but wanted to at least see the numbers

For Cup Finalist (winner and loser both)
Goals for - 9th - 45% of teams in the top 5, 65% in the top 10.
Goals Against - 8th - 50% in top 5, 70% in top 10
PP - 13th - 30% in top 5, 30% in top 10
PK - 9th - 40% in top 5, 70% in top 10
Standings - 7th - 50% top 5, 80% top 10

Cup Winners
Goals for - 10th - 50% top 5, 70% top 10
Goals Against - 6th - 70% top 5, 80% top 10
PP - 15th - 20% top 5, 20% top 10
PK - 8th - 40% top 5, 70% top 10
Standings - 6th, 50% top 5, 90% top 10

The trends point towards GA and PK being darn important...

Hawks this year
Goals For 6th
Goals Against 10th
PP 2nd
PK 22nd
Standings 6th

This will be a real uphill battle for the Hawks this year. Defense wins championships by the numbers.

The last 5 winners Chicago, LA, Boston, all were either 1st or 2nd in goals against in the regular season.

Two team in the cap era have won the cup with worse GAA than the Hawks. The 2009 Pens outscored their defensive problems and beat a very injuried Red Wings team.
The 2006 Hurricanes won against an unlikely opponent in the Oilers who rode a hot goaltender through a number of upsets, only to lose that goaltender to injury in game 1 of the finals when Andrew Ladd was shoved into the Roloson.

It really seems that the repeat chances are going to hinge on how much the Hawks can tighten up the defensive game, because right now their weaknesses are the areas they need to be strengths. Here is hoping they show up big time and show the championship form.

Let's go Hawks!
- breadbag

thankfully the PK has improved significantly as of late

almost 6 weeks premature
- maria_wyeth

First thing I thought about too.......sometimes complications that early. But the good news is that its only a first round game. If the little one had come on the expected due date of May 20, he'd could have missed a WCF game....so we got that going for us....which is nice.

thankfully the PK has improved significantly as of late
- maria_wyeth

I'm hoping that it continues to stay good. The other thing that I would have loved to dig into if I had time, was just how often each team was penalized in the regular season/playoffs. Usually less penalties are called in the post season, and the best penalty kill, is staying out of the box.

Pat Boyle ‏@CSNBoyle 13m13 minutes ago
Breaking: Sources tell me Andrew Ladd is in route to STL and will be in the @NHLBlackhawks line-up tonight for Game 1 vs St Louis

‏@CSNBoyle
Breaking: Sources tell me Andrew Ladd is in route to STL and will be in the @NHLBlackhawks line-up tonight for Game 1 vs St Louis

‏@CSNBoyle
Breaking: Sources tell me Andrew Ladd is in route to STL and will be in the @NHLBlackhawks line-up tonight for Game 1 vs St Louis
- DarthKane

Wait for the conspiracy theorists to suggest the Blackhawks influenced the start time tonight to accommodate him getting back in time

Wait for the conspiracy theorists to suggest the Blackhawks influenced the start time tonight to accommodate him getting back in time
- Jason Millen

Or if the Blues call the Lambert and tell the ATC folks to slow traffic down to a crawl and have all in-bound planes from Chicago fly in a holding pattern over the Scottrade Center until 11pm.

The Hawks need Teravainen to have a good series, or they will likely lose.

I know I'm a bit late to the party here, so forgive me if this has already been discussed (I'll go back and read the 200+ comments after posting this) - but I just don't see how Turbo Targaryen can have a good game when he's hamstrung with Mashinter on his line. If the series hinges on his play, you better be setting him up to succeed as much as possible. This isn't the way to do it.

‏@CSNBoyle
Breaking: Sources tell me Andrew Ladd is in route to STL and will be in the @NHLBlackhawks line-up tonight for Game 1 vs St Louis
- DarthKane

Good work Darth

Are people seriously giving Ladd crap for possibly missing a game for the birth of a child?

Are people seriously giving Ladd crap for possibly missing a game for the birth of a child?
- SimpleJack

Yes, and laying the blame on "women."

As if Mr. Ladd has no independent thought.