I never thought that a group of rookies can win two straight games with getting very little help from our core players. The Hawks are a very hard team to judge this year. The team can play ugly and still win. There have been many games this year when our core players just go through the motions and wake up in the last ten minutes of the game and squeeze out a victory. Sometimes I watch a bunch of rookies do some amazing things on the ice that I didn't think they are capable of. This team keeps winning and I still do not know how they do it. Yea, just keep winning boys... Doen't worry about me.

gotta those late goals in boston to win...oh yeah

protype hawk win this year = great goalie play + late goals to tie and or win..

and #81 has had a few of late goals this year...

thankful for his resurgence as toews has flat out fallen into the depths of nowhere
- bogiedoc

Love the sarcasm but it speaks volumes.

Carry on.

It amazes me the Hawks pull out another game. Nice to see Hossa score the game winner, and u know someone made this comment but it sure seems to be spot on, if you want a forward to score don't have Toews on the same line

I sure hope people are correct when they say they'll get/play better, as of now I can't eat anything before I watch a Hawks game.

Last but not least, Hawks in the past 5 games have been losing about 3 out of 4 board battles, horrible

Actually one more thing, time to let Darling get more starts, I think Corey needs a bit more rest

Actually one more thing, time to let Darling get more starts, I think Corey needs a bit more rest
- BetweenTheDots

I really believe Darling if anything is just as good as Crow. If not better. As a fan, I feel much secure when Darling is in front of the net....Anybody agree...

I really believe Darling if anything is just as good as Crow. If not better. As a fan, I feel much secure when Darling is in front of the net....Anybody agree...
- shidler

nope....

gotta those late goals in boston to win...oh yeah

protype hawk win this year = great goalie play + late goals to tie and or win..

and #81 has had a few of late goals this year...

thankful for his resurgence as toews has flat out fallen into the depths of nowhere
- bogiedoc

Well Q moved him back away from Toews and suddenly Hossa is scoring in transition and off the rush. Like he has done most of his career.

This is not a team that plays for sixty minutes, possesses the puck, wins board battles, or plays a 200 foot game.

By reducing their "forecheck" to only a speed and finesse style, abandoning any kind of neutral zone play on either side of the puck, and with their soft defense that depends solely on stick work and blind passes from the boards, the season long ease of advance into the Hawks' zone have led to a barrage of shots on goal that have finally worn down Crawford, leading people to seriously think Darling is the answer. Only a matter of time before Darling gets rattled too.

Been saying it for two years now - the porous defensive play allows too many shots on goal, and the math finds a way of prevailing.

Gotta love the cap. This is a first round and out team this year. Just not enough depth.

This is not a team that plays for sixty minutes, possesses the puck, wins board battles, or plays a 200 foot game.

By reducing their "forecheck" to only a speed and finesse style, abandoning any kind of neutral zone play on either side of the puck, and with their soft defense that depends solely on stick work and blind passes from the boards, the season long ease of advance into the Hawks' zone have led to a barrage of shots on goal that have finally worn down Crawford, leading people to seriously think Darling is the answer. Only a matter of time before Darling gets rattled too.

Been saying it for two years now - the porous defensive play allows too many shots on goal, and the math finds a way of prevailing.

Gotta love the cap. This is a first round and out team this year. Just not enough depth.
- Return of the Roar

Darling is supremely qualified to start at this point in his career compared to the last two Cup winning goalies the Hawks had at their respective entry point.

If the Hawks can get a 2nd and 1.5m breathing room for CC and after signing a journeyman backup, I'd do it.

Honest question. Where would this team be with average goaltending?
- TexasFlood

Where were any team be with average goaltending?

All they do is win.
2nd in the West.
Hartmann, Kero, Hinostroza, Kempny and even Schmaltz are looking a little better.
In a 7 game series they would have a shot against anyone. They are not a powerhouse. But they are a very smart team with a high hockey IQ. They would need good goaltending and a few breaks, they would squeak by, but they have a chance.
I would only pick up Sharp or a similar player if it did not cost our future. I would not give up a first or an "A" level prospect (including Forsling).
I like Crawford a lot. But he and Kruger would be the guys I move during the summer for cap room.
Soup has lost the fire inside.

This is not a team that plays for sixty minutes, possesses the puck, wins board battles, or plays a 200 foot game.

By reducing their "forecheck" to only a speed and finesse style, abandoning any kind of neutral zone play on either side of the puck, and with their soft defense that depends solely on stick work and blind passes from the boards, the season long ease of advance into the Hawks' zone have led to a barrage of shots on goal that have finally worn down Crawford, leading people to seriously think Darling is the answer. Only a matter of time before Darling gets rattled too.

Been saying it for two years now - the porous defensive play allows too many shots on goal, and the math finds a way of prevailing.

Gotta love the cap. This is a first round and out team this year. Just not enough depth.
- Return of the Roar

Right on. That is exactly what's wrong with the team. All sticks and no bodies. The stick check philosophy worked when you had a swarm of hawks jerseys supporting the play and scrounging the loose puck. We also had more forwards blocking shots. Now whoever is checking is on an island surrounded by opposition, while 2-3 hawks are way ahead of the play looking for a stretch pass or a line-change when possession isn't even established yet. They must be the easiest team to carry in on during the PP. Their PK has been weak for years but Crawford has pumped up the numbers. Awful scheme, needs to go.

What muckers we had are either traded, injured, or too small/underdeveloped to be effective yet. Kruger is injured, Toews and Keith in a big funk, Seabrook is low on stamina (or it could be him trying to do to much playing with a rookie partner), Panik tries but... I don't find that he "thinks" the game so well.

Some pluses:

TVR: Good shot blocking, waits for viable passes instead of BLIND passes to no one.

Hjalmarsson: Steady and rock solid purely on the defensive side of things. Breaks up scoring chances regularly. We're missing his big hits though...

Hossa: Best player on the team. Being a pro means doing your job, doing it well, and taking pride.

The rookies, especially Kempny. All moving their feet and working hard. Nice to see after the Morin, Pirri, Hayes, Beach, etc. experiments.

Darling: Good goalie. Needs to manage rebounds better, sometimes he flops too much. He's got size, tracks the puck well, and he's reallly quick.

If we get Kruger, Toews, and Keith back to the machines they used to be, and a more competitive/rested Campbell, we can get to a SCF. As it is, I see first round exit written all over this season.

Right on. That is exactly what's wrong with the team. All sticks and no bodies. The stick check philosophy worked when you had a swarm of hawks jerseys supporting the play and scrounging the loose puck. We also had more forwards blocking shots. Now whoever is checking is on an island surrounded by opposition, while 2-3 hawks are way ahead of the play looking for a stretch pass or a line-change when possession isn't even established yet. They must be the easiest team to carry in on during the PP. Their PK has been weak for years but Crawford has pumped up the numbers. Awful scheme, needs to go.

What muckers we had are either traded, injured, or too small/underdeveloped to be effective yet. Kruger is injured, Toews and Keith in a big funk, Seabrook is low on stamina (or it could be him trying to do to much playing with a rookie partner), Panik tries but... I don't find that he "thinks" the game so well.

Some pluses:

TVR: Good shot blocking, waits for viable passes instead of BLIND passes to no one.

Hjalmarsson: Steady and rock solid purely on the defensive side of things. Breaks up scoring chances regularly. We're missing his big hits though...

Hossa: Best player on the team. Being a pro means doing your job, doing it well, and taking pride.

The rookies, especially Kempny. All moving their feet and working hard. Nice to see after the Morin, Pirri, Hayes, Beach, etc. experiments.

Darling: Good goalie. Needs to manage rebounds better, sometimes he flops too much. He's got size, tracks the puck well, and he's reallly quick.

If we get Kruger, Toews, and Keith back to the machines they used to be, and a more competitive/rested Campbell, we can get to a SCF. As it is, I see first round exit written all over this season.
- kinigitt

This is gaining traction from several posters here, and other sites I frequently read. It's a bit odd because right now they're either going to play St. Louis or Nashville in round 1.

St. Louis cannot stop pucks at all, and they don't have enough depth to overcome it. The Hawks would likely trounce St. Louis over a 7 game series as it stands right now.

Nashville is a bit of an anomaly. They've had some key injuries throughout the season(so have the Hawks and they keep racking up points anyways). They are severely lacking in the depth department, though. Just like everyone else. Chicago would likely beat the Predators as well.

Things could change drastically with any deadline deals that are bound to occur, but I think there is a bit of an exaggeration about how "bad" the Hawks are. They're an above average team in a division with only one other true contender.

If somehow Dallas or Winnipeg sneak into that 3 seed in the division, they're both really bad hockey teams.

https://www.nhl.com/video/okposo-backhands-home-ot-winner/t-277350912/c-48591503

who is this isles annocuncer...a bit over the top on the call
- bogiedoc

Rick Jeanneret. If I have the Sabres game on one of the tv's I have to make sure to put on the other teams broadcast. Just so I can't accidentally un-mute and here that clown. He's over the top no matter what time of the game.