John Jaeckel: To Do Or Die In L.A.

First lol What a game! Everyone was at Zeus's speed in the 2nd OT..SAAD was lights out!

Heading back to Cali!

My hope Ver-stink takes a cushioned seat in the pressbox. So who plays in his place?

Backhanzus!!!!
Regin needs to play for Versteeg..
And Bolig needs to sit as well...
Suspension for #6 for leaving his feet?!?!

Terrific game, really hope it comes back to Chicago for an epic Game 7.

John Jaeckel: To Do Or Die In L.A.
- John Jaeckel

Guys.... Great game and an awesome series nothing is better than PO hockey

And 3 points for Kane in the first. Exactly what LA wasn't looking for, if he starts rolling. Impressive line last night.

John Jaeckel: To Do Or Die In L.A.
- John Jaeckel

Don't know if the Hawks have enough left to take the Kings down 2 straight games but you had to love the effort last night.

And one thing they have shown the rest of the league - exactly where Jonathan Quick is vulnerable. He's very,very average when you shoot it upstairs on him.

My hope Ver-stink takes a cushioned seat in the pressbox. So who plays in his place?
- hockey nut 28

Regin is the logical choice. I'd choose him over Morin or Nordy because of experience. Either way, I think we've seen the last of Versteeg. His performance has been 'point shaving' bad.

Shaw's got more HEART than brains.....THIS....WE KNOW...EVEN MORE this a.m.

I think we've seen the last of Versteeg... it was fun to have him back at first but he's a liability.

Heading back to Cali!
- resqmed99

I think they're going to Cali, to Cali,. to Cali
YES...I THINK SO

The Hawks have been the second best team in this series, even in last night's game the result notwithstanding. Winning last night removes the pressure the Hawks must have felt in the game to not lose on home ice. The Kings now have the pressure on them, they do not want to have to go back to Chicago. The Hawks on the other hand have nothing to lose anymore, most people expect the Kings will advance. Add to that a revitalized second line leaving the Kings in a quandry about which line they have to match up with.

I think if the series is tied tomorrow night the Hawks will move on to the finals.

I think they're going to Cali, to Cali,. to Cali
YES...I THINK SO

- philco28

And the Kings are going to California 'with an aching in their heart'

And the Kings are going to California 'with an aching in their heart'
- paulr

Clutch #ZEPPELIN reference my Ontario brother

Comparing last season's victory against Detroit when they were down 3-1, all I hear is that LA is a better team than that Detroit team. The other factor is Babcock is a much better coach than Sutter, so I think things even out. I am not ready to give up on the Blackhawks, but I am afraid the league (Bettman) has already set the script. Why would the league want to go a weekend without games? (If NY won Tuesday night and LA last night). At least 1 series is going 7 games.

Loved the pace last night, in particular that second line.


The real trick now is to find the right combinations to keep those speed mismatches going for 60 minutes. They won't be able to play 2/2.5 lines vs. 4 for a full sixty.

Funny how Versteeg didn't see the ice after about midway through the third period. I truly hope that we've seen the last of him in Chicago, this season and beyond.

Comparing last season's victory against Detroit when they were down 3-1, all I hear is that LA is a better team than that Detroit team. The other factor is Babcock is a much better coach than Sutter, so I think things even out. I am not ready to give up on the Blackhawks, but I am afraid the league (Bettman) has already set the script. Why would the league want to go a weekend without games? (If NY won Tuesday night and LA last night). At least 1 series is going 7 games.
- powerenforcer

Zeus: in playoffs you gotta stay even keel...it's one game we're down 3-2...got to go L.A. and do BIG JOB.

If the Hawks win this series, you can point to Q's creation of the Shad/Saad/Kane line.

Until now, the Hawks top line with Tazer has been our only effective line and really it's still been tough sledding because Suter is matching up Kopitar and Doughty against them. Basically, the top lines of each team are sorta canceling each other out.

Then the Kings can throw that Carter line at you where the Hawks (until last night) really had no scoring punch but from the top line.

Now it feels like the Hawks are on more equal footing because they have more than 1 line that can create. Will they find a competent third line? Giving them even more scoring depth? Hard to say, but with Patrick Sharp now sliding down to line 3, he is still a scorer despite his troubles, there is hope there and getting Sharp away from the Kings top D players could help as well. Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith both among the bottom 6 are playing outstanding hockey, so I think there is somewhere in there a makings of a very good third line.

A 4th line of Kruger or Smith, Bollig and Regin should be IN THE LEAST smart and hard working. Not sure where Zus fits, I could see him centering either Line 3 or 4 and being on the PK. We don't need the 4th line to score goals, we need them to not give the puck up at the blue line, get in on the forecheck and create solid depth so the top guys can work while making smart plays. Basically everything Versteeg hasn't done.

For the first time all series, the talking heads on NBC were asking now how the Kings are going to matchup with the Kane line given they are putting all their eggs in stopping Toews/Hossa/Bickell. And considering how well the Kane line played last night, it's highly doubtful that any adjustments Suter makes will have a major impact. I doubt those guys will go from scoring 9 points in a game to not being effective.

I think there is so much more offense on the table for the Hawks...I mean of their 5 goals last night, 2 were scored by D-men and 2 were scored by bottom 6 forwards. You have to think at some point the Toews line (Hossa?) will break through.

Friday is gonna be a donnybrook.

Loved the pace last night, in particular that second line.


The real trick now is to find the right combinations to keep those speed mismatches going for 60 minutes. They won't be able to play 2/2.5 lines vs. 4 for a full sixty.

Funny how Versteeg didn't see the ice after about midway through the third period. I truly hope that we've seen the last of him in Chicago, this season and beyond.
- FredoXV

I'd like to see

Toews/Hossa/Bickell
Saad/Kane/Shaw
Sharp/Kruger/Smith

Fourth line is a bit dicey...
Zus/Regin/Bollig (Nordy or Morin...NO Versteeg)

Comparing last season's victory against Detroit when they were down 3-1, all I hear is that LA is a better team than that Detroit team. The other factor is Babcock is a much better coach than Sutter, so I think things even out. I am not ready to give up on the Blackhawks, but I am afraid the league (Bettman) has already set the script. Why would the league want to go a weekend without games? (If NY won Tuesday night and LA last night). At least 1 series is going 7 games.
- powerenforcer

Because Saturday is the Preakness, which ties up both NBC networks.

Because NBC wants to very able to plan their schedule - knowing for certain what days the games will be is very important to them. They don't want to be wondering - on Friday afternoon - if the finals will start Sunday or not. These are heavily promoted events, and the networks want to very able to plan things out.

Because presumably the league - and the host cities - need time to prepare for the onslaught of visitors and media, and the league's promotion of its premier event.

Boy, I just keep wondering why you watch these games.

EDIT TO ADD: and Phil Pritchard was busy this week-end.

Loved the pace last night, in particular that second line.


The real trick now is to find the right combinations to keep those speed mismatches going for 60 minutes. They won't be able to play 2/2.5 lines vs. 4 for a full sixty.

Funny how Versteeg didn't see the ice after about midway through the third period. I truly hope that we've seen the last of him in Chicago, this season and beyond.
- FredoXV[/quote]

He was exiled after a miserable shift where he flubbed and dubbed with the puck at least 3x leading to kings 3rd goal in mid way thru the 2nd....finished with 6+ TOI

Great post interviews on the team site....Q's was the BEST.

If the Hawks win this series, you can point to Q's creation of the Shad/Saad/Kane line.

Until now, the Hawks top line with Tazer has been our only effective line and really it's still been tough sledding because Suter is matching up Kopitar and Doughty against them. Basically, the top lines of each team are sorta canceling each other out.

Then the Kings can throw that Carter line at you where the Hawks (until last night) really had no scoring punch but from the top line.

Now it feels like the Hawks are on more equal footing because they have more than 1 line that can create. Will they find a competent third line? Giving them even more scoring depth? Hard to say, but with Patrick Sharp now sliding down to line 3, he is still a scorer despite his troubles, there is hope there and getting Sharp away from the Kings top D players could help as well. Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith both among the bottom 6 are playing outstanding hockey, so I think there is somewhere in there a makings of a very good third line.

A 4th line of Kruger or Smith, Bollig and Regin should be IN THE LEAST smart and hard working. Not sure where Zus fits, I could see him centering either Line 3 or 4 and being on the PK. We don't need the 4th line to score goals, we need them to not give the puck up at the blue line, get in on the forecheck and create solid depth so the top guys can work while making smart plays. Basically everything Versteeg hasn't done.

For the first time all series, the talking heads on NBC were asking now how the Kings are going to matchup with the Kane line given they are putting all their eggs in stopping Toews/Hossa/Bickell. And considering how well the Kane line played last night, it's highly doubtful that any adjustments Suter makes will have a major impact. I doubt those guys will go from scoring 9 points in a game to not being effective.

I think there is so much more offense on the table for the Hawks...I mean of their 5 goals last night, 2 were scored by D-men and 2 were scored by bottom 6 forwards. You have to think at some point the Toews line (Hossa?) will break through.

Friday is gonna be a donnybrook.
- kwolf68

Haven't heard that term in a while!!!!