John Jaeckel: Game 1 Preview: The Mash Mosh

Crawford better be on his game tonight with that D Corps in front of him.

What is the over/under for minutes per game for Keith, Seabrook and Hammer starting in game 2? 85 minutes combined?

Thanks JJ for that great piece. We do not really know what goes on behind the locker room door.

Crawford better be on his game tonight with that D Corps in front of him.

What is the over/under for minutes per game for Keith, Seabrook and Hammer starting in game 2? 85 minutes combined?
- Jason Millen

I cannot disagree with this.

Thanks JJ for that great piece. We do not really know what goes on behind the locker room door.
- powerenforcer

Thanks PE

Also to send two messages:
One to the Blues. Don't mess with our stars or we mess with yours.
And one to Weise. You wan't to play in the playoffs, this is what we need from you.

Good write up JJ

Going to be a fun series

Blues have to win tonight with Keith out

We shall see if the blues wilt under playoff pressure.

I think the key to the blues unclenching their cheeks is an early goal for them

Good Luck to you all and may it be a relatively clean series

I mean it is playoff hockey after all

Best 2 months of the year

Try and play a physical game tonight with Monster Mash and then steal Game 2 when Keith gets back? It's hard to see them dropping Game 1 in their own barn. But all we need is to steal one of these two. Fingers crossed.

Crawford better be on his game tonight with that D Corps in front of him.

What is the over/under for minutes per game for Keith, Seabrook and Hammer starting in game 2? 85 minutes combined?
- Jason Millen

You might want to think about your own goaltending - I watched it in action with amusement last year vs the Wild. Same characters in this musical.

Also to send two messages:
One to the Blues. Don't mess with our stars or we mess with yours.
And one to Weise. You wan't to play in the playoffs, this is what we need from you.
- jam10sugar

People always try and send messages to the blues by hitting Fabbri Schwartz and Tarasenko

You might want to think about your own goaltending - I watched it in action with amusement last year vs the Wild. Same characters in this musical.
- RickJ

Except it is Brian Elliot and not Jake Allen but yeah same thing

yeah, that makes sense from Q. However, if he wanted Weise can bring physical play as well. psychologically he doesn't want to be a fighter only. he wants to use his skills and that is what has cost him that spot on the 3rd line.

if he'd hit and occasionally drop the gloves, i'm sure he'd be in the lineup.

Not feeling good about this game. If Crawford still has some rust I expect a blowout tonight

Mash can't keep up with Tarasenko. If he is on the ice with him that is a win for the Blues. And probably a goal for us more times than not.

And the Hawks don't want to play the "take out guys on the other team". The Blues are deeper and have several guys who Hitch could send out there to "take out" Hawks stars.

There is nothing wrong with legally hitting anyone. But that is not what I get from taking out key players like Fabbri or Tarasenko.

If that is what this series comes down to, neither team will be winning the Cup because whoever advances will not be able to get out of the West with a depleted roster.

People always try and send messages to the blues by hitting Fabbri Schwartz and Tarasenko
- sycsam

So is Q going to be putting Mashinter in some sort of ice Ferrari?
Cause other than that, ain't no way he's catching either of them on the rink.
I don't deny that's what some of JJ's connections have told him. However, whether they actually believe Q's bullsh!t is another story altogether.

I'm betting #53 doesn't "land" more than a single hit in his 5 min TOI tonight.

So is Q going to be putting Mashinter in some sort of ice Ferrari?
Cause other than that, ain't no way he's catching either of them on the rink.
I don't deny that's what some of JJ's connections have told him. However, whether they actually believe Q's bullsh!t is another story altogether.

I'm betting #53 doesn't "land" more than a single hit in his 5 min TOI tonight.
- savvyone-1

This.

The only way he catches one of them is to do it after the whistle when the play stops. Likely after a goal if he is on the ice with them.

>>>Mashinter is a diversion. Brouwer and Reaves and Backes have to watch him running Fabbri. Like Carcillo used to be, he's a lightning rod to take physical pressure and after the whistle stuff off Teuvo, and help Teuvo and Fleischmann feel safe out there. Is it right? I don't know—but THAt IS WHY he's playing. New blog up.<<<

Although not a pure hockey decision...this makes sense. I suspected he is riding shotgun for TT.

as far q forgetting more about hockey than we know...add the word "collective" before know...

in Q we trust....cmon savvy, dk, and the rest of you...it ain't that hard to say

You said it perfect JJ, Q knows what he is doing,big time! In the mean time most of us GM wanna be's should stick to polishing our metal players all up getting ready for table top hockey neighborhood playoffs or office fantasy pools which we probably know more about . Gotta believe. "In Q we trust!", ...... The other guy, We'll see this summer!

Thanks for the extra perspective as usual. Though I don't always agree, it is still nice to get a different point of view and interesting to see what other people think and why (even if I don't act like it all the time).

Anyway, thought this was funny:

So is Q going to be putting Mashinter in some sort of ice Ferrari?
Cause other than that, ain't no way he's catching either of them on the rink.
I don't deny that's what some of JJ's connections have told him. However, whether they actually believe Q's bullsh!t is another story altogether.

I'm betting #53 doesn't "land" more than a single hit in his 5 min TOI tonight.
- savvyone-1

If they can get at Elliot early and light him up, I think he sees closer to 10. That is my bold prediction btw.

You might want to think about your own goaltending - I watched it in action with amusement last year vs the Wild. Same characters in this musical.
- RickJ

Assuming Crawford is healthy, I wouldn't be worrying about the Hawks goaltending. The bottom 3 rear guards are another matter.

"But Mashinter can, through his play, target Blues like Robby Fabbri or Vladimir Tarasenko, or at least distract guys like Brouwer, Backes and Reaves."

He has been "targeting" players all year, but cannot catch them. JJ, you can diminish and rationalize the Mashinter situation all you like. I, for one, think it is a huge mistake that makes this game (sans Keith) nearly unwinnable. Thankfully, Queneville has lowered my expectations to ZERO for tonight by dressing 3.66 lines. Now I can watch comfortably with no expectations. Hope for a split, but even if they go down 2-0, that worked so well for the Blows in 2014

I'm starting to come of the ledge on Mash but anybody watching the games thinking Mash will make defenders and stars pause when the are going to the boards or coming up the ice just does not fly with me. He is too slow to back check and when he tries to hit a D player on the forecheck its more a bump because his speed allows them to get rid of the puck cleanly and prepare for the check. Panik speed even surpises me on TV. When the d guy takes a look and then goes to the corner he gets a feel how much time and space he has. With Mash he gets a extra .5 seconds and with Panik he gets .5 less then he thinks. That is were hitting someone is factor. When they still have the puck and they are not expecting it. on the other side look how much Ana hit keith after he passed it last year. Did it create turnovers or hurt keith? No, it was for show and maybe to try and wear him down. (Mash is not going to wear anyone down) Give me hits that they are not ready for and panik and to a lesser extent Weiss can do it.

So I don't think his hits matter, he does not have a single primary assist. The only thing he does well is score goals per 60 but 3 of his 4 goals were not shots or deflections they just happened to hit him without him even knowing.

all the below is 5 X 5
goals per 60 kane and panik tied #1, Mash and Weiss 5 and 6.
shots per 60 Weiss #2 panik # 7 Mash #15 out of 15
PTs per 60 panik #4 Weiss # 6 Mash #13
fenwick per 60 Weiss #4 panik #5 mash #15
Corsi per 60 Weiss # 5, panik #8 Mash #15

Some history

http://blackhawkup.com/20...-blues-playoff-history/4/

To everyone saying Mash "can't catch" any of the fast/skilled skaters - how many solid hits come from skating another player down from behind? They come from skarting toward an incoming player. He doesn't have to catch them he just has to be in the way when they are skating in his direction.

I'm not quite as big of a Mash hater as others. He will go to the net and has had a couple of deflections/tip ins that in the dirty areas. I know it is a minor thing, but does anyone notice notice how not only he, but the whole team erupts when he scores? How many times do we see ugly Mash-type goals turn a game or series.