so with 7 games left we are talking about "small steps" vs the flames and this is a team with repeat aspirations??

with out a strong bounce back game by darling they lose that game, hawks did not put that type of rubber on the other guy in net...

yippe we have a 3rd and 4th line...gee if only we could our 1st and 2nd line guys to look the part again...

for some reason i get the feeling toews cant wait for this season to end...same with seabs and keith...

be honest this team needs to sweep this 4 game trip and start playing well....a long over due win vs the wild and playoff team is long over due...

They sure did blow it when they made it past round 1- that was the year things fell into place and played Phoenix in the second round- Radulov broke curfew and Trotz suspended him for not 1 but 2 games! Screwed us for sure to make a point.

Weber injury was a big break for you last year. With him we probably win one of the 2 games that went 3 and 2 OTs and get back here for Game 7. Kids are older- Preds are even better than last year.
- predsfan97

preds are going to be a tough out...rinne playing alot better the last 6 weeks....james neal is just pain in the ass dangerous...26 even strength goals this year....hell toews + hossa + whoever don't even get to 26....

kings or ducks vs preds should be entertaining viewing....

preds are going to be a tough out...rinne playing alot better the last 6 weeks....james neal is just pain in the ass dangerous...26 even strength goals this year....hell toews + hossa + whoever don't even get to 26....

kings or ducks vs preds should be entertaining viewing....
- bogiedoc

Kings or Ducks will sweep them. Maybe the Preds steal one game IMO. Stars/Blues vs Preds would be more competitive - they all have playoff confidence issues. I still think the transfer of secondary leadership to Dallas of Oduya and Sharp may help them advance but their goaltending could fall apart.

And Weber would not have made a difference last year. The problems the Hawks had in the first round last year were Hawk problems - mainly in goal. The Preds had little or nothing to do with it. It wasn't until the WCF and SCF that opposing teams were dictating play. Up to that point it was the Hawks dealing with their own problems.... Hard to be confident the Hawks can do that again this year. Oduya is the hole they cannot fill.

>Team needs to set small very small "process-oriented" goals -- one was mentioned by Kitchen last night, "Need to move the puck forward, not back into our zone and we need to have the puck spend as little time in our zone as possible."
>TVR telegraphs EVERY one of his passes -- his game has really slid -- he needs to look away, fake a pass once in awhile -- his telegraphing plays right into the hands of a heavy forecheck -- they just go where he is looking
>Other Hawk D also telegraphing too much with their passing
>Panarin needs to get the puck to the net -- going rink-wide through 3 defenders who are in their own zone defending isn't going to work in the playoffs -- #72 is a special talent who can create his own shot from anywhere and needs to do so
>Team still hasn't dialed it up to full "stop and start" all over the ice -- hopefully they will and we will see more "5 Hawks in the picture play" over 200 feet

>Team needs to set small very small "process-oriented" goals -- one was mentioned by Kitchen last night, "Need to move the puck forward, not back into our zone and we need to have the puck spend as little time in our zone as possible."
>TVR telegraphs EVERY one of his passes -- his game has really slid -- he needs to look away, fake a pass once in awhile -- his telegraphing plays right into the hands of a heavy forecheck -- they just go where he is looking
>Other Hawk D also telegraphing too much with their passing
>Panarin needs to get the puck to the net -- going rink-wide through 3 defenders who are in their own zone defending isn't going to work in the playoffs -- #72 is a special talent who can create his own shot from anywhere and needs to do so
>Team still hasn't dialed it up to full "stop and start" all over the ice -- hopefully they will and we will see more "5 Hawks in the picture play" over 200 feet
- SnapitUpstairs

Teams can talk about systems all they want. Game is SIMPLE. Get it the (frank) out. Get it DEEP. GO GET IT. Dump and chase ain't sexy, but it works....IF a team has the heart and balls to WIN.

Teams can talk about systems all they want. Game is SIMPLE. Get it the phuck out. Get it DEEP. GO GET IT. Dump and chase ain't sexy, but it works....IF a team has the heart and balls to WIN.
- philco28

>Yep
>Also, attempting high-end passes as if you are playing at a breakneck pace, when both the passer and receiver are both mailing it in -- does not work
>That's what we've been watching for weeks

>Yep
>Also, attempting high-end passes as if you are playing at a breakneck pace, when both the passer and receiver are both mailing it in -- does not work
>That's what we've been watching for weeks
- SnapitUpstairs

Panarin and those 80 foot East-West passes are not in the recipe for success.
The 88-72 bromance has been awesome, but Bread Man needs to be more selfish
and shoot more. 72 has taken 169 shots to Kane's 260. Might be respectful deference to the MVP, but Bread Man needs to be more trigger happy. And he needs to cut the distance on his pass attempts.

Teams can talk about systems all they want. Game is SIMPLE. Get it the (frank) out. Get it DEEP. GO GET IT. Dump and chase ain't sexy, but it works....IF a team has the heart and balls to WIN.
- philco28

Pretty much this. ^^^^^

Pretty much this. ^^^^^
- John Jaeckel

Salute JJ on your great work...week in, week out and Happy Easter to you and to all the fam here

Salute JJ on your great work...week in, week out and Happy Easter to you and to all the fam here

- philco28

Seconded!
And a big shout-out to all the commenters here who love the 'Hawks as much as I do.

Weber injury was a big break for you last year. With him we probably win one of the 2 games that went 3 and 2 OTs and get back here for Game 7. Kids are older- Preds are even better than last year.
- predsfan97

No question, not having Weber was a HUGE disadvantage, guy does it all. I'm very interested to see how the squad fares this year minus Jones and with the addition of a solid center like Johansen.

Seconded!
And a big shout-out to all the commenters here who love the 'Hawks as much as I do.
- 35Tony0

Cheers Tony 0

John thanks for the quick blog...hope you're enjoying the weather in FLA...
Happy Easter all...

Need two points this evening and hopefully this team continues to trend in the right direction. Couple of small steps in the right direction. Good to see Freddy back last night.

Would love to see Ehrhoff get a chance this evening...unless as mentioned he's dinged up and that's why he's being held out. Also need to get Weise going here - he'll be needed in the playoffs for sure.

Several folks have mentioned no pushback from the Hawks when guys have taken runs, etc...although the Breadman did the other night...and I thought Panik did last night when he was hit in the corner. Outside of that not much.


Van has lost 7 in a row...but will be gunning for the Hawks tonight for sure.
- DK002

Panik doesn't seem bashful but he was in survival mode last night as 3 large Flames all were on him. Only TT came in and realistically he can't do much by himself.

They sure did blow it when they made it past round 1- that was the year things fell into place and played Phoenix in the second round- Radulov broke curfew and Trotz suspended him for not 1 but 2 games! Screwed us for sure to make a point.

Weber injury was a big break for you last year. With him we probably win one of the 2 games that went 3 and 2 OTs and get back here for Game 7. Kids are older- Preds are even better than last year.
- predsfan97

Preds are quite a bit better than last year, this might be the year they should hope to draw the Hawks in the 1st round.

Until the Preds, Blues, Stars and Wild prove they can beat the Hawks in the playoffs they are at a disadvantage when the series starts...No matter how many points they get in the regular season.

So far only 1 team has the down deep confidence they can beat the Hawks in the playoffs and that's the Kings.

Panarin and those 80 foot East-West passes are not in the recipe for success.
The 88-72 bromance has been awesome, but Bread Man needs to be more selfish
and shoot more. 72 has taken 169 shots to Kane's 260. Might be respectful deference to the MVP, but Bread Man needs to be more trigger happy. And he needs to cut the distance on his pass attempts.
- philco28

Kane didn't shoot enough his rookie year either but your point is correct.
Panarin is a strong, tough kid...Now would be the time to play more north/south rather than east/west.

>Team needs to set small very small "process-oriented" goals -- one was mentioned by Kitchen last night, "Need to move the puck forward, not back into our zone and we need to have the puck spend as little time in our zone as possible."
>TVR telegraphs EVERY one of his passes -- his game has really slid -- he needs to look away, fake a pass once in awhile -- his telegraphing plays right into the hands of a heavy forecheck -- they just go where he is looking
>Other Hawk D also telegraphing too much with their passing
>Panarin needs to get the puck to the net -- going rink-wide through 3 defenders who are in their own zone defending isn't going to work in the playoffs -- #72 is a special talent who can create his own shot from anywhere and needs to do so
>Team still hasn't dialed it up to full "stop and start" all over the ice -- hopefully they will and we will see more "5 Hawks in the picture play" over 200 feet
- SnapitUpstairs

TVR and Gus play scared, as in afraid of making a mistake, and have been playing that way for awhile. Svedberg is at another level of scared as he plays like he doesn't want to touch anyone.

The main problem on the D is Rozy. Time for him to sit.

Kings or Ducks will sweep them. Maybe the Preds steal one game IMO. Stars/Blues vs Preds would be more competitive - they all have playoff confidence issues. I still think the transfer of secondary leadership to Dallas of Oduya and Sharp may help them advance but their goaltending could fall apart.

And Weber would not have made a difference last year. The problems the Hawks had in the first round last year were Hawk problems - mainly in goal. The Preds had little or nothing to do with it. It wasn't until the WCF and SCF that opposing teams were dictating play. Up to that point it was the Hawks dealing with their own problems.... Hard to be confident the Hawks can do that again this year. Oduya is the hole they cannot fill.
- tredbrta

Kane didn't shoot enough his rookie year either but your point is correct.
Panarin is a strong, tough kid...Now would be the time to play more north/south rather than east/west.
- Al

Agreed Al Might even be time to split up 88-15-72. Lot of tape out there for opposing coaches to break down. Hard to do given the success they have enjoyed, but they've become somewhat predictable.

Preds are quite a bit better than last year, this might be the year they should hope to draw the Hawks in the 1st round.

Until the Preds, Blues, Stars and Wild prove they can beat the Hawks in the playoffs they are at a disadvantage when the series starts...No matter how many points they get in the regular season.

So far only 1 team has the down deep confidence they can beat the Hawks in the playoffs and that's the Kings.
- Al

i think that changes this year....i want to be wrong...

with out a 100% healthy CC standing on preverbial head and top 6 getting it together...this team could be done in 5 or 6

No question, not having Weber was a HUGE disadvantage, guy does it all. I'm very interested to see how the squad fares this year minus Jones and with the addition of a solid center like Johansen.
- Q-stache

Would have been comparable for you having to play without Keith. Have to admire that your big 4-5 players have never missed a playoff game due to injury.

The main problem on the D is Rozy. Time for him to sit.
- scottak

I don't want him to sit...just not skate 22 minutes a game. Plus, keep him off the PP please.

TVR and Gus play scared, as in afraid of making a mistake, and have been playing that way for awhile. Svedberg is at another level of scared as he plays like he doesn't want to touch anyone.
- Al

THIS 100%, although I disagree that Sved is afraid to hit.......

I think Gus plays not to make a mistake. He's far from fast and loose which he was a bit when he came up.

I think the same is true of TVR but to a much lesser extent.

A lot I like about Sved and right up there is he seems unafraid of Q, his game seems the same as it did when he started the year except during his second call up he played more physical. He's predictabe much more so than TVR, although I'm a TVR fan but don't know if he has a 4 or 5 ceiling, and especially Gus. His game is simple and quite frankly at this stage and options available I'll settle for unafraid simple.

Any hope of a Canuck win tonight? Hopefully Vancouver comes out hard tonight and Darling is tired
- predsfan97

It's to bad you can't just admit the Hawks are better and have been for years.
Says a lot about you.

Wondering if our drafted center from Yale will be signed. He looks like a tough hombre. Also what is the status on Motte from Michigan....both player's college season is over. Also are the Hawks still in the running with the unrestrictive KHL star defense player?