the hawks get 2 tonight they are a WC2 depending on what the aves do vs the jets...

What have I missed? (been watching son take over PIM lead on his team in Middle School game tonight).

What have I missed? (been watching son take over PIM lead on his team in Middle School game tonight).
- kwolf68

Congrats to your son....

Quick update....
- Ward stellar
- Kane, is Kane....dominant
- The Cat is firing
- Howard sux

There, you are all caught up!!!

What have I missed? (been watching son take over PIM lead on his team in Middle School game tonight).
- kwolf68

Howard, he was pulled tonight

What have I missed? (been watching son take over PIM lead on his team in Middle School game tonight).
- kwolf68

Anisimov on a Jimmy Howard screw-up
Saad with a nasty top shelf shot
Kane with a snipe
Debrincat with a lovely top shelf finish off a Strome feed

Larkin scored their goal off about 3 missed chances to clear. They've also hit 3 posts.

But hey - Hawks in front.

What have I missed? (been watching son take over PIM lead on his team in Middle School game tonight).
- kwolf68

pucks continue to go in for the good guys: atre, saad, cat and kane...

pretty decent defensive effort so far...wings have scorched the post a few times...

Almost like Forsling has been reading his critics on this blog. Showing some better things tonight. Now if he could just be more consistent. Impressed with Special K’s smarts on when to jump in and when to stay back. He and Gus should talk.

no..its called jimmy howard in goal...

- bogiedoc

He almost sent us packing in 2013. Then he turned back into Jimmy Howard.

Almost like Forsling has been reading his critics on this blog. Showing some better things tonight. Now if he could just be more consistent. Impressed with Special K’s smarts on when to jump in and when to stay back. He and Gus should talk.
- Chunk

I was just going to post that Forsling looks good tonight. He seems to be gaining confidence. Would be good if he can stay healthy and get some momentum.

Gotta shoot the puck low on Bernier

Hawks first PP I think.

Let's bury one to end the period!!!

16-7-3 Since December 18

16-7-3 Since December 18
- TrueGrit

Unacceptable!!! Don't they know Hughes is on the line???

Anisimov on a Jimmy Howard screw-up
Saad with a nasty top shelf shot
Kane with a snipe
Debrincat with a lovely top shelf finish off a Strome feed

Larkin scored their goal off about 3 missed chances to clear. They've also hit 3 posts.

But hey - Hawks in front.
- AusHawk

Thanks for the synopsis Aus. Hawks making a push for the playoffs. I kinda like it.

For those not liking the man to man and its mixed defensive results, it was interesting watching Tampa and Philly last night. It was noted a few times how Philly struggles in their own end playing a zone. Players are too stationary and struggle to react with motion to the play.

This is why many teams risk the man to man. Playing zone with all the speed and skill in the game today is akin to playing the prevent defense in the NFL.

The hawks are playing the same style as Gerard Gallants Vegas team that went to cup final last year. Sure they give up chances, but they play with relentless energy for a full 60 minutes. It is honey badger hockey. Players love it.

The Hawks have a top 10 offense. 3 balanced scoring lines. Again, many may not like the style points and long for the days of a shut down third line and an energy 4th line, but that is not how rosters are structured in the league anymore.
- TrueGrit

But would the old style work? If you have many new players in the bottom six do they have trouble adjusting to the old style? So begs the question, can a team flip a switch and be capable both styles?

Unacceptable!!! Don't they know Hughes is on the line???
- HawkintheD

How can you build without him? With 4 AHL defensemen playing in the NHL it can't be possible.

I must not be sophisticated enough to understand how much of a mirage this all is.

16-7-3 Since December 18
- TrueGrit

the ducks were in the WC spot on the 18th and have gone 5-16-4....

Unacceptable!!! Don't they know Hughes is on the line???
- HawkintheD

Not to be a downer but hawks have been playing some bad teams and winning but when they playoff teams like boston and Columbus they look like what they are not a good team not a bad team just in between team. Still IMO this is not a playoff team but lets see what bowman does from here until end tdl. Personally i would claim pelly then send sikrua down he would add some physicallity the hawks need and lack. So if hawks do not trade AA lines would be:
Towes kane Caggulia
Dcat strome kahun
Saad AA perlini
Pelly kruger hayden
As for d help maybe jensen from Detroit plays big minutes and can skate. So dahlstrom can finally go back to rockford

Keith seabrook
Murphy gust
Koko jensen boy looking at that d core does not instill confidence they get it done in the playoffs.

But would the old style work? If you have many new players in the bottom six do they have trouble adjusting to the old style? So begs the question, can a team flip a switch and be capable both styles?
- jhawk59

Not being a smart ass, but with arguably better players last year, they were outshot every night. It just looked better with everyone standing around. Results were not much different.

Q will be a hall of fame coach, big part of 3 cups obviously. However, his general philosophy was matching up and in my opinion over thinking everything. He had success with it. Vegas Style, Collitan style follows the Pat Riley philosophy. We are going to do what we do best very well. We are not going to concern ourselves with what the other team might want to do. We will focus on doing what we do very well.
We are going to push and press and invoke our will. Yes, it does not work all the time, but CLEARLY the hawks stars and team have bought in.

While many here love to discount all the offense and try to rationalize it by pumping the breaks with worn out cliches, do not think for a moment every opponent does prepare their team and warn them how quick the Hawks can turn things around and put pucks in the net. Sure deeper and more talented teams SHOULD prevail, however, if the game is close and the puck bounces the other way, they will not.

The team was clearly bored and no longer invested in the old system. Disagree with me all you want, but don't believe me, look at the energy and passion these guys play with. DO NOT THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT KANE AND TOEWS DO NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR CORE THEY WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND BE A TOUGH OUT.

Not to be a downer but hawks have been playing some bad teams and winning but when they playoff teams like boston and Columbus they look like what they are not a good team not a bad team just in between team. Still IMO this is not a playoff team but lets see what bowman does from here until end tdl. Personally i would claim pelly then send sikrua down he would add some physicallity the hawks need and lack. So if hawks do not trade AA lines would be:
Towes kane Caggulia
Dcat strome kahun
Saad AA perlini
Pelly kruger hayden
As for d help maybe jensen from Detroit plays big minutes and can skate. So dahlstrom can finally go back to rockford

Keith seabrook
Murphy gust
Koko jensen boy looking at that d core does not instill confidence they get it done in the playoffs.
- Scott1977

Who said anything about confidence in them getting it done?

the ducks were in the WC spot on the 18th and have gone 5-16-4....

- bogiedoc

They too are playing better hockey the last few games. They are not a bad team. I am just hoping there is not enough runway for them to get back in.

Not to be a downer but hawks have been playing some bad teams and winning but when they playoff teams like boston and Columbus they look like what they are not a good team not a bad team just in between team. Still IMO this is not a playoff team but lets see what bowman does from here until end tdl. Personally i would claim pelly then send sikrua down he would add some physicallity the hawks need and lack. So if hawks do not trade AA lines would be:
Towes kane Caggulia
Dcat strome kahun
Saad AA perlini
Pelly kruger hayden
As for d help maybe jensen from Detroit plays big minutes and can skate. So dahlstrom can finally go back to rockford

Keith seabrook
Murphy gust
Koko jensen boy looking at that d core does not instill confidence they get it done in the playoffs.
- Scott1977

Fair point regarding opponents, but there are stretches in each of those games where the hawks control the play and "keep up" I will argue that they have hung in those games more and longer each game. It is a challenge, but they are not as far away as many believe. Fixing the PK...or improving it marginally will tighten games.

larkin...what a shift...3 hawks right there and he still gets the shot off..

They really need to stop getting lulled into not moving. All 5 skaters slow and standing around.

Hawks getting owned since going up 4-1

Pretty boring game overall

Best part has been the outstanding work by Tirico