Crow was outstanding. .94 save % vs closer to or under .90 kind of makes a difference.

JC decided to coach this game and match lines. Kamf, Saad and the new guy had their way with the McDavid line which has been on fire all year. Keith didnt suck which was cool.

Still a lot of sloppy play and not having a play maker with Toews and Debrincat is probably going to mean not a lot of goals from them.

Nylander, for the goal, also crapped 3 away in the D zone that led to quality chances for the Oilers and it was fortunate the McDavid one was pulled back and that he couldn't avoid Crow.

Good chance to get to .500 Friday. Hopefully this is something to build on and not just an off night for the Oilers.
- fattybeef

Can’t get to .500 Friday. Can get over .500 with victories in the next two games.

The problem with making the 20-64-8 third line the checking line, with Kampf in the middle, is that they may be sacrificing the goal scoring of Saad (a proven 20-25 goaler) and Kubalik (certainly a potential mid-20s scorer.

Better to have Kampf anchor a checking 4th line, with skaters already here or in Rockford.
- StLBravesFan

Im willing to see how this plays out, 3 goals in 4 games Saad and Kubalik, Saad with so many chances last night

Can’t get to .500 Friday. Can get over .500 with victories in the next two games.
- Spec41971

Depends on how you define .500. A win next games means 2-2-1. Some see that as .500.

The Hawks suddenly can play defence. Surely they must finally have learned Colliton’s defensive “system”. This is not what has happened. In fact the Hawks’ defensive improvement can be completely linked to the abandonment of Colliton’s defensive “system”.

Coach Crawford has implemented a defence first system characterized by protecting the front of the net, no over-playing, no chasing, no wild pinching.

Gus of course continues to be Gus. Crazy pinching continues to lead to odd-man breaks. Also chased a Shark player around net leading to the tying goal in that game. Any D-Man playing with Gus should get danger pay.

Reporters said that Hawks were practicing dump and chase. However, the real proof can be seen in the games. There is a defensive structure now. There seems to be a new defensive Sheriff in town and his name is Marc Crawford, who ran the time-out late in the game last night as the Hawks tried to protect a 2-1 lead.
- Z3Hawk

You know this how, do you have an inside source?

Murphy as well as Maatta and de Haan have really helped to stabilize the blueline. They are capable veterans who know how to defend.

None are top 2-3 material but smart fundamentals and physical play make the sum greater than the parts which includes an upgrade in play by Keith and Seabrook.
- AEL_Fox

I also enjoyed the Shaw hit behind the net. It almost sounded like there was a small delay in the video presentation as it sounded like Foley was making the call an instant before it occurred. It could be he anticipated the play, but i don’t see him being that astute. Regarding Shaw’s hit, he clearly lefty his feet to make contact. Isn’t that a penalty in and of itself?

I also enjoyed the Shaw hit behind the net. It almost sounded like there was a small delay in the video presentation as it sounded like Foley was making the call an instant before it occurred. It could be he anticipated the play, but i don’t see him being that astute. Regarding Shaw’s hit, he clearly lefty his feet to make contact. Isn’t that a penalty in and of itself?
- Spec41971[/quot

No contact to the head, but per the rule book I think you are correct.

You know this how, do you have an inside source?
- walleyeb1

It has to be that way. Otherwise he'd be wrong about JC's system being so bad no defenseman in the league could be effective following it.

I also enjoyed the Shaw hit behind the net. It almost sounded like there was a small delay in the video presentation as it sounded like Foley was making the call an instant before it occurred. It could be he anticipated the play, but i don’t see him being that astute. Regarding Shaw’s hit, he clearly lefty his feet to make contact. Isn’t that a penalty in and of itself?
- Spec41971

It was so intense Kane acted like he was the one getting hammered, the way he shrank.

It has to be egregious, plenty of big hits in the league where a player leaves his feet don't get called so long it's not a head shot

Im willing to see how this plays out, 3 goals in 4 games Saad and Kubalik, Saad with so many chances last night
- BetweenTheDots

Kubalik looks really, really solid. Always seem to find himself in position for a good shot at the net.

If McDavid doesn't like to get hit, he should try figure skating.

Depends on how you define .500. A win next games means 2-2-1. Some see that as .500.
- mohel

Only those who by into Bettman’s plan to have 32 teams finish above .500. With enough 3-point games he could succeed.

2-2-1 = 2 wins 3 losses = below .500.

Only those who by into Bettman’s plan to have 32 teams finish above .500. With enough 3-point games he could succeed.

2-2-1 = 2 wins 3 losses = below .500.
- StLBravesFan

https://www.vice.com/en_u...loser-point-is-for-losers

Only those who by into Bettman’s plan to have 32 teams finish above .500. With enough 3-point games he could succeed.

2-2-1 = 2 wins 3 losses = below .500.
- StLBravesFan

Understood, but 5 points in 5 games can also reasonably be considered .500.

Only those who by into Bettman’s plan to have 32 teams finish above .500. With enough 3-point games he could succeed.

2-2-1 = 2 wins 3 losses = below .500.
- StLBravesFan

To play devil's advocate: 5 points out of a possible 10 = .500

Depends on how you define .500. A win next games means 2-2-1. Some see that as .500.
- mohel

I know they see it that way but it just doesn’t add up.

Assume the hawks played just one opponent in first four games and are scheduled to play them again in the fifth.

Right now at 1-2-1 the hawks have 3 points. Their opponents are 3-1-0 for 6 points.

If the hawks win game five in regulation, they advance to 2-2-1 for 5 points, while their opponent moves to 3-2-0 and stays at 6 points.

If the hawks win game 5 in OT or the shootout, they also end up 2-2-1 for 5 points, but their opponent ends up 3-3-1 for 7 points.

This fallacy that x-x-y is .500 completely overlooks the fact that since the NHL has 3-point games, when you lose in OT or the shootout, you are falling a point behind the opponent and when you win one of these games, you are only gaining a net single point.

You know this how, do you have an inside source?
- walleyeb1

Probably read it on the internet....that make it factual.

It was so intense Kane acted like he was the one getting hammered, the way he shrank.

It has to be egregious, plenty of big hits in the league where a player leaves his feet don't get called so long it's not a head shot
- BetweenTheDots

Thanks.

Only those who by into Bettman’s plan to have 32 teams finish above .500. With enough 3-point games he could succeed.

2-2-1 = 2 wins 3 losses = below .500.
- StLBravesFan

Absolutely agreed! I think there are those that would argue 0-0-82 would be a .500 team, ignoring that their opponents would then be 82-0-0. One team gets 82 points while the other gets 164. There’s no way the 82 point team in this case is at .500.

I think the league plays this stupid games with coaching records too. They seem to base a coaches winning percentage on the number of wins divided by the number of )wins plus regulation losses). Bad math!

Understood, but 5 points in 5 games can also reasonably be considered .500.
- mohel

I agree with the fact that it can be considered but when the opponent gets 5 wins in this scenario for 10 points, then on a point percentage one team is at .333 and the other is at .667.


I think the only reasonable way to calculate it is the number of wins divided by the number of games played. This results in the only accurate mathematical winning percentage; all else is — as someone posted a minute ago — Bettman b.s.

If McDavid doesn't like to get hit, he should try figure skating.
- 11Chaser11

Good one. I’d suggest ice dance then, as there is less physicality that pairs.

To play devil's advocate: 5 points out of a possible 10 = .500
- tvetter

It’s five out of 15 points: .333.

Im willing to see how this plays out, 3 goals in 4 games Saad and Kubalik, Saad with so many chances last night
- BetweenTheDots

Kubalik has had quite a few too; for a line tasked with shutting down the opponents, they’ve had a large number of high scoring chances.

It’s five out of 15 points: .333.
- Spec41971

How do you get 15 points in 5 games? One team can only get 2 per game.

Are we starting this debate about points and being .500? I feel like this is deja vu from last year....

Are we starting this debate about points and being .500? I feel like this is deja vu from last year....
- bhawks2241

A lot of time between now and Friday