Great to see a win.
My takeaway: the 'Hawks legs were better. FAR better.
They won so many loose puck races I was shocked.
To my eye, Toews and Dcat stood out in having speed on the Oilers getting to loose pucks.

Is anyone else watching the replay? Im going to watch this again. Kane didnt have 2 goals tonight I know. But he had an empty net taken away and a one timer off the inside of the post
- just69sayin

I might have been a little off ... my wife would say I'm a lot "off".

How long have you been watching or playing hockey?

He was not intentional, Caggs almost fell down after the hit, Avoiding the hit.

Next man up, I guess.
- Drgonzo399

I’ve been watching and playing my whole life, so 27 years. I get that incidental contact happens and it’s hard to avoid sometimes, at the same time Ennis’ head was the principal point of contact. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a concussion from that hit. I think he could have avoided it, slow up or make a point to get his body. Lots of guys are tight checking and never contact a players head like that.

I just think this type of contact has to go and shouldn’t be accepted for the sport to persist and flourish.

Good on the Habs for pulling out the win.
- DarthKane

It is never, never, ever good when the HaplessHabs pull out a win. Fuq the Habs. They are the armpits and azzholes of the NHL.

Oh, I am not fond of the Habs by the way, so this may not be objective...

That reverse hit... nylander on kassian. Sweet.
- hawkitect

Might be the best game Nylander has played as a Hawk.

Caggiula called into a disciplinary hearing over the hit to Ennis's head
- pdx2ord

Very curious on this one.

I guess the question is was Caggiula aiming for a shoulder on shoulder and ERnnis slowed up.
I dont see any indication he did.

For all the nit picking here, this hawk team as a team put the jump on the oilers and Edmontaonwas prepared.

The game was full of little things:
Caggiula four hits and block,
Highmore's jump two hits and a block
Old slow Maatta two hits and three blocks

and entire team of guys like Nylander who extended plays with touches and guys closing on the enemy puck carriers.

Although this is far from over the Hawks scoring provided more than enough pause into the Edmonton mentality.

Despite great goals, and lucky goal this was a team win.

People saying Nylander and Dcat had bad games I didn't see that. Thought Nylander played pretty good and Dcat had some problems but he still had a couple of good chances. I could see him break out and put in a few goals soon. What I like about Dcat was at one point he made a bad give away but worked his butt off to get the puck back.
I think if Nylander and Dcat are considered weak links on the Hawks were in great shape.
- HamiltonHawk

Agreed. Sure, room for improvement. But, away from the puck, a little defense, a little physicality....overall, I thought Nylander had a decent showing.

Very curious on this one.

I guess the question is was Caggiula aiming for a shoulder on shoulder and ERnnis slowed up.
I dont see any indication he did.

For all the nit picking here, this hawk team as a team put the jump on the oilers and Edmontaonwas prepared.

The game was full of little things:
Caggiula four hits and block,
Highmore's jump two hits and a block
Old slow Maatta two hits and three blocks

and entire team of guys like Nylander who extended plays with touches and guys closing on the enemy puck carriers.

Although this is far from over the Hawks scoring provided more than enough pause into the Edmonton mentality.

Despite great goals, and lucky goal this was a team win.
- wiz1901

Dominated 5x5.

Played ‘em even on special teams, but can’t count on that going forward. Cut the penalties in half.

I’ve been watching and playing my whole life, so 27 years. I get that incidental contact happens and it’s hard to avoid sometimes, at the same time Ennis’ head was the principal point of contact. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a concussion from that hit. I think he could have avoided it, slow up or make a point to get his body. Lots of guys are tight checking and never contact a players head like that.

I just think this type of contact has to go and shouldn’t be accepted for the sport to persist and flourish.
- LaheysBRandy

We agree but for now players safety department doesn't hold players accountable for what's considered coincidental contact.

Also the refs didn't even call a penalty on Caggiula?

Hey B-Man,

Hope all is well with you!

Look out for Neal, he's always been a Hawks killer, any team. He's the antagonist here like it or not, to our story. Keep him away.

Talk soon.
- Drgonzo399

I'm doing good, man. Just excited to be watching some playoff hockey. How are you doing?

I agree, especially back in the Pred days. If he's the threat now, that means McDavid & Draisaitl are being contained. I'm fine with that.

Dominated 5x5.

Played ‘em even on special teams, but can’t count on that going forward. Cut the penalties in half.
- StLBravesFan

Agree on 5 on 5 & cut penalties in half. The problem does start there. Whether starting off with a tmm call or a weak holding call, they need to find a way to kill it. Each kill had one clear, it seemed like, because of a faceoff win, which we also were good at. I think we killed 1 penalty successfully & couldn't stop the first 6 on 5 eng. I always believed we could take the Oilers in this series, albeit a tough series, but pk's win championships. It's a department they aren't too great at or Edm pp is just that good, I'm not sure. I love Keith, but hold him accountable for one because of no attempt to clear & Crow was standing on his head.

Clearly special teams played a big role, as we thought they would - both teams scored 3 PP goals. We also thought the Hawks would have the advantage 5-on-5, which they did with dominant puck possession time and outscoring them 3-0. It was great fun for Hawks fans, but ...

The odds are things will balance out a bit on Monday. I'm not counting any chickens just yet, nor am I throwing away my Laffy dreams.

Agree on 5 on 5 & cut penalties in half. The problem does start there. Whether starting off with a tmm call or a weak holding call, they need to find a way to kill it. Each kill had one clear, it seemed like, because of a faceoff win, which we also were good at. I think we killed 1 penalty successfully & couldn't stop the first 6 on 5 eng. I always believed we could take the Oilers in this series, albeit a tough series, but pk's win championships. It's a department they aren't too great at or Edm pp is just that good, I'm not sure. I love Keith, but hold him accountable for one because of no attempt to clear & Crow was standing on his head.
- I Am The Breadman

Crawford is the most underrated goalie in the league IMO. Good to see him out there yesterday. I really didn’t think he’d be available the way things looked when camp started, and I don’t think we’d have a chance without him.

Might be the best game Nylander has played as a Hawk.
- hawk35

He's definitely improving. His confidence seems to be growing

He's definitely improving. His confidence seems to be growing
- GPHawksfan

He blows.

People saying Nylander and Dcat had bad games I didn't see that. Thought Nylander played pretty good and Dcat had some problems but he still had a couple of good chances. I could see him break out and put in a few goals soon. What I like about Dcat was at one point he made a bad give away but worked his butt off to get the puck back.
I think if Nylander and Dcat are considered weak links on the Hawks were in great shape.
- HamiltonHawk

The complaint department has to keep some narrative alive. The JC is going to be so out coached needs to be fired is dead for one game.

Just like the 3 of the 6 defenseman sucked narrative, naming a rookie playing top 4 minutes, and the 5th and 6th defenseman. 2 he didn’t name Murphy and Keith were on together for 3 out of the 4 goals, all short handed. 5 x 5 the defense was outstanding. BTW when Makar (who is a couple of years older than Bovquist), played in the playoffs last year, he wasn’t playing top 4 minutes against arguably the 2 best players in the league. He played PP and selective 5 x 5 minutes.

He blows.
- Ogilthorpe2

And yet you like David Kampf. Talk about someone that blows

People saying Nylander and Dcat had bad games I didn't see that. Thought Nylander played pretty good and Dcat had some problems but he still had a couple of good chances. I could see him break out and put in a few goals soon. What I like about Dcat was at one point he made a bad give away but worked his butt off to get the puck back.
I think if Nylander and Dcat are considered weak links on the Hawks were in great shape.
- HamiltonHawk

From me, just pointing out 92 had a more compete game than 12 puck handling wise. They both battled, both went to the boards, Nylander preventing a wrap around. My opinion of my guy Bo they told him to keep things simple and he sure did, good game from the kid.

The complaint department has to keep some narrative alive. The JC is going to be so out coached needs to be fired is dead for one game.

Just like the 3 of the 6 defenseman sucked narrative, naming a rookie playing top 4 minutes, and the 5th and 6th defenseman. 2 he didn’t name Murphy and Keith were on together for 3 out of the 4 goals, all short handed. 5 x 5 the defense was outstanding. BTW when Makar (who is a couple of years older than Bovquist), played in the playoffs last year, he wasn’t playing top 4 minutes against arguably the 2 best players in the league. He played PP and selective 5 x 5 minutes.
- LAHawk

The thing about series is that coaches have the opportunity to react to what happened in the last game and put in schemes to turn things around in the next game.

We’ll see what Tippett can do to change the next game - and what Colliton can do to counter.

The best part for me is i don't have to watch Gusto in a Blackhawks uniform anymore.

I’ve been watching and playing my whole life, so 27 years. I get that incidental contact happens and it’s hard to avoid sometimes, at the same time Ennis’ head was the principal point of contact. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a concussion from that hit. I think he could have avoided it, slow up or make a point to get his body. Lots of guys are tight checking and never contact a players head like that.

I just think this type of contact has to go and shouldn’t be accepted for the sport to persist and flourish.
- LaheysBRandy

And Caggiula could have got a concussion for the crosscheck to the face. That should also be looked at. I mean it is a joke the NHL wants to make it look like they are watching out for the players and the headshots but what about the massive amounts of crosschecking that is not called?
What does everyone think about what happened to Scheifele? Now that was a cheap shot!

Yesterday @ 8:52 PM ET
Nylander had a good game. He's young (23 I think). He is doing exactly what Versteeg did for Richards and Kane. He is enough of a threat to distract D while Kane and his center do work. Versteeg had established that role, Nylander can grow into a secondary threat. Our standard for Kane's opposite wing cannot be Panarin.
- MinneHawks

Nylander absolutely did not have a good game and Verbeauty was a much better player out of the gate. Even though he did some stupid stuff at the blue line trying to carry the puck. Versteeg could defend well, had good speed going up the ice and had a sense of where to be.

Nylander has zero of those things. Super high level of skill but horrid on ice awareness. Absolutely zero threat.

I get that JC wants to have 3 potential scoring lines so you have Kane and Strome + Dach and El Gato + Toews and the very fast straight line guys but to get Kane going and to get the most out of the lil guy, Debrincat should be on his off side ripping bombs from that left circle.

Sikura should be playing over Nylander for sure.

People saying Nylander and Dcat had bad games I didn't see that. Thought Nylander played pretty good and Dcat had some problems but he still had a couple of good chances. I could see him break out and put in a few goals soon. What I like about Dcat was at one point he made a bad give away but worked his butt off to get the puck back.
I think if Nylander and Dcat are considered weak links on the Hawks were in great shape.
- HamiltonHawk

I thought Nylander played decently in Game 1. Hustled, used his size, made plays, and committed to defense. Not perfect but the effort seems better.

And the reverse hit on Kassian was classic! If Nylander can be consistent across all 200 feet, watch out. Good combo of strength, size, and skill.

And yet you like David Kampf. Talk about someone that blows
- GPHawksfan

I like Kampf for what he is, a solid, low cost role player who knows his role and embraces it. Every Successful team needs a few of them. If you have 12 top 6 style forwards, all trying to be THE man, good luck.

People saying Nylander and Dcat had bad games I didn't see that. Thought Nylander played pretty good and Dcat had some problems but he still had a couple of good chances. I could see him break out and put in a few goals soon. What I like about Dcat was at one point he made a bad give away but worked his butt off to get the puck back.
I think if Nylander and Dcat are considered weak links on the Hawks were in great shape.
- HamiltonHawk

With Caggiula headed to the principal's office for the Ennis hit, this could be Sikura's chance to step in and step up.

IMO, the 3rd line could get going more with Sikura's vision, playmaking, and puck support to help Dach and DeBrincat.