Theo Fox: Stay of Execution Game summaries of the Devils 4-3 OT victory over the Blackhawks and the Griffins 6-1 throttling of the IceHogs.

Plus, thoughts on Dylan Strome's individual situation being a microcosm for the team's overall situation with inconsistent compete level.

Theo Fox: Stay of Execution
Game summaries of the Devils 4-3 OT victory over the Blackhawks and the Griffins 6-1 throttling of the IceHogs.

Plus, thoughts on Dylan Strome's individual situation being a microcosm for the team's overall situation with inconsistent compete level.
- Theo Fox

You know if they just focused on playing really good defense the first 10 minutes of the game and not worry about scoring first, this team would be off to better starts, but that's not JC's mo.

Thanks for the postgame blog and insights on the Hogs Theo.

Was hoping to see something better on Nylander and maybe he is still trying to get up to game speed. If these end up being the norm on your RFD reports his detractors have probably been high all along.

Others like Reichel have seemingly passed him by on the organizational depth chart and I'd rather have another guy like Hagel at this point than a guy who "just sort of lets the play come to him."

I have to admit Kurashev has played well, but can we please have Hagel with Kubalik, there was chemistry there last year and just like the game tying goal last night.

.50 ppg is solid in today's NHL with .70 being very good and .85 or above is elite. Yeah he's slow and maybe coasts sometimes but need points to win esp if they're going to defend like an under 7 team team.

At any rate its inconsequential who is in the line up when 4 or five players are on one side of the ice - and it has to be on purpose - in the defensive zone.

Even against a young / not very good team in NJ, players in the NHL vs the beer league in Europe he coached in are going to make that pass to the other side of the ice all day and it is crazy that this keeps going on.

They piss away points again tonight and you'd think they'd start thr interview. Process. Babcocks red ass would be a better alternative at this point than that smirking bozo behind the bench now.

You know if they just focused on playing really good defense the first 10 minutes of the game and not worry about scoring first, this team would be off to better starts, but that's not JC's mo.
- BetweenTheDots

JFC listen to yourself. Don’t try to score first. Focus on playing really good defense. What is your suggestion, give the puck to the opponents and then start working on playing defense? If your goal isn’t to score first but to play defense how many games do you think any team will win using that strategy?

The focus should be on puck possession and yes scoring and as little time as possible playing defense.

JFC listen to yourself. Don’t try to score first. Focus on playing really good defense. What is your suggestion, give the puck to the opponents and then start working on playing defense? If your goal isn’t to score first but to play defense how many games do you think any team will win using that strategy?

The focus should be on puck possession and yes scoring and as little time as possible playing defense.
- paulr

All I know is that JC's failure at inventing a cure that retards the aging process drove Duncs to EDM.

Thanks Theo. I need a ledge that’s not too high, as I’m afraid of heights. The silver lining from last night was the play of Jones, De Haan, and Stillman, plus Dach’s play so far the first two games, other than that pass in OT. While I’ve been on the fence with Colliton, I like some others do not like his line match up strategy. Please no Gus tonight, I’d rather see rookie mistakes from Mitchell.

All I know is that JC's failure at inventing a cure that retards the aging process drove Duncs to EDM.
- HawkintheD

Get used to it, all of JC’s shortcomings aren’t sticking to the wall so more creative shortcomings are being made up. So far my biggest criticism of JC is not sitting players who make mental mistakes. You can live with a physical mistake but a player who isn’t thinking has to be held accountable. Oh and JC should be all over the teams best players who haven’t played like the team’s best players except for that dominant last three minutes of regular time yesterday.

JFC listen to yourself. Don’t try to score first. Focus on playing really good defense. What is your suggestion, give the puck to the opponents and then start working on playing defense? If your goal isn’t to score first but to play defense how many games do you think any team will win using that strategy?

The focus should be on puck possession and yes scoring and as little time as possible playing defense.
- paulr

What you don't understand is the opponent knows we are going to expose ourselves defensively because we are going to take unnecessary chances to score first, so a better coached team which is most nights they wait for us to make a mistake just like Murphy s pass to a covered guy last night

.50 ppg is solid in today's NHL with .70 being very good and .85 or above is elite. Yeah he's slow and maybe coasts sometimes but need points to win esp if they're going to defend like an under 7 team team.

At any rate its inconsequential who is in the line up when 4 or five players are on one side of the ice - and it has to be on purpose - in the defensive zone.

Even against a young / not very good team in NJ, players in the NHL vs the beer league in Europe he coached in are going to make that pass to the other side of the ice all day and it is crazy that this keeps going on.

They piss away points again tonight and you'd think they'd start thr interview. Process. Babcocks red ass would be a better alternative at this point than that smirking bozo behind the bench now.
- fattybeef

Assuming you are talking about Strome, when was the last season he scored at .5 ppg?

Panthers faced 47 shots against vs the Penguins Thursday, hope MAF is ready.

You know if they just focused on playing really good defense the first 10 minutes of the game and not worry about scoring first, this team would be off to better starts, but that's not JC's mo.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't try to score 1st! Yeah, that's the ticket!!

From last thread....

AS long as Crawford isn't elevated to head coach.
- 6628


If JC goes, there's gonna be a whip-cracker brought in to force these guys to play defense. Within a week, we'll see posts on here about what a brute the new coach is and how being a tyrant no longer works with today's youngsters.

What you don't understand is the opponent knows we are going to expose ourselves defensively because we are going to take unnecessary chances to score first, so a better coached team which is most nights they wait for us to make a mistake just like Murphy s pass to a covered guy last night
- BetweenTheDots

Dots you have no clue what you’re talking about. Yesterday you blamed McCabe on that first goal play until it was pointed out that the real issue was there were no viable passing options for Murphy so he made a panic pass to his partner who had his back to a forechecker. The problem was a mental mistake, not by McCabe or Murphy (although Murphy should have just chipped the puck out) but by the two forwards who blew the zone. The two forwards, one I think was Kubalik should have missed a couple of shifts to review the play on an iPad. Murphy should also have been corrected. Later on when Murphy was the second defenseman to go behind the night after a single Jersey forward he should have spent the remainder of the period on the bench.

Dots you have no clue what you’re talking about. Yesterday you blamed McCabe on that first goal play until it was pointed out that the real issue was there were no viable passing options for Murphy so he made a panic pass to his partner who had his back to a forechecker. The problem was a mental mistake, not by McCabe or Murphy (although Murphy should have just chipped the puck out) but by the two forwards who blew the zone. The two forwards, one I think was Kubalik should have missed a couple of shifts to review the play on an iPad. Murphy should also have been corrected. Later on when Murphy was the second defenseman to go behind the night after a single Jersey forward he should have spent the remainder of the period on the bench.
- paulr

https://twitter.com/Hocke.../1449190621294510083?s=01

Tic toc

Rocky needs to fire Stan for reaquiring Gus, and torch JC for playing him in critical game situations. Real classy move 'easing' Gus back in, BTW. What difference does it make, is everyone's line of reasoning. Grow a set, Rockster! Love ya dude, but the league is beginning to giggle behind your back. Your team has some talent now, but are being run into a ditch by a young man, who is in over his head. Stan is reluctant to pull the plug, because if HE does so, it will make him (Stan) look like a department store dummy. He's praying the good ship Lollipop gets turned around with a few more insightful tweaks from Beavis. How long will it last? FOREVER, if you allow it.

I have to admit Kurashev has played well, but can we please have Hagel with Kubalik, there was chemistry there last year and just like the game tying goal last night.
- BetweenTheDots

EXACTLY !!

Thanks Theo. I need a ledge that’s not too high, as I’m afraid of heights. The silver lining from last night was the play of Jones, De Haan, and Stillman, plus Dach’s play so far the first two games, other than that pass in OT. While I’ve been on the fence with Colliton, I like some others do not like his line match up strategy. Please no Gus tonight, I’d rather see rookie mistakes from Mitchell.
- Angotti

Totally agree, and again, will somebody please ask Colliton why Debrincat didn't see the ice in OT ????????? He is now the BEST player on this team, just like Panarin was back in his last year with Kane.

That....along with Gus getting OT ice time should be an instantaneously fireable couple of decisions. There is absolutely no reasons he could have for at least those 2 egregious decisions.

Totally agree, and again, will somebody please ask Colliton why Debrincat didn't see the ice in OT ????????? He is now the BEST player on this team, just like Panarin was back in his last year with Kane.

That....along with Gus getting OT ice time should be an instantaneously fireable couple of decisions. There is absolutely no reasons he could have for at least those 2 egregious decisions.
- Hawkytalk

Kane and Dach were out there and the period lasted just the one shift didn't it? In hindsight maybe Dinky could have been a better choice but maybe he and Toews were a pairing.

You're making it sound like Carpenter and Khaira were out there to start the OT.

Despite a 3-1 deficit in the waning minutes of regulation, the Hawks clawed back to tie with a PP strike by Kirby Dach off of swift passing and collapsing towards the net and a sweet feed by Brandon Hagel to set up sniper Dominik Kubalik who scored has 2nd in as many games.

The Hawks play again tonight versus the Penguins as Marc-Andre Fleury has a homecoming game in Pittsburgh where he won 3 Stanley Cups. Like the Avalanche without their star center Nathan MacKinnon, the Pens will be without their star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.-THEO FOX

That's an odd recap, missing the end of the movie, but I get it.

I have to admit Kurashev has played well, but can we please have Hagel with Kubalik, there was chemistry there last year and just like the game tying goal last night.
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed. I’m a big Kurashev fan but Hagel & Kubalik have chemistry just as Toews & Kubalik do. Kurashev has played well, but the lines need to be shaken up soon, maybe not today but soon.

DeBrincat - Dach - Kane
Kubalik - Toews - Hagel
Strome - Borgstrom - Kurashev
Khaira - Gaudette - Johnson

https://twitter.com/HockeyNapsak/status/1449190621294510083?s=01

Tic toc
- BetweenTheDots

If the Hawks aren’t in the hunt for a playoff spot by the end of the month he should be gone. The Hawks have talent, they should be playing better.

I get it with so many new players it’ll take time for them to gel. But at this rate the Hawks should be a cohesive unit by December….2022.

Kane and Dach were out there and the period lasted just the one shift didn't it? In hindsight maybe Dinky could have been a better choice but maybe he and Toews were a pairing.

You're making it sound like Carpenter and Khaira were out there to start the OT.
- HawkintheD

Toews and Dach started the OT - then Kane in for Toews and AdB in for Dach the latter as the game winning play was playing out).

Don’t know why Toews-Kane wouldn’t start the OT, as usual - they’ve been very good doing that for quite a while. Then come back with Dach-AdB or include Hagel (who’s been very good 3x3).

Toews and Dach started the OT - then Kane in for Toews and AdB in for Dach the latter as the game winning play was playing out).

Don’t know why Toews-Kane wouldn’t start the OT, as usual - they’ve been very good doing that for quite a while. Then come back with Dach-AdB or include Hagel (who’s been very good 3x3).
- StLBravesFan

We should feel lucky that JC didn’t start with Stillman-Gus-Khaira.