[A] Blackhawks (12-6-3) vs Sharks (12-5-1) - 11/23 - 9:30 PM

[R K]

But did we play physical those series?

Playing physical and out hitting are two different things.



Tony I agree minus the last two games. It's a team game. When there are a bunch of individuals on the ice you usually get spanked.



Again we played like shit against a team very similar in puck possession the last game. Same team that made the Preds look silly last night.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Carcillo will be our leader by the end of the year IMO, I mean they are both tied right now with 42 hits the only difference is Carcillo did it in 3 less games.



Another surprise, Stalberg is top 5 on the team in hits with 23 - above Montador, Sharp, Hossa, Scott, Frolik, Toews, O'Donnell... But he's only a one dimensional player so that has to be wrong.

No Ton, its cause he's still figuring out how to stop.

 

[supraman]

Playing physical and out hitting are two different things.



Tony I agree minus the last two games. It's a team game. When there are a bunch of individuals on the ice you usually get spanked.



Again we played like shit against a team very similar in puck possession the last game. Same team that made the Preds look silly last night.

If you play physical the hitting comes along with it.



We play like a soft team. We don't play physical or hit.

 

[Ton]

No Ton, its cause he's still figuring out how to stop.

Lol! +1 for that

 

[Ton]

thing is, Bickell doesn't do the dirty work. Frolik does.

I agree, Frolik has become a pretty good player in that respect. Now they just need someone on that line to get hot (looking at Bolland) when Frolik returns.



Also, roster updates: Seabrook back, Frolik still out



Looks like Brunette and Smith switched again.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

I agree, Frolik has become a pretty good player in that respect. Now they just need someone on that line to get hot (looking at Bolland) when Frolik returns.



Also, roster updates: Seabrook back, Frolik still out



Looks like Brunette and Smith switched again.

Thank fucking god, I was starting to think that my dream had cursed this team for good. The impact of Seabrook being out isn't to be believed.

 

[Rex]

so can Smith play on the third line?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Playing physical and out hitting are two different things.



Tony I agree minus the last two games. It's a team game. When there are a bunch of individuals on the ice you usually get spanked.



Again we played like shit against a team very similar in puck possession the last game. Same team that made the Preds look silly last night.

Hitting is an integral PART of playing physical and its a part of playing physical that the Hawks do very poorly. When matched against a team that is very good at hitting as well as other aspect of playing physical it can indirectly tilt the odds of victory in one direction.



Hits don't get you goals or win you games but not matching another teams physicality can get you losses.



I hope the Hawks beat the shit out of the Sharks tonight! Go Hawks!

 

[Ton]

Scratch that: Frolik will likely play, Smith out.



We'll know for sure at 3:30.



EDIT: 5:30, typo.

 

[R K]

Hitting is an integral PART of playing physical and its a part of playing physical that the Hawks do very poorly. When matched against a team that is very good at hitting as well as other aspect of playing physical it can indirectly tilt the odds of victory in one direction.



Hits don't get you goals or win you games but not matching another teams physicality can get you losses.



I hope the Hawks beat the shit out of the Sharks tonight! Go Hawks!

It's different for every team and every situation. Bruins won the Cup playing that style. Hawks did not.

 

[whiteevo]

4:30 for those of us in the best time zone.



hawks just fucking win, gotta start the long weekend out right!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[R K]

If you play physical the hitting comes along with it.



We play like a soft team. We don't play physical or hit.

Again not all true. We play like a puck possession team most of the time.



Puck Possession teams are almost always out hit. Why, because they have the puck.



Game one lost 2-1 way out hit

Game two won 5-2 way out hit

Game three won 4-3 way out hit

Game four way out hit (bruins) lost in a shoot out 3-2

ect, ect......



Oilers game, out hit them but neither team hit much, why, because both teams are puck possession teams. We lost because we forgot to back check, for check, carry the puck, pass, and just about every fundamental aspect of play the TEAM Sport. We had 11 T/A in this game. You can't tell me some of those werent physical. They were. Oilers also scored FIVE PP goals. FIVE! That has not one thing to do with Hitting and or Physicality.



See a theme? It goes on. Physical and gritty, ie going intot the corners and hard areas for pucks are different than hitting. And I'm not saying hittings not important but it's different for "puck possession" teams. Those that arent, IE the Bruins, must hit to get the puck!



Bruins won the Cup playing that game. Hawks won the Cup on puck possession and scoring 4 goals per game.

 

[Pez68]

There's a difference between playing physical, and racking up hits as a statistic(a horribly tracked statistic, at that). The main purpose of hitting is to force the opposition into making mistakes(guys hurry to get rid of the puck when they see a hit coming), and separate the puck carrier from the puck defensively. Nobody is saying the Hawks have to "outhit their opponent". They do need to play physical, however. Hockey is a contact sport, but you'd never know it by watching the Blackhawks. The Hawks haven't been a puck possession team since they won the cup. You actually have to have a strong forecheck and keep the puck in the offensive zone to do that. You can't have a strong forecheck if you aren't willing to take the body.

 

[R K]

Thankyou Mr. Hockey Expert. And yes they have been a puck possession team. Or at least that's they system he tries to play. Not as well since they won the Cup but that's a no brainer. Hockey is a contact sport? Say it aint so!



I love how you left out Mayers, Carcillo, Odonnell and Montedor in your previous post. When you add them in it makes the argument a little weaker for sure. Hawks have a strong forcheck when they play that way. Unfortunately like the other night, against ANOTHER puck possession team, they forgot just about every fundamental there is.



Which almost always leads back to Q.

 

[fanof19]

Thankyou Mr. Hockey Expert. And yes they have been a puck possession team. Or at least that's they system he tries to play. Not as well since they won the Cup but that's a no brainer. Hockey is a contact sport? Say it aint so!



I love how you left out Mayers, Carcillo, Odonnell and Montedor in your previous post. When you add them in it makes the argument a little weaker for sure. Hawks have a strong forcheck when they play that way. Unfortunately like the other night, against ANOTHER puck possession team, they forgot just about every fundamental there is.



Which almost always leads back to Q.

I feel like there is a song there.......

 

[Pez68]

Mayers doesn't play enough to really matter, and isn't fast enough to finish a lot of hits. O'Donnell never plays and is old as shit. Montador hasn't been physical at all since coming here. Carcillo is the only guy that has really mattered, and he has recently stopped playing as physical as well. Q coaches these guys to play soft hockey. There's really no denying that.

 

[R K]

I feel like there is a song there.......

Unfortunately that's the theme in my opinion. Columbus is 2nd in the league in Hits, San Jose is 30th. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Pez68]

Hit numbers are meaningless in this conversation. Boston is one of the most physical teams in the NHL. 18th in hits. St. Louis is also really physical. 13th. Anaheim: 12th. Philly: 21st. Hit numbers are a terrible indicator of physicality because of how poorly they are tracked.

 

[Rex]

Mayers doesn't play enough to really matter, and isn't fast enough to finish a lot of hits. O'Donnell never plays and is old as shit. Montador hasn't been physical at all since coming here. Carcillo is the only guy that has really mattered, and he has recently stopped playing as physical as well. Q coaches these guys to play soft hockey. There's really no denying that.

I don't think Mayers is that slow, and does what he does. Ditto Carcillo. Q does soften his players up, but to be honest I don't remember Burrish and Eager throwing 10 hits a night either. I also don't remember Eager being a fucking nutcase in the Indianhead like he was in Philly and San Jose either though.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

I don't think Mayers is that slow, and does what he does. Ditto Carcillo. Q does soften his players up, but to be honest I don't remember Burrish and Eager throwing 10 hits a night either. I also don't remember Eager being a fucking nutcase in the Indianhead like he was in Philly and San Jose either though.

Eager was pretty much a nutcase, but when your a fan of the team he's on certain things become enjoyable instead of infuriating.