[A] Brink of Elimination: CHI 2, PHX 3 (OT)

[Rex]

I'm just curious on how they "Showed Up" For the third period? I've never seen a team dominate the first two periods, then look like they just don't give a **** in the third.

 

[PatrickShart]

Hawks had 32 shots on goal with another 21 shots blocked



Compared to 19 shots on goal...and 6 blocked



So attempting 53 to 25 shots....and they're getting held back by Q?



Phoenix relies on their goalie and being oportunistic. They did go a month without losing this year. If not for the weak goals against in OT, this could be 3-1 the other way

 

[supraman]

Yeah but these games shouldn't even be going to OT, this series should have ended Thursday. Talent wise Chicago just out classes Phoenix.

 

[Rex]

Hawks had 32 shots on goal with another 21 shots blocked



Compared to 19 shots on goal...and 6 blocked



So attempting 53 to 25 shots....and they're getting held back by Q?



Phoenix relies on their goalie and being oportunistic. They did go a month without losing this year. If not for the weak goals against in OT, this could be 3-1 the other way

I don't know if that was directed at me or not, since all I did was say they didn't show up in the third.



As for Phoenix's goalie? Surprise that when we are down we can all of a sudden score goals? He's not Patrick Roy, he is benefiting from a system that we only look like we care how to crack if we are down a goal.

 

[PatrickShart]

No...it wasn't Rex...it was said that Q was 'holding them back' when thru the series they've put a lot of rubber on Smith



When he's stopping everything...hawks have thrown 161 shots on net (and PHX has blocked 79 in the series)



Crawfords not playing badly - but gave up 2 horrible goals in OT



I don't think attempting 60 shots on game per average would be the coach holding them back

 

[R K]

I was pissed with the non-call on the high sticking against Sharp while we were on the PP. It should have been a double minor giving us apporx 1.5minutes of 5-3 and another 5-4 after that. The non-call on the Bickle trip was brutal as well.

Yup both really bad no calls but thats been the story of the playoffs for the Hawks. No different last night. Just not has many no calls as the previous night.

 

[LordKOTL]

...

2.) I never like to blame the refs for much considering it's a 60 minutes game that is usually filled with ample opportunity for making up for any poor reffing. I can understand a bad call... or even two. And in the playoffs with everything turned up a notch, maybe three, in a SINGLE game. But I have never seen such a gross incompetence of reffing throughout an entire series. It's not even 1 bad one a game, it's 3+ per game like clockwork. And it only fuels the conspiracy theories as they have completely take over control of the game. It would be one thing for them to miss stuff going both ways which shows they are just a bad crew, but they miss 3x more calls on Phoenix than they do on Chicago. The problem is you can't complain about it without being brushed off as a homer fanboy. It's impossible short of video showing each and every penalty on both teams that was and wasn't called. And then even when something is called somehow the hawks get the short end. IE Toews in the box to start a period when multiple infractions could have easily been called.

Yup both really bad no calls but thats been the story of the playoffs for the Hawks. No different last night. Just not has many no calls as the previous night.

As bad as the officiating has been, it is not, can not, and should not be an excuse if we lose this series.

Yeah but these games shouldn't even be going to OT, this series should have ended Thursday. Talent wise Chicago just out classes Phoenix.

No...it wasn't Rex...it was said that Q was 'holding them back' when thru the series they've put a lot of rubber on Smith



When he's stopping everything...hawks have thrown 161 shots on net (and PHX has blocked 79 in the series)



Crawfords not playing badly - but gave up 2 horrible goals in OT



I don't think attempting 60 shots on game per average would be the coach holding them back

In this series it's obvious that talent is only a factor if used properly. Frolik has been IMHO the best player for the 'hawks the past two games--not because he's some awesome talent, but because he's playing like he has to comensate for lack of talent and has to work hard and do all of the little things like picking up the garbage and going to the net. He's sparkplugged the 3rd line and really, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Stalberg, and Kruger could learn a little from his play last night.

 

[supraman]

As bad as the officiating has been, it is not, can not, and should not be an excuse if we lose this series.







In this series it's obvious that talent is only a factor if used properly. Frolik has been IMHO the best player for the 'hawks the past two games--not because he's some awesome talent, but because he's playing like he has to comensate for lack of talent and has to work hard and do all of the little things like picking up the garbage and going to the net. He's sparkplugged the 3rd line and really, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Stalberg, and Kruger could learn a little from his play last night.

Kruger isn't an NHL caliber player. He needs to be released to go play in the Euro leagues.

 

[LordKOTL]

Perhaps, and perhaps we can find someone to take his place last year Morin, & saad might make him expendible by default. My point was Frolik has been playing with the intensity and mindset that one needs to win the playoffs. Everyone else above him...not so much.

 

[supraman]

Perhaps, and perhaps we can find someone to take his place last year Morin, & saad might make him expendible by default. My point was Frolik has been playing with the intensity and mindset that one needs to win the playoffs. Everyone else above him...not so much.

I'll agree with that, Frolik tries hard and it is paying off right now

 

[R K]

Putting all the Jack Wadding aside I am puzzled how the Hawks have scored with the man advantage in the waning seconds of the games pulling their goalie with their backs against the wall, and yet fail so miserably in their powerplay.



As for gutless, is that Q's coaching? Is he holding them back?The team has to many offensive weapons to be reigned in.



Finally, why are the Hawks letting Phoenix the lesser talented team establish a Phoenix style game? In other words why aren't the boys going balls out offensively ? Again is it Q holding them back?



This series is more frustrating than last years.

Good post and even IF the Hawks did get past Phoenix, the Preds will be even WORSE in this manner. They play a similar style, but better!

 

[supraman]

Good post and even IF the Hawks did get past Phoenix, the Preds will be even WORSE in this manner. They play a similar style, but better!

Preds are winning the cup.

 

[roshinaya]

Kruger isn't an NHL caliber player. He needs to be released to go play in the Euro leagues.

Disagree, he has good hockey sense, something that can't be learnt. The things he is lacking, mainly strength can be worked on. It's his first year as well and young. Send him into off-season with a work-out regiment and he'll return stronger and will take the next step. Guaranteed.

 

[MassHavoc]

Good think we hung onto that 4 mil in cap space.

 

[R K]

Good think we hung onto that 4 mil in cap space.

They didn't hang on to any Cap space. That was taken by Huet and Olsezs.



Supra I will not believe the "preds" are winning the Cup.

 

[Rex]

They didn't hang on to any Cap space. That was taken by Huet and Olsezs.



Supra I will not believe the "preds" are winning the Cup.

no, but the thing is, it's so fucking wide open. Of 16 teams, 10 can legitimately win the cup.

 

[R K]

Hawks aren't done but the 8% chance doesn't bode well for them.



Sucks but for a NUMBER of reasons this series has just blown shit.

 

[dlrob315]

Good post and even IF the Hawks did get past Phoenix, the Preds will be even WORSE in this manner. They play a similar style, but better!

The Preds are not a hitting team which would have been better for the Hawks, with Phoenix playing the same muck it up style and adding the hitting, it made the task even more daunting for the Hawks.

 

[R K]

The Preds are not a hitting team which would have been better for the Hawks, with Phoenix playing the same muck it up style and adding the hitting, it made the task even more daunting for the Hawks.

Preds play an even better style of forcheck defense. Hitting or not their defense is twice as good, goal tending is better as well.

 

[dlrob315]

Preds play an even better style of forcheck defense. Hitting or not their defense is twice as good, goal tending is better as well.

Phoenix had better goaltending over the Preds this season and the Hawks problem with the Preds this year was not the Preds defense, it was they couldn't stop the Preds from scoring and plus the Hawks put up half way decent numbers against Rinne; they never did solve Smith during the season.



I admit we are debating on what poison we would have rather taken for our slow death.