[A] Hawks Downed in Toews' Return: CHI 2, PHX 3 OT

[puckjim]

Pretty obvious - he would make Doan think twice about his 'second concussion' strategy.

Have you been watching imaginary hockey?



That's the only place where palookas like John Scott are a deterrent.

 

[Ton]

Wait hold on a sec... why is anyone complaining about Kane on the left side of Toews? Both of them combined for 4 points last game! If anything Hossa and Sharp need to get their heads out of their asses -- you know, the two guys playing at their proper positions.



The lines are fine!

 

[Rex]

Wait hold on a sec... why is anyone complaining about Kane on the left side of Toews? Both of them combined for 4 points last game! If anything Hossa and Sharp need to get their heads out of their asses -- you know, the two guys playing at their proper positions.



The lines are fine!

as long as Kruger can play better too, then yes, they are okay.

 

[Rex]

oh, and remove OD from the lineup. Brunette too.

 

[the canadian dream]

Wait hold on a sec... why is anyone complaining about Kane on the left side of Toews? Both of them combined for 4 points last game! If anything Hossa and Sharp need to get their heads out of their asses -- you know, the two guys playing at their proper positions.



The lines are fine!

its the fact that all 3 guys are left handed shots that disturbs me. Its not so much kane on the lw more so that when this happens with toews up the middle hossa always ends up being the odd man out and does nothing. I prefer kane on rw or center over lw anyday if it means putting hossa in the game.



I have never been a fan of 3 left handed shots up front at once. Def not 5 on 5 and rarely on the pp. Its a personal preference. I tend to feel it always puts one player out of the play..in this case its hossa. There have actually been shifts where all 5 guys on the ice have been left shots. Nothing is more awkward.



I imagine the lines will be the same for game 2. So we will see what happens. If things look like they did in game one with hossa and sharp we may see some q juggling. Hawks go nowhere if sharp and hossa are both skidish at the sane time...kane and toews or not.

 

[Ton]

Looks like Q might change things up actually TCD... either that or hes playing mind games with the media.

 

[Mach29]

Have you been watching imaginary hockey?



That's the only place where palookas like John Scott are a deterrent.

I've been seeing Doan headhunting JT, and if you don't think Scott is a deterrent you should stay in the beer leagues. JT looks like a deer in head lights when any hard checker comes close to him, they out hit us something like 45-20 on Thursday.



Boston did the same in the final last year and came away with Stanley.

 

[Variable]

They won because they had Hasek Reborn. Outhitting a team doesn't really mean as much as some think. Actually in some cases it can be seen as counter productive to have the edge in it.

 

[the canadian dream]

Turn over, give away, take away, blocked shots and faceoff stats are more important than hit stats in this league now. Although hit stats can effect the first three so i undetrstand the argument.

 

[Variable]

Maybe, but in some cases if you're outhitting the opponent it usually means they're possessing the puck more than you are.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Sure hope he doesn't suit up Morrison Saturday. John Scott would be a real asset about now.

 

[the canadian dream]

Good point

 

[Pez68]

The only stat I put any faith in is faceoffs. If they tracked turnovers, it would be useful, but the way takeaways and giveaways are tracked makes them as useless as everything else. Stats don't even tell you 20% of a game most times. Gotta watch them. You would think Vancouver dominated last night and Quick was the story if you just looked at the stats for that game. Watching tells a whole different story.

 

[Mach29]

I'm not a big fan of checking, boarding, head down hits but it's part of today's game and if you look around ( Nashville. LA.) the hard checking teams are beating out the run and gun teams. And Hasek was good but Boston simply out muscled Vancouver last year, imo..

 

[Variable]

Good? That was one of the greatest goaltending performances of all time. For all their hitting did, Thomas sill faced 34 shots a game throughout the playoffs and (well) earned the Conn Smythe.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

I'm not a big fan of checking, boarding, head down hits but it's part of today's game and if you look around ( Nashville. LA.) the hard checking teams are beating out the run and gun teams. And Hasek was good but Boston simply out muscled Vancouver last year, imo..

Game 2 dude. And Vancouver blows.

 

[Ton]

I think hitting is important through the length of a series. That said, it's not the amount of hits, it's the quality.

 

[the canadian dream]

I think everyone has made good points on stats and hitting. I think Ton is correct that the quality of hits can impact a long series I also agree with Pez that stats like faceoffs are the only stats in hockey that really give any accuracy. You do indeed have to watch a game to get the full story on everything. I also agree with Variable that often when a team is outhitting the other it could mean the other team has a higher puck possession.



I like the debate about hits and hitting in hockey. I def am one that believes a team has to play with physicality through the playoffs and the more physical team will always go deep. That's not meaning head hunting or slashing and all that cheap shit. I am talking clean hard hits along the boards, playing tight and grinding down your opponent because through the cup playoffs it does also become a game of endurance and health. Painkillers can only do so much.



Lets see how the Yotes start feeling on Monday. Hawks may not be out hitting the Yotes but you can't say the Hawks haven't been physical. The yotes right now have 3 important forwards who have had to leave games due to injuries or bruises etc. That's not from tripping over the blueline.

 

[puckjim]

I've been seeing Doan headhunting JT, and if you don't think Scott is a deterrent you should stay in the beer leagues. JT looks like a deer in head lights when any hard checker comes close to him, they out hit us something like 45-20 on Thursday.



Boston did the same in the final last year and came away with Stanley.

Only a complete fucking meatball buys any of that John Scott crap.



Shit, the Rangers anticipated a lot of fights in their game yesterday, and where was Scott?



The pressbox.



Save your "I just watched "Slapshot" for the hundredth time" dumbass analysis for the dumb fucks at the HF Boards.

 

[R K]

LOL!