[A] Hawks Fall Prey to Predators: CHI 2, NSH 3

[the canadian dream]

I am re-watching the goals against right now.



Goal #1 - Horrible defensive coverage but Emery misplayed the entire set up also. Fault mostly on the defense. Wouldn't point the finger at Emery really.



Goal #2 - Nothing Emery could do he was screened badly. He was in position and did everything right. No fault what so ever on Emery.



Goal #3 - Def a lazy stick by Keith and a lucky bounce through Emery. Watching it more and more I have no idea how the puck found the smallest of holes to get through even with the deflection. Wouldn't pin that one on Emery at all myself but I could see how some could look at how he managed his stick there exposing that hole. Was a lucky goal really.



I didn't see the entire game I only stayed awake for half of it. From what I did see in the game at no point would I say that Emery looked shakey. Hard to pin that game on him after I watched the last half this morning. If not for the losing streak, which highlites last nights loss more, it would have been a pretty easy loss to swallow. Don't think the Hawks played as bad in that game as they have in the other games durring this disaster winless streak.



Think Paul hit the nail on the head as far as this game goes. The chances for the Hawks up front were not finished. Had plenty of them. Rinne played like Rinne on a lot of those chances. Esp on Toews a couple times. Hard not to think that Toews shot isn't being effected by his wrist (or maybe I am digging for an excuse).

 

[supraman]

I blame RK

 

[klemmer]

I blame RK

So does McPimp.

 

[R K]

I agree TCD and don't think JT is anywhere near 100%.

 

[R K]

So does McPimp.

WOO HOO! Looks like not only am I going to save money on my motherfucking car insurance, but possibly my motherfucking playoff tickets as well!!

 

[supraman]

WOO HOO! Looks like not only am I going to save money on my motherfucking car insurance, but possibly my motherfucking playoff tickets as well!!

Nope 40% playoff ticket price hike to compensate for those not interested in playoff tickets

 

[BigPete]

Nashville put 19 shots on net. Who gets credit for that?

? The Nashville GM for not signing several offensive dynamos ?



Do the Preds normally get a lot of shots on goal? Not really.

 

[klemmer]

? The Nashville GM for not signing several offensive dynamos ?



Do the Preds normally get a lot of shots on goal? Not really.

They average 27.6 for and give up 31.2 per game.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

I think this team gets off easly from us as far as excuses go, this guy is not 100% , the the D is struggling so the goalies are bad. Every team has injuries, the Penguins are one of the best examples yet they are finding ways to win. Excuses are for people to hide weakness in a team, that clearly has no confidence in. There is no excuse for going 0-8-1 when you have JT, Kane, Sharp, Stalberg, Bolland, Keith, Seebs. Excuses are warrented if the team is preforming at a high level and may lose a couple here and there. NOT when the team is this young and talented goes through this. a couple losses hear and there fine. But 0-8-1 requires a change either in coaching or player. This is not a team that is rebuilding, the core is set. I do not need to see stupid home made commercials of players and their training, I do not want to see lemonhead commercials that make Kane leave the scene pissed off cause a lemon head beats him. Toews is hurt fine, where is Kane to take the lead, where is Sharp, where is Hoss ect ect. No its lack of leadership thats is faultering, its the system that has gotten old, Its the corporate management that has a view of marketing and seat filling and has forgot to focus of what the main goal is. That main goal was one goal, we saw that one goal in 2009-2010 and had that feeling has not been in the locker room since. IMO its time for a change in either coaching or managment, some has to move on.

 

[BigPete]

I don't believe in excuses. I believe in rational and well founded explanations. That is what most of us are doing.



This team is not making excuses at all either. If they had one to make it would be that injuries are compounding. That is a very real thing.



As to the coaching change, I agree. At the very least get rid of Kitchen and tell Q to pick some lines and fucking stick with them, or be gone.

 

[the canadian dream]

Uhm the excuse was for Toews only. His hand is fucked you can tell. Not making excuses for the rest of the team based on Toews injury. Obviously shits not right and it runs deeper than any of us probably know. The problems are endless and some guys just aint playing up to their abilities and some guys flat out don't have abilities regardless of coaching or everything else. Some of these players just aren't very good. Those who are good are underachieving for what ever reasons that may be. It's just not pretty.



If Toews wrist is really bad I don't blame him for not being able to score to his abilities, win face offs to his abilities etc etc. It's probably a wrist injury that most players in this league wouldn't play through. But because JT doesn't like taking nights or shifts off to mend properly then this is what we get with him. Sometimes JT's compete level is too high lol.



Pete summed it up perfectly.

 

[R K]

It wasn't an excuse it was a fact. At least when it comes to JT. Probably Sharp too since they said the broken bone would probably never heal and he's most likely going to need it removed in the off season.



Not excuses, facts. Still doesn't let the "team" off the hook, nor did I see anyone suggesting it did. But, rant away.....

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I don't think many of us are making excuses at this point.

 

[BigPete]

I don't think many of us are making excuses at this point.

However, the press is looking for scapegoats to take the focus off of the coaching staff. I will say that some of them are going after Scooter and the lineup he has versus the one he had. But that is mostly one line of the article and an afterthought at that.

 

[klemmer]

However, the press is looking for scapegoats to take the focus off of the coaching staff. I will say that some of them are going after Scooter and the lineup he has versus the one he had. But that is mostly one line of the article and an afterthought at that.

Nice call!

 

[the canadian dream]

That go to bull shit about the Pens playing well through their injuries this year is getting old also. One team out of 30 who has been able to play through some key injuries isn't a very persuasive argument in my opinion. I thought they had issues last year when their roster was riddled with injuries? I thought everyone went to Colorado who played well though some injuries last year as the "example team".



It's funny how every year there is one "example team" out of 30 that everyone uses. There is always one team in the NHL in a given season that battles well through injuries and all of a sudden all teams are expected to live up to that example. Its such a load of shit and totally unrealistic.



I am sure the Hawks were that "example team" a few times through the franchises history also.



Are the Pens a better coached team than the Hawks? Probably..no wait..YES

Are they a deeper team than the Hawks? I would argue they are (debateable but I think their 3rd line is one of the best in the league..ours doesnt even come close..3rd line importance still doesn't get enough credit..some people in the hockey world still pass it off...including our current GM and coach)

Have the Pens had better goalkeeping this season? Yes (Fluery has actually been a big reason why the Pens were able to overcome some injuries this season)

Is the Eastern conference as difficult as the West? I would argue it is not and that involves not only overall talent of the teams in the East but also travell time etc.

Are the Pens overall a better team than the Hawks? Argument could be made..why not?



Anyways...never really buy into the example of the Pens this year. Next year it will be the Bruins or the Flames or the Flyers or the Rangers or the Wings etc etc hell it might even be the Hawks who are the example team everyone can continually go to.

 

[supraman]

Not until Q is gone.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

However, the press is looking for scapegoats to take the focus off of the coaching staff. I will say that some of them are going after Scooter and the lineup he has versus the one he had. But that is mostly one line of the article and an afterthought at that.

QFT

 

[Mach29]

I don't want to carry on about our goaltending much more, mainly because they are what we have to work with. CC is better than he's shown lately but probably has things to learn about coming back from a losing streak. I mean , he was going to pack it in a couple years ago and try other work - he can be as good as Schneider. Emery: has his own skeltons to deal with, but has shown he can backup a winning team. The D vacuum left by Brian Campbell has yet to be filled, we operate with one real good defensive pairing. And JT has to learn that he'll just wear himself out trying to carry everybody by hinmself he has to look behind every once and awhile and see who's really there. I don't like how nobody comes to help out when Thornton has him in a corner - Thornton's, well. Thornton..

Watching Varlamov last night reminded me of his stellar (though short) run along with Ovechkin where the Caps were unbeatable. I remember similar runs by Hiller and Niemi - that's what we need to spark this team. Not good, not really good but stellar netminding. Get one game of that and we're on a roll.

 

[Mach29]

Henry Ford: "Failing is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently".