Game 4 Stanley Cup Finals Blackhawks at Bruins 6/19/13 7 PM CT (Bruins lead 2-1)

[Jntg4]

Still need to see whole thing, but I saw highlights and parts of it were on when I was doing post-game interviews in Fire lockerroom and before the game in the press box. Bruins never go away, only way to beat them is to score in OT when it isn't possible to come back.

 

[ClydeLee]

there is only one % I know of. whoever wins 4 games first wins the series 100% of the time. after that its all non sense

Umm buffalo disagrees.

Anyone thinking with a clear mind Kompon will be fired is quite meantballish... He's Q's friend first off all, and the power play that still sucks, is better than last year. There's little basis to shoulder the blame on him in any honest way.

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[kchicub08]

Excellent result

 

[KBIB]

*What does it take to get a penalty shot in the playoffs? I've seen numerous breakaways where the last defender hooks the offensive player from behind, yet it just results in a 2 minute penalty. Kane stole the puck, was in front of the goalie, Lucic hooks him from behind...what more needs to happen for it to be a penalty shot? Funny how the only one I've seen called was on Detroit for Frolik's breakaway, which was probably the softest 'foul'. Is there some specific criteria that needs to be met for a penalty shot?

Basically, something close to murder. Refs don't want the albatross that the PS they call will decide the game. Human aspect of the sport and theres no way in hell they are giving a player like Kane a free uncontested shot on another teams goalie in a cup final game.

I saw a Bruins team that was completely out of gas. This two day pass helps them as much as it helps the Hawks, specifically Keith who had nothing left in the tank for that OT. Hawks win the next one and all they need to do is weather the storm early in game six and they will win.



SEABS!!!

 

[DMelt36]

Nice work CCS. Glad to see no one's jumped on the PLAY EMERY bandwagon that's gaining momentum on Twitter.

Crawford had his worst postseason game last night, but now is not the time to make that goalie change. Not with how well he's played in every other postseason game this year.

 

[nwfisch]

Nice work CCS. Glad to see no one's jumped on the PLAY EMERY bandwagon that's gaining momentum on Twitter.

Crawford had his worst postseason game last night, but now is not the time to make that goalie change. Not with how well he's played in every other postseason game this year.

If a team benches a goalie at this point, how would Crawford come back for game 6 if Emery shat the bed in game 5?

It's too late IMO to make a change, but one doesn't need to be made.

 

[DewsSox79]

anyone calling for emery is fucking we todd did. all they are doing is taking the comment from last night "17-1 and cant get a playoff start" and running with it. im not sure if anyone saw this but the amazing rask gave up 6 goals.

 

[Diehardfan]

anyone calling for emery is fucking we todd did. all they are doing is taking the comment from last night "17-1 and cant get a playoff start" and running with it. im not sure if anyone saw this but the amazing rask gave up 6 goals.

Agreed. But not because he couldn't do it. He's been around the block a few times with a lot of playoff experience. He'd be fine. But if Crawford can make one fairly simple change to his game...he would be an even better choice. I heard Pat Foley on the Score today and he openly said that Crawford can't catch and that the Hawks brass have known that for awhile. If that's true, then he's gonna have to challenge a bit more than he has...come at the shooter, not a lot, maybe two or three feet. If they still go glove on him, there's a very good chance they miss the net.

 

[dabynsky]

Agreed. But not because he couldn't do it. He's been around the block a few times with a lot of playoff experience. He'd be fine. But if Crawford can make one fairly simple change to his game...he would be an even better choice. I heard Pat Foley on the Score today and he openly said that Crawford can't catch and that the Hawks brass have known that for awhile. If that's true, then he's gonna have to challenge a bit more than he has...come at the shooter, not a lot, maybe two or three feet. If they still go glove on him, there's a very good chance they miss the net.

Is that going to be tough for him because I thought part of his success this year was from playing deeper in the net than in 2011-2012? Crow felt like he was losing the net by playing out too far, and that by playing tighter was helping him with his position.

 

[Nail Polish]

I dont know about you guys, but Im too damn wired to go to bed. It might be infomercial Wednesday-Thursday!!!!

That's why I always put the Bear games on DVD..They make for some great late night watching!

 

[DMelt36]

Agreed. But not because he couldn't do it. He's been around the block a few times with a lot of playoff experience. He'd be fine. But if Crawford can make one fairly simple change to his game...he would be an even better choice. I heard Pat Foley on the Score today and he openly said that Crawford can't catch and that the Hawks brass have known that for awhile. If that's true, then he's gonna have to challenge a bit more than he has...come at the shooter, not a lot, maybe two or three feet. If they still go glove on him, there's a very good chance they miss the net.

Nononononono that's exactly what Crawford does not need to do. Crawford coming out of the net more was the reason he was so bad last season. He gets more than a few feet away and he completely loses his net.

He had one bad game and they're targeting his glove ... but after--arguably--the best season of his career, now is not the time for changes in your approach.

 

[Diehardfan]

Nononononono that's exactly what Crawford does not need to do. Crawford coming out of the net more was the reason he was so bad last season. He gets more than a few feet away and he completely loses his net.

He had one bad game and they're targeting his glove ... but after--arguably--the best season of his career, now is not the time for changes in your approach.

Gees, I'm not saying challenge like Quick does. I said two feet....if he loses the net by a two foot challenge, then he doesn't belong in the league anyway.

 

[ClydeLee]

Gees, I'm not saying challenge like Quick does. I said two feet....if he loses the net by a two foot challenge, then he doesn't belong in the league anyway.

It's what quick level what he was doing before...and poorly. His scrambling around last night was part of his issue but hopefully happens less with better defensive help.

What he should do is not adjust now in the final of all times. He needs to stick on his net to what he was doing this year, not previously. His glove has never been great but not a miserable hole he needs to adjust to cover.

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[Franko725]

Crow's glove was not near as bad as they were making it out to be last night. They made a point to say that the weird bounce off the glass, then off the net and into the area right in front of the crease was a glove side shot. No shit, of course it was, because that side of the net was open. The last goal on the one replay appears to have went off of Oduya as he slid to block the shot. The puck appears to change direction a bit and go higher than it originally looked like it was going.

Oh, and why is it that no one brings up the fact that Seabs blew it by Rask's glove side? Oh, because it doesn't fit the story line.

 

[bears5150]

I think everyone's concern is Crawford and how he is getting beat like a drum and if he is sooo fantastic why can't he steal a win for the team. I or nobody can do anything about Rask

 

[Franko725]

I think everyone's concern is Crawford and how he is getting beat like a drum and if he is sooo fantastic why can't he steal a win for the team. I or nobody can do anything about Rask

Enter the meatball. Crow is the only reason that the Hawks are still in the playoffs. He kept the Hawks in games, some of which they didn't deserve to be in. Looking back to game 3, which the Hawks should have won, there were multiple times when he flashed the glove and made some amazing saves. People seem to forget so soon that last game he was great glove side, and then he has one bad game and he is a sieve.


Oh, and back to the point that I would like to reiterate...If Crow was so damn bad last night, what was Rask?

 

[Gunzaan]

Crawford is not the sole reason the Hawks are still in the playoffs. The Hawks have played INCREDIBLE team defense for most of the playoffs. Now, I'm not saying Emery should see the ice this playoffs, but if Emery had been the starter when the playoffs started, I bet we are still in the Finals with the Bruins.

And people are talking about Crawford because he gave up 3 incredibly weak goals last night. It should have been a 5-2 win for the Hawks with no OT. His glove side is VERY, VERY weak. Add to that his absolutely wretched performance last year against the Coyotes and the two embarassing goals he gave up earlier in this playoff run, against the Wings and Wild, and his reputation for letting in the softies and having a huge hole in his glove is slightly justified.

That doesn't mean he hasn't had a great year and a great playoff run... He has been a top 3 contributor this year, but people are starting to overrate him a bit. The Hawks team defense and speed is just incredible and makes it a lot easier for him. Why do you think Emery was 17-1 this year? It certainly isn't because he is an elite goaltender.

 

[DMelt36]

Crawford is not the sole reason the Hawks are still in the playoffs. The Hawks have played INCREDIBLE team defense for most of the playoffs. Now, I'm not saying Emery should see the ice this playoffs, but if Emery had been the starter when the playoffs started, I bet we are still in the Finals with the Bruins.

And people are talking about Crawford because he gave up 3 incredibly weak goals last night. It should have been a 5-2 win for the Hawks with no OT. His glove side is VERY, VERY weak. Add to that his absolutely wretched performance last year against the Coyotes and the two embarassing goals he gave up earlier in this playoff run, against the Wings and Wild, and his reputation for letting in the softies and having a huge hole in his glove is slightly justified.

That doesn't mean he hasn't had a great year and a great playoff run... He has been a top 3 contributor this year, but people are starting to overrate him a bit. The Hawks team defense and speed is just incredible and makes it a lot easier for him. Why do you think Emery was 17-1 this year? It certainly isn't because he is an elite goaltender.

Crawford may not be the sole reason, but the Hawks aren't here without him.

Ray Emery's lateral movement hasn't been the same since he had hip surgery a few years back. His injury was the same one that ended Bo Jackson's football career--it wasn't that simple.

He won six straight games for Anaheim late in the 2010-11 season and earned the starting nod in the postseason. Then, he was roasted by the offensive stalwarts known as the Nashville Predators.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/e/emeryra01/gamelog/2011/

You're right, the Hawks defense was a huge reason why both Emery and Crawford had fantastic regular seasons. But Emery's ceiling is much, much lower than Crawford's because of that injury.

 

[Diehardfan]

Crow's glove was not near as bad as they were making it out to be last night. They made a point to say that the weird bounce off the glass, then off the net and into the area right in front of the crease was a glove side shot. No shit, of course it was, because that side of the net was open. The last goal on the one replay appears to have went off of Oduya as he slid to block the shot. The puck appears to change direction a bit and go higher than it originally looked like it was going.

Oh, and why is it that no one brings up the fact that Seabs blew it by Rask's glove side? Oh, because it doesn't fit the story line.

Well, probably because he blew it by his stick side.

But i know what you're saying....

 

[Gunzaan]

Crawford may not be the sole reason, but the Hawks aren't here without him.

Ray Emery's lateral movement hasn't been the same since he had hip surgery a few years back. His injury was the same one that ended Bo Jackson's football career--it wasn't that simple.

He won six straight games for Anaheim late in the 2010-11 season and earned the starting nod in the postseason. Then, he was roasted by the offensive stalwarts known as the Nashville Predators.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/e/emeryra01/gamelog/2011/

You're right, the Hawks defense was a huge reason why both Emery and Crawford had fantastic regular seasons. But Emery's ceiling is much, much lower than Crawford's because of that injury.

Well, I find your comment that we aren't in the Finals without Crawford as equally as ridiculous as you probably find my assertion that if Emery started the playoffs, we'd still be in the finals.

And you didn't say anything about Emery that I didn't already know. I know his history, his weaknesses and his injuries. That said, while his lateral movement isn't as good as Crawford's, Crawford's side to side is still average at best. I'll also take Emery's positioning (although Crawford got better this year) and Emery's glove hand over Crawford.

We'll just have to agree to disagree about the two goalies because we'll never know. And as I said in my last post, Crawford has been excellent this post season, I just think he is getting a little too much credit. The defense playing in front of him, for the most part, has been fantastic as well.