SCF - 6/15 Game 2: Bruins (0) vs (1) Blackhawks 7:00PM NBCS

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201147" data-time="1371409934">
<div>


The fact of the matter is, the Hawks are paying Toews, Kane and Hossa BIG BUCKS to generate offense and unfortunately it's happening.  Despite the giant shot totals, the Hawks have been taking plenty of shots in "non-quality" area's.  Instead of driving to the net with the puck, we are seeing a ton of perimeter shots and hoping for a rebound, which Rask isn't giving up.  The Hawks aren't going to win this game from the outside and with such a brutal PP. </p>
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</blockquote>


 </p>


Toews had a goal last night, it was just waived off.</p>


 </p>


Again Toews has had a curtain draped over his back all playoff long. And for this series the curtains name is Zdeno Chara. I get what you are saying though, he needs to find a way to fight through it. But even if he doesn't, that should give space for someone like Saad to make something of it. Saad, IMO has been disappointing the entire playoffs, but you can't bench him (over Stalberg) since he plays on special teams.</p>


 </p>


I liked the lines the way they were against the Kings. I hope he goes back to that so I can stop cringing when Bollig is on the ice.</p>


 </p>


For the record, I like Bollig. He's a character guy, awesome with media, and I think he helps the locker room. But those are things I prefer him doing from the pressbox until he can gain more NHL experience.</p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201148" data-time="1371410227">
<div>


No, but he's a our only legit heavy weight we can toss out there if things get messy. </p>


 </p>


In a series that is going to be going probably 6-7 games, physical play can be quite the advantage.  I don't think Stalberg is the answer, but Carcillo or Mayers might be a decent addition instead of Bollig. </p>
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</blockquote>


He had a grand total of zero hits in game two, didn't fight or get into anything. The physical play was not there.</p>


 </p>


Things haven't been messy at all in the playoffs, too much is on the line for players to do something stupid. Like I said, let Julien make his own dumbass decision by dressing his "enforcer" Thornton and handicap himself in a series that has seen 4 OT's in 2 games. I'd rather have the fresh legs.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ton DeFrancesco" data-cid="201150" data-time="1371410356">
<div>


He had a grand total of zero hits in game two, didn't fight or get into anything. The physical play was not there.</p>


 </p>


Things haven't been messy at all in the playoffs, too much is on the line for players to do something stupid. Like I said, let Julien make his own dumbass decision by dressing his "enforcer" Thornton and handicap himself in a series that has seen 4 OT's in 2 games. I'd rather have the fresh legs.</p>
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I won't disagree with this.  Last game was not good for him. </p>


 </p>


The Hawks lost on a play that started with a bad handling of the puck by him.  Yes.  But, the Hawks were lucky they even got into OT with the way they played as a team.</p>


 </p>


At this point, play Carcillo on the 4th. </p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ton DeFrancesco" data-cid="201149" data-time="1371410254">
<div>


Toews had a goal last night, it was just waived off.</p>


 </p>


Again Toews has had a curtain draped over his back all playoff long. And for this series the curtains name is Zdeno Chara. I get what you are saying though, he needs to find a way to fight through it. But even if he doesn't, that should give space for someone like Saad to make something of it. Saad, IMO has been disappointing the entire playoffs, but you can't bench him (over Stalberg) since he plays on special teams.</p>


 </p>


I liked the lines the way they were against the Kings. I hope he goes back to that so I can stop cringing when Bollig is on the ice.</p>


 </p>


For the record, I like Bollig. He's a character guy, awesome with media, and I think he helps the locker room. But those are things I prefer him doing from the pressbox until he can gain more NHL experience.</p>
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</blockquote>


 </p>


That statement was for more of the later 2.  Toews is not only playing against the B's top line, but against their best offensive player as well.  Kane and Hossa need to start dominating the play more IMO. </p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201152" data-time="1371410633">
<div>


I won't disagree with this.  Last game was not good for him. </p>


 </p>


The Hawks lost on a play that started with a bad handling of the puck by him.  Yes.  But, the Hawks were lucky they even got into OT with the way they played as a team.</p>


 </p>


At this point, play Carcillo on the 4th. </p>
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 </p>


Last I heard Carcillo was sick... I don't know how effective he would be if he hasn't recovered completely. I wouldn't disagree with injecting a little Carbomb into the line-up, but I also cringe at how he played in the Finals last time around. Lol</p>


 </p>


Mayers, I don't know if I really like that option either, but I can deal with it since he can at least PK.</p>


 </p>


I know it would never happen, but I would love to see Ben Smith over all of them. We can use more of that fearless edge that Carcillo brings, but also someone who has a bit more talent, smarts, and speed. Smith may lack size over Carcillo, but you sure as hell know he's going to bring it.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

On the Hawks PP, their biggest issue is the lack of movement not only with the puck, but the non-puck carriers.  I'm not a huge fan of the 1-3-1 in zone set up the Hawks are running mainly because it's easy to defend and takes away cross ice passing due to the middle guy in the slot being covered and congesting the offensive zone.  Plus, that middle guy doesn't move. </p>


 </p>


The non puck carriers need to start supporting the puck and moving into better position.  Forcing the PKers to have to move and hopefully catching them out of position for the one timer.  Unfortunately, ours just stand around waiting for a shot.  If you aren't moving the puck, you're making the PKers job simple. </p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201156" data-time="1371411080">
<div>


On the Hawks PP, their biggest issue is the lack of movement not only with the puck, but the non-puck carriers.  I'm not a huge fan of the 1-3-1 in zone set up the Hawks are running mainly because it's easy to defend and takes away cross ice passing due to the middle guy in the slot being covered and congesting the offensive zone.  Plus, that middle guy doesn't move. </p>


 </p>


The non puck carriers need to start supporting the puck and moving into better position.  Forcing the PKers to have to move and hopefully catching them out of position for the one timer.  Unfortunately, ours just stand around waiting for a shot.  If you aren't moving the puck, you're making the PKers job simple. </p>
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 </p>


Right on. Lack of movement kills any strategy... it's easy to defend because you don't have to run out of position and you don't get caught chasing on the PK, thus, no lanes open up. It's like they are standing around waiting for the Bruins to move lol.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ton DeFrancesco" data-cid="201155" data-time="1371410835">
<div>


Last I heard Carcillo was sick... I don't know how effective he would be if he hasn't recovered completely. I wouldn't disagree with injecting a little Carbomb into the line-up, but I also cringe at how he played in the Finals last time around. Lol</p>


 </p>


Mayers, I don't know if I really like that option either, but I can deal with it since he can at least PK.</p>


 </p>


I know it would never happen, but I would love to see Ben Smith over all of them. We can use more of that fearless edge that Carcillo brings, but also someone who has a bit more talent, smarts, and speed. Smith may lack size over Carcillo, but you sure as hell know he's going to bring it.</p>
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 </p>


Haven't seen Ben play since his concussion and injury issues so I don't know how he's doing to make an opinion. </p>


 </p>


Mayers would help the PK and keep Toews, Sharp and Hossa a bit more fresh. </p>


 </p>


I doubt Bollig will play tomorrow, but I think its unfair to point the blame on him like many in the twittersphere were doing last night.</p>

 

[bookjones]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201154" data-time="1371410685">
<div>


That statement was for more of the later 2.  Toews is not only playing against the B's top line, but against their best offensive player as well.  Kane and Hossa need to start dominating the play more IMO. </p>
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</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


Are you serious with the Hossa griping in this series? I'll just assume at this point you're defining showing up as contributions by pts. alone if you have problems with Hossa's game so far in this series or even in the Playoffs since he's in a 3-way tie for pts. on the team right now and he's contributed those points evenly over ALL the different Playoffs Rds. He was arguably the best forward for the Hawks in Gm. 1 vs . BOS and that's not even up for fucking debate IMO. And he wasn't a fucking ghost in Gm. 2 either. Does he have turnovers? Of course, what player does't. Are there games where he appears to be a ghost? Of course but what player doen't but he was clearly active in Gm. 2 also. He took a silly amount of hits and still managed his stick and the puck well enough to have 7 SOG and he had some takeaways and as usual he PK'ed like a boss. Was he not the net presence we all ***** about that scored the disallowed goal? </p>

 

[Ton]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bookjones" data-cid="201159" data-time="1371411365">
<div>


Are you serious with the Hossa griping in this series? I'll just assume at this point you're defining showing up as contributions by pts. alone if you have problems with Hossa's game so far in this series or even in the Playoffs since he's in a 3-way tie for pts. on the team right now and he's contributed those points evenly over ALL the different Playoffs Rds. He was arguably the best forward for the Hawks in Gm. 1 vs . BOS and that's not even up for fucking debate IMO. And he wasn't a fucking ghost in Gm. 2 either. Does he have turnovers? Of course, what player does't. Are there games where he appears to be a ghost? Of course but what player doen't but he was clearly active in Gm. 2 also. He took a silly amount of hits and still managed his stick and the puck well enough to have 7 SOG and he had some takeaways and as usual he PK'ed like a boss. Was he not the net presence we all ***** about that scored the disallowed goal? </p>
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 </p>


 </p>


3 takeaways, 0 giveaways, 7 shots, 2 hits... no points in game two. To me that looks like someone who showed up to play, just didn't get the production.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I'm speaking of more production. </p>

 

[bookjones]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ton DeFrancesco" data-cid="201160" data-time="1371411574">
<div>


3 takeaways, 0 giveaways, 7 shots, 2 hits... no points in game two. To me that looks like someone who showed up to play, just didn't get the production.</p>
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</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


Exactly. And in my orig, post what I meant by "took a silly amount of hits" was that he personally withstood getting hit a lot by BOS--they were taking it to him.</p>

 

[bookjones]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="201161" data-time="1371411821">
<div>


I'm speaking of more production. </p>
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 </p>


Well that's your prerogative but I'll only add that there's obviously only been 2 gms. and he does at least have 1 pt. in 2 GP. Unless injury happens I don't see him not continuing to contribute with pts. at a pretty even keel just like he did in the first 3 Rds. Granted, it's not a PPG pace and I really don't expect it be at this juncture but he's not being a production chump out there IMO considering how much of the Hawks Playoffs scoring has been spread across the entire roster both forwards and d-men.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

I thought Hossa had a strong game one and I thought he played like a mad man in the first period last night. He like the rest of the team just went to some other cosmos after that 1st period. For what ever reasons or reasons those were. Yet they remained in the game.</p>


 </p>


Last nights game was just flat out frustrating after seeing them dominate one period (without finishing mind you) then start fading like they did and the chances going down.</p>


 </p>


I really think Juliens adjustment to focus on hitting the snot out of our blueliners changed the entire game in Bostons favor. Lucic alone had 10 recorded hits last night (probably 20 more which were not on record). Bulk of them on guys like Hammer who started shitting his pants out there whenever he had the puck and saw Lucic coming at him. Transition game started suffering..and the Hawks are all about the transition game from the back end. Lucic is actually emerging as the guy that could win the series for the Bruins. If they voted on conn smythe based on the first 2 games of the final he would have it. Hawks need to find an answer for Lucic. And that does speak for the Bruins depth..2nd line esp. Its a good 2nd line.</p>


 </p>


But again 2-1 OT loss. THey stayed in the game long enough to win it for themselves but didn't. Guess those ones are tough to swallow sometimes. Put ti this way the series could be 2-0 for either team right now. That's how tight this sucker is and how well matched these teams are. Hell Bostons top line didn't get a shot on net until late in the 3rd period last night. So while we look for the negatives the Hawks still did a lot of right last night even while fading. Hawks still played a fairly tight defensive game until OT. But team defence isn't something that stands out as much as goal scoring..so I understand the frustrations and have a bit of it too. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

1g for Toews in 19 playoff games is very tough to swallow</p>


 </p>


This guy is arguably the teams best goal scorer, a PPG player, Conn Smythe winner, some though should have been MVP candidate...</p>


 </p>


Other teams top players get other teams top D matchups, and find ways to score.</p>


 </p>


He's on the ice for every PP...so the argument that he always has other teams draped all over him - may work 5 on 5...but what about all the pp opportunities? </p>


 </p>


He has had a very disappointing playoffs, IMO.  If told before the playoffs started, Toews would only have 1g - I may have thought the Hawks would maybe get out of the first round...but definitely not 2.  He's known as the guy that makes the Hawks go....and 1 in 19 is very tough to see.</p>


 </p>


The other worse stretch he's had in his career was year 2...when he had 2 in the first 19gms (when he started 0 in first 12)</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Of course its frustrating and mind boggling but to throw around things like "he has been useless" is ignoring the great things he has done on the other end of the ice. Game is played at two ends of the ice. We all are in shock that he has 1 goal these playoffs and no one here thinks that's a none issue and is acceptable. It's just the extremes that are used to cast these guys aside sometimes thats annoying as you know PMX. The only answer for Toews might be to give him different line mates..but even when he has been given them he still isn't scoring goals. I don't know what you do because it's not as if he isn't shooting the puck and its not as if he isn't hitting the net. 4th on the team in shots with 58 and only 6 misses through the playoffs. Maybe you pull him away from being infront of the net and around the net and get him in the slots more? I don't know. Neither Hossa or Saad are going to be the guys that do what Toews is doing now on that line. Maybe you put Bickell back on that line? I just don't know. Its pretty late to be fucking around with the team anyways just to get Toews scoring goals. Tough coaching decisions.</p>


 </p>


**** the Hawks pp. Everyone is a sack of shit on it. They mine aswel suit up 5 fans to play on it. I have zero confidence that they will score a single pp goal this series. I don't have a good word for any of the players on the pp units..not a single good word. I don't think the greatest pp coach in the world could get them to produce on it either. They play the pp soft they cant win the face off on it and they make some of the laziest plays and the stupidest puck decisions on it. Its all on the players and they all suck at it. Toews included damn rights. Watching them take 20 seconds off the clock just to pass the puck around in the neutral zone deciding who should carry the puck in is enough to kill a fan. That after spending 20 seconds to retrieve the puck from their own zone after having lost the faceoff (Toews has a lot to do with that). Its a fucking mess. Hawks do a great job at killing the pp clock themselves. The rule change of having the faceoff in the attacking zone to start a pp has worked against the Hawks lol.</p>


 </p>


Im old school when it comes to the pp. I like the dump and chase. Press the opposition back and chase after the fucking puck by entering it fast and not trying to break through guys standing up on the blueline while carrying the puck. But even when the Hawks attempt a dump in on the pp (which is 1 out of 50) they **** that up also.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

He hasn't been useless..</p>


 </p>


But as Chazz Michael Michaels has said...."It's mind bottling"</p>


 </p>


He's too good of a player to only have 1g</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

He is indeed.</p>


 </p>


Maybe someone needs to take him out and losen him up. Get him some fritos or something. Guys sometimes too uptight fritos might be the key.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Can Mule get him some dip?</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

7 layer</p>