The Question that Needs Answering

[Raskolnikov]

The goalies will sort themselves out and we'll have a good one back there. no worries. they have been incredible this year, either or both will do.

The question I have is can the Blackhawks play physical and win or will they be bullied or commit penalties?

I think we will know after game 1 of the playoffs. Its possible this team has been coasting and instructed to stay out of fracas and physcial play. Don't hit the other guy, he won't get mad and hit you.

Have we been appeasing? Or are we the least physical team in NHL history? I think we are just trying to get to playoffs, and it will be nice to see how we play with fire and heads on a swivel come series play.

If we come out and don't hit in the playoffs, I have to question what kind of team we have built here.

 

[ClydeLee]

Nothings changed on the style of the team to make any of these real questions.

No they're not the softest team in the league. They will play more physical but they don't have many who will turn stupid come playoffs. Young guys like Shaw could again but it's never been the case with any of them before, how would that change?

They get more physical, Hossa and Bolland specifically play more physical in the playoffs each year.

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[Gunzaan]

Huh? This whole premise is kind of silly. They won't commit penalties, but they will get bullied. The actual question is can their skill level overcome the more physical play of the playoffs. Every game will be like a Blues game, where they get their ass kicked, but can they mentally and physically overcome that so that their skill level shines? That is the question.

And lol @ clyde for saying Hossa and Bolland play more physical in the playoffs. Bolland has stepped his game up in the playoffs by getting under an opponent's star center with dirty play, but not really more physical. And Hossa has never, ever been more physical in the playoffs. He forechecks like crazy and uses his body to shield the puck, but stop pretending he is a physical player, regular season or playoffs.

 

[Franko725]

The Hawks are not a team that is built to play the "physical" game that a lot of people around here yearn for. They can play physical when need be, but they are built to be the extremely skilled team that they are. They beat teams that are physical with them all the time. The teams that they have had the most trouble with this season are the ones that play a fast skilled game.

I am in no way saying that a big, physical team cannot beat them in a series...but, if they can play the puck control game that they dominate with, then they will be tough to beat.

 

[ClydeLee]

Huh? This whole premise is kind of silly. They won't commit penalties, but they will get bullied. The actual question is can their skill level overcome the more physical play of the playoffs. Every game will be like a Blues game, where they get their ass kicked, but can they mentally and physically overcome that so that their skill level shines? That is the question.

And lol @ clyde for saying Hossa and Bolland play more physical in the playoffs. Bolland has stepped his game up in the playoffs by getting under an opponent's star center with dirty play, but not really more physical. And Hossa has never, ever been more physical in the playoffs. He forechecks like crazy and uses his body to shield the puck, but stop pretending he is a physical player, regular season or playoffs.

You ought to watch a bit of the past years, Hossa had played much more physical and finished checks across the ice. Apparently you don't grasp the concept of more, since I didn't say he was a physical player.

You just said Boland doesn't play physical and describes him playing it. Unless you meathead it to day physical only means hitting.

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[CreepyBasementGuy]

Teams have bullied/tried to bully us and we still win. It's just the way we play.

If the Blackhawks show up, we will still win in the playoffs even if we get bullied.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I just felt it was the way we play because we are trying to get through the grind of accelerated schedule. Some teams try to bully us, but we are the most skilled team in hockey right now, and the deepest. We just keep attacking and don't seem to get upset.

I'm just curious how we come out in the playoffs. I felt part of it was just conserving ourselves wisely.

 

[Diehardfan]

The playoffs in most sports are games of adjustment. Playing the same team 5, 6, 7 games is a lot different than playing them once a month or the occasional home n home. The Hawks should just continue to play their game until somebody figures out how to stop them...then make some adjustments. The hitting thing doesnt really bother me because very few teams do it intelligently. The series with Nashville in the Cup year, I thought they used the body very well and really made the Hawks work....to be honest, I thought the Hawks were very lucky to win that series. Other teams, like the Blues and the Canucks are just stupidly running around and hitting guys late and early, drawing penaties and basically just looking foolish. If the Hawks' PP is clicking, teams like that are dead meat.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Seriously - the team has lost 6 times in regulation... I mean if the premise were actually true you'd probably be looking at a team that has won only 6 games in regulation (considering how bad the powerplay is).

But more to the point...

Or are we the least physical team in NHL history?

That might be the New York Rangers of the 80's - they were nicknamed the Smurfs because of just this sort of thing - so no, not be a long shot...

what would you like, the Hanson Brothers, or something (they're folk heroes)....?

 

[Raskolnikov]

The flyers can hit and they look terrible this year. I feel it has something to do with the condensed schedule and preserving bodies.

 

[KBIB]

Nothings changed on the style of the team to make any of these real questions.

No they're not the softest team in the league. They will play more physical but they don't have many who will turn stupid come playoffs. Young guys like Shaw could again but it's never been the case with any of them before, how would that change?

They get more physical, Hossa and Bolland specifically play more physical in the playoffs each year.

Sent from Neverwhere using Taptalk

Um...the Hawks are Charmin soft.

Thinking otherwise isn't wise.

Watch how they will be mugged in the first round if the Wild or Jackets make it.

Creme

 

[Raskolnikov]

The playoffs in most sports are games of adjustment. Playing the same team 5, 6, 7 games is a lot different than playing them once a month or the occasional home n home. The Hawks should just continue to play their game until somebody figures out how to stop them...then make some adjustments. The hitting thing doesnt really bother me because very few teams do it intelligently. The series with Nashville in the Cup year, I thought they used the body very well and really made the Hawks work....to be honest, I thought the Hawks were very lucky to win that series. Other teams, like the Blues and the Canucks are just stupidly running around and hitting guys late and early, drawing penaties and basically just looking foolish. If the Hawks' PP is clicking, teams like that are dead meat.

Maybe we can get away with playing most teams only 4 games?

 

[Franko725]

Um...the Hawks are Charmin soft.

Thinking otherwise isn't wise.

Watch how they will be mugged in the first round if the Wild or Jackets make it.

Creme

I will grant you that this team is not one that runs around hitting people just to hit them. That does not make them a soft team though. They get out hit almost every night, but they know that they can win the games with the huge skill advantage that they have against most teams. Other teams HAVE to hit to have a chance, this team does not. I will take skill over grit any day of the week.

 

[KBIB]

I will grant you that this team is not one that runs around hitting people just to hit them. That does not make them a soft team though. They get out hit almost every night, but they know that they can win the games with the huge skill advantage that they have against most teams. Other teams HAVE to hit to have a chance, this team does not. I will take skill over grit any day of the week.

And the Ducks, a tough team with skill, dominated them this year.

Skill teams make the playoffs. Teams hit a whole bunch more in the playoffs. This is where having no gritty players will come back and haunt them.

 

[ClydeLee]

And the Ducks, a tough team with skill, dominated them this year.

Skill teams make the playoffs. Teams hit a whole bunch more in the playoffs. This is where having no gritty players will come back and haunt them.

Exactly, a team that can combo up their skill with being tougher or as fast is what can cause trouble.

Simply being a physical team like CBJ this year isn't going to be a team that can knock them down easy because they'll be more often without puck control.

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[Raskolnikov]

Um...the Hawks are Charmin soft.

Thinking otherwise isn't wise.

Watch how they will be mugged in the first round if the Wild or Jackets make it.

Creme

The Wild were mentioned in this thread as a physical lower tier team. Didn't help them in the slightest. The Kings or Blues will be a real test.

 

[DMelt36]

Um...the Hawks are Charmin soft.

Thinking otherwise isn't wise.

Watch how they will be mugged in the first round if the Wild or Jackets make it.

Creme

:yep:

 

[DMelt36]

I will grant you that this team is not one that runs around hitting people just to hit them. That does not make them a soft team though. They get out hit almost every night, but they know that they can win the games with the huge skill advantage that they have against most teams. Other teams HAVE to hit to have a chance, this team does not. I will take skill over grit any day of the week.

Amen to this.

Hard to hit a team when your players always have the puck, eh?