WCF: Kings vs. Blackhawks (SERIES DISCUSSION)

[the canadian dream]

Im usually the first to say never say never PMX but from what I have seen overall from the Hawks this series and from what I have seen from the Kings? This one is done. Hawks may pull out a win in game 5 but its not going past 6. Besides the depth issues the Hawks are facing like Trev said they also look like a team that is gassed which is an even bigger issue. Not going to be shocked when the injury reports come out this team wasn't exactly healthy going into the playoffs this year and that too is starting to show with the team overall. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

And look...it's not all roses and flowers...I get that</p>


 </p>


LA is a good team.  They have all the components needed - good goaltendting, 1 top Dman, and foward depth (plus I picked LA to win this series) - as well as being healthy. </p>


 </p>


I didn't think the Hawks were healthy (Keith and Kruger especially) after the STL series.  Sharp better be nursing something...because he is a shell of himself. </p>


 </p>


But there's no difference losing 5-2 or 2-1 in the playoffs.  It's a series...you don't get style points for bigger point spreads (remind me of how many SJ put on them in their first 3 games).  Hawks team is a veteran group of winners, and they know that.  If LA wins, so be it...but whether people like it or not, the Hawks have great leadership from the coaches, to the captains, to the 4th line.  It'll take LA's best to win...and them to continue to capitalize on every small/single mistake - which for the last 7 periods, they have.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Agree. I don't think the Hawks are going to lay down and take it up the ass and they will go into the next game with everything on the line. Just don't think this time around they have whats needed in the tank to win 3 straight against a very good team (this isn't 2nd round Detroit here) I don't feel sorry for the Hawks one bit because of how good the LA Kings are. Still a massive accomplishment to get to a conference final let alone doing it the season after winning a cup. I should have cheered for the Ducks in that game 7 vs the Kings last series but I also wanted the Hawks to go through the best teams and the Kings were the best team out of those two. I enjoy watching the Kings play also..always have. No secret I would have Kopitars babies no matter how ugly they are. He's my second favorite player in the league and I think it's time for a lot of fans to wake up to the guy. If he wins another cup it puts him right up there with Toews as the leagues best two way center if he isn't up there already. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

It also shows how hard it is to actually "win" a cup - and the people that think it's a right to have won those and some sort of epic failure for losing in the conference finals...really don't have any grasp of how big of an acomplishment all the winning the Hawks have done the past 6 years</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Raanta time!!!</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

Looks like the UC has the cleaning staff preparing for the Hawks arrival back to Chicago:</p>


 </p>

</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

<p style="margin-left:40px;">Could've sworn it was best of 7?</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Many people also forget that on almost any other team Jeff Carter is a 1st line center (even Mike Richards). When you have that center depth it's easy to out produce other teams 2nd line centers, mainly because their are so few legit 2nd line center in the league.


The biggest issue to me is the Hawks are not controlling the puck, and when they do (3rd period last night) they are practically dominant.


I also don't understand how a PP unit that consists of practically future HOFers, can't get any better chances on net. IMO, the biggest problem is the Hawks don't move the puck around enough and it's making the LA PKers job easier because they don't have to move much.

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230695" data-time="1401202855">
<div>


 </p>
<p style="margin-left:40px;">Could've sworn it was best of 7?</p>


 </p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


You would have prefered the coffin after next game then? </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

If they lose...sure</p>


 </p>


Hasn't this team won enough the last few years to give you a bit of confidence in them?  They don't "deserve" that from a fan base....or only allowed to be praised after a win?</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Canadian Dreamalchuk" data-cid="230685" data-time="1401197744">
<div>


Im usually the first to say never say never PMX but from what I have seen overall from the Hawks this series and from what I have seen from the Kings? This one is done. Hawks may pull out a win in game 5 but its not going past 6. Besides the depth issues the Hawks are facing like Trev said they also look like a team that is gassed which is an even bigger issue. Not going to be shocked when the injury reports come out this team wasn't exactly healthy going into the playoffs this year and that too is starting to show with the team overall. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Unfortunately I'm in the same boat. I was envisioning a last ditch effort from Q last night saying to the team after the 2nd period, this is it boys you lose this one and the whole team gets blown up this summer... With little Stan standing behind him with his McGrinch smile thinking, yeeees, the whole team starting at the top.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

I'd say as long as they have a chip left in the poker game, they still have a seat at the table</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230703" data-time="1401204432">
<div>


If they lose...sure</p>


 </p>


Hasn't this team won enough the last few years to give you a bit of confidence in them?  They don't "deserve" that from a fan base....or only allowed to be praised after a win?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


I think they win the next one, but I don't think they can take all three with the way they have played.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

 And you can probably read these same posts last year from the same people vs DET</p>


 </p>


I'm glad the 25 guys in the locker room understand they're a very good home team in the playoffs, they need to win 1 on the road (which they've done in every playoff series dating back how many?)...and they have to win game 5 before they win game 6.</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230707" data-time="1401204736">
<div>


 And you can probably read these same posts last year from the same people vs DET</p>


 </p>


I'm glad the 25 guys in the locker room understand they're a very good home team in the playoffs, they need to win 1 on the road (which they've done in every playoff series dating back how many?)...and they have to win game 5 before they win game 6.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Luckily my fan confidence was at an all time high last year against Detroit.</p>


 </p>


I never doubted the Hawks for one second.</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230703" data-time="1401204432">
<div>


If they lose...sure</p>


 </p>


Hasn't this team won enough the last few years to give you a bit of confidence in them?  They don't "deserve" that from a fan base....or only allowed to be praised after a win?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Deserve a coffin picture? I will apologize directly to the whole of the team at the next mixer. </p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I no doubt think the series isn't completely over, but if they show up the way they did last night in the first period again at any point in this series, the future will look bleak.

 

[PatrickShart]

Let's see...


Down 2-1 to Nash, score short handed last 2 min to send to OT and win the game, series


Down 3-0 to Van...win 3 in a row and score SH to send to OT (yes a loss, but not a bad fight). Did this losing Seabrook/Bolland for 3 games...Bickell, Kopecky...John Scott was playing D


Down 3-1 to DET...come back and win series


Down 2-1 to Bos...win 2 road games in cup final - including scoring twice in the last 2 min


Down 2-0 to STL this year...win 4 in a row


2 Cups in 5 years. These types of experiences in the last 12 series...I'd like to think this team has gained some sort of character and will to win. But maybe that's not enough for such a dedicated loyal fan base. The still need to prove that they want to win as badly as the fans want them too

 

[supraman]

Team has zero drive right now. Also I think the team endurance sucks. We haven't played 60 minutes in a long time. We come out looking like world beaters in the first 10 minutes normally and then spend the rest of the game looking meh. Also on Versteeg yeah was not a fan of bringing him back and the more I've watched of him the more I don't want him. In 4 years he hasn't gotten any better.</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

The biggest problem I se is that LA figured our game out after game 1.  They have played to that precicely--get screens in front of Crawford, get him moving cross-crease, get deflections.  The 'hawks are going to try stretch passes and no look passes--get in front of them and turn them over.  They take awhile to make decisions, so get any shooting or passing lanes closed quick.  Swarm a guy trying to stickhandle, and they'll cough it up.</p>


 </p>


The problem with the 'hawks is after game 2 it should have been frighteningly obvious that our gameplan was figured out.  We still are sticking to the exact same gameplan that beast us in games 2 and 3.  That's a Wile E. Coyote-like excercize in futility.</p>


 </p>


Whether it's Q's rigidity or just the guys on the ice not being able to think on their feet is irrelevant.  The Kings adapted.  We haven't so far. </p>