WCF: Kings vs. Blackhawks (SERIES DISCUSSION)

[Chief Walking Stick]

Gaborik had 11 goals in 41 games this year.</p>


 </p>


Gaborik has 10 goals in 18 games this post season already.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="230765" data-time="1401224537">


Gaborik had 11 goals in 41 games this year.


Gaborik has 10 goals in 18 games this post season already.</p></blockquote>
Also helps that he went from a team that he was the main guy to a team that he doesn't have all the pressure of the world on him.

 

[CLWolf81]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230743" data-time="1401212540">
<div>


Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Versteeg, Keith, Seabrook, Hjarllmarsson, Bickell - all played on the team that year.  Crawford I believe was around as well.  I think Ben Smith was with Rockford at the end of that year and may have been called up, but was definitely with them the following year when they were attempting to come back from down 3-0</p>


 </p>


These are the leaders of the team anyways, and the ones that will have to step up as a group/core if they are going to win anything - so I'd say they've been through a little bit of adversity as a group and I have confidence if they play to their ability, they can win 3 games in a row.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


This would be their toughest challenge yet. Detroit was a cakewalk compared to this. </p>

 

[the canadian dream]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="puckjim" data-cid="230741" data-time="1401212046">
<div>


Blackhawks fans, as they should, expect a championship every year.</p>


 </p>


There is no such thing as a moral victory.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Many Blackhawk fans are as realistic as Ancient Aliens theorists these day. Been turned into a bunch of spoiled shits since 2010 and it's not just the bandwagoners. I have learnt one thing through my years of watching hockey and other sports. Never expect the team you cheer for to win a championship. If you did just that why would you watch or partake in sports in the first place? That's what is so great about sport. The outcome isn't as predictable as other forms of entertainment. If it were predictable why be involved?</p>


 </p>


I'm a Blackhawks fan and like many others (I would actually say the majority) never have I gone into a season expecting a championship. I have gone into certain seasons with greater hope for one but never expecting it. **** I never expected to see one in my lifetime to be honest and now I have seen 2. Pretty happy Blackhawks fan the last 5 to 6 years. This is the 4th conference final I have seen the Hawks in the last 6 years. How many fan bases can say that about their team? Not many at all. Don't know how lucky we are and I see a lot of Hawks fans taking things for granted now.</p>


 </p>


We fans aren't owed anything. I keep hearing fans say "I spend such and such amount of money on tickets and jerseys etc etc etc". Does that mean the team owes them something? Other than effort on the ice (which this team does give) I don't think anything else is owed. Where people spend their money is their own responsibility esp in something as unpredictable as sport. Fans are spending entertainment dollars not investing in needs . With all forms of entertainment sometimes you aren't going to be entertained and sometimes you are. If someone wants to put thousands of dollars  and spend a lot of time towards something as unpredictable as sport ? That's on them and them only when things don't turn out the way they wanted them to.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

I don't think people understand how hard it is to win a championship in any sport - let alone the Cup</p>


 </p>


Not just the talent, but the team chemistry, puck luck, health, breaks/bounces...all come into play.  To "expect it" or not accept anything less attitude, is mind blowing to me.  But I guess sometimes there's a sense of entitlement to fanatics</p>


 </p>


And while LA has played a ton of hockey the last 3 years (3 WCF trips)...they had the 7month break with the lockout.  The Hawks have had the 2 runs in 2 extremely condensed seasons...it's tough</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="230743" data-time="1401212540">
<div>


Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Versteeg, Keith, Seabrook, Hjarllmarsson, Bickell - all played on the team that year.  Crawford I believe was around as well.  I think Ben Smith was with Rockford at the end of that year and may have been called up, but was definitely with them the following year when they were attempting to come back from down 3-0</p>


 </p>


These are the leaders of the team anyways, and the ones that will have to step up as a group/core if they are going to win anything - so I'd say they've been through a little bit of adversity as a group and I have confidence if they play to their ability, they can win 3 games in a row.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Thing is the Kings have been through the same adversity (esp these playoffs) and have the same core with them that they won a cup with PLUS added talent and more experience where more experience was needed ie Muzzin, Voynov and Toffoli to name just 3. </p>


 </p>


I'm with you on staying positive and this Hawks team having the talent and experience to overcome a 3-1 hole. But on the other side I have a lot of respect for the Kings and know also if they play up to their abilities they too can easily win 1 out of 3. Bottom line is this Kings team is really really good. Hawks aren't any better than them when it comes to the variables such as experience, confidence and talent etc etc. What the Hawks actually need to win 3 straight over the Kings is some luck and pucks to bounce their way. I know that "teams create their own luck" but I actually don't believe in that 100%. Sometimes you need a puck to bounce of a stanchion onto your stick or for someone to trip over a blueline. Hawks need some luck.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

No doubt</p>


 </p>


And for the last 3 games...any little mistake the Hawks have made, the Kings have bounced on the opportunity and capitalized.  Which then gets in the nitpicking - "this guy sucks, that decision was horrible, need to change this immediately" - when it can easily turn the other way.</p>


 </p>


I've seen the Kings lose 3 in a row (in these playoffs actually)...seen the Hawks win 6 in a row (in these same playoffs).  Kings offense has been streaky all season long.  All the Hawks can do, is win this game tonight.  Where experience matters is I think the Hawks team/leadership knows this and will try to win tonight's game first.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Just need Seabrook to board, charge or hit Carter high and get suspended for three games. No time is better than tonight. Team rallies well when one of their own is suspended. TIME TO WAKEY WAKEY SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY WAKEY WAKEY!!</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

</p>

</p>


 </p>


LOL</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

What was Getzlaf vs Selanne this year in the playoffs?</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

Sorry... I know we've had the discussions about Corsi, but what exactly does those charts mean?</p>

 

[Pez68]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="230833" data-time="1401297039">
<div>


Sorry... I know we've had the discussions about Corsi, but what exactly does those charts mean?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Handzus sucks and is a black hole offensively. But we didn't need fancy charts to know that.</p>

 

[puckjim]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pez68" data-cid="230835" data-time="1401297788">
<div>


Handzus sucks and is a black hole offensively. But we didn't need fancy charts to know that.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


And dumbfuck Quenneville is running a lineup with Handzus and Bollig, but no Regin in practice today.</p>


 </p>


I know, I know, two 'Cups, 700+ wins, spoiled, blah, blah, blah.......</p>

 

[puckjim]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Canadian Dreamalchuk" data-cid="230799" data-time="1401284497">
<div>


Many Blackhawk fans are as realistic as Ancient Aliens theorists these day. Been turned into a bunch of spoiled shits since 2010 and it's not just the bandwagoners. I have learnt one thing through my years of watching hockey and other sports. Never expect the team you cheer for to win a championship. If you did just that why would you watch or partake in sports in the first place? That's what is so great about sport. The outcome isn't as predictable as other forms of entertainment. If it were predictable why be involved?</p>


 </p>


I'm a Blackhawks fan and like many others (I would actually say the majority) never have I gone into a season expecting a championship. I have gone into certain seasons with greater hope for one but never expecting it. **** I never expected to see one in my lifetime to be honest and now I have seen 2. Pretty happy Blackhawks fan the last 5 to 6 years. This is the 4th conference final I have seen the Hawks in the last 6 years. How many fan bases can say that about their team? Not many at all. Don't know how lucky we are and I see a lot of Hawks fans taking things for granted now.</p>


 </p>


We fans aren't owed anything. I keep hearing fans say "I spend such and such amount of money on tickets and jerseys etc etc etc". Does that mean the team owes them something? Other than effort on the ice (which this team does give) I don't think anything else is owed. Where people spend their money is their own responsibility esp in something as unpredictable as sport. Fans are spending entertainment dollars not investing in needs . With all forms of entertainment sometimes you aren't going to be entertained and sometimes you are. If someone wants to put thousands of dollars  and spend a lot of time towards something as unpredictable as sport ? That's on them and them only when things don't turn out the way they wanted them to.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


One Goal </p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="230831" data-time="1401296243">
<div>

</p>

</p>


 </p>


LOL</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


 </p>


You are not using Corsi numbers for 'Zus from 2000.....</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Canadian Dreamalchuk" data-cid="230799" data-time="1401284497">
<div>


Many Blackhawk fans are as realistic as Ancient Aliens theorists these day. Been turned into a bunch of spoiled shits since 2010 and it's not just the bandwagoners. I have learnt one thing through my years of watching hockey and other sports. Never expect the team you cheer for to win a championship. If you did just that why would you watch or partake in sports in the first place? That's what is so great about sport. The outcome isn't as predictable as other forms of entertainment. If it were predictable why be involved?</p>


 </p>


I'm a Blackhawks fan and like many others (I would actually say the majority) never have I gone into a season expecting a championship. I have gone into certain seasons with greater hope for one but never expecting it. **** I never expected to see one in my lifetime to be honest and now I have seen 2. Pretty happy Blackhawks fan the last 5 to 6 years. This is the 4th conference final I have seen the Hawks in the last 6 years. How many fan bases can say that about their team? Not many at all. Don't know how lucky we are and I see a lot of Hawks fans taking things for granted now.</p>


 </p>


We fans aren't owed anything. I keep hearing fans say "I spend such and such amount of money on tickets and jerseys etc etc etc". Does that mean the team owes them something? Other than effort on the ice (which this team does give) I don't think anything else is owed. Where people spend their money is their own responsibility esp in something as unpredictable as sport. Fans are spending entertainment dollars not investing in needs . With all forms of entertainment sometimes you aren't going to be entertained and sometimes you are. If someone wants to put thousands of dollars  and spend a lot of time towards something as unpredictable as sport ? That's on them and them only when things don't turn out the way they wanted them to.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


Expectation management.</p>


 </p>


 </p>


Success breeds higher expectations.   Hitting the top sets lofty expectations.   Once those lofty expectations are set they tend to be too hard to come down from and usually twist reality in a bad (re: short fuse), way.</p>


 </p>


 </p>


I have watched, and played enough sports, to know that while I expect a winner I must manage that expectation by not thinking it is a given.   Things happen, oddities happen, and random happens.   Some players are just more healthy or dialed in.   All of which needs to thrown in to perspective.  </p>


 </p>


But this does not mean that I have an expectation of success or even a thought of what I would consider successful (for the team I dump money into), and that consideration is what sets my ultimate expectation and happiness--despite the actual results.   For me personally, I came into the season not expecting this 'Hawks team to make it out of the 2nd round.   Just thought the compressed time with last seasons' cup win, some of the team changes, and hopes of developing for the next run would be the team mode this season.   Regardless of what happens this series I will still be content with this season.</p>


 </p>


 </p>


Managed expectations.</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I find it funny how people are comparing Zeus to Toews. Really??? We all know Zeus isn't the greatest, but compared to Toews?


Why don't we make a chart of Toews to Kruger, or Regin.

 

[puckjim]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="230853" data-time="1401303843">
<div>


I find it funny how people are comparing Zeus to Toews. Really??? We all know Zeus isn't the greatest, but compared to Toews?


Why don't we make a chart of Toews to Kruger, or Regin.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Check out Jen C on Twitter (@regressedpdo) for more chart fun.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

How about 7.9mil this year for Hossa...1 more goal than the slug Handzus in the playoffs


6.5mil for Kane...1 assist in this series


6.5mil for Sharp..to be a complete joke the entire playoffs. Most unclutch player in the NHL


But this series will come down to Handzus and his 1mil and Bollig with his 575k. Time for these two guys to step up.

 

[The Count Dante]

I think the Hawks will win series. If they dont, they will definitely lose the series. There will either be a game 6 or the Hawks are golfing tonight! Either way if they dont win tonight, they will have definitely lost the game.</p>