WCF: Kings vs. Blackhawks (SERIES DISCUSSION)

[Chief Walking Stick]

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Oh, and forgot to add the expected turtle pic:

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Nothing is riding on that turtle... you are now banned.</p>

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="231052" data-time="1401340457">
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Nothing is riding on that turtle... you are now banned.</p>
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His thumb is.</p>

 

[jakobeast]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Trev" data-cid="230876" data-time="1401318219">
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Wanting Regin on the ice over Handzus is funny. What Zeus lacks in speed, he makes up for in hockey sense. Regin is no better than Tony Salmalinen. All he has is speed, no hands or shot and no hockey sense.</p>
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Gotta disagree. I don't think Kane score the GWG in game 6 in Minny without Regin skating hard and taking Suter with him, leaving the puck for Kaner.</p>

 

[puckjim]

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Gotta disagree. I don't think Kane score the GWG in game 6 in Minny without Regin skating hard and taking Suter with him, leaving the puck for Kaner.</p>
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Especially considering that Kane scored one fucking goal with Handzus on the ice THE ENTIRE FUCKING SEASON!!!</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Saad's game last night was the key to the win</p>


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LA is doing 2 things to the Hawks - force Toews to play a 200ft game (matching Kopitar/Stoll against him) and pressuring Kane with 2-3 defenders - Dman with front pressure, winger backcheck pressure, Center takes away pass lane.  They will continue to do that until someone else scores and forces them to change.  When Kane has the puck, not only is he dangerous but the other 4 players on the ice are.  Taking Kane out of the play will eliminate the other 4 players.</p>


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Yesterday, Saad was effective, going to the net with and without the puck, and a threat every time he touched it.  Now LA had to adjust and defend the whole ice...which essentially gave Kane even more room - and made the other lines for effective.</p>


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This is why it is important that Sharp and/or Hossa actually score a goal.  While Hossa's backchecking is so impressive...LA doesn't have to do anything to defend or adjust to that.  If the 7.5mil dollar defensive forward manages to pot a few..now that line will become more dangerous.</p>


 </p>


Same with the invisible man Shart.  Some advice for him...if he wants the puck - go to the puck (instead of standing around in the offensive zone, waiting for it to come to him).  If he wants a goal - go to the net.  Crazy things happens sometimes Patty when you get a bit dirty.  Pucks bounce off you, rebounds happen, screens happen....you may actually create space for a linemate.  Saad began driving the net...and has been rewarded...your turn now to quit the lazy, selfish play and contribute to your line.</p>


 </p>


Best game of Saad's NHL career.  His history is sometimes he can go invisible...hopefully his confidence continues, but I'd expect LA to go at him/challenge him very hard early on Friday night (Brown, Mitchell, Greene) - and see if he can be intimidated.</p>


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Hossa and Shart...once again...are on the clock.</p>


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Shart in the series - 5gms - 1g - 0a - 1pt -4</p>


Hossa in the series -5gms - 0g- 3a  -3pts -2 (0g in last 10gms)</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Hossa despite being -2 has played well defensively at least.</p>


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Sharp just sucks.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Playing good defensively doesn't put pressure on LA defensively</p>


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The threat of scoring a goal does. Guy has to put one in the net...10gms without one.....tick tock Marian boy</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

If Q ices Versteeg for Game 6, or any other playoff game we may or may not have, he should have his ass fired--I don't care how many games he's won.  The same stupid "stand in place and try to stickhande" play that got him Verbenched he's been doing ALL. PLAYOFFS. LONG.</p>


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Handzus has played batter.</p>


Regin has played better.</p>


Morin in his 1 game has played better.</p>


Sharp has played better.</p>


Nordstrom has played better.</p>


Bollig has played better.</p>


And if Raanta played winger for a game, I'd put Euro to Lira that he'd play better.</p>


 </p>


I really hope Versteeg has seen his last game as a Blackhawk.</p>

 

[Pez68]

Versteeg absolutely cannot play again. He is a complete detriment to the team every time he's on the ice.</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pez68" data-cid="231075" data-time="1401379383">
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Versteeg absolutely cannot play again. He is a complete detriment to the team every time he's on the ice.</p>
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But what about his raps?!</p>


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79_P6LINFco</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Sharpsteeg isn't far behind</p>

 

[The Count Dante]

Sharp better be injured when all is said and done. It would be different if he was playing well everywhere else. But he isnt. Sure, I am watching him like a Hawk (ZING!) and critical but yesterday alone I saw so many mistakes that looked like he was lazy. I am not saying he is, but his play has been trouble bad. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

He played hard when he wanted to make the Olympic team</p>


 </p>


28g  and +18 the first 60gms (pre-olympic)</p>


9g  and -6 in the last 39gms </p>

 

[LordKOTL]

I think when we talk about underperfomers something needs to be said:</p>


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Q for awhile was icing Sharp/Zeus/Versteeg--the irrelevant line.  Sharp was Sharp and Zeus was Zeus (at least until 2ot).  Versteeg still managed to make himself look bad and get his ass Verbenched.</p>


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Zeus scoring the game winner was good, don't get me wrong, but when Q puts you on a line with 2 other guys who have been irrelevant at 5-5 play and you still manage to look worse than Bollig and Nordstrom battling epillepsy, then you need to be off the ice.</p>

 

[Variable]

I don't buy at all the idea that Sharp stopped playing or trying hard after the Olympics because that was all he really wanted to do. Nothing about him in his entire time here has made him out to be a player like that. If people want to crucify him over playing poorly and want to get rid of him for it, that's their prerogative. But he's not a player I would just up and give up on because he's struggling.

 

[PatrickShart]

But up and give up on Versteeg coming back from major knee injury?</p>


 </p>


And before your panties get into a major bunch...I've never been a big fan of Versteeg.  Not even during his time coming up with the Hawks when he had his cult following.  But he's scored 20g in his first 4 years (out of 5 in the league) - which isn't easy to do (even though I know, I know...you don't care about someone's scoring in the past, or being a piece that has won for this team/chemistry)</p>


 </p>


Versteeg has turned the puck over and has lost some speed.  I could give two shits if he's in/out of the lineup until next season...or if they move him.  But he gets crucified when the teams leading point getter in the season, leading goal scorer has been pathetic all post season.  Standing still, losing every single puck battle (that is, if he even makes an attempt at it - including on the first goal last night)...and has never scored a significant goal or carried the team for a big time moment/game.</p>


 </p>


Toews, Kane - long list of big time moments</p>


Bickell - same</p>


Smith - Vancouver game, big goal last night...</p>


Shaw - OT vs Boston</p>


Handzus - huge goal last yr game 6 vs DET, last night</p>


Saad - monster game last night</p>


 </p>


Hossa's 2 goals suck - and should be expected for more (yet still gets a pass). But at least he competes for loose pucks.  Sharp does none of that.  But he gets a pass and gets brushed off as "simply struggling".  And there's pages upon pages of Bollig, Morin, Versteeg or Handzus ridicule.</p>


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Mr. Olympian Sharp has gotten worse and worse the more he stands around on the ice</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="231052" data-time="1401340457">
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Nothing is riding on that turtle... you are now banned.</p>
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Going retro!</p>

 

[TSD]

Yeah I don't know what the hell sharps problem is, but he needs to get his shit together.  Also, agree with Vergiveaway not getting anymore ice time.  It's almost a guarantee the opposition will have the puck soon after Versteeg gets possession.</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxzus" data-cid="231087" data-time="1401383272">
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But up and give up on Versteeg coming back from major knee injury?</p>


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And before your panties get into a major bunch...I've never been a big fan of Versteeg.  Not even during his time coming up with the Hawks when he had his cult following.  But he's scored 20g in his first 4 years (out of 5 in the league) - which isn't easy to do (even though I know, I know...you don't care about someone's scoring in the past, or being a piece that has won for this team/chemistry)</p>


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Versteeg has turned the puck over and has lost some speed.  I could give two shits if he's in/out of the lineup until next season...or if they move him.  But he gets crucified when the teams leading point getter in the season, leading goal scorer has been pathetic all post season.  Standing still, losing every single puck battle (that is, if he even makes an attempt at it - including on the first goal last night)...and has never scored a significant goal or carried the team for a big time moment/game.</p>


 </p>


Toews, Kane - long list of big time moments</p>


Bickell - same</p>


Smith - Vancouver game, big goal last night...</p>


Shaw - OT vs Boston</p>


Handzus - huge goal last yr game 6 vs DET, last night</p>


Saad - monster game last night</p>


 </p>


Hossa's 2 goals suck - and should be expected for more (yet still gets a pass). But at least he competes for loose pucks.  Sharp does none of that.  But he gets a pass and gets brushed off as "simply struggling".  And there's pages upon pages of Bollig, Morin, Versteeg or Handzus ridicule.</p>


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Mr. Olympian Sharp has gotten worse and worse the more he stands around on the ice</p>
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The difference is Sharp is invisible, Versteeg is a liability.  Does Sharp (and Hossa) need to score more? Of course, but at least when they're on the ice Sharp doesn't cough the puck up excessively and Hossa at least is instrumental in protecting it and taking it away.</p>


 </p>


Versteeg, on the other hand, has been directly responsible for goals against all postseason--usually on the exact same play: Stop dead in the middle of the attacking zone and stickhandle in place while not moving.  If he just did this once or twice I'd have no issue, but despite him geting his pocket picked EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. HE. DOES. THAT. HE. JUST. KEEPS. DOING. IT.</p>


 </p>


It's not him coming back from knee surgery that is the issue; it's his poor on-ice decisions and failure to adapt...at all.  If he was 100% healed he might--*might* be able to cover for his own mistakes, but he'd still be making mistakes that LA would exploit.</p>

 

[puckjim]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="LordKOTL" data-cid="231096" data-time="1401387380">
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The difference is Sharp is invisible, Versteeg is a liability.  Does Sharp (and Hossa) need to score more? Of course, but at least when they're on the ice Sharp doesn't cough the puck up excessively and Hossa at least is instrumental in protecting it and taking it away.</p>


 </p>


Versteeg, on the other hand, has been directly responsible for goals against all postseason--usually on the exact same play: Stop dead in the middle of the attacking zone and stickhandle in place while not moving.  If he just did this once or twice I'd have no issue, but despite him geting his pocket picked EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. HE. DOES. THAT. HE. JUST. KEEPS. DOING. IT.</p>


 </p>


It's not him coming back from knee surgery that is the issue; it's his poor on-ice decisions and failure to adapt...at all.  If he was 100% healed he might--*might* be able to cover for his own mistakes, but he'd still be making mistakes that LA would exploit.</p>
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Plus I don't give a **** about his knee.  If he can't contribute, **** him.</p>


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What Versteeg has done for this team FOUR YEARS AND THREE TEAMS AGO doesn't matter a rat's dick.</p>