Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Thread!!!!!!

[Derwood]

so you're taking a 3 game sample size as an indication of future performance over the previous 90+ games?

[hawkeyecub]

Seriously, there was a lot to like in that game. The sky isn't falling. If they stop taking stupid penalties, the Hawks win. Two posts in period one.

 

We've gotten outshot by 5+ shots every game this series, we haven't scored a power play goal in the entire series, we've given up 3-4 PPGs this series, we got manhandled in the faceoff zone to pathetic levels. The first 2 goals we scored in the game weren't exactly good looks. In fact, from my view of the game, we didn't get very many good looks all night, with a few notable instances. The Flyers are manhandling us in the crease. Leighton is giving up huge rebounds, and we cannot get our stick on them at all.

 

So now the only faceoff numbers that matter are from tonight's game? And you really don't think the Hawks PP is going to be better? You don't think they're going to convert better around the net? And you think the Flyers are going to keep up their power play numbers?

 

Seriously you guys are overreacting like mad.

[17 Seconds]

why would i be thrilled that the hawks are playing poorly and letting a team that should be worse play evenly with them?

 

Because the odds of that continuing are most decidedly not in the Flyers' favor?

 

why? if they've played with us for 3 straight games, why is that so likely to suddenly change?

 

i think it's time to start accepting that the flyers are playing as well as us right now and that this is going to be a dog fight. i really don't like this whole "oh, we're way better than them even though it hasn't shown at all for 3 straight games, we've got this" attitude that a lot of hawks fans have going on right now.

 

i thought chicago fans would know by now not to get cocky

Edited June 3, 2010 by 17 Seconds

[UMFan83]

Chill the hell out. They still have to win 3/4 against a superior team. We played by far our worst game and they needed OT to win it at home.

 

this wasn't their worst game of the series. it was their best probably.

 

and right now, the hawks are not superior. these teams have played evenly for 3 games now.

 

In terms of performance, I think sadly game 1 was the best game we played, followed by 3 and then 2. I'm not saying the series is over by any means, I still think we're going to win it, but doubt was introduced tonight. I've been waiting 3 games for the Hawks to show they are the better team, and if anything these performances so far make me wonder if these teams are really evenly matched or the Flyers are slightly better. We should be better...we had 24 more points in the regular season and basically ran over our last 2 playoff opponents, only to face a team that plays in a conference that everyone and their mom would admit is much weaker than our conference.

 

I'm sorry for sounding so negative. I am just venting and it's hard for me to be positive when I'm doing that. In 20 minutes, I should be better.

[SpongeWorthy]

The anguish juxtaposed with the pregame "I'd be thrilled with a split in Philly! It would be neat to win the Cup in Chicago!" talk is hilarious. And some of it's from the same people.

[17 Seconds]

i feel like you guys are confusing game 1 with something else. do you not remember how atrocious we were in the first 2 periods? do you not remember all the turnovers and atrocious play in our own end.

 

the only reason we won game 1 was because of michael leighton

[17 Seconds]

so you're taking a 3 game sample size as an indication of future performance over the previous 90+ games?

 

the flyers played the blackhawks 90+ times this season? highly interesting

 

not to mention philly wasn't healthy until recently

 

this is the stanley cup finals, this is not the regular season.

[Derwood]

so you're taking a 3 game sample size as an indication of future performance over the previous 90+ games?

 

the flyers played the blackhawks 90+ times this season? highly interesting

 

not to mention philly wasn't healthy until recently

 

this is the stanley cup finals, this is not the regular season.

 

hey, don't let me get in the way of you throwing a pity party for yourself. have at it

[17 Seconds]

you barely even watch hockey. why don't you just let me vent

[hawkeyecub]

Chill the hell out. They still have to win 3/4 against a superior team. We played by far our worst game and they needed OT to win it at home.

 

this wasn't their worst game of the series. it was their best probably.

 

and right now, the hawks are not superior. these teams have played evenly for 3 games now.

 

You think this was the Hawks best game of the series? We aren't watching the same games then. It was the Flyers best game and the Hawks worst.

 

did you not watch game 1 at all? i mean, seriously.

 

Watched the whole thing and saw a lot more and better offensive chances. Shots were even dispite 8 minutes disadvantage in pp. Yes Leighton was bad but they scored 6 goals with 0 power plays. They had an equal number of shots, won the faceoffs 40-24 and survived a 4-0 penalty disadvantage to win.

[SpongeWorthy]

you barely even watch hockey. why don't you just let me vent

 

I can't abide your obvious sulley bit thievery.

[Derwood]

you barely even watch hockey. why don't you just let me vent

 

all i've got to watch here are the Blue Jackets. can you blame me for not watching much?

[UMFan83]

Seriously, there was a lot to like in that game. The sky isn't falling. If they stop taking stupid penalties, the Hawks win. Two posts in period one.

 

We've gotten outshot by 5+ shots every game this series, we haven't scored a power play goal in the entire series, we've given up 3-4 PPGs this series, we got manhandled in the faceoff zone to pathetic levels. The first 2 goals we scored in the game weren't exactly good looks. In fact, from my view of the game, we didn't get very many good looks all night, with a few notable instances. The Flyers are manhandling us in the crease. Leighton is giving up huge rebounds, and we cannot get our stick on them at all.

 

So now the only faceoff numbers that matter are from tonight's game? And you really don't think the Hawks PP is going to be better? You don't think they're going to convert better around the net? And you think the Flyers are going to keep up their power play numbers?

 

Seriously you guys are overreacting like mad.

 

I didn't say only faceoff numbers matter. I pointed out that we got outshot for the 3rd time out of 3 games this series. In the regular season we allowed the least SOG in the NHL and outshot our opponent like 80% of the time. I realize the playoffs and the SCF are a different animal altogether, but it's hard to see us getting outshot every game, even if we've been winning them. We're winning but not winning the way that got us here.

 

I am not sure the Hawks PP is going to be better. They were middle of the road in the regular season. I mean I'm sure if you give them enough opportunities they'd eventually score something, but our PP is not going to be a difference maker in the series, but I knew that going in.

 

I don't think they will convert better around the net. Pronger and his Defensive mates have been doing a phenomenal job of not letting the Hawks get their sticks on any of those rebounds. The Hawks are in position most of the time, but the Flyers are getting to the puck or lifting the Hawks stick first. That's not necessarily a fluke, that's skill by the Flyers. We might have to win without much help from cleaning up rebounds (except Hossa's goal last game).

 

Now the Flyers PP numbers I'm not AS concerned about for the rest of the series. Just because the Hawks have had such a good PK in the playoffs before this series. But this series, and especially tonight, I saw Hawks out of position, I saw the Flyers being able to sneak passes to open shooters, I saw the Hawks have a lot of difficulty clearing the puck. So if you put a gun to my head I think the Hawks will clean up the PK.

 

And yes I realize I'm overreacting. Actually I wouldn't call it that, more like being a pessimist in terms of only pointing out bad things we did tonight. Overreacting is lamenting on how we blew this opportunity and "50 years without the cup" after losing for the first time in 3 games of the series. I still think we are going to win, but I'm quite a bit less certain after tonight.

[17 Seconds]

you barely even watch hockey. why don't you just let me vent

 

all i've got to watch here are the Blue Jackets. can you blame me for not watching much?

 

no.

 

but let me vent. it's the first stomach punch moment of the postseason so far. i don't know what do with myself

[SpongeWorthy]

Seriously, there was a lot to like in that game. The sky isn't falling. If they stop taking stupid penalties, the Hawks win. Two posts in period one.

 

We've gotten outshot by 5+ shots every game this series, we haven't scored a power play goal in the entire series, we've given up 3-4 PPGs this series, we got manhandled in the faceoff zone to pathetic levels. The first 2 goals we scored in the game weren't exactly good looks. In fact, from my view of the game, we didn't get very many good looks all night, with a few notable instances. The Flyers are manhandling us in the crease. Leighton is giving up huge rebounds, and we cannot get our stick on them at all.

 

So now the only faceoff numbers that matter are from tonight's game? And you really don't think the Hawks PP is going to be better? You don't think they're going to convert better around the net? And you think the Flyers are going to keep up their power play numbers?

 

Seriously you guys are overreacting like mad.

 

I didn't say only faceoff numbers matter. I pointed out that we got outshot for the 3rd time out of 3 games this series. In the regular season we allowed the least SOG in the NHL and outshot our opponent like 80% of the time. I realize the playoffs and the SCF are a different animal altogether, but it's hard to see us getting outshot every game, even if we've been winning them. We're winning but not winning the way that got us here.

 

I am not sure the Hawks PP is going to be better. They were middle of the road in the regular season. I mean I'm sure if you give them enough opportunities they'd eventually score something, but our PP is not going to be a difference maker in the series, but I knew that going in.

 

I don't think they will convert better around the net. Pronger and his Defensive mates have been doing a phenomenal job of not letting the Hawks get their sticks on any of those rebounds. The Hawks are in position most of the time, but the Flyers are getting to the puck or lifting the Hawks stick first. That's not necessarily a fluke, that's skill by the Flyers. We might have to win without much help from cleaning up rebounds (except Hossa's goal last game).

 

Now the Flyers PP numbers I'm not AS concerned about for the rest of the series. Just because the Hawks have had such a good PK in the playoffs before this series. But this series, and especially tonight, I saw Hawks out of position, I saw the Flyers being able to sneak passes to open shooters, I saw the Hawks have a lot of difficulty clearing the puck. So if you put a gun to my head I think the Hawks will clean up the PK.

 

And yes I realize I'm overreacting. Actually I wouldn't call it that, more like being a pessimist in terms of only pointing out bad things we did tonight. Overreacting is lamenting on how we blew this opportunity and "50 years without the cup" after losing for the first time in 3 games of the series. I still think we are going to win, but I'm quite a bit less certain after tonight.

 

Basically there was no way the Hawks were going to lose where you wouldn't freak out.

[CoolHandLuke]

I'm not a hockey fan and I know almost nothing about the sport but gosh darn it is fun to watch.

[Flames24Rulz]

I realize I'm overreacting, at least. But besides the third period of Game 1 and that 28 second flurry in Game 2, we really haven't looked all that great in any of these games. There was a little bit of a stretch today as well, but that 3rd period that we put out today was sickening.

 

As long as we win on Friday, it's fine. I don't want to think about the other possibility.

 

Plus, let's be honest. This series wasn't going to end on Versus, right?

[17 Seconds]

i'm not really crushed about the loss as much as i'm extremely concerned with how we're playing. this series has been an absolute crapshoot so far, when we should be outplaying these guys.

 

it's time to move byfuglien off the kane/toews line.

[UMFan83]

Seriously, there was a lot to like in that game. The sky isn't falling. If they stop taking stupid penalties, the Hawks win. Two posts in period one.

 

We've gotten outshot by 5+ shots every game this series, we haven't scored a power play goal in the entire series, we've given up 3-4 PPGs this series, we got manhandled in the faceoff zone to pathetic levels. The first 2 goals we scored in the game weren't exactly good looks. In fact, from my view of the game, we didn't get very many good looks all night, with a few notable instances. The Flyers are manhandling us in the crease. Leighton is giving up huge rebounds, and we cannot get our stick on them at all.

 

So now the only faceoff numbers that matter are from tonight's game? And you really don't think the Hawks PP is going to be better? You don't think they're going to convert better around the net? And you think the Flyers are going to keep up their power play numbers?

 

Seriously you guys are overreacting like mad.

 

I didn't say only faceoff numbers matter. I pointed out that we got outshot for the 3rd time out of 3 games this series. In the regular season we allowed the least SOG in the NHL and outshot our opponent like 80% of the time. I realize the playoffs and the SCF are a different animal altogether, but it's hard to see us getting outshot every game, even if we've been winning them. We're winning but not winning the way that got us here.

 

I am not sure the Hawks PP is going to be better. They were middle of the road in the regular season. I mean I'm sure if you give them enough opportunities they'd eventually score something, but our PP is not going to be a difference maker in the series, but I knew that going in.

 

I don't think they will convert better around the net. Pronger and his Defensive mates have been doing a phenomenal job of not letting the Hawks get their sticks on any of those rebounds. The Hawks are in position most of the time, but the Flyers are getting to the puck or lifting the Hawks stick first. That's not necessarily a fluke, that's skill by the Flyers. We might have to win without much help from cleaning up rebounds (except Hossa's goal last game).

 

Now the Flyers PP numbers I'm not AS concerned about for the rest of the series. Just because the Hawks have had such a good PK in the playoffs before this series. But this series, and especially tonight, I saw Hawks out of position, I saw the Flyers being able to sneak passes to open shooters, I saw the Hawks have a lot of difficulty clearing the puck. So if you put a gun to my head I think the Hawks will clean up the PK.

 

And yes I realize I'm overreacting. Actually I wouldn't call it that, more like being a pessimist in terms of only pointing out bad things we did tonight. Overreacting is lamenting on how we blew this opportunity and "50 years without the cup" after losing for the first time in 3 games of the series. I still think we are going to win, but I'm quite a bit less certain after tonight.

 

Basically there was no way the Hawks were going to lose where you wouldn't freak out.

 

Exactly. I know myself well. I go through a half hour of venting after every big sports loss where I'm irrational and overly negative. I'm sorry you guys have to read it if you don't enjoy it, but I'm going to keep doing it until they ban me.

 

And I think I have a right to freak out a little bit. Yes I would take a 2-1 lead and playing evenly with the Flyers a million straight times. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be concerned at how we played. We should be a much much better team than the Flyers, but we aren't. That's a reality I guess we have to get used too. I guess the Hawks could come out in Game 4 and dominate the entire game and it wouldn't be the most shocking thing ever. It just becomes increasingly more likely that we're not going to have a game where we come out and just manhandle the Flyers. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but I guess more or less its gonna come down to little things, breaks here and there, and home ice advantage. There are still a lot of things to like about the Hawks position of course. For one, we're leading the series. We still have an opportunity to accomplish what we were looking for when coming to Philly, which is come home up 3-1. We still have home ice advantage and the worst Philly can do in Philly is win 3 games. Even though we haven't played our best hockey we still lead the series and could have easily won this game and been up 3-0 in the series.

 

Anyways, I am just rambling. Just trying to mentally switch my mindset from "easy cruise to a stanley cup" to "tough grind it out series with the final outcome possibly in doubt until it's over".

[SpongeWorthy]

I asked this earlier but how much is Ladd missed? Doesn't he usually play on the Toews line?

[UMFan83]

One good thing is penalties have been 7-7 the last two games. Although it doesn't seem like the refs are willing to even out the 4-0 from game 1.

[UMFan83]

I asked this earlier but how much is Ladd missed? Doesn't he usually play on the Toews line?

 

In the playoffs it's been Kane-Toews-Buff, but at one point he was. I definitely think we could use him, but at the same time I don't think he's the difference maker that is going to have us dominating the Flyers for an entire game.

[17 Seconds]

I asked this earlier but how much is Ladd missed? Doesn't he usually play on the Toews line?

 

nah. he played on the second and 3rd lines. he's missed (a good player is always missed) but i don't really think it's been a big factor, considering his replacement (kopecky) has been really good. who knows, maybe the ladd injury actually helped us, since kopecky got a game winner.

 

if he's back, it needs to be burish out. [expletive], even versteeg could be sat, but that will never happen.

[CubsBears29]

I'm not a hockey fan and I know almost nothing about the sport but gosh darn it is fun to watch.

 

This is me too (although the Blackhawks have sure made me sit up and take notice of a Chicago team with a legit shot at a title); but after these playoffs, I promise to make a more concerted effort to watch the 'Hawks and hockey more next season.

 

 

That said, even with my admitted limited knowledge of the sport... in terms of not allowing the Flyers any real momentum and feelings of confidence, Friday night's game 4 just became a "must win" for the Blackhawks, even though they are still ahead in the series at 2-1 going in. Will I automatically write them off if they lose Friday night? No, but the Flyers already survived a 0-3 start in a series in these playoffs and if they can even things up at 2-2, #-o.

 

And please, for the love of all that is holy, Chicago... (at least try to) match their intensity and hit back on Friday night!

[Hall7810]

I asked this earlier but how much is Ladd missed? Doesn't he usually play on the Toews line?

 

I think he's sorely missed; if he's back, I imagine no more Burish. He's usually on the Bolland/Steeger line. I