sportsPond53

Red-and-Black don't play Red-and-White until Wednesday 7 PM ... are you kidding me? Almost a week of no real hockey!

Two Game 7s tonight (yawn).

Well, how about joining me for a cigar love fest between these two wannabe hockey players, instead (lol)?

Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe (image credit)

At least there isn't that absurd 8:30 start time.

That's right, man, saw that. Our collective bowels in Hawkdom can settle (lol).

you can watch the bulls in the interim.

Yep, tonight a pivotal Game 4 for our Bulls. Win, and it's an even series and anything can happen. Lose, and the series is over and they might as well forfeit Game 5 (lol).

If the two Game 7s hold as they are now, it'll be seeds 1,5,6,7 in both conferences. Symmetry FTW!

That's a great catch, Pete. Bruins were down 4 - 1, but they scored an amazing 3 goals in the final 10 minutes of the 3rd. They're going OT! Bruins may ruin that symmetry.

Yeah, I was watching!

Oh, man, good for you, Pete ... didn't make it to my Dad's house tonight to watch the games. Do the Bruins look like they have all the momentum now, and do you think they'll nail it in OT?

They do, it was a very good thing for the leafs to have regulation time end. I can't imagine how the Bruins will not come out with huge energy.

I wouldn't mind a Hawks-Bruins Stanley Cup matchup :)

As long as the Hawks are in the mix, I say bring on whoever from the east!

Oh, man, what a rally! Bruins scored fairly early in OT. What a shocker for the Leafs.

The other Game 7 is a no-contest: Geof's Stove Tops, winning big 5 - 0, late in the 3rd. What a Crapital Collapse! Man, what is it with these top seeds? Only 3 out of 8 supposedly better teams are advancing!

Cup Champs Advancing

Did you know ... 5 of the 8 teams, advancing to Round 2, were the last 5 Stanley Cup winners (assuming Bruins win Game 7): Kings (2012), Bruins (2011), Hawks (2010), Penguins (2009), and Red Wings (2008). How ah.may.zing is that?

What I want to know, Who's this bearded dude hoisting Lord Stanley for the Hawks in 2010? Don't recognize him, must've been traded (lol).

Jonathan Toews hoisting Lord Stanley for the Hawks in 2010 (image credit)

Trolling Stalberg

So whats up with Q trolling Stalberg?

As Mark said, it's probably a little zen-style motivation by Coach Q. Personally, I, too, hope to see Stals in red tomorrow night!

Weighing the Stats

I checked this before the Wild series and based on the numbers I figured the Hawks would have to score around 3 goals per game to win. The magic number of goals to win a game would be slightly higher this series being 4.

Goals Per Game
Hawks - 3.10 regular season - 3.40 playoffs.
Wings - 2.54 regular season - 2.57 playoffs.

Goals Against Per Game
Hawks - 2.02 regular season - 1.40 playoffs.
Wings - 2.57 regular season - 3.00 playoffs.

That 2.00 point-differential is super-awesome, Franklin. Unlike the Red Wings, and despite Coach Q's displeasure, the Hawks have clearly elevated their game in the playoffs, judging by those numbers alone. Of course I loved the blowouts we saw in Game 2 and Game 5 against the Wild, but it was the surgical precision of their play in that Game 4 shutout I loved even more. They scored one goal in each of the three periods; they shored up the defense, and our guys blocked probably 50% of the shots; they took more hits, but kept their mental toughness and focus; and what more can we say about Corey Crawford! So blowout, shutout, or one-goal margin, the Hawks can do it all. Let's keep the march toward the Cup going ... go Hawks!

Predicting the Series

I'm starting to lose it waiting for this series to get underway:

I'm excited for round 2! I have the Blackhawks winning in 6. What do you guess think?

Yeah, I'd say, Hawks in 6, too.

Going Insane

May 14th 2013

Great article, Parker! Thankfully I've been able to keep my growing insanity well-in-check (lol). The Bulls may be finished after tomorrow night, so there'll be an easing-up in playoff intensity around Chi-Town. What a run they've given us fans! As for the Hawks, the madness on Madison Street continues, and you're right: The only cure is for the Hawks to carry on with their regular-season dominance of the Red Birds!

It's gonna be a tight series. The durty birds mucked it up in their last series, expect them to do the same against the hawks. They can't skate with the hawks so they'll be slowing everything down.

We definitely cannot take the Red Wings lightly. Sean, do you know how physical they are? The Wild were not known to be a physical team, so even though they out-hit the Hawks by a large margin in Game 3 and Game 4, they simply couldn't keep up with that kind of play and still try to win games. Another way that the Wild slowed down the Hawks was clogging up the middle in their zone. But I think that only worked for Game 1, and the Hawks still eked out a 2 - 1 victory in OT. Let's see what the Red Wings do, after studying all kinds of film. Game on, 20 hours from now!

Yes, Detroit will be looking to knock the crap out of the Hawks. I would, too, if I were them. In Detroit's mind the Hawks can't out-skill them if they're crumpled in the corners.

Stalling Stalberg

May 14th 2013

I still can't see Q sitting Stalberg out breaking up the 3rd line.

Q's version of zen master motivation.

We love speed, and Stals is awesome. So I agree, Coach Q must be a Phil Jackson, then :)

Or may be part of the strategy to keep the Toilet Pink Things guessing who is in the lineup.

You mean, maybe Coach Q is giving Stals the wink-wink on the side, about his strategy, where reporters cannot tell what's going on.

Possibly. But, it is also plausible with Bolland coming back, he takes takes over centering duties from Shaw who then takes Stalberg's spot.
Handzus then centers Sharpie and Kaner.

Ah, it's a very interesting situation, isn't it. The great thing is, Coach Q has even more options at his disposal. I did see a lineup that had Bolland on the 3rd line.

Just reading some news last night and this morning ... Apparently Stals was mouthing-off (my word) about reduced playing time on the PP during the Wild series, so Coach Q is in fact giving him a message. But I think it was Franklin who speculated that maybe the Hawks management are trying to keep Stals market value down, so they can re-sign him after this year. He cannot showcase his talent, if he's off the ice. It's a risky ploy, if this is the case, as they end up really pissing off the Speed Demon!

Yes I mentioned that they might be benching him just because they could resign him cheaper. Not sure how well that would work out. Either way hopefully they dress him soon.

Yep, judging from that Tribune article, Coach Q is totally open to having Stals back in the lineup for this series. But, then, if he does, who is he going to scratch next? Maybe Tazer, for his meager production ... NOT (lol)!

Stalberg Steaming

May 15th 2013

Whoa. Stalberg was officially benched for game 1.

My reaction "Wtf?"

Stals, not a happy camper. I thought Coach Q would actually play him, after suiting him up in white for practice.

Round 2 Opening

May 15th 2013

Redwings vs Hawks Open Thread

Here we go!

BTW: Hawks, also on WGN Radio Online.

Those of you watching, How does Bolland look?

he looks like this

I have not noticed him yet. So he is sort of just there.

lol ... I don't care what the dude looks like ... I just care about how he's playing (lol).

I know but you said "How does Bolland look?". lol

PowerlessPlay time

Geof, go on WGN Radio Online. I've got great, clear coverage.

Hossa!

lol ... you're funnier than Q benching Stals ...

Oh, yeah ...

Tie Game xD

That's OK, so both teams have drawn first blood ... still so early in the game.

PK time ... Let's stay playoff-perfect, Hawks!

Let's get a shortie!

Was just checking nhl.comThis is the 800th all-time meeting between the Hawks and WIngs

Wow, that's amazing!

Oh, man, another PK ...

all i can say is, Dang! (or Deng!)

lol

Do the Hawks look rusty?

Still perfect PK.

Shots Det 7-6
Hits Det 21-9

Wings, using the Wild playbook? A lot of hits on the Hawks.

Wings just went back through tape and realized you have to hit the Hawks to have a chance at winning. Even then...

Bulls vs Heat Game update. Bulls up 70-63 with 2 and a half min left in the third.

Go Bulls!

Yep ... Hawks are well-rested, while Wings played 7 and had only 3 days off. So let's see if they can keep up that physicality the rest of the game.

Always wondered... If you catch a puck that goes out of play, can you keep it?

Yes, you can. That unless it was when Fox had the NHL and they had the pucks with the blue streaks things embedded in them.

I almost forgot about that! Watching hockey with that technology was the worst.

Take a swipe at Bolland? Yeah, it was silly (glowing puck). It was intended to allow new viewers to hockey to follow the puck. Every hockey fan mocked it mercilessly.

made it easy for the casual hockey fan to keep track of the puck in standard definition

The thing is I normally don't look at where the puck is. I look at where the puck might be (the set up of the players).

Good point, gents. I try to look at how the play is developing on the TV screen, i.e., around the puck.

I think next goal wins.

I like Troy Murray's analysis: Hawks, keep pushing it. Keep solid on D and on net. Our guys are well-rested, so should be strong in the 3rd. Yep 2 - 1 game.

More good points from Troy Murray: Hawks barraged Jimmy Howard with SOGs (17 - 5), so Wings couldn't hit and couldn't shoot.

Johnny Oduya!!!!!!!!!

Du-YAh!

Damned lag. The Hawks have put on the offense this period. Is Oduya even playing offense?

Hate that lag, too, man ... it's 10 minutes later, we hear the goal (lol)!

Wings looking tired, as we expected. Let's go Hawks, keeping attacking these birdies!

"The Blackhawks are all over the Red Wings!"

Kruger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a backhand by Kruger lifting it over the flailing Howard. Awesome!

Yeah, KRUGS!

Total 3rd period domination by the Hawks: SOG (14 - 3)!

Man, let's get goal for Tazer!

Don't turn off the game until the final buzzer! (see Bruins game 7)

Good point! We're real Hawks fans ... we don't leave and we don't turn anything off.

Totally insane game. I couldn't stop watching the highlights of that epic victory | epic collapse. Ah.may.zing!

My Twitter feed is in.SANE with Hawks tweets, man ... cannot keep up (lol)!

The empty netter!!

Sharpie!

5 down, 11 to go, baby!

Crawford is beastly in the playoffs! Improved on his GAA, now at an ah.may.zing 1.33. But he faced only 21 SOGs, so he decided to get his manicure and pedicure done, while his teammates were bombarding Howard (lol)!

Razor hasn't played in, like, forever. So I hope he's getting sharp during practice.

I would be perfectly confident with Emery in the goal. He won't be because Crawford is on fire. There is no need to switch things about when something is working.

Well, how about this, If the Hawks go up 3 - 0, would Q put Razor on net?

I would keep Craw until he has a bad game. up 3-0 wouldn't be the best idea to switch goalies after your starter would have a 7-1 playoff record.

I would not until Crawford lets three in early on.

Yep, actually, I agree. Just asking.

Seabrook Saving

May 15th 2013

Seabrook with an amazing save.

That was a game-saving save by Seabrook and Crawford. Seabs kept that fluttering puck outside the goal line, as it was coming down, and Crow knew to just sit on it when Seabs poked it to him to avoid knocking it in himself. Awesome Hawks play!

The Hawks were up 3 - 1 at this point, and under 3 minutes left in the game. If the Wings had in fact scored on this play, they could've done the Boston-Bruins thing on the Hawks, scored another quick one, and then won it in OT ... NOT! Because the Hawks are no Toronto Maple (ahem, choke) Leafs.

Bolland Breaking Away

May 16th 2013

Here's that Bolland breakaway. He didn't score, but he made a great play on the defensive end. Wings were being aggressive, and kept the puck in the Hawks zone. But Bolland blocked a dump-in try, and I think Shaw managed to slip the puck to him. He skated in, all by his lonesome, and tried to stuff it tight in the right corner. But Howard extended a strong left leg and made an awesome skate save on that one. 3 minutes later, the Hawks broke the tie and the Wings were done for the night.

Kane Kanering

May 17th 2013

Red Wings Rebounding

May 18th 2013

Redwings vs Hawks Game 2 Open Thread

I was in a Board meeting all day yesterday, so I missed the game. Thankfully our Chair is a fan herself, and encouraged me to check the score on my iPhone. Then, I got home, and worked until after 12 M (whew). It's just a well, I guess, as the loss was a game to miss!

Red Wings Outhawking the Hawks

May 18th 2013

Wow, did the Hawks think Detroit would roll over? Horribly played 2nd and 3rd period today. Ugh.

I think Game 1 came a little too easily for the Hawks. Along with Games 4 and 5 against the Wild, that was the 3rd playoff game in a row that they dominated. So Game 2 was a wake-up call. I think some of us predicted a 6-game series, so they may split the games at Joe Louis. Wings are a much improved team from the regular season, but no doubt the Hawks are still the better team!

Stalberg Sighting

May 19th 2013

Coach Q hasn't made a final decision, apparently, but it looks good for the Speed Demon to get back in the lineup for tomorrow night. He practiced with his familiar mates on the 3rd line. It's a good sign that he's talking to the media again, and Q is talking positively about him, too. Go Hawks, let's regain control of this series!

Sharp's Mom Kanering

May 20th 2013

;P

Wings Winning

May 20th 2013

Hawks vs Redwings Game 3 Open Thread

Bye Stalberg....

Stals, a little too eager.

Let's show some power in that PP!

Let's go Hawks! Inject Bruin-magic in our guys!

or senator magic!

Yep!

Hit-of-the-game by Toews!

TIE GAME!!!!!!!!

why is it no goal?

Stals?

Even though it doesn't count, chipping away at Howard's confidence.

Yep, Hawks working hard to regain momentum.

Is that 3 frickin' pipes for us now?!

Hawks hit the post 3 times in the game, I think.

Pull Crawford now

Crawford, off.

Hawks Hitting the Post

May 21st 2013

It took a night to recover from that stunning defeat, but here's my take: The Hawks had a 5 - 3 victory on their hands. For one thing, they hit the post three times, proving that they could shoot the puck past Howard. So they were just an inch or two from a 2 - 1 series lead, despite their lackluster stretches.

Also, from the angle of that referee who blew the Stalberg tally, Shaw must've looked like he was on top of Howard. But the referees also missed a Hjammers crosscheck that would've stopped the play, well before Kane scored. But still they could've had a 4 - 3 victory.

What concerned me are: How the Hawks mentally unraveled in the 3rd period, and went to the box four times in a row after the Wings scored again. They had plenty of hockey left in the game (over 13 minutes). Even Coach Q got goonish, apparently.

More concerning, What are the Hawks going to do to counter what the Wings did to our big guns? Sharp, Hossa and Toews had a lot of shots on goal, but were rendered literally pointless in this game!

For me, the real challenge is Quenneville vs Babcock. I know who we're all rooting for!

Have a read of this great analysis from Sports Illustrated.

I agree with you, they put the effort in to win, just didn't get the bounces. I think the extra day can help get their mind right again. Same effort and I think they win game 4. Everyone back away from the ledge. :-)

Well said, Patrick! I believe in the Hawks, and Game 3 was just how the puck bounced. For all their miscues and unraveling, they did a lot of things right. With basically that same effort, plus Lady Luck a bit more on their side, and they should win Game 4.

Messaging the Hawks

May 23rd 2013

Message to the Blackhawks!

Shooting for the Stanley Cup

May 23rd 2013

There is only one goal, let's go Hawks!

Playing Powerless

May 23rd 2013

Ugh...1-0 in the 2nd for the Things. And Serious has been called for 3 straight penalties.

Gut check time. C'mon, HAWKS!!

I don't think the PP strategy is right. Using basketball terms, the Hawks are not a good half-court team, where the play is slow and methodic. They need more movement and passing to take advantage of their speed and finesse. They should have a rule in the NHL, like they do in the NFL, where teams can decline penalties. The Hawks definitely have a better chance of scoring at full-strength!

lol ... Well, 5 posts actually. Hawks hit the post 3 times in Game 3, and at least 2 times last night.

The Hawks' inept PP is infuriating. With THAT talent, they should be clicking at a Top 10 clip versus a BOTTOM 10 clip. They are disjointed entering the zone and when they do dump it in because Detroit is stacking the blueline, there is ZERO puck support.

Coach Q bristled at Barry Smith's involvement last season to help with the PP and brought in Kompon who was fired in LA for their putrid PP last season. And oh look, here we are again and now, facing elimination.

The fan in me wants to believe. But, the realist in me says it is over. The Hawks have an 8% chance to win it out now given the post-season history of teams down 3-1. Add to this that the last time they were down 3-1, it was to a Phoenix team that is vastly less talented than Detroit.

My biggest fear is Chicago is turning into their hated rivals: the Cansucks. A great regular season team but a lousy Cup team.

One LAST rant...if the softest team in the playoffs is doing THIS to Chicago...Let me ask: What do you think are our Hawks' chances against LA, Boston, or SJ...??!? Hahahaha...

lol ... Quenneville's PP strategy is wrong-wrong-wrong, in my book. The Hawks should just decline the penalties, just like in football, because they can score better at full-strength. Wings have proven themselves to be a superb team, though, not at all soft. Same playbook as the Wild used, basically, but they had the talent and discipline to execute it better against the Hawks. I hate the fact that no matter what, we have to go through Cali to make it to the Stanley Cup. I mean who plays hockey by the beaches, man (lol)?

Hammering Hjammers

May 23rd 2013

Hjalmarsson is so god awful, particularly in this series. On the ice for every goal.

It was definitely a Serious Meltdown by the Captain in that ridiculous stretch! Yeah, Hjammers tried to block that Wings PP shot, but it ended up screening Crawford. It was an awesome seeing-eye goal by Kindl, as it hugged the ice, found the left post, and bounced in. From bad to worse for the Hawks!

Babcock Outcoaching Quenneville

May 23rd 2013

The Hawks are an absolute mess! Is it their lack of composure taking 5 penalties 3 of them with Tazer? Their absolutely horrendous PP? This is not Chicago hockey and the Hawks are currently in no man's land.

Hats off to Mike Babcock for masterminding the three Wings victories. He's outcoaching Joel Quenneville's pants off!

Coming for the Comeback

May 23rd 2013

Nobody panic! In case you were wondering... teams have trailed 3-1 in a best-of-7 series 229 times in history and have come back to win the series on 20 occasions, or 8.7% of the time.

The PP needs to be better though.

If memory serves me right, the Hawks came back from a 3 - 0 series hole against the Canucks in Round 1 two years ago, and forced a Game 7. If history can repeat itself, Game 7 will be on home ice, man!

Yogi Berra Saying

May 24th 2013

"It ain't over til it's over" and other yogi-isms that are really apropos to the ridiculous, dire situation our Hawks are in. So I decided to make a video out of them!

Definitely not over, gents. We've got 60 minutes of great hockey tonight! The Hawks hit the post five times in Games 3 and 4. So while Jimmy Howard has been awesome, he's also been lucky! We can count on friendly posts at the United Center. Game on, Hawks!

The Eagle Eyeing

May 25th 2013

Wow, just noticed the Eddie Belfour profile pic for the Community page. LOVE IT.

Eddie, the Eagle, looking on and giving the Hawks some inspiration!

Reciting Poetry

May 25th 2013

Well it's win or go home time.
It's time to nut up or shut up.
Time to separate the Men from the boys.
You pick I am partial to what my daddy used to say
Just fucking win!

Love the poem, Sean!

Singing Hossa Song

May 25th 2013

We're just a couple of minutes away, Hawks fans. Great athletes and great fans relish moments like this: backs to the wall (er ... glass), at the precipice of elimination, "tee-time" as background noise.

But the open thread is open, and Eddie, the Eagle is looking on. So make sure the pizza is coming, the beer is cold, and bags of chips are open (real fans don't need no-stinkin' dip), and we're all set for a Game 5 victory!

My man in the spotlight is Ho-ho-hosSah: Marian Hossa Song. Mr. Clutch!

Hawks Hammering

May 25th 2013

Hawks/Wings game 5 open thread!

Just one blemish on the Hawks' stellar PK. Let's keep it that way!

Yes, yes, Bicks!

Oh, man, I'm pumped! I want to dig up my little league hockey gear, lace up those skates, and jump on the ice as the 6th attacker for the Hawks (lol)!

Drawing first blood, in the 1st period, was so crucial. Now let's score a second one, boys!

Seabs, lazy pass, turned it over behind Crow. Almost a disaster (whew). Come on, Seabs, focus, man!

Uh, oh, here we go, PP!

Yep, let's propose a tiny rule change to Commish Bettman: As in the NFL, teams can decline penalties.

Bowman better re-sign Bicks to a new contract after this season. He's a big body who scores!

The PP is downright disgusting. Someone should be fired.

lol ... easy, dude!

I don't think it's the players, that's the problem with the PP. It's the strategy, that's not well-suited for the Hawks' talent, and that's on Q and his staff.

Completely agree. Hence why I said someone needs to be fired.

Good job by Bollie to draw Abdelkader after he was called...

Yep, great little ploy there, by Bollie, to make up for the tripping call.
Toews, almost stuffed it in, after skating around his defender and going at Howard all by his lonesome.

Shawzie on the PP!

Hawks heard all your rants and advice, dude (lol)! Great puck movement, containment and pressure in front of Howard.

Look at that PP. They kept it simple...net presence...and voila! Success! What a concept!!

OMG, Toews, Toews, Toews on the PP!

Why do the hawks want to take stupid penalties now that we are up 2?

They are stupid penalties, for sure, but somehow Bollie seems to be getting under the Wings' skin.

Just 20 minutes left for another trip to Joe Louis, Hawks fans!

Babcock said the Wings want to contain the Hawks "stretch" game by playing aggressive. That actually worked until those two PP scores. Hawks need to keep using their speed, finesse and aggression, plus shore up defensive lapses, and the 3rd period will bring us a W!

Shawzie, AH.gain!

Love this hockey commercial:

Shaw is Sh.AW.some!

Come on, Hawks, let's get a Hat Trick for the little guy!

did you see the one a few ago with the "splinter" in his arm

Shawsome.. Good one

Wings PP, looking like the Hawks PP of old (lol)!

How about giving Corey Crawford some love, Hawks fans! 2nd game in a row that he's played really solid goaltending.

I totally agree. Crow would not be the reason the Hawks do not have success this year in the playoffs.

Q kept Shaw on the ice, and he had one or two chances for the Hattie.

We're motoring back to Moh-Town! I can.NOT wait for Monday night, how about you guys?

It just means my ulcer continues for another few days, ...Sigh. :-D

Just two more Hawks' wins, and your ulcers will be cured!

Well, no...if they win 2 more, then, my ulcer continues because the Kings likely await...and LA is a scary team.

Well, take care of yourself! It's only fitting that the road to the 2013 Stanley Cup has to go through the 2012 Cup champs.

Horn Sounding Off

May 25th 2013

I love that horn

Speaking of that horn, I just found this on my Facebook Timeline: Chicago Blackhawks Goal Song

Powering the Power Play

May 25th 2013

If our team can continue this quality play...and this improved PP in Detoilet...we will see a Game 7!

Lord Stanley just came back into view tonight!

Gearing up for Game 6

May 25th 2013

Now remember everybody get back in the same spots for Monday. Don't forget

First of three steps, accomplished last night. Second step is force a Game 7. Third step, well, we all know what that is :)

Believing in the Blackhawks

May 25th 2013

May 26th 2013

Of the six teams still in the Stanley Cup hunt, right now, five represent the last five Stanley Cup champions and three are from the NHL Original Six. It's awesome to be a hockey fan, and doubly awesome to be a Blackhawks fan!

May 27th 2013

Wishing everyone a good Memorial Day - a day of remembering those who served in the armed forces and gave up their lives.

My 5 keys to that Game 5 victory:

(1) Hawks swarmed the net in front of Howard, better. In Game 4, I saw some great scoring chances, especially in the 1st period, but it was a one-and-done deal.

(2) Bicks stayed out of the box. Shaw stayed out of the box. Toews stayed out of the box. We all know what their on-ice results were.

(3) Seabs and Duncs, paired up again, like longtime lovers: Peaches & Herb - Reunited

(4) Hawks realized they actually had a man advantage in the PP. Great puck movement, zone containment, and net pressure.

(5) Can anybody spell C-O-R-E-Y?

Comeback trail:

Step 1. Force Game 6 (check).
Step 2. Force Game 7 (tonight).
Step 3. Win Game 7 (Wednesday).

Come on, Hawks, let's complete the comeback!

May 27th 2013

Watch out Motown, here come the Hawks, the mighty Blackhawks!

May 27th 2013

Anyone read John Jaekel's blog on Hockeybuzz.com? While I'm not particularly a fan of Eklund, I do read his site because of Jaekel's writing and prior to that, Al Cimaglia's (which you can read on Hockeyindependent.com).

Anyhow, here's the link to John's article. Gives us hope that our beloved team can pull off a win tonight...

GO HAWKS!!

Great article by Jaeckel! I like his reference to Babcock as a master mindgamer. So is Quenneville. If I've got the stats right, the two Stanley Cup coaches are dead even on playoff wins at 78 and are the winningest of the coaches in this year's playoffs. Game on, to the men in suits, standing behind the benches!

Valid. But I would take Babcock over Q. Just look at Q's record against Babcock in the playoffs.

Ah, Babcock has had the upperhand, eh? I'm impressed by how well he's game-planned against our mighty Hawks.

Well, Q hasn't always been the Hawks' coach. But in his other stops, he usually got owned by Babcock in the playoffs.

Ah, that explains it, how Quenneville got frustrated, even rattled in Games 3 and 4.

May 27th 2013

Game Six Open Thread

Q playing chess on the Toews-Zetterberg non-matchup.

PP time!

Ah.nother PP goal, baby! HoSAH!

Oh, man, they're reviewing it!

Yep, Toews and Duncs on the assist.

Grrgh ... period was almost over.

Hawks now have to lay it all on the ice. Troy Murray: It's a dangerous period.

It is only a one point game.

Yep, as far as we're concerned, it's still very much a game for the Hawks to win.

Mark Lazerus, Sun-Times writer, predicted a 3 - 2 Hawks win in OT. Just sayin'.

Zeus!

Hawks win tonight, they win the series. Wings probably sense this, and seem to be playing desperately themselves.

Come on, Hawks, let's pour it on! We want another score!

Wings' out-shooting, out-hitting, out-faceoffing Hawks, but Hawks managed to wrestle the lead back!

Frolik is, like, 4th line, and he's contributing big, baby!

Oh, man, too much hockey left in this game. Come on, Hawks, focus, focus!

Hawks have to play smart and disciplined. No stupid penalties.

Another PP for the good guys!

Good point, Henry. I'm a Crawford BE-liever, been all season and playoffs!

Sharpie to the box (oh, man).

Wings, desperation mode.

Saw that from my Twitter feed. So Wings fans are fair-weather fans, eh (lol)!

Come on, Hawks, I said stay smart and focused!

Wow, Oduya made an idiot play. You're not short-handed, dumb@$!

Grrrgh!

Big sigh of relief, man!

Cali boys, Game 7. Midwest boys, Game 7. Eastern boys, nice Memorial Day picnic.

Frolik is the only player in NHL history who is 2 of 2 in penalty shots in the playoffs ... did I hear that right?

I can only imagine how gassed our guys were in the last couple of minutes: Veterans like Sharp, Hossa and Oduya don't usually make stupid mistakes.

Welcome to Hawkdom, Andrew! Glad you're on our side, man!

Yep, this dude shows up big time in the playoffs!

Tazer, two big assists tonight.

Howard, after holding the Hawks to 2 goals in 3 games, gives up 8 goals in 2 games. I say we've figured him out!

May 28th 2013

Good one, Tyler. Babcock was surly in the post-game press conference. Rightfully so, as his team played poorly in the 3rd period.

May 28th 2013

Haha

We need Brandon to be Haappier ... with some points, man!

May 28th 2013

If the #blackhawks win.....that will leave the last 4 #StanleyCupchamps as the final 4.....wonder if that's ever happened in any sport.....ill #askElias

Great question, Tim. If the Hawks win, I'll research it!

May 29th 2013

Game 7 open thread!

PK time!

Hung out with my Dad this evening. Too tense to Google+ or Twitter. Pretty passing on that Sharpie goal. Nerve-wracking 3rd period. I almost kicked that ref - through the TV - for that stupid call. Big hit by Bollie to set up Seabs' goal.

The IN.SA.NI.TY continues ...

May 30 2013

Folks, I must apologize for being so negative after the Hawks trailed 3-1 after Game 4. I had said that the series was over and etc. etc. I apologize for that and should know better than to not believe in our team.

What heart in coming back 3-1. GO HAWKS!!

It ain't over til it's over.

After last nights officiating "incident", this youtube video gave me some closure (and winning the game helped a little too) ...

#1 rant by Jim Schoenfeld: "Have another doughnut. Have another doughnut" (lol)!

May 30th 2013

For the first time since 1945, the Final Four teams are the past 4 Stanley Cup champs.

Who's winning it this year guys?

Yeah, I heard that this has happened only twice in the history of the NHL. Actually, going into Hawks-Wings Game 7: Final Five = Last Five Cups.

BLACKHAWKS-RED WINGS GAME 7 POSTS 2.07 RATING, HIGHEST-RATED NHL GAME EVER ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK

Great to see these stats, Tim. 3 of the Top 5 were Hawks games!