2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 2

[gmalis1]

Kris Versteeg back practicing with the Hawks and playing on the fourth line with Handzus and Bollig.

Brilliant move by Q. First off, he has Kruger centering the third line (which I like) and Ben Smith centering the second line (which we all like).

Since the fourth line will get bare minimum minutes, this really limits the ice time for them, except for Handzus...who can then concentrate on being a penalty killing/faceoff specialist.

Zeus is way too slow to keep up with Kaner and really dragged him down statistically after the olympic break. He is perfect for the fourth line. Bollig is a career fourth liner, since his offensive upside is really just a downside. And Versteeg can pretty much play the Ben Smith role...roam around with the puck desperately trying to create some offense with the fourth line.

I really think that Q really changed the series by moving Versteeg and Saad off the first line, putting Bickell and Hossa back with Toews and using Ben Smith to center between Kane and Sharp. That gave the Hawks two really good offensive attacking lines. And Kruger with Saad and Shaw also showed a lot of offensive skill.

 

[averagejoe]

Bollig is a career fourth liner, since his offensive upside is really just a downside.

That was funny. Nice write up g.

Not sure who I'd rather have the Hawks face in the 2nd round - Avs or Wild? I keep hearing that the Avs had the Hawks number in the regular season. Perhaps that's true.

NOV 19 - Avs win 5-1. Crawford gives up 3 goals on 7 shots. Raanta comes in in relief.
DEC 27 - Hawks win big 7-2 on home ice.
JAN 14 - Avs win in OT on a PPG 3-2.
MAR 4 - Avs win 4-2. Hawks were without Hossa that game.
MAR 12 - Avs win 3-2. Raanta in goal. Hossa missing from this game too.

I think the Hawks gain momentum in each round, based on past history. The Wild may be a "one & done" series winner. And the Avs may be just as fast, but may lack the post-season experience compared to the Hawks. Am I looking for a silver lining? Maybe.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Just to be sure, Hawks will be facing the winner of the Avalanche & Wild correct ? I'm sort of hoping the Hawks face the Avs, the 2 teams really remind me of each other, although the Hawks have way better dmen.

 

[anotheridiot]

I dont know g, I was really surprised that Sharp didnt get put back with Toews and Hossa on that top line. that line was dominant this season and honestly, might have gotten us a couple more two goal cushions. There is too much match up thought now. Yeah, best d men get the top line, but with toews, hossa, sharp, kane, bickell, saad there are enough to make up two top lines.

What I loved about Smitty is he was just as dominant offensively on the fourth as the second line. Usually that fourth line gets the third pair of defensemen and they look better than they are. Other teams call their third line their checking line, I guess we dont have a checking line.

I know getting Minny would give us home ice, but the play would be so fast against colorado it would be a great series. That colorado coach is a real wild card, I am expecting him to jump on the ice and start pummeling someone, or trying to. This might be the last year we can call an experience advantage over colorado though, their young core of under 20 linemates will be something if they can stay together and healthy.

as far as versteeg skating on the fourth line, its still just practice, I would think nordstrom got some time out there too, give us another centerman and penalty killer. Just hope versteeg gets a short leash, really short.

Guess we have about 5 hours before we know.

 

[anotheridiot]

Quick turn for minny, first game tomorrow night. The other reason I wanted the wild is I thought we would have 7:00 games. oh well, tomorrow 8:30. Bulls are out of the playoffs so next united center event is barry gibb on may 27th, so the ice should stay down thru this series that should make it a faster track for our hawks. I think the Roys inexperience might have cost the series, so minny will be more physical and probably have a better back end.

Sharks finished off the worst collapse in a while, only 4 teams in league history lost a series after leading 3-0.

 

[JoeyTourettes]

Need some more info on The Wild? Who do we need to be concerned with? I'm one of "those" hockey fans that started watching the Hawks in 2010... I'm hooked, but don't know the rest of the league that well- Playoff hockey is the best and you get to know other teams.

"It's playoff hockey and it's damn exciting" Dan McNeil. 670 the Score.

 

[JBM73]

NHL - 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs preview: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild - ESPN

 

[anotheridiot]

It worries me that not many are giving Minnesota a chance, but their goaltending is rough. Always feel bad for the MS goalie there, who is out with complications now, so at least we dont have to try to beat him.

 

[JBM73]

 

[JBM73]

Darcy Kuemper may have hurt his head Wednesday night when he collided behind the net with Colorado's Matt Duchene during the second period.

When Kuemper fell, his head hit defenseman Ryan Suter, but he stayed in the game until late in the third. He missed the last seven games of regular season with a concussion and didn't start in Minnesota's first two playoff contests either. Ilya Bryzgalov finished Game 7 in relief and coach Mike Yeo didn't have an update on Kuemper's status after the contest. Consider him day-to-day for now with an undisclosed ailment.
Source: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

It worries me that not many are giving Minnesota a chance, but their goaltending is rough. Always feel bad for the MS goalie there, who is out with complications now, so at least we dont have to try to beat him.

True, Wild have nothing to lose, no one expects them to win the series anyway, very dangerous team.

 

[averagejoe]

I mentioned above that some were hoping for a Wild-Hawks series instead of a Avs-Hawks series since the Avs had the Hawks number. Looking at the regular season, the Hawks weren't exactly solid against the Wild either.

OCT 26 - Wild win 5-3.
OCT 28 - Hawks win 5-1.
DEC 5 - Wild win 4-3.
JAN 23 - Wild win 2-1
APR 3 - Hawks win in a shootout 3-2.

Doesn't instill much more confidence seeing that the Wild took 3 out of 5 from the Hawks.

 

[gmalis1]

Rambling thoughts about the Hawks and Wild:

Hawks should win the goalie matchup. Crawford should outplay either Kuemper (who has what appears to be concussion like symptoms) or Bryzgalov (who is a head case in my opinion).

Kris Versteeg doing his best Viktor Stalberg imitation. I think that StanB actually brought him over to play that role, but he's done just about as good as Stalberg...which isn't very good. Very little offense from him, poor passing and tentative defense. That's why Q sat him in the last game. Now he's relegated to the fourth line, where his minutes will be minimal.

Hawks will be well rested since they played on Sunday last game. That gives them four days of rest, while the Wild traveled today and probably have only one day of rest. Will fatigue be a factor in Game 1? Hawks will need to come out and really push hard the first 10 minutes to fight off any Wild momentum.

The series and games will probably be closer than last year's series. Wild will probably take the usual tactic of playing physical and trying to slow down the Hawks. But we all know how that works out. Usually it fails miserably. Just hoping no one on the Hawks gets injured. Toews missed today's practice as he was sick. Q stated there is no way he misses Friday night's game.

Hawks on paper should have it all over the Wild. The speed, the depth, the complete defense, the goalie matchup. Wild have quality players in Parise, Granlund, Niedereitter and Suter on D. But not really much else. Thinking if the Hawks can keep their first line in check, we should have it made in the shade.

Can't wait for Friday night. Should be a fun series.

 

[anotheridiot]

pretty good minny blogger and reporter on the game this morning. said the wild learned about stretch passes from the hawks last year. Now I do think the hawks might be the best stretch pass team in the league, but the series with colorado went the wilds way when the avs changed their game to looking for stretch passes. Wild D men are all threats to score.

Versteeg will get about 5 minutes if its a close game unless somehow he gets put on the power play or the hawks run away with the game early. Said it when they got him, he was un necessary at that time, you gotta question anyone a team pays 2.2 million dollars a year for a guy not to play for them.

Harding has changed his meds, says he feels great and they are flying in his gear for a possible appearance sunday. Harding was the wilds MVP first half of this season. Bryz blows, but was part of the reason the wild didnt fall out of the playoffs and the wild only need him to play well for a week and a half. It is definitely the story. I dont think the hawks will get sucked into a hitfest they had game 1 and 2 with the hated st louis blows, but if they are up 2-0 I am sure its gonna pick up.

 

[anotheridiot]

awesome game, even though the hawks were probably outplayed most of the game. The kane backhand, that redirect pass from Smith to kane, manchild driving hard giving hossa an open net, so great to see. How about that Leddy play on Parise, I've had his back all year getting stuck with different partners every couple games and so many wanting him shown the door.

Shaw did not return, opens the door back for Versteeg, but maybe, just maybe they will trust Nordstrom to center that third line and put Kruger back as only center on the fourth line and tap Mo on the shoulder for sunday. We know he will at least get 4-5 pucks to the net, score or rebounds seem to follow.

another quick turn for Minny, should be fun sunday.

 

[gmalis1]

awesome game, even though the hawks were probably outplayed most of the game. The kane backhand, that redirect pass from Smith to kane, manchild driving hard giving hossa an open net, so great to see. How about that Leddy play on Parise, I've had his back all year getting stuck with different partners every couple games and so many wanting him shown the door.

Shaw did not return, opens the door back for Versteeg, but maybe, just maybe they will trust Nordstrom to center that third line and put Kruger back as only center on the fourth line and tap Mo on the shoulder for sunday. We know he will at least get 4-5 pucks to the net, score or rebounds seem to follow.

another quick turn for Minny, should be fun sunday.

I didn't think it was an awesome game, except for the last eight minutes of the game. Hawks scored two power play goals previous to that, but the Wild dictated the pace of play. First period I give a slight edge to the Wild, second period was all Wild. First ten minutes of the third was definitely all Wild. Hawks finally had the light bulb go on the second half of the third period...which is a good time to put your foot on the gas (see today's Bruins/Habs game for proof of that).

Hawks need to play more disciplined. I felt they were pretty helter/skelter out there most of the game. They need to crank up the intensity. Once they were up 2-0 it seemed like they became disinterested in the game or that they had it all wrapped up and could just coast. Not so.

Shaw is day to day, but probably won't play Sunday. Versteeg was a scratch for Game 1 because he was sick. Q intended to play him, but figure he'll be in for Game 2. I'm guessing he fills in for Shaw on the third line because basically there's really no better option there. Saad will be the guy in front of the net on that third line playing with Kruger and Versteeg. At least there won't be any dumb penalties from that group. Shaw's scrappy, but he's also an idiot.

I'm guessing Regin might play instead of Nordstrom. I'm not a big fan of Nordy at this stage of his career. Q seems to like him, but I'm not sold. The fourth line got burned on the Wild second goal...and I thought they were pretty bad in Game 1. Either Regin or Morin, I'm hoping.

Crawford playing stellar in goal. Bryzgalov is horrible. Hawks just need to keep throwing pucks at the net. They'll get some to go in. And the Wild has no other choice but to play him.

Good luck in Game 2 tomorrow.

 

[gmalis1]

Oh, and one other thing. Patrick Kane...you are AMAZING!

 

[averagejoe]

awesome game, even though the hawks were probably outplayed most of the game. The kane backhand...

Nice write up AI. I agree to a point. The only reason it was awesome was because the Hawks finally capitalized on their PP opportunities to go 2-0 and hold the lead thru most of the contest.

As for Kane: I know he's the face of the franchise, but moments before he scored his first goal, I had just finished yelling at him (thru my TV) that he better start skating! He's the worst 2-way player on the Hawks. It frustrates me to no end to see him standing in the defensive zone doing nothing until the puck comes free. And then he scores so I have to forgive him. Temporarily.

And since I'm complaining... I see Sharp was doing his best Frolik/Stalberg imitation. He was falling all over the ice with absolutely zero contact. C'mon Sharpie!

Bollig? How does a guy who averages only 6 minutes and 24 seconds of ice time have a minus-3 rating (2nd-worst on the Hawks)? If Bollig isn't going to take care of Stoner, please call up Morin.

Really pleased with Hossa, Smith and Seabrook. Phenomenal effort so far.

Like REO Speedwagon sang... Keep pushin'!

 

[anotheridiot]

I'm guessing Regin might play instead of Nordstrom. I'm not a big fan of Nordy at this stage of his career. Q seems to like him, but I'm not sold. The fourth line got burned on the Wild second goal...and I thought they were pretty bad in Game 1. Either Regin or Morin, I'm hoping.

Crawford playing stellar in goal. Bryzgalov is horrible. Hawks just need to keep throwing pucks at the net. They'll get some to go in. And the Wild has no other choice but to play him.

Good luck in Game 2 tomorrow.

Nordstrom had the best drive to the net I have seen from a hawk in a long time. It was all business from behind the net. He is a pure center, so he plays better when his mind is telling him he is the center.

So Ver egg was the late scratch at ice time because he got sick? I dont know about that, Q said he wanted to start the way they finished the last series, and nordstrom as the extra PK guy just fits better for a few minute player.

Nordstroms drive to the net, Saads drive and dish, smiths fearlessness, eventually we will stop hearing the cries for the veterans... I hope.

I dont think we see Regin any time soon, unless maybe if Zeus goes down. Even Eddie O said he would rather see Morin instead of Regin if needed, and when Eddie calls for a kid over the vet in the playoffs, its pretty good in my book.

 

[anotheridiot]

Pregame on the radio, Q said Morin is in for Shaw. NBC pregame say versteeg in for shaw. I guess we see how the lines shape up.