NHL Thread

[Emcee77]

Haven't heard of any changes--which makes sense. He's found a lineup that can score

 

[chicago51]

I am glad hockey is on NBC. I have refuse to watch ESPN until at least the NBA draft maybe longer. The Heat winning makes ESPN unwatchable for me in the short term.

Wouldn't expect any lineup changes for either team. Chicago found combinations that can score and Boston could easily be up 3-1 or even be champions already. Don't see a reason to change.

 

[KPENN]

I am glad hockey is on NBC. I have refuse to watch ESPN until at least the NBA draft maybe longer. The Heat winning makes ESPN unwatchable for me in the short term.

Wouldn't expect any lineup changes for either team. Chicago found combinations that can score and Boston could easily be up 3-1 or even be champions already. Don't reason a reason to change.

I'm kinda meh on NBC. I don't think the announce team is good at all.

 

[KPENN]

Also Gary Throne>>>>>>>>>> "Doc"

 

[PLACforever]

Former Miss Illinois debuts Blackhawks rally towel dress | CSN Chicago

Fivehead

 

[chicago51]

Pretty even through 1.

If anything I thought Boston was slightly better at times despite the fact the Blackhawks got the lead. I'll take it though.

 

[Fbolt]

 

[KPENN]

Does this mean no vbookie for game 6?

 

[chicago51]

Does this mean no vbookie for game 6?

I hope so. No vbookie is good for the Blackhawks.

 

[Emcee77]

Great win ... But I'm really nervous about Toews. The Hawks are not the same without the captain.

And how no tripping on Frolik at the end there? Lucky break.

 

[NDWorld247]

Great win ... But I'm really nervous about Toews. The Hawks are not the same without the captain.

And how no tripping on Frolik at the end there? Lucky break.

Who is more important for their team - Toews or Bergeron? I didn't really follow the NHL all season, only the Bruins, but from what I've seen, and from what everyone says, Bergeron is the heart and soul of the B's. If he can't in games 6 and 7, the probability of the Bs winning the Stanley Cup goes from 100% to 80%.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Great game, great win for the hawks. Hate to see Toews out, I would imagine they kept him out because he hit his head and he has had concussions before. The Bergeron injury is a shame. Open ice injuries always are. He is the heart of that team and is one guy I would love to have on my team (as opposed to Marchand...)

It will be interesting if both Toews and Bergeron don't play in game six. I think Bergeron means more for his team mentally and in terms of output. The game is in Boston though and that could mean everything. If Toews plays and Bergeron doesn't, I'm taking hawks. If Bergeron plays and Toews doesn't, I'm taking the bruins. If they both do the same thing, I still think there is a slight edge to the hawks, especially since Chara isn't playing anywhere near as good as he should be right now.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Oh, one more thing. If not for Tuukka Rask, who is amazing, that would have probably been a 4 or 5 to 2 scoreline. Sharp missed two and I remember there was another fantastic save from him. I knew he was good, but damn...

 

[chicago51]

Great game, great win for the hawks. Hate to see Toews out, I would imagine they kept him out because he hit his head and he has had concussions before. The Bergeron injury is a shame. Open ice injuries always are. He is the heart of that team and is one guy I would love to have on my team (as opposed to Marchand...)

It will be interesting if both Toews and Bergeron don't play in game six. I think Bergeron means more for his team mentally and in terms of output. The game is in Boston though and that could mean everything. If Toews plays and Bergeron doesn't, I'm taking hawks. If Bergeron plays and Toews doesn't, I'm taking the bruins. If they both do the same thing, I still think there is a slight edge to the hawks, especially since Chara isn't playing anywhere near as good as he should be right now.

I agree with this. Although Toews did win 9/12 faceoffs and had 2 assist last night, I think the Blackhawks are a deeper team that the Bergeron injury probably hurts them more.

 

[Irishnuke]

Who is more important for their team - Toews or Bergeron? I didn't really follow the NHL all season, only the Bruins, but from what I've seen, and from what everyone says, Bergeron is the heart and soul of the B's. If he can't in games 6 and 7, the probability of the Bs winning the Stanley Cup goes from 100% to 80%.

I admire your homerism however misguided it may be. As far as your question, it's Bergeron and I don't think it's close. The Blackhawks are a much deeper team. If he's out, Chicago's chances remained at 100% because you can't go higher than 100%.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Bergeron has had some huge goals, but when you boil it down:

Toews +8 in playoffs
Bergeron +2 in playoffs


Both are indispensable, and both would create a huge void. Hope both are ready for Game 6.

 

[GreenSox04]

Bergeron has had some huge goals, but when you boil it down:

Toews +8 in playoffs
Bergeron +2 in playoffs


Both are indispensable, and both would create a huge void. Hope both are ready for Game 6.

I don't think plus minus is much of an indicator of value when you consider, especially in this series Bergeron is out to shut down the opponents top line, whereas toews has (until a few games ago Q put Kane on his hip, which was without a doubt the right move) up until then, the talk of this series was getting tazer away from the shut down lines (Bergeron, chara, seidenberg) in order to get him going.

Not to take anything away from toews (my favorite player on earth, yes including flyers) or to make it appear as the selke award winner isn't out against top lines as well, but Bergeron is a much more complete defensive forward then tazer, making him much more important to the Bs in this series then toews is to the hawks

Both play a similar role, who is more talented? Toews. Who is more important? Bergeron IMO

 

[chicago51]

Toews didn't even try to go back in which makes me think the doctors held him out. So that could mean a concussion, which if true is not good in terms of him playing in game 6 or game 7 for that matter.

Bergeron did try to play so he might be able to with some rest.

Although I remain optimistic on Toews because coach Q sounded reasonably optimistic about Toews playing in game 6 in his post game press conference.

 

[Emcee77]

I don't think plus minus is much of an indicator of value when you consider, especially in this series Bergeron is out to shut down the opponents top line, whereas toews has (until a few games ago Q put Kane on his hip, which was without a doubt the right move) up until then, the talk of this series was getting tazer away from the shut down lines (Bergeron, chara, seidenberg) in order to get him going.

Not to take anything away from toews (my favorite player on earth, yes including flyers) or to make it appear as the selke award winner isn't out against top lines as well, but Bergeron is a much more complete defensive forward then tazer, making him much more important to the Bs in this series then toews is to the hawks

Both play a similar role, who is more talented? Toews. Who is more important? Bergeron IMO

Ooh, man, I see the point, but at the same time I don't know about that. I mean, as a Hawks fan, if Toews is out, I'm really worried about this series, regardless of whether Bergeron plays, just based on last night's game. The Hawks were firmly in control through two periods, and then the Bruins dominated the third with both Toews and Bergeron both out. I actually think those plus/minus numbers really tell the story. Toews makes a huge difference for the Hawks in ways that aren't always apparent. The whole team is just a little disorganized without him. Not sure what it is. Might be that Q will come up with a lineup that can minimize the loss when he has time to think about it, but just based on last night's game, I respectfully submit that Toews is more important.

 

[chicago51]

Ooh, man, I see the point, but at the same time I don't know about that. I mean, as a Hawks fan, if Toews is out, I'm really worried about this series, regardless of whether Bergeron plays, just based on last night's game. The Hawks were firmly in control through two periods, and then the Bruins dominated the third with both Toews and Bergeron both out. I actually think those plus/minus numbers really tell the story. Toews makes a huge difference for the Hawks in ways that aren't always apparent. The whole team is just a little disorganized without him. Not sure what it is. Might be that Q will come up with a lineup that can minimize the loss when he has time to think about it, but just based on last night's game, I respectfully submit that Toews is more important.

Yes Toews had 2 assist and won 9 out of 12 faceoffs. Which was a huge part of the Blackhawks sucess throught the first 2 periods.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Both are playing tonight according to reports.

 

[Irishnuke]

Hawks are closing this bitch out tonight.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Drove to Indiana to get some fireworks yesterday. Hopefully Hawks can win it tonight cause I wanna blow some **** up.

 

[NDWorld247]

Both are playing tonight according to reports.

Great to hear. I don't want any excuses out of you guys.

 

[GreenSox04]

Hope it goes to OT tonight with a Bs winner,

Someone let tuk know if it goes to OT watch out for Kane from incredibly odd angles, he has a tendency of doing sh*t like that in game 6 Stanley cup close outs in the opposing building..

Then hawks take game 7.

 

[Emcee77]

Hope it goes to OT tonight with a Bs winner,

Someone let tuk know if it goes to OT watch out for Kane from incredibly odd angles, he has a tendency of doing sh*t like that in game 6 Stanley cup close outs in the opposing building..

Then hawks take game 7.

Ha, for reals. I'll never forget that OT winner in game 6 of the 2010 Finals. How did he sneak that one in. It was like magic. It even disappeared at one point. Kaner was throwing his equipment away in celebration and I had no idea where the puck was.

I loved how Q described Kane in the game 5 post-game. He has "high-end skill" that makes him "dangerous." Ha. Understatement, as far as I'm concerned. He has "preternatural skill" that makes him "deadly," imo. He doesn't have scary athletic ability but he's one of those ice-cold, killer-instinct goal scorers.

Even as a Hawks fan, a part of me hopes that the B's win tonight. This series is so good that I'll be sad when it's over.

 

[KPENN]

Ha, for reals. I'll never forget that OT winner in game 6 of the 2010 Finals. How did he sneak that one in. It was like magic. It even disappeared at one point. Kaner was throwing his equipment away and I had no idea where the puck was.

I loved how Q described Kane in the game 5 post-game. He has "high-end skill" that makes him "dangerous." Ha. Understatement, as far as I'm concerned. He has "preternatural skill" that makes him "deadly," imo. He doesn't have scary athletic ability but he's one of those ice-cold, killer-instinct goal scorers.

Even as a Hawks fan, a part of me hopes that the B's win tonight. This series is so good that I'll be sad when it's over.

Because Michael Leighton was in net for the Flyers.

 

[#1rish]

If Hawks win, Kane is the Conn Smythe winner. Kid is so clutch. Should be a good one tonight. Part of me is hoping for an OT game.

 

[KPENN]

If Hawks win, Kane is the Conn Smythe winner. Kid is so clutch. Should be a good one tonight. Part of me is hoping for an OT game.

 

[Emcee77]

Ha.

If the Bruins win, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Gotta be Rask, right? May depend on the score of the next two games, but Rask would likely have my vote. He's been mostly unbelievable.