WC Playoffs Western Final: Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks

[trackercowe]

Handzus has to be one of the most inconspicuous guys to play 1,000 games in the league. I love veterans like him who are able to hang on and play 20 seasons in the league entirely on the lower lines. Handzus, Zubrus, Dvorak, Sykora, Langkow, Cullen, Gill, players like that.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Ice

If this goes to seven games I seriously won't watch. Too many game sevens this year. Way too many.

You must be the only person that holds this opinion. Never too many games sevens.

[H2SO4(aq)]

langkow deserved so much more accolades during his career. one season he was the second best point producing center in the west behind on sakic or something and still everyone called him a second liner. very good 200 foot hockey player. If im mikael backlund im striving to mold my game to be like his was.

[gladaki]

Amazing game...Even people in Houston sport pub were anxious while watching this game....Well played Chi

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by gladaki

...Well played Chi

Oh, come on! This was pure luck.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by gladaki

Amazing game...Even people in Houston sport pub were anxious while watching this game....Well played Chi

Maple Leaf Pub? I sure hope so

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Ice

If this goes to seven games I seriously won't watch. Too many game sevens this year. Way too many.

and the award for one of the most bizzare statements ever made by a hockey fan goes to.....

[gladaki]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Maple Leaf Pub? I sure hope so

No it was Yard house at Houston city center. Good Game

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

and the award for one of the most bizzare statements ever made by a hockey fan goes to.....

When you really care about who wins, game sevens are more stressful. If the Kings put me through another one, I might die.

If I was just a hockey fan watching the game, I would think these games were awesome. When its the Kings or Flames playing these games, its way too stressful. The Kings have already put fans through the ringer with all the elimination games. We need a break.

[19Yzerman19]

I would love it if it went 7, and then the finals as well. Can you imagine that - a 28 game playoff run to the cup? It would be legendary. If there's one major thing that undercut the Kings' cup run in 2012, it was their incredible luck with injuries and the fact that they made it look a bit too easy, losing two games in the first three series and four games total.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Ice

When you really care about who wins, game sevens are more stressful. If the Kings put me through another one, I might die.

If I was just a hockey fan watching the game, I would think these games were awesome. When its the Kings or Flames playing these games, its way too stressful. The Kings have already put fans through the ringer with all the elimination games. We need a break.

Haha. I really want to feel bad for you, but for some reason I can't.

Poor Kings fans and your stress inducing hockey team. As a Flames fan I would kill to be that "stressed out" in May/June instead of growing moss waiting for the friggin draft to get here.

[thefoss1957]

Got to watch the game this morning...

I can't recall seeing, as often, a game or series absolutely defined by faceoffs...the 'Hawks dominate in the dot, early, and dominate the game, the Kings take the upper hand, and roar back...it has been that way most of this series.

The Kings have dominated play, also, when their superior strength manifests in the areas immediately behind and immediately in front of the 'Hawk net. The unphysical 'Hawk D-Men simply can't move the King Forwards. The 'Hawks got lucky a couple times, especially in the OTs, when, instead of "bodying up", the 'Hawk D went fishing for the puck in goal mouth scrambles. (Gaborik should have gotten the GWG in the 1st OT).

The Kings had been collapsing on Quick aggressively, in prior games, and recovering into the shooting lanes, keeping the 'Hawks well on the perimeter. Last night, the 'Hawks were better at moving the puck quickly, to catch the Kings in the recoveries, or getting a snap shot to Quick in a position that a rebound would be generated (Oduya, Saad, and Smith goals).

Kane got through some tight checking last night, and He, Saad and Shaw were excellent.

The Kings need to do better job on the most dangerous guys on the 'Hawk rushes...the trailer...and it is not predictable who that trailer will be...even Rozival, the #6 D-Man (or Brookbank, when dressed), jump in, constantly. Leaving, slow as frozen molasses, Zus, cost them that game, last night.

Speaking of Handzus, a lot of crow is being eaten on the 'Hawk forums today, as Handzus (and Bollig) are usual whipping boys for the amount of Ice Time that Q gives them (for a lot of 'Hawk fans...1 shift for Bollig a game seems too much)...Myself, I feel that Zus is showing his age, and his lack of speed has hurt Kane's ability to produce as they were linemates much of the year, and Bollig has been fine as a 4th line grinder...Kane needs more quick players, like he had in Saad and Shaw, last night, to really shine...I think that Q spotting Zus as a Draw/PK specialist, is about right for his current skill set, and using him as a 2nd option at center on D-Zone draws is smart too.

I would expect Versteeg to be a scratch for Regin on Friday...Versteeg has been far too careless with the puck at the Blue Lines.

I also expect the Scrambled D-Pairs to remain scrambled.

We will have to see how well Sutter does in matching up, as he has the last change on Friday...Q's compulsion to line match has hurt the 'Hawks with some AWFUL 2nd period line changes at inconvenient times, during this whole series, thus far.

[nik-]

hey foss is back.

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by nik-

hey foss is back.

Thanks, Nik...I had some college graduations to travel to, and was on the road much of the last two weeks...

[sun]

Originally Posted by Ice

When you really care about who wins, game sevens are more stressful. If the Kings put me through another one, I might die.

If I was just a hockey fan watching the game, I would think these games were awesome. When its the Kings or Flames playing these games, its way too stressful. The Kings have already put fans through the ringer with all the elimination games. We need a break.

I'm sure you'll find a lot of sympathy here for your team putting you "through the ringer" with their playoff game sevens. I know... being in the conference finals for the third straight year including a Cup win two years ago and poised to make the finals again while being the overwhelming favourites must be super duper tough for you. Anything we can do to help out, just let us know...

You're right, you could probably use a break. How does making it out of the first round once in 24 years sound?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

Thanks, Nik...I had some college graduations to travel to, and was on the road much of the last two weeks...

Just glad that OT didn't make your heart explode.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Handzus has to be one of the most inconspicuous guys to play 1,000 games in the league. I love veterans like him who are able to hang on and play 20 seasons in the league entirely on the lower lines. Handzus, Zubrus, Dvorak, Sykora, Langkow, Cullen, Gill, players like that.

Most of those guys only became lower-line guys in their declining years. Handzus was a 2nd liner in his prime, as were Langkow and Cullen. Sykora was a 1st-liner on a Cup winning team.

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by nik-

Just glad that OT didn't make your heart explode.

Nik...Chicago native and life-long Cub fan...Failure is expected, success is a pleasant surprise!

[Huntingwhale]

Best hockey games of the playoffs so far. Such incredible action. And I don't care what anyone says, Bob Cole is still the best in the business. He could be talking about his day at church and I'd still be hanging onto every word. Stellar job he did last night calling the game.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Best hockey games of the playoffs so far. Such incredible action. And I don't care what anyone says, Bob Cole is still the best in the business. He could be talking about his day at church and I'd still be hanging onto every word. Stellar job he did last night calling the game.

A couple times last night I thought he was going to have to suck in some helium to get his voice any higher. I think he enjoyed calling last nights game.