I agree with pretty much all of this. While this game may not earn the Hawks more than 2 points in the standings, it surely showed that they can rise in tough situations. I’m hoping it also showed them that they can’t lay back in the cut when they jump out to big leads, but instead need to stay hungry. That shit almost became Calgary-esque.

and some more thoughts on redtribe14

will read and either “get” what you were going or not. I don’t think you have to explain what you meant to many of us here. I agree 100% with your original post AND subsequent thoughts. If I thought you were capable, I would ask you to clarify what makes a fucking Redtribe click, but alas even you are only human Mr. SamFels.

Signed,
proud to be a member of the SC family.

Redtribe not only embarrasses Hawks fans, he’s the type of person that make me hope everyday that a meteor hits Earth, wipes us out, and gives some other species a chance.

Another great game in a season full of them. It’s really a shame that Scum have been so hurt this year, we finally have a team that can compete with them on a regular basis like a real rivalry, so beating them feels cheap. I’m loving hating the Nucks and if a real thing develops between us and the Sharks…. that’s almost Hockey Nirvana.

oh, and according to Fear the Fin, Hammer wrecked Vlasic. Another feather in his cap.

RedTribe got into it with McClure earlier in the year in one of the gameday threads. Pretty sure we can guess how that one ended. He’s like that bleacher bums for the Cubs, or the crazy 1st base coach assaulting duo the Sox had to deal with. Just gotta hope the rest of us are able to represent the great Hawks Nation to the extent that the SCH dudes do.

Would be nice not to have that sort of meatheadedness around.

I love me a good bannin’.

I still do think last nights game was bigger than most present. It was absolutley a statement game for SJS, the West and NHL. On game 7 of an 8 game trip, against the point leader who had 4 days off, they won, and did not play a good 60 mins of hockey a good 25-30 yes, 60 no!

It is still 1 of 82, but nobody can take them for granted, which I really do think plays into the Hawks hands with the speed and endurance they have.

First off, I’m not thinking very clearly tonight, so please try to understand what I’m saying, or feel free to ask for clarification. Calling me names is still acceptable.

We’ve seen the Hawks come out looking hung over a few times. Luckily, they’ve been able to make up for it by playing a killer period or two, but I honestly believe they’ve played very few full out 60 minute games. So basically my problem with what Sam said is only this. That sure, the Sharks should have come out with guns blazing, but we’ve done the same thing, fortunately wtih better results. In the big games. We still tend to suck at the non-big games more often than we should.

But I think both these teams lack that instinct to just keep pummeling an already battered team until they have squeezed the fight out of them. After watching the Sharks absolutely take control of the game, I was baffled at their fade seemingly the minute they scored that last goal. Instead of playing to win, they looked like they were playing to not lose in regulation. That’s not a good omen for a team as good as the Sharks are.

As for the Hawks, Trixies comment popped up while I was typing this and I have so say I agree. While just playing 40-50 minutes a night, the Hawks have laid waste to some really good teams only to turn around and then get schooled by a far weaker team. Both the Hawks and the Sharks right now are exactly where everyone expected them to be and that probably isn’t going to change by playoff time and last night’s game did not guarantee who will represent the West. What it did show was that the Hawks wanted it more than SJ and delivered. Bad for both teams I think is the fact that each one had a chance to use it’s momentum to score that one or two extra goals needed to put it out of reach of the other. On that level, both failed and think both have something to learn from this.

As someone who did express panic consternation over the lines after Weapon’s return, now that I think of it, I believe some of the inside info 300LevelBleacherBum told us in that one FanPost agrees with your assessment. I think it was Sharpie moving up with VERSTEEG! displacing Ladd on the second line.

Doesn’t mean Q won’t get all creative on us again with his musical lines but if they’re already working on things in practice they might look pretty good by the time they roll them out later in the week.

jagnozzle.

but you absolutely nailed it AGAIN, Sam. I’m impressed with the hockey IQ our hosts display more and more.

I’m betting Q will play with the lines a LOT when Weapon returns. And then again when Burish comes back. I expect we’ll see some healthy scratches (to rest some guys or simply go with the hot hand), and maybe bid farewell to 1 or 2 guys at the trade deadline. I’m also interested to see how special teams will be affected. Burish killed penalties, but I forget how much Bolland was used on the PP or PK.

Whatever the combos, I’m not terribly worried. Last night’s game gave me a lot of confidence in the mental strength of this team. (Not that there was a big concern about it, but it would have been SO easy to lay an egg on game 7 of a roadtrip.) Though it goes against all my Chicago sportsfan upbringing, I’ve got no worries about our boys.

Just for the record, I am a former fan of the Sharks that still likes what Doug Wilson has done for that franchise. I was more of a fan during the Owen Nolan years. I liked their underdog mentality at that time, which seems all but gone these days. Hate to hear that one of the Loyal Indians had to embarass us on the Shark site… I will find out who. Just wanted to let Sam know it wasn’t me that did it. GO HAWKS! Beat the Canes!

I’m not sophisticated enough to really have a good sense of a team after seeing them for only a few games, except for the Blues (bitch-ass) and the Nucks (bitch-ass, whiny), but I get a sense that for all their talent they just don’t have enough between the ears. Also, I thought I read somewhere that after the Sharks tied it, the SOG for the rest of the game was 11-0 Hawks, but I can’t find that source. However, we’re applying a lot of analysis here that goes right out the window if one lucky bounce goes their way at any point before Brouwer cemented his spot in the HOF and kicked off the parade down LaSalle street.

They get a lot of criticism for being a one line team, but it was their second line that kicked holy hell out of us. “Thorton skates in over the line” was kind of ho-hum, but “Pavelski moves up the right side” was frightening. They’ll be a different team come playoff time, as will we.

I’m not wild about moving Brouwer off the top line in favor of Sharp. I like having a grinder with a big body on that line. I get all the pros and cons, it’s just my personal preference.

I thought there was grudging acceptance of the points you made by most of the sensible posters.

put on you’re gamefaces. Your in a position to dominate on this road trip. You’re fanbase hear is pulling for you.

Hopefully he isn’t related to Hjammer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100130/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hko_referee_dies

Madden seems to be a bit off lately.

I gotta believe this has something to do with having two talented knuckleheads (Buff and Versteeg) out there with him. This is not a checking line.

Seems to me the Hawks can either focus on the top two lines and give Madden whomever is left over, or they can build a true checking line (meaning at least Ladd with Madden.)

I start with Daydream + Brouwer. I thought this made sense a week ago, so I’d be crazy to abandon it now.

I also agree that Sharp and Hossa should not be on the same line, and Sharp doesn’t belong on a checking line.

Botom line: unless you move Sharp back with Daydream, I don’t see where he goes other than 4th line center plus special teams.