I can't wrap my mind around the people who say we don't want to win this game. If that's the attitude the Hawks' players have right now then we will be a first round exit in the playoffs.
You want to go into the playoffs on a positive note feeling you can beat anybody with hard work and good hockey. Not to want to cherry pick a team you think you would have a better chance against. Why would you want the travel associated with playing a team from the Pacific?
It's absurd to say this isn't an important game that the Hawks shouldn't be trying their hardest to win.
Just because its sports doesn't mean their isn't some thinking involved. Anyone with a realistic/pragmatic view of the world realizes we're better off playing whichever team comes out of the west than Trashville. In stupid meathead-land maybe we want to get this meaningless win and set up a harder road in the playoffs, but in reality, we're much better off not facing trashville in the first round with questionable Toews and with them having home ice.
Just because its sports doesn't mean their isn't some thinking involved. Anyone with a realistic/pragmatic view of the world realizes we're better off playing whichever team comes out of the west than Trashville. In stupid meathead-land maybe we want to get this meaningless win and set up a harder road in the playoffs, but in reality, we're much better off not facing trashville in the first round with questionable Toews and with them having home ice.
"Conventional wisdom is that the Western Conference matchup to avoid is the No. 4 / No. 5 fight between two of Detroit, Nashville and Chicago. After all, the thinking is, you'd rather finish sixth and face the Pacific Division winner. Here's the flaw: travel. Since 2000, nine Central Division teams have won a first-round series against a team at least two time zones away. How many went on to reach the Cup Final? One. (That's Detroit, which captured the crown in 2002.) Be careful what you wish for, especially if it's the Kings. Get a look at that Staples Center schedule."
It's not meathead logic. If the Hawks are going to make a push then they're going to have to play Nashville at some point. Going in on a 3 game losing streak instead of beating your division rival is not something you want.
lol 3 game losing streak. who the **** cares? At least two of them would have been in shootouts, which don't even exist in the playoffs. We also have played much better against SJ and LA than Trashville lately. If detroit was 4th and we were playing for the 5th see, I'd have no problems going for it, but the preds give us fits and it'll only be worse with toews in his current state.
lol 3 game losing streak. who the **** cares? At least two of them would have been in shootouts, which don't even exist in the playoffs. We also have played much better against SJ and LA than Trashville lately. If detroit was 4th and we were playing for the 5th see, I'd have no problems going for it, but the preds give us fits and it'll only be worse with toews in his current state.
By good against the Kings you mean 1-4 this season? If SJ wins their division then they will have played very well lately to do it. No matter who we play Toews will not be there. I like how you completely ignore everything about the travel as well, knowing you're wrong.
Look, I'm not even saying that Nashville is a good matchup, cause they're not really. But in the playoffs so much is about momentum and you want to enter them with as much momentum as possible.
I can't wrap my mind around the people who say we don't want to win this game. If that's the attitude the Hawks' players have right now then we will be a first round exit in the playoffs.
You want to go into the playoffs on a positive note feeling you can beat anybody with hard work and good hockey. Not to want to cherry pick a team you think you would have a better chance against. Why would you want the travel associated with playing a team from the Pacific?
It's absurd to say this isn't an important game that the Hawks shouldn't be trying their hardest to win.
but the game really isn't that important. of course we all want the hawks to win, but it doesn't matter. either way the hawks make the playoffs as a 5 or 6 seed with no home ice advantage
All I know is that our recent history against west coast teams in the playoffs suggests that travel isn't much of an issue.(unless you just want to focus on last season)
And we're 1-2-1 against LA this season and were 2-2 against san jose.
Give him the few extra days. We just have to hope he can acclimate to a game setting quickly.
yeah that's what i'm worried about. hopefully after the first hit, he'll be ready to go. this injury seems like it's been going on a little too long though. 20 years ago, toews would have been back on the ice by now
yeah that's what i'm worried about. hopefully after the first hit, he'll be ready to go. this injury seems like it's been going on a little too long though. 20 years ago, toews would have been back on the ice by now
Twenty years ago, Toews would likely have been suffering irreparable brain damage due to coming back too soon. The medical profession knows much more about concussions today, and until he can face game situations without any symptoms, he should not be in a game, because one more hit could literally end his career and risk his life/cause permanent brain damage. People with concussions are not even supposed to think too much, because it can hamper recovery. The guy has a brain injury, and I want him around for a long, long time!
I did not get a positive vibe from his latest comments to the media about a return this season, but maybe the several days until the PO start will be good for him and we will see him soon.
some of you make it sound that the Kings/Preds/Yotes are the second coming of the 80s Isles/Oilers
exactly
I'm not saying we win the Phoenix series without Toews & Bolland, but I think Bolland and Toews can sit out the first two games. I don't want Toews back intil the 2nd round or next season.
I want to believe that he has really been ready for a week but kept out to prevent a Montador situation where he goes and one hit sets him back to where he is.
He better be smart about this. It's only the 1st round.
Only the first round? As Toews just said a few days ago - the first round is the craziest. Every player on every team is amped up for the playoffs and is playing at 1000%. Of course, that can only be sustained for so long, which is why subsequent rounds are toned down a bit.
