Potential Schedule:
Game 1 - April 11th
Game 2 - April 13th
Game 3 - April 15th
Game 4 - April 17th
Game 5 - April 19th
Game 6 - April 22nd
Game 7 - April 24th
I'm sick of Mike ****ing Smith. The SCP part of HF is ripping our goaltending. Crawford performed well last year. I'm hoping we get a repeat performance from Crawford. IIRC, Smith has started one playoff game. He lost that one last year with Tampa Bay. Potentially getting Toews back will be huge, too. I'm pumped as hell for this. The Hawks contingent in Glendale will be massive. I expect a series win.
My question is how much pressure is there on Crawford? I mean if he goes 1 and out for the 2nd year in a row what does that do for Stan this off season?
Either way, anything short of a long run and this net situation needs over hauled.
My question is how much pressure is there on Crawford? I mean if he goes 1 and out for the 2nd year in a row what does that do for Stan this off season?
No more than anyone else and absolutely nothing. Crawford played extremely well in the post season last year and no one can blame the Hawks early exit on him. Bowman isn't going to give up on Crawford because of a sophomore slump.
Hawks in 7. I think it's going to be a lot tougher than it appears, even though the Nordiques, er, the Coyotes would appear to be the safest draw. Mike Smith is terrifying, and unless Toews/Keith come back with some zip, it's gonna be a back and forth series that will take both teams to the limit.
As I've said several times, Phoenix has failed in the playoffs twice already using the same defensive formula revolving around their goalie's play... and that was with a better goalie than Smith.
While he is a solid tender in his own right, Phoenix just isn't built to win a playoff round. Who will score for them when they need it?
If both teams play the best that they can the Hawks win. If Toews comes back at 100% the Hawks win in 5. If he is slow to come back or doesn't get up to speed quickly this series can turn bad fast.
Phoenix worries me. It seems I'm mostly alone in that. Let's hope I'm wrong!
Every team worries me because the Hawks worry me. Giving up leads late, weak goaltending, horrible special teams, injuries to our Captain and defensive depth. If the Hawks don't play better they won't go far at all.
Plus I do agree people are overlooking the Yotes, they are a solid hockey team and are coming into the play-offs red hot, the Hawks only saving grace is that their PP can't really hurt us.
Every team worries me because the Hawks worry me. Giving up leads late, weak goaltending, horrible special teams, injuries to our Captain and defensive depth. If the Hawks don't play better they won't go far at all.
Plus I do agree people are overlooking the Yotes, they are a solid hockey team and are coming into the play-offs red hot, the Hawks only saving grace is that their PP can't really hurt us.
Indeed, 12-2-5 in the last 19 games (all without Toews) certainly means they need to play better.
