NHL playoff beard contest!

We know it PennyGuy and if you look back at my earlier posts I AM a realist. Fact is the Hawks have surprised me quite pleasantly. Too many nail biters though! LOL

IF Detroit is the next opponent it will be a hard fought series for sure.

Should the Hawks lose and manage to keep this lineup intact watch out. Very young, fast and learning every day. Hockey has finally come back to Chicago!

 

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I hear you clembo, rebuilding a franchise is the toughest thing in any sport. Look at Detroit when Yzerman arrived and then for the next 10 years, nothing. But with good drafts and time, throw in a coach or two a lot of good things can happen. Consistency is the key

 

You said it ! My only worry is if they trade or lose Khabibulin , but then again Huet is no slouch either .:thumb:
rzage:whistle:

 

I would prefer the Ducks there is no question about that but I would have to be quackers to write of the wings LOL If we do get them and then manage to upset the form book and beat them you do all know that the Mrs will kill me

 

De Orc how did you become a Blackhawks fan , did you always live in England ? Or did you once live in the paradise known as Chicago:thumb:.
Rusty

 

No strangley enough I am Welsh LOL I heard my 1st game on the American forces network many many moons ago about 40+ to be exact and I was hooked LOL when I moved to London in the early 70s I started to watch a team called the Streatham Redskins (founded 1932) and guess what there shirts looked like :whistle: The team was defunct for a number of years and the torch was carried by the ladies Streatham Storm but now they are back :thumb: I hope that we shall be able to go watch them palay next season all beenwell.
The Mrs well she grew up been a Nottingham Panthers (founded 1946) supporter then when we met her 1st NHL game (on tv) was a wings one and she was hooked on a certain Mr Yzerman LOL
It might suprise you to know that the UK has a long history of Ice Hockey dont forget that the Stanley family were British :eating:
The first organised ice hockey game in this country took place between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge — Oxford winning 6-0, the year was 1895. In 1903 the first British ice hockey league was established with five teams — Princes, Cambridge University, London Canadians and two teams from the Henglers ice rink, all located within the confines of London.
The 1st ever winners of the Ice Hockey European Championships in 1910 were yep you got it us Brits in 1936 we became the 1st team to break Canadian dominace and win the witer Olympics LOL and to win the three big ones.
The British Ice Hockey hall of fame is the 3rd oldest in the world founded in 1948.
Unfortunatly the 70s saw the decline of hockey over here, there was a revival in the late 90's and early 2000 and last year the 1st ever NHL game for points was played in the Dome
Sorry if I went on a bit lol

 

Fascinating facts there DeOrc. Thanks for sharing them. On this side of the pond it's really hard for us to imagine hockey being big in the UK (I'm sure I don't speak for all of us).

Growing up in the 60s and 70s it was all NHL here of course and the vast majority of players were Canadian. A stray American here and there but certainly no Czechs, Swedes, Fins, Norwegians, Russians etc. Heck the Hawks have a French goalie in Huet now.

I'll be the first to admit that in world play if/when the Americans get knocked out I root for the Canadian teams. It's a matter of respect.

When Europeans started making inroads into the NHL it was such a change for them I can imagine. Seems to be more of a finesse game over there where it is finesse and VERY physical over here.
For the record I am TOTALLY in favor of letting players drop the gloves and duke it out. Settle your differences with anything but a stick.
I believe, in the beginning of the European influx, this was rather intimidating but so many have adapted.

Now, as for the Mrs. liking the Wings. Oh well. Yzerman was one hell of a player so I'll let it slide. A classy guy that could put the biscuit between the pipes.


Now Rusty,

Gut feeling is the Bhulin wall is staying put. Rocky Wirtz is not his dad and Dale Tallon has a brain. How long has it been since we've seen that?
In addition if there was an award for best back up goalie Christian Huet would win.

Hawks always seem to be deep in goalies. It's the defense and offense that have been the problem.

 

:loud:Oh yea, in case I didn't say it,,,,,,,,,,GO WINGS, GO WINGS, GO WINGS!!!:loud:

 

As I am a bit board at the moment a bit more LOL

Tony Hand 1st Brit to be drafted 1986 (Oilers) but turned down the chance to play with them as he was homesick LOL, he is now the coach of Manchester Phoenix.

http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/01/tony-hand.html

The only other Brit is Colin Shields he played for Cleveland Jr. Barons, San Diego Gulls, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and Greenville Grrrowl was drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in 2000

Ok and a little bit of cheating but he was actualy born in the UK Byron Jaromir Dafoe

And here in London we actualy have a link to the Red wings LOL the London Lion they were a Wings farm team

http://www.angelfire.com/space/u_line/london.htm

My own team here in London that went out of buisness a few years ago (2003 they sold the arena) London knights was owned by the AEG group owners of the LA Kings, there is still some hope that they might reserect there interest in hockey over here as they now own the dome and in 2007 brought the Kings and the Ducks here for two opening season games

 

After watching last nights game between the Hawks and Wings. I have a new found respect for the Hawks. They never gave up. They are fast, they are young and will be a force in a few years. Sorry, but not real impressed with the goalie though, I think they need to do something in that area. Find a nobody like the Wings have done. All Ozzy does is win, probably one of the least talked about players in the NHL but certainly should have HOF numbers.

Really looking forward to tomorrows game.

Wings in 6

I think the other series could go either way. Not a Penguin fan here but they do play a good game. I hope that if the Wings get past the Hawks we get another shot at the Penguins just for Hossa's sake. How ironic that would be.

 

Hawks didn't give up Jim but they made one flaw you can NOT against the Wings. They played flat at times and gave them chances. Anyone that watches hockey knows you can't give the Wings many quality cnances because they WILL use them.

Actually I thought Khabibulihn played well. So did Ozzie unfortunately.
Ozzie is a playoff machine - not that he's shabby in the regular season but he really does kick it up a notch in the playoffs.

Look at the Hawks lineup vs the Wings and what do you see? A lot of people that can get the job done.
I honestly get tired of hearing about Kane and Toews. I like them but they're not the only guys on the team. Toews is more solid. Kane can be great at times but needs to learn more about defence. His +/- this year was like -2 and that ain't good in my book.
Versteeg scored 50 points in the regular season, had a +/- of +15 and killed penalties. To me that's one hell of a rookie year.

I could go on of course.

As for the East? I dunno but I was glad to see the Caps get knocked off. Offense will only get you so far and I'm NOT a fan of Olvechkin. Sure, he can score and hit. He's also a hot dog and dirty.

The playoffs have been incredible so far and I see the trend continuing.

 

I wished I could have watched the game I don't get Versus , but Clembos right , Khabi was'nt bad the Wings did have 43 shots on goal , the Hawks just made too many rookie mistakes between the Blue lines , and you can't make them mistakes against a team like the wings .
rzage

 

And they did it again last night. They made three costly mistakes and it cost them the game. That last breakaway was sweet! I think the Hawks need some veteren leadership to make things right. This team would of been a perfect fit for Shanahan, He has great leadership and a little fuel left in the tank.

All in all I am impressed with the Hawks. I don't think they have what it takes to beat the Wings (this year) but they are certainly on the right track.

 

Jim I was cussing before the 3 on 1 even developed because I SAW it developing. A grizzled vet is a missing piece of the puzzle no doubt.

 

A good Vet will always help , but the Blackhawks are still learning to play with each other , where each person will be , give em a year or two , also Kane needs to muscle up a bit , his wrist shot is a little weak if he develops it he'll be deadly .
rzage

 

Dont count us out just yet LOL

 

Blackhawk down...

Red Wings vs the Penguins.

Deadwings indeed... it amazes me that people can say this. They are thee winningest team in all of sports over the last 10 years. How can that be denied?
I bet there isnt a city with a Hockey Team that wouldnt love to have the Redwings record or visits with Lord Stanley over the last 10 years.


This is going to be interesting. We have 2 of our top players out and Erikkson is out now as well. We are light on the blue line thats for sure. Hopefully there is some fast healing thats going to take place.

 

Congrats to the Wings now I hope that can go all the way :thumb: oh and beard is now off LOL

 

Congrats to Jim M and the other Red Wing fans. They showed their experience while the Hawks showed their inexperience.

Heck of a goalie duel wasn't it?

Now for Pittsburgh who seems to be peaking at a crucial time.

 

Sad to say this but I am rooting more for the penguins to loose then the Redwings to win. I would be rooting for whoever they were playing against. I am so sick of hearing how Crosby is the best there is, he is the new Gretzy. Sorry, but I think there are alot of better players out there that are NOT the NHL poster children. Toews is one of them.

Blackhawk fans stand proud, yes the Wings were the better team this year but the day or reckoning is fast approaching and I like what I saw in the Hawks spirit. I also like this Huet kid in goal. Dump khalibuhan or whatever his name is and give this kid his shot.