pathetic cap performance tonight. lol @ ovechkin hitting his team mate

Going by the regular season stats found here, Chicago scored first 43 times out of 82 games and had a winning % of 76.7 (5th in the league). In the 39 times they trailed, they managed to come back and win only 13 games, for a winning % of 33.3 (14th in the league). It seems to me that they were a team that usually lead and won, rather than always rebounding.

As for the Brashear hit, I didn't see him hit with his elbow. I saw him lead with his shoulder, and his elbow came up during the follow through, but after Betts head was on the way down already. Betts dumped the puck in, turned around and got smoked......the whole sequence took barely longer than a second. As for targetting, Brashear was maybe 10 feet away, saw a player dumping the puck in, and went and hit him....doesn't seem like targetting to me. However, with that said, he probably shouldn't have hit Betts, since Betts was in a prone position.

There's 2 other hits along the same vein I've seen in the playoffs (with regards to timing and a player being in a prone position): Ben Eager on Rick Rypien and Mike Brown on Jiri Hudler. Rypien wasn't injured, so Eager didn't get suspended or get a penalty. Hudler was bleeding, but not injured so Brown got a 5 minute major (and I think a game misconduct, but I'm not sure). I'm not surprised that Brashear got 6 games.........this league suspends on the consequence of a hit, rather than the hit itself.

^ jow many of those first goals came in the first period?

Also, the playoff record for goals scored is 19. Sidney Crosby has 12 in 13 games. Keep a close eye on this.

More than 50% of their total wins (25/46 as seen here) came when they lead after the 1st period.......in my opinion, that good enough for me to state that they are a team that usually scores early and wins, as opposed to your statement, which was that the Hawks "always rebound" after trailing (out of the 27 games that the Hawks trailed after the first, they won 10/27......a winning % of 37.0%).

I remember during the series when Hawks were down after 1st before 2nd started they showed statistics that robert loungo gave up most goals in the 2nd and hawks scored most in the 2nd. and where are the 'tied after one and two' colums?

During the regular seaon the Blackhawks would usually get an early lead then and hold on to it. During the playoffs, on the other hand, they have been falling behind every game and coming back. If they do this against the Red Wings they will be in big trouble.

Tonight brings the end of the NHL Conference Semifinals with two Game 7's.


    * Detroit beat Anaheim 4-3 in order to advance to the Western Conference Finals

    * Carolina beat Boston tonight 3-2 in Overtime (18:46 into 1st OT) to advance.


Both the games tonight were great too watch, notably the Carolina v. Boston game. With tonight's results also sets the match-ups for the Conference Finals which are as follows -


Eastern Conference Finals:

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes


Western Conference Finals:

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #4 Chicago Blackhawks

The Detroit v. Chicago series should be highly intertaining as an Original 6 Matchup

Wow, both games were great tonight.

I'm sure heads are rolling in Anaheim after that non-call though.

Personally, I'm just glad the Bruins are out. I'm a bitter habs fan... I am, however, very much looking forward to the Pens vs the Canes. Should be a great series.

This second round worked out quite nicely, if Pittsburgh stays strong as I am expecting, I will be in luck.