Did the Hawks get a little lucky?

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

That's just the nature of the game. A certain amount of luck is involved with everything, and I do think the Hawks had a decently weak draw, but seeing as our 08 Cup Run had us vsing 3 teams that weren't even close to our level of talent, I don't think anyone has a right to complain.

[dobbles 252]

what an awful thread. the hawks had to beat the 1 and 3 seeds to even get to the finals, yet they were lucky or had a weak schedule? they got through all their opponents which is all you can ask. and against vancouver and san jose they very much looked like the best team. they deserved to win most games, so i don't think they were lucky regarding the on ice issues, and they played decently tough opponents, so i don't think that they got lucky with their draw. threads like these make us look jealous.

[Barrie 900]

what an awful thread. the hawks had to beat the 1 and 3 seeds to even get to the finals, yet they were lucky or had a weak schedule? they got through all their opponents which is all you can ask. and against vancouver and san jose they very much looked like the best team. they deserved to win most games, so i don't think they were lucky regarding the on ice issues, and they played decently tough opponents, so i don't think that they got lucky with their draw. threads like these make us look jealous.

Agreed. Playing the 1st and 3rd seed, and an excellent Philly team, I don't see how anyone can say they had an easy ride to the Cup.

It was mentioned already, but the 08 Wings had it really easy playing Nashville, Colorado, and Dallas. That's not a knock on the Wings, that's a knock on the other high seeded teams that year for not advancing. The Wings just took advantage of their opportunities.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

With the way the league is now one little bounce can change everything.

that's how its always been

[Yzerman191 37]

I would argue that this Blackhawks team was one of the best recent Cup winners. Better than the Penguins, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, IMO, when each won the Cup.

[Manoir 70]

The real luck the Hawks had was winning the draft lottery and picking Kane despite the fact the Flyers had finished last that year(and got Van Riemsdyk 2nd overall). Funny how that worked out and both teams met a few years later in the finals.

[thedisappearer 291]

Dumb thread is dumb.

I get it. It sucks that the Hawks won. But they did. Get over.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

If they had played a team with a good goaltender in the finals, they would have lost. Niemi gave up 22 goals in 6 games (3.67 GAA) but he was better than Leighton/Boucher who gave up 25 (4.17 GAA).

This was the worst goaltending I can remember ever seeing in a finals.

Niemi finished with a .910 save percntage but in the finals he had an .877 save percentage. Yes .877 This must be a record but they still won because they scored over 4 goals/game.

Lucky? Yes.

Maybe that's what the league needs every year to have an exciting Finals and high ratings. Really s***ty goaltending from both sides.

I thought it was fun to watch. Like a throwback to hockey when I first started watching in the early 90's.

I can remember all kinds of soft goals going in during that infamous 1994 Finals between NYR/Van

[Hossa4Life 4]

they got lucky we couldnt afford hossa thats for sure.

[Manoir 70]

they got lucky we couldnt afford hossa thats for sure.

Yeah, don't know what the Hawks would've done without his 3 goals throughout the playoffs.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

and those 12 assists. and all the backchecking and defensive work.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

that's how its always been

I disagree. I think when GM's could buy a team it was a lot easier to maintain the depth to just overpower a team. Luc Robataille on the 4th line didn't hurt.

It seems to me that games are just getting tighter, but maybe that's just me.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

i don't think playoff games are getting any tighter. maybe even less so. there aren't even many double overtime games these days

[55fan 5,133]

Kane isn't in prison.

That's about the extent of their luck, aside from the standard luck needed to win any hockey game.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

As stated, luck plays a part in every Cup win. Plus, they're a very talented team.

[13dangledangle 958]

.....rrriiite...

Edited June 13, 2010 by 13dangledangle

[Ram 240]

Is this guy kidding? I mean, the Hawks I highly dislike, but they got a solid ass team. Games with them are going to be that much more interesting in the next few years because they won the Cup. Toews, Kane, Niemi, maybe Bufglien, Sharp, etc., are unfortunately the real deal.

Also the playoffs are such a long ass ordeal with nothing but hard work day in and day out, every team DOES have to get lucky at some point.

[13dangledangle 958]

<br />Is this guy kidding? I mean, the Hawks I highly dislike, but they got a solid ass team. Games with them are going to be that much more interesting in the next few years because they won the Cup. Toews, Kane, Niemi, maybe Bufglien, Sharp, etc., are unfortunately the real deal.<br /><br />Also the playoffs are such a long ass ordeal with nothing but hard work day in and day out, every team DOES have to get lucky at some point.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I think he must be kidding, because Chicago does have a kick ass team, much like we did last year but failed to cash in on it. The "luck" part of winning the cup is too common knowledge for this to be serious.

[titanium2 867]

The Wings did get pretty lucky in 2008. Nashville was tough; Colorado only had half their team; Dallas had to be a little worn down from defeating Anaheim and San Jose, two physical teams; and the Pens are... well, from the East.

I would imagine that the toughest route the Wings hypothetically had in 2008 would be Nashville in Round 1, Calgary in Round 2 (had they upset the Sharks, which they were very close), Dallas in Round 3 after a challenging first round against Anaheim and then a relatively easier second round against Minnesota.

[Guest mjtm77]

The hawks had a pretty tough road to the cup

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

If they had played a team with a good goaltender in the finals, they would have lost. Niemi gave up 22 goals in 6 games (3.67 GAA) but he was better than Leighton/Boucher who gave up 25 (4.17 GAA).

This was the worst goaltending I can remember ever seeing in a finals.

Niemi finished with a .910 save percntage but in the finals he had an .877 save percentage. Yes .877 This must be a record but they still won because they scored over 4 goals/game.

Lucky? Yes.

And the point is proven that you can pretty much spin any argument the way you want to to justify a team being lucky or whatever.

For any bitter Penguins fan in 2008, I can guarantee you they probably have a laundry list of why the Wings were lucky to win it all of at least 100 items, whether they are legitimate or not.

It's a stupid ridiculous argument.

Every team is going to get lucky every now and again to win a championship, in any sport. Happens in every league. Good teams both get lucky sometimes and make their own breaks from luck.

Like these championships are tainted or aren't good enough because a team wasn't "fully good" or whatever. Give me a fricken break.

Edited June 13, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

The League isn't very happy after hearing that all the goal judges from the SCF have filed workers' compensation claims due to CTS.

[Guest ChicagoMan]

I thought Wings fans would be better then this. Winning the Cup is the hardest thing to do in Sports. The Hawks earned it. They were clearly the best team in the league all year and proved it. For all the people freaking out about the CAP get over it. You act as the Hawks won't be able to contend. We all know they will lose some quality players, but they will still be very VERY good. Beach, Skille coming up. Olsen, Lalonde down the road. Good drafting is the key to fighting the cap and the Hawks have been very good at drafting lately much like the Wings. Chicago won and deserved it. They will be good for a long time as long as they have Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Seabrook, and Bolland as their core.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I thought Wings fans would be better then this. Winning the Cup is the hardest thing to do in Sports. The Hawks earned it. They were clearly the best team in the league all year and proved it. For all the people freaking out about the CAP get over it. You act as the Hawks won't be able to contend. We all know they will lose some quality players, but they will still be very VERY good. Beach, Skille coming up. Olsen, Lalonde down the road. Good drafting is the key to fighting the cap and the Hawks have been very good at drafting lately much like the Wings. Chicago won and deserved it. They will be good for a long time as long as they have Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Seabrook, and Bolland as their core.

You aren't going to win any fans in here on a Red Wings forum with your high and mighty Chicago act saying they were the best team in the league all year. That is highly debatable. However, they won when it counted most.

They were no more or less lucky than Detroit was in 2008, than Pittsburgh was in 2009, whatever. You need some luck and good bounces and breaks to help you win sometimes, and good teams also make their own breaks and capitalize on good breaks. Detroit did this in 2008, Pittsburgh did it in 2009, and Chicago did it in 2010, no matter how many nutjobs and conspiracy theorists on here want to spin it in some way that Bettman fixed the games for Pitt last year, that the refs were awful in the Detroit San Jose series this season (which they were but San Jose deserved to advance that series), whatever else...

Edited June 14, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[MannyK 16]

it's Martin Erat's fault...