NHL Thread

[pnjguy]

Looks like Q is switching up the lines again, splitting up the Toews/ Kane/ Bickell line that worked so well against LA. Sharp/ Toews/ Hossa then Kane/ Handzus/ Bickell looks like how things will start. I don't think he want's the Bruins to run their large defensive top line at them the whole game but I'm sure Toews/Kane will reconvene throughout the series, especially on the PP. I guess you have to use your depth to start, i don't mind it.

I know Handzus has been a kind of of a revelation, but he's slow and not big, i think he gets eaten alive by the Bruins D, I'd put Saad with Kane for some play making ability and put Handzus on the third line with Shaw and Kruger. But again, Saad being on the 3rd line might prove out to be a huge advantage.

Hawks D looks to be the same, old buddies Keith/ Seabrook and Hjarmarlsson/ Rozsival.

[warehouse]

handzus is big enough to create room for kane. to me, it looks like thats why they put kane w/ him and bickell

[pnjguy]

handzus is big enough to create room for kane. to me, it looks like thats why they put kane w/ him and bickell

I see Bickell being the one that is going to be creating room and disrupting Rask. The combo of Kane's wrister and Bickell's re-directs have been a solid combo. Handzus is 36, he's not creating room for anyone. He's out there for face-offs, passing, and making the right play.

[warehouse]

handzus is big enough to create room for kane. to me, it looks like thats why they put kane w/ him and bickell

I see Bickell being the one that is going to be creating room and disrupting Rask. The combo of Kane's wrister and Bickell's re-directs have been a solid combo. Handzus is 36, he's not creating room for anyone. He's out there for face-offs, passing, and making the right play.

yeah i dont think handzus is going to be taking bickell's spot in front of the net, but who's better at going into corners and doing the dirty work to get the puck for kane, toews or handzus?

[Fuck You Jobu]

Stalberg will be sitting again. Bollig will be in for him.

Looks like Q wants a bigger line.

[pnjguy]

handzus is big enough to create room for kane. to me, it looks like thats why they put kane w/ him and bickell

I see Bickell being the one that is going to be creating room and disrupting Rask. The combo of Kane's wrister and Bickell's re-directs have been a solid combo. Handzus is 36, he's not creating room for anyone. He's out there for face-offs, passing, and making the right play.

yeah i dont think handzus is going to be taking bickell's spot in front of the net, but who's better at going into corners and doing the dirty work to get the puck for kane, toews or handzus?

Toews is the guy that does everything well, including going in the corners and winning pucks. Problem is, Chara is probably going to manned on Toew's all series long, so I wouldn't look for many points out of Toews, but he's going to do the dirty work that this Hawks team needs to do against an opponent like Boston. If i had to guess, most of the points will come from guys like Hossa, Bickell, and Shaw etc. Toews is going to be busy winning pucks and gaining puck possession, and i think this is a bad matchup for Kane, unless he's lined up with Toews again.

Goaltending is always key, but i think this series comes down to the Blackhawks effort to create time and space in the neutral zones, and Boston's effort to eliminate it.

[pnjguy]

Stalberg will be sitting again. Bollig will be in for him.

Looks like Q wants a bigger line.

Maybe, or Stalberg is just not as good as he was during the season.

[surfndestroy]

Getting the defencemen injuries Boston had in the second round was the best thing that happened to them. It allowed Krug to get a shot and he addressed their biggest weakness, lack of speed on the back end. Barring injuries, I think the way Boston is currently playing that they will smother Chicago's offense up the middle. Boston's passing and ability to move the puck, as underrated as any team's I've ever seen will put a lot of continual pressure on Chicago's defence. Boston in 6 but wouldn't be surprised if it was in 5.

[pnjguy]

Getting the defencemen injuries Boston had in the second round was the best thing that happened to them. It allowed Krug to get a shot and he addressed their biggest weakness, lack of speed on the back end. Barring injuries, I think the way Boston is currently playing that they will smother Chicago's offense up the middle. Boston's passing and ability to move the puck, as underrated as any team's I've ever seen will put a lot of continual pressure on Chicago's defence. Boston in 6 but wouldn't be surprised if it was in 5.

For what it's worth, LA Kings players said they couldn't believe how difficult it was to establish a forecheck versus Chicago. A lot of that has to do with the Hawks blue liners mobility, something Pittsburgh didn't have at their disposal. I think it'll be a closer series.

[Coach]

I think coach has a point. We've seen the Bs defense sufficate a great offense. Also, we've seen the Blackhawks over come a strong defensive team.

I look at it like I did entering the penguins series: can the Bs O out perform the opposing D? I have to say Crawford is a bit of a wildcard to me, I don't know that he's as strong as his stats, whereas Tuuka has already won a series himself.

I go back to Rask; if he continues to play lights out and stands on his head again, then the B's have a very legit shot.

Something I forgot: The B's lost the first two games on the road to Vancouver....so regardless of tonight's outcome I'm not reading too much into it....unless a star or two goes down to season-ending injury.

Can't wait. Love hockey in June!

[MattA75]

I think coach has a point. We've seen the Bs defense sufficate a great offense. Also, we've seen the Blackhawks over come a strong defensive team.

I look at it like I did entering the penguins series: can the Bs O out perform the opposing D? I have to say Crawford is a bit of a wildcard to me, I don't know that he's as strong as his stats, whereas Tuuka has already won a series himself.

I go back to Rask; if he continues to play lights out and stands on his head again, then the B's have a very legit shot.

Something I forgot: The B's lost the first two games on the road to Vancouver....so regardless of tonight's outcome I'm not reading too much into it....unless a star or two goes down to season-ending injury.

Can't wait. Love hockey in June!

Coach, the difference between the Hawks and the Canucks is that the Hawks aren't about to puke down the front of their sweaters in Boston for 3 games.

And I say that as someone who has developed quite a hatred for this Blackhawks team as a Canucks fan

[Coach]

I think coach has a point. We've seen the Bs defense sufficate a great offense. Also, we've seen the Blackhawks over come a strong defensive team.

I look at it like I did entering the penguins series: can the Bs O out perform the opposing D? I have to say Crawford is a bit of a wildcard to me, I don't know that he's as strong as his stats, whereas Tuuka has already won a series himself.

I go back to Rask; if he continues to play lights out and stands on his head again, then the B's have a very legit shot.

Something I forgot: The B's lost the first two games on the road to Vancouver....so regardless of tonight's outcome I'm not reading too much into it....unless a star or two goes down to season-ending injury.

Can't wait. Love hockey in June!

Coach, the difference between the Hawks and the Canucks is that the Hawks aren't about to puke down the front of their sweaters in Boston for 3 games.

And I say that as someone who has developed quite a hatred for this Blackhawks team as a Canucks fan

I guess that's a bad analogy, because I have more respect - based on what I've seen and read - for the Blackhawks. Still, wasn't Boston a big-time underdog in that Canucks series?

[BDB]

this is getting close

[MattA75]

I think coach has a point. We've seen the Bs defense sufficate a great offense. Also, we've seen the Blackhawks over come a strong defensive team.

I look at it like I did entering the penguins series: can the Bs O out perform the opposing D? I have to say Crawford is a bit of a wildcard to me, I don't know that he's as strong as his stats, whereas Tuuka has already won a series himself.

I go back to Rask; if he continues to play lights out and stands on his head again, then the B's have a very legit shot.

Something I forgot: The B's lost the first two games on the road to Vancouver....so regardless of tonight's outcome I'm not reading too much into it....unless a star or two goes down to season-ending injury.

Can't wait. Love hockey in June!

Coach, the difference between the Hawks and the Canucks is that the Hawks aren't about to puke down the front of their sweaters in Boston for 3 games.

And I say that as someone who has developed quite a hatred for this Blackhawks team as a Canucks fan

I guess that's a bad analogy, because I have more respect - based on what I've seen and read - for the Blackhawks. Still, wasn't Boston a big-time underdog in that Canucks series?

Why is it a bad analogy? The Canucks crapped themselves all three games in Boston two years ago. This Blackhawks team WILL NOT do that. It's entirely possible they don't win a game in Boston, but I'm willing to bet they won't be outscored 17-3 over 3 games either.

Boston was a big time underdog who took advantage of some untimely injuries for Vancouver (Kesler was never right healthwise, losing Hamhuis in game 2 was devastating, losing Raymond in game 4? (it was one of the games in Boston)), along with Vancouver’s own overinflated sense of entitlement (the biting, the verbal barbs, the Rome hit (and then defending the Rome hit), the crying about the refs) to basically whup the Canucks ass all over the ice in all four of their series wins. This Chicago team isn’t soft at all mentally, they’re much deeper, they have a much better defense corps, and they don’t have a complete headcase in net.

[MattA75]

Also, as a Canucks fan, I was rooting heartily for the Lightning in the ECF two years ago, because the Bruins were exactly the type of team Vancouver would have trouble with. I only felt confident after going up 2-0 in the series, but as soon as the Rome hit happened, I had a feeling they were screwed.

[numbers]

I think Raymond went down in game 6.

[Coach]

I think coach has a point. We've seen the Bs defense sufficate a great offense. Also, we've seen the Blackhawks over come a strong defensive team.

I look at it like I did entering the penguins series: can the Bs O out perform the opposing D? I have to say Crawford is a bit of a wildcard to me, I don't know that he's as strong as his stats, whereas Tuuka has already won a series himself.

I go back to Rask; if he continues to play lights out and stands on his head again, then the B's have a very legit shot.

Something I forgot: The B's lost the first two games on the road to Vancouver....so regardless of tonight's outcome I'm not reading too much into it....unless a star or two goes down to season-ending injury.

Can't wait. Love hockey in June!

Coach, the difference between the Hawks and the Canucks is that the Hawks aren't about to puke down the front of their sweaters in Boston for 3 games.

And I say that as someone who has developed quite a hatred for this Blackhawks team as a Canucks fan

I guess that's a bad analogy, because I have more respect - based on what I've seen and read - for the Blackhawks. Still, wasn't Boston a big-time underdog in that Canucks series?

Why is it a bad analogy? The Canucks crapped themselves all three games in Boston two years ago. This Blackhawks team WILL NOT do that. It's entirely possible they don't win a game in Boston, but I'm willing to bet they won't be outscored 17-3 over 3 games either.

Boston was a big time underdog who took advantage of some untimely injuries for Vancouver (Kesler was never right healthwise, losing Hamhuis in game 2 was devastating, losing Raymond in game 4? (it was one of the games in Boston)), along with Vancouver’s own overinflated sense of entitlement (the biting, the verbal barbs, the Rome hit (and then defending the Rome hit), the crying about the refs) to basically whup the Canucks ass all over the ice in all four of their series wins. This Chicago team isn’t soft at all mentally, they’re much deeper, they have a much better defense corps, and they don’t have a complete headcase in net.

Dude, I was agreeing w you and meant my analogy was bad. Re read what I wrote.

[verb_to_trust]

This thing needs to end. I'm tired.

[Norah]

What a game.

[spike]

This thing needs to end. I'm tired.