Bruins vs Chicago (Because it's the Stanley Cup)

[Brady_to_Moss]

It's early..but Chi is up 2-0 on LA...lets face it..we are playing Chicago. orig 6 match up! :rocker:

 

[IcyPatriot]

It's early..but Chi is up 2-0 on LA...lets face it..we are playing Chicago. orig 6 match up! :rocker:

You cheated ...... It's 3-3 now ...

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

You cheated ...... It's 3-3 now ...

I knew it

Bs in 6

Jagr with 3 goals this series

 

[dryheat44]

Tough series. Will be tougher than Pitt. Probably going 7. Go Bs!

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Tough series. Will be tougher than Pitt. Probably going 7. Go Bs!

While not an unreasonable position to take (not at all), allow me to change your statement slightly to add perspective. "Tough series coming against Pitt. Will be tougher than the Rangers. Probably going 7."

I think the Bruins take this in less than 7. From what I have seen from the Bruins over most of their past 2 series, they are being flat out dominant defensively. And when they misstep defensively, TR has been excellent. So unless their D all of a sudden disappears as well as TR starts playing lesser, the Bruins lose this series only if the Chicago D and goal tending out do the Bruins -- a lot of 1 -0 & 2-1 losses. To that possibility I would say this, the Blackhawks gave up 11 goals in 5 games to a team that statistically is markedly inferior to the Pens offensively. In other words the Blackhawks better bring a MUCH better defensive game then they played against the Kings.....and that would be something considering they played well defensively against the Kings.

 

[Patradomous]

Watched last nights game. Blackhawks goalie is very beatable. Gives up a lot of rebounds and handles the puck like its a hot potato.
B's in 6.

 

[Boston Boxer]

this will be a much bigger test than the last series. The Pens approach was to get as many super stars on the team and just let them play. The Blackhawks are also loaded with stars, but they also have a game plan and play as a team.

If we play D like we did in the last series, we will win. This should be an awesome series

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Rask plays like he did vs pitt...we win. Crawford gives up some juicy rebounds and I think Bs can exploit him. Lets hope1

 

[ausbacker]

While not an unreasonable position to take (not at all), allow me to change your statement slightly to add perspective. "Tough series coming against Pitt. Will be tougher than the Rangers. Probably going 7."

I think the Bruins take this in less than 7. From what I have seen from the Bruins over most of their past 2 series, they are being flat out dominant defensively. And when they misstep defensively, TR has been excellent. So unless their D all of a sudden disappears as well as TR starts playing lesser, the Bruins lose this series only if the Chicago D and goal tending out do the Bruins -- a lot of 1 -0 & 2-1 losses. To that possibility I would say this, the Blackhawks gave up 11 goals in 5 games to a team that statistically is markedly inferior to the Pens offensively. In other words the Blackhawks better bring a MUCH better defensive game then they played against the Kings.....and that would be something considering they played well defensively against the Kings.

The rule of thumb that I look at in championship games is who can stop the other team from scoring? At present, you'd have to think the Bruins are a real chance to win given their defensive swag. I know it's an obligatory comment but it will come down to which side takes their chances. Hopefully, it will be the Bruins.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

The rule of thumb that I look at in championship games is who can stop the other team from scoring? At present, you'd have to think the Bruins are a real chance to win given their defensive swag. I know it's an obligatory comment but it will come down to which side takes their chances. Hopefully, it will be the Bruins.

Good points. It certainly is true that anything can happen, Bruins could cool off, Chitown could get even hotter, however as PatraD above and BtoM generally commented on, Chicago doesn't look to be playing the kind of D the Bruins are. IMH and Biased Opinion , what I saw of Chicago against the Kings versus what i saw Bruins versus Pens, the D advantage is with Bruins. Conversely the O advantage is with Chicago. If D wins championships and I believe it does more often than not (the frustration of shutting down an offense infects the whole team's play), advantage Bruins.

I am in Chicago this week. I want to go to Wednesday's game but the price is turning me away. Last check showed a single cheap seat at $650+......just too much to be in the last row surrounded by Chicago fans watching their team lose and getting hostile

 

[captain insano]

Good points. It certainly is true that anything can happen, Bruins could cool off, Chitown could get even hotter, however as PatraD above and BtoM generally commented on, Chicago doesn't look to be playing the kind of D the Bruins are. IMH and Biased Opinion , what I saw of Chicago against the Kings versus what i saw Bruins versus Pens, the D advantage is with Bruins. Conversely the O advantage is with Chicago. If D wins championships and I believe it does more often than not (the frustration of shutting down an offense infects the whole team's play), advantage Bruins.

I am in Chicago this week. I want to go to Wednesday's game but the price is turning me away. Last check showed a single cheap seat at $650+......just too much to be in the last row surrounded by Chicago fans watching their team lose and getting hostile

and what did you think before the pitt bos series?

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

and what did you think before the pitt bos series?

Ha, good question. Was I as high on the Bruin's chances after the Rangers series/before the Pitt series? Not overly, just somewhat. I didn't think the Bruins were marked underdogs as so many pundits seemed to make them out as (oh the Pens are so awesome!) but considering they squeaked by the Leafs and had that one game against the Rangers where they faltered kind of badly (otherwise looking good), I didn't yet feel like they were that team! Where every year one team stands out in the playoffs and finds a way to win almost every game, where elements of their play just go off the charts. After the Pens series, when you now add up the last 10 games, the cathartic moment of game 7, the conspicuous dismissal of the Rangers, the complete drubbing of the Pens, the way the D has played over that span, the way TR has played over that span, it just seems to me the Bruins are 'that team'! The one that has 'it' going for them, finding a way to win nearly every game, where even the bounces are going their way. It has the feel of the Sox coming back against the Yankees where after that cathartic moment the Sox had the feel of an unstoppable force. I get that sense with the Bruins this year. Where the stars have aligned for 'em. Hopefully I am right

Considering I was watching but had given up on game 7/the season, everything since has been serious cake and ice cream!

 

[fair catch fryar]

and what did you think before the pitt bos series?

Something not to be taken lightly is the amount of offense the B's D-men having been putting up as well. That could very well be the "X" factor in this series.

 

[chicowalker]

Rask plays like he did vs pitt...we win. ...

This.

The Pittsburgh series could have unfolded very differently were it not for Rask. Even though the first 2 games wound up not being close, he kept them in both games early.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Also...Hawks don't play well vs physical teams (see st.louis)

 

[ausbacker]

This.

The Pittsburgh series could have unfolded very differently were it not for Rask. Even though the first 2 games wound up not being close, he kept them in both games early.

You can make this argument for every Stanley Cup winner; you need a hot Goaltender. The Bruins have one.

 

[captain insano]

Also...Hawks don't play well vs physical teams (see st.louis)

well enough to win

 

[dryheat44]

While not an unreasonable position to take (not at all), allow me to change your statement slightly to add perspective. "Tough series coming against Pitt. Will be tougher than the Rangers. Probably going 7."

I think the Bruins take this in less than 7. From what I have seen from the Bruins over most of their past 2 series, they are being flat out dominant defensively. And when they misstep defensively, TR has been excellent. So unless their D all of a sudden disappears as well as TR starts playing lesser, the Bruins lose this series only if the Chicago D and goal tending out do the Bruins -- a lot of 1 -0 & 2-1 losses. To that possibility I would say this, the Blackhawks gave up 11 goals in 5 games to a team that statistically is markedly inferior to the Pens offensively. In other words the Blackhawks better bring a MUCH better defensive game then they played against the Kings.....and that would be something considering they played well defensively against the Kings.

Well, Chicago wasn't the best team in the NHL all season long for nothing. They have high-end talent, they are deep, they play physical and can defend, they've gotten great goaltending and a Coach who's not in over his head. They're not going to run a showtime offense like Pittsburgh, trying to continually set up breakaways. They're going to be methodical, make the smart outlet pass, try to pounce on mistakes and counterpunch. Like the B's play.

The Hawks can match the Bruins top 3 lines. The advantage the B's had with their fourth line goes away without Campbell. The Hawks have an excellent top 4 defense. The Bruins don't have anybody as good at creating offense out of nothing as Kane, but Chicago doesn't have anybody as good as creating offense from the back end as Krug and Boychuk. Toews is a Selke finalist, and well-deservedly so. One would have to imagine that he'll be called upon to sacrifice some of his offense in order to shadow Krejci. Rask is the better goaltender, but Crawford has played about equally as well without as much defensive help. We can all say "Hey, Pittsburgh only scored 2 goals in 4 games!", but it's not like the Toronto series never happened. It's virtually impossible that Rask continues to play at that level (nearly a .990 save pct.) regardless of how good he is.

These teams are extremely well-matched. This is no four or five game series.

 

[ausbacker]

Well, Chicago wasn't the best team in the NHL all season long for nothing. They have high-end talent, they are deep, they play physical and can defend, they've gotten great goaltending and a Coach who's not in over his head. They're not going to run a showtime offense like Pittsburgh, trying to continually set up breakaways. They're going to be methodical, make the smart outlet pass, try to pounce on mistakes and counterpunch. Like the B's play.

The Hawks can match the Bruins top 3 lines. The advantage the B's had with their fourth line goes away without Campbell. The Hawks have an excellent top 4 defense. The Bruins don't have anybody as good at creating offense out of nothing as Kane, but Chicago doesn't have anybody as good as creating offense from the back end as Krug and Boychuk. Toews is a Selke finalist, and well-deservedly so. One would have to imagine that he'll be called upon to sacrifice some of his offense in order to shadow Krejci. Rask is the better goaltender, but Crawford has played about equally as well without as much defensive help. We can all say "Hey, Pittsburgh only scored 2 goals in 4 games!", but it's not like the Toronto series never happened. It's virtually impossible that Rask continues to play at that level (nearly a .990 save pct.) regardless of how good he is.

These teams are extremely well-matched. This is no four or five game series.

The Blackhawks don't have anyone who can negate world class playmakers such as Chara. Watching what he did to Malkin and Crosby was otherworldly.

It should be an interesting Stanley Cup. Both teams are red hot and both teams are very well constructed. The one thing that I noticed and believe to be exploitable against the Blackhawks is putting men in front of Crawford. He was very, very average when LA used their brains. It's something I believe Julien will exploit.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

1 more night...thank god..i can't wait any longer