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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.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 ...
Tough series. Will be tougher than Pitt. Probably going 7. Go Bs!
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.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.
and what did you think before the pitt bos series?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?
and what did you think before the pitt bos series?
Rask plays like he did vs pitt...we win. ...
You can make this argument for every Stanley Cup winner; you need a hot Goaltender. The Bruins have one.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.
Also...Hawks don't play well vs physical teams (see st.louis)
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 Blackhawks don't have anyone who can negate world class playmakers such as Chara. Watching what he did to Malkin and Crosby was otherworldly.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.