He hasn't seemed to be the same player since he suffered that concussion. Keith hasn't been the same since he won the Norris. Thank God Leddy has improved and Hammer has turned into a solid 1st-pairing caliber Dman. I still have faith in Seabrook, but methinks Keith is highly overrated.
- Q...argh

When compared to the past few years this iteration of the Blackhawks seems to have "defense by committee" approach. Oduya and Rozsival are just has noticeable as Keith or Seabrook. The deeper we get into the playoffs the better this works for us.

i reposted his prediction... all it said was "CANUCKS IN 5" and mods deleted it. complete BS... if you want to throw such ridiculous predictions around, you should be able to handle what comes your way when the chickens come to roost. It's not like it was offensive... just a reminder of the their arrogance.
- Sconnie

In his defense, I looked at ESPN's predictions about that series this morning and quite a few had the Canucks in 5, one going so far as to predict the Nucks in 4. The Sharks played a good series and I was pretty shocked, myself, that the Canucks were swept. I wouldn't call a 5 game series win for the Nucks arrogance.

can't get the blues until WC finals if at all...its wings or sharks..

cmon wings pull a rabbit out and get G5
- bogiedoc

Be careful what you wish for Bogie.

Be careful what you wish for Bogie.
- ArlingtonRob

I like to do Wings then Kings for the WC.. Take a beating only in the last series.

In his defense, I looked at ESPN's predictions about that series this morning and quite a few had the Canucks in 5, one going so far as to predict the Nucks in 4. The Sharks played a good series and I was pretty shocked, myself, that the Canucks were swept. I wouldn't call a 5 game series win for the Nucks arrogance.
- QStache

ESPN does hockey???? They probably pulled some 3rd string guys off their NBA crew for that.

Sharks won all 3 meetings this year so I felt it was a bit arrogant. I think he brings it upon himself if you've followed his outlandish predictions throught the year. 85% of the time it is a Canucks win by 3 or more goals. He is the definition of 'homer' so some humility won't hurt him.

Be careful what you wish for Bogie.
- ArlingtonRob

I'd much rather face the Wings than the Sharks.

I like to do Wings then Kings for the WC.. Take a beating only in the last series.
- victorymc98

The brackets on the site I checked were obviously wrong (yay!). I'd love to see the Hawks get the Wings in the 2nd round; they're not the same team anymore, and I doubt the Hawks would have too much trouble with them. The Sharks are starting to concern me. They are REALLY playing hockey right now, and Niemi is ... well ... Niemi. Hopefully, all the off time they earned by sweeping the nucks will cool them down.

In his defense, I looked at ESPN's predictions about that series this morning and quite a few had the Canucks in 5, one going so far as to predict the Nucks in 4. The Sharks played a good series and I was pretty shocked, myself, that the Canucks were swept. I wouldn't call a 5 game series win for the Nucks arrogance.
- QStache

Time to start watching some other teams. The Sharks have been re-tooled and became a damn sight better after they lost those 2 turtles the fans here loved.
so much - Douglas Murray and Ryan Clowe.

Couture, Thornton, Pavelski and Gomez down the middle will be a chore for any team to handle. Vancouver certainly couldn't do it, and it definitely exposed that great candidate for the Hawks 2C position Derek Roy - totally useless in the series.

Would much prefer to see the Sharks and Raffi Torres play the Kings or Blues.

I'd much rather face the Wings than the Sharks.
- John Jaeckel

Definitely. We've played well against both teams but Detroit has given up a lot of goals and looked 'leaky' on their back end while Niemi can get hot on top of the bigger, more physical presence the Sharks present.

I hope you're right as far as Stahlberg is concerned. I put losing Bickell in the category of losing Brouwer, meaning, I don't give a rat's sphincter if he goes. You can get big guys who don't finish checks and score 40 points a season off the rack (assuming you really WANT them, that is). Neither guy is particularly consistent, but Stahlberg has potential as a scorer.
- Q...argh

HA! Been awhile since I've seen the mystery H.

Time to start watching some other teams. The Sharks have been re-tooled and became a damn sight better after they lost those 2 turtles the fans here loved.
so much - Douglas Murray and Ryan Clowe.

Couture, Thornton, Pavelski and Gomez down the middle will be a chore for any team to handle. Vancouver certainly couldn't do it, and it definitely exposed that great candidate for the Hawks 2C position Derek Roy - totally useless in the series.

Would much prefer to see the Sharks and Raffi Torres play the Kings or Blues.
- RickJ

Pluse moving Burns to forward has been a perfect fit for postseason. The guy is a load. Guarantee these guys won't give Kane as much room as the Wild have. This would be a nasty series. Give me the Wings all day and let's see who wins the skating/skill battle.

Time to start watching some other teams. The Sharks have been re-tooled and became a damn sight better after they lost those 2 turtles the fans here loved.
so much - Douglas Murray and Ryan Clowe ....
- RickJ

At least somebody else got the turtles ... we got the bellybutton lint.

Edit: I apologize to bellybutton lint. Bellybutton lint is much faster on skates than our second line center.

4 games, 3 points, +4. Yeah, awful.

Saad, 0 points, -4.
- John Jaeckel

Who was comparing Hossa to Saad? Did I miss something?

I also think Hossa can be better. As well as Toews. And it has NOTHING to do with Saad or Crawford or Carcillo or anyone else.

Pluse moving Burns to forward has been a perfect fit for postseason. The guy is a load. Guarantee these guys won't give Kane as much room as the Wild have. This would be a nasty series. Give me the Wings all day and let's see who wins the skating/skill battle.
- ilinkhawk

Q wasn't joking when he said the Hawks need to take it to another level. They had better take it up one or 2 levels if they meet the Sharks.

Then again when you are playing Nashville North I guess its difficult to push much harder than is necessary.

HA! Been awhile since I've seen the mystery H.
- ArlingtonRob

If announcers and fans can pronounce Ko-Petch-Key as "Kopetsky," then I can spell a Swede's name the German way.

I'm hopeful the Wings can win two of the next three against the Ducks.

Detroit plays our style a puck possession end to end game. The Hawks have a pretty decent record against them the last couple of seasons. It would be a great series with a final matchup of two of the original six before the Wings head to the East.

As noted you then face a physical team only in the conference finals should you get that far. I'd prefer the Blues. No travel to the west coast would be nice.
The Blues are physical no question, but they still don't have enough high end forwards to finish.

Regardless you want to put the Wild down tomorrow night...especially with the Sharks already resting. You don't want this series to take any longer than needed.

I'd much rather face the Wings than the Sharks.
- John Jaeckel

Before that happens, I'd much rather observe the whining and crying and demands for respect from Michel Therrien and the citizenry of La Belle Province.

The situation the Habs find themselves in is the highlight of the playoffs so far for me.

Any update as to when Dave Bolland will be back in the line up?
- Colin_Smith

In time to play the Leafs in the Final.

Who was comparing Hossa to Saad? Did I miss something?

I also think Hossa can be better. As well as Toews. And it has NOTHING to do with Saad or Crawford or Carcillo or anyone else.
- coldsteelonice

The poster who said Hossa has been awful in this series is a fairly regular Saad booster. Others as well have said the issue with the non-production of the first line isn't Saad but "the other two guys." OK . . .

And hey, Saad has 0 points and is -4. Certainly not off limits (to anyone looking at it objectively). it absolutely has something to do with him. He's a "first line player" who has been a ghost thus far.

Just read Esplen's blog - total lack of class.
- StLBravesFan

But we're not surprised, right?

The poster who said Hossa has been awful in this series is a fairly regular Saad booster. Others as well have said the issue with the non-production of the first line isn't Saad but "the other two guys." OK . . .

And hey, Saad has 0 points and is -4. Certainly not off limits (to anyone looking at it objectively).
- John Jaeckel

No offencive numbers for Hoss but his 3-zone play overall is still very solid.

No offencive numbers for Hoss but his 3-zone play overall is still very solid.
- blackhawk24

3 points in 4 games is no numbers? He has a goal and 2 assists.

Carcillo and Bollig have both been useless in this series...Can I please seen Ben Smith?

barry rozner (columnist @BarryRozner) calling in to talk with Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel on the Score today. Conversation begins around 24:50 mark...

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...91&tag=pages&dcid=CBS.CHI

Rozner going off about Canucks players...

"Dirty and stupid is no way to go through life."

"They're gutless, they're incredibly stupid."

"There's no character on that team."

"There's no heart on that team... they're incredibly dirty."
- Sconnie

He always does that. Since 2009, he's been eviscerated by Nux fans. Now he does it in the hopes to increase their suicide rate.

Carcillo and Bollig have both been useless in this series...Can I please seen Ben Smith?
- waitforawhistle

I'd be down with that.