Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

I do...in my office pool I picked the Sens in 6. I think Ottawa will win the East.

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

I'm taking the Sens

I do...in my office pool I picked the Sens in 6. I think Ottawa will win the East.
- DarthKane

The Penguins got very lucky against the Islanders. The Islanders are not that good. The Isles had worse goaltending unbelievably than the Pens. The Seantors are hard to score against and that series is no cake walk for the Pens.

The Rangers/Bruins should be a lot of fun.

I'm taking the Sens
- John Jaeckel

Me too, love the way their coached, their goaltending can carry them and I think they can physically beat up the Pens up front.

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

Yes. Especially if Spezza comes back and is only kind of effective.

The Pens have a terrible D and Anderson won't give away cookies like Nabokov did.

Lines from Myers...#Blackhawks lines: 20-19-81, 10-28-88, 29-36-65, 13-16-67.

Ben Smith centering 2nd line ? I'll be watching Smith to see if he's overcome his habit of neutral/d zone turnovers.

I HATE TURNOVERS by anyone.

The Penguins got very lucky against the Islanders. The Islanders are not that good. The Isles had worse goaltending unbelievably than the Pens. The Seantors are hard to score against and that series is no cake walk for the Pens.

The Rangers/Bruins should be a lot of fun.
- mrpaulish

Lots of hugging.

Talk about two teams that just crumbled though (Toronto and Caps)

JJ,

I think the physicality talk is the recognition that 5 on 5 the Wings have actually matched up against the Hawks pretty well this year (with the obvious exception of 3/31game). While they aren't the Wings of old, an up and down track meet, allows the Wings to avoid the biggest pitfall on D.

You would think the Hawks would want to use speed to get behind or put pressure on the D, but what I have noticed is that they are not bad at playing the retrieval game. Even when they make mistakes (which they will) that game gives them the opportunity to counter punch.

Where they get into real trouble is when they are pinned down low. Quincy and Smith (surprisingly) can really get pushed around, and before long start missing assignments.

The Hawks can still beat them at a faster game, but it will give the Wings (and 2/27 in particular) an opportunity to use their strengths and get in some "punches" of their own.

The emergence of Abdelkader and Joakim Andersson a 3rd line C really give this series an interesting twist.

I'll still predict Hawks in 6, but the Wings have a legitimate chance.

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

I thought Pittsburgh's weaknesses were exposed by the Islanders. Goaltending is suspect to say the least, and their team defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Plus, I think they can be taken off their game, a la Vancouver.

Sens might be the the most complete team and biggest threat in the east, especially if they can get Spezza back.

I don't imagine Hawks fans are too worried about the possibility of Detroit making this a series? I'll be shocked if Chicago doesn't steam roll the Wings. Wings were the true heir to the number 8 seed if the Wild don't lose two very winnable games at the end of the season in poop the bed type fasion. Aside from Brodin and Suter Wild defense pretty ordinary otherwise, Detroits defense very ordinary.

I wonder is Saad is hurt. He was invisible for the most part against the Wild and was not finishing checks. But Stalberg? He wasn't great but has been a big part of this teams' success and I would hate to see him sit.
- Kentxo

Saad copped the Calder nom and pulled a Houdini

Lines from Myers...#Blackhawks lines: 20-19-81, 10-28-88, 29-36-65, 13-16-67.

Ben Smith centering 2nd line ? I'll be watching Smith to see if he's overcome his habit of neutral/d zone turnovers.

I HATE TURNOVERS by anyone.
- philco28

He isn't centering that line, Zues will once he gets back from his maintenance days? I can't wait to see who sits for Bolland, someone has to. Looks like Stalberg right now, but I just don't get that.

I'm taking the Sens
- John Jaeckel

Your boy Andy will have to be HUGE for this to happen. I'm rooting for 'em too.

PHUCK PITT.

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.

I wonder is Saad is hurt. He was invisible for the most part against the Wild and was not finishing checks. But Stalberg? He wasn't great but has been a big part of this teams' success and I would hate to see him sit.
- Kentxo

They should trade Saad and McD for a bag of donuts.

He isn't centering that line, Zues will once he gets back from his maintenance days? I can't wait to see who sits for Bolland, someone has to. Looks like Stalberg right now, but I just don't get that.
- droe411

Hope this is right...sounds logical. With Q, you never know. Ogi's got a point...I love Q but his treatment of Carcillo this year has somewhat eroded my trust in him for sure.

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

I'm ready for a LONG, GRUELLING series, hopefully with us advancing. But Detroit's gonna be tough.

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

This is a Hawks thread, so of course it's pro-Hawks. The Hawks haven't lost in regulation in two years to the Wings. Hopefully though only the fans are overconfident and the team is taking this one game at a time.

Lines from Myers...#Blackhawks lines: 20-19-81, 10-28-88, 29-36-65, 13-16-67.

Ben Smith centering 2nd line ? I'll be watching Smith to see if he's overcome his habit of neutral/d zone turnovers.

I HATE TURNOVERS by anyone.
- philco28

President's trophy and an easy first round 4-1 win and we are now going to insert a guy who didn't play a minute this year? Makes no sense at all.

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

yes, i do... futures series pricing right is as follows:

pens -300
hawks -300
kings -150
bruins -125

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

yes!! they are not potting 3-5 goals per gme on anderson....

might actually have to play some defense and much better play from theury/vokuhn

JJ,

I think the physicality talk is the recognition that 5 on 5 the Wings have actually matched up against the Hawks pretty well this year (with the obvious exception of 3/31game). While they aren't the Wings of old, an up and down track meet, allows the Wings to avoid the biggest pitfall on D.

You would think the Hawks would want to use speed to get behind or put pressure on the D, but what I have noticed is that they are not bad at playing the retrieval game. Even when they make mistakes (which they will) that game gives them the opportunity to counter punch.

Where they get into real trouble is when they are pinned down low. Quincy and Smith (surprisingly) can really get pushed around, and before long start missing assignments.

The Hawks can still beat them at a faster game, but it will give the Wings (and 2/27 in particular) an opportunity to use their strengths and get in some "punches" of their own.

The emergence of Abdelkader and Joakim Andersson a 3rd line C really give this series an interesting twist.

I'll still predict Hawks in 6, but the Wings have a legitimate chance.
- TedJacob

Great analysis. Abdelkader is not being taken lightly by the Hawks, BTW. And Smith and Quincey are in the cross hairs Game 1. Ben Smith is in there because he is greasy as hell around the opponent's net.

I'm ready for a LONG, GRUELLING series, hopefully with us advancing. But Detroit's gonna be tough.
- philco28

You may be the only one...

I know his record overwhelmingly indicates that I'm crazy for thinking this, but....I don't trust Q.
- Ogilthorpe2

Im there with you Ogi. Q can get crazy with the line juggling. At times all that line juggling kills chemistry. Lets hope it doesnt happen in this series. Im glad he is sending messages with the practice lines adjustments, but we did win the Minny series 4-1.

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

Anything can happen in the NHL. All of these teams are good. But it is was it is... Kind of hard to make a case the Wings should beat the Hawks isn't it??