Saad and Stalberg, can u guys use ur speed to make a difference this round, or will you get bumped off the puck every time you touch it like frail twigs? That could make the difference in this series.

I'm just dying for the the day I see someone spin-out completely on here with these textual sparrings and just drop a "yeah well, my dad can beat up your dad!" .... it really wouldn't surprise me much LOL
- MikeOxbyg

I think I've seen that on Ian's thread. More about whose dad could light more cars on fire or something though....

Chicago lacks the same smothering defense that San Jose and St Louis brought to the game.
- LAKingsfan626

You're kidding, right? Chicago is the best defense you are going to face all year. Three more than competent pairings and a solid 7th.

And once again, St. Louis and San Jose aren't Chicago when it comes to speed.

The NHL has privatized time of possession, or simply does not track it any longer. Thankfully, it was once publicly-available. And, nothing correlated stronger w/ time of possession than even-strength shot attempts, which makes obvious intuitive sense.

Pearson correlation was .90 in this run. Very strong relationship, and an excellent proxy for zone time.

Feel free to dig through the available data and run it against the shot differentials for each of the thirty teams. You'll find the same thing.

What's interesting to me is that Chicago was second-best in the entire league, and it wasn't really particularly close. Everything about the numbers suggest Chicago is an elite possession unit.

It just suggests LA is as good, maybe better.

Probably the last team Chicago would want to face, I think.
- Travis Yost

Family Feud X.....TOMAHAWK FEARS NO TEAM...any team we face should WORRY ABOUT US first and foremost.

My 2 cents for what it’s worth!

I feel the early part of this schedule benefits the Hawks.
The Hawks have played maybe 5 grueling games compared to 13 for the Kings.
That’s gotta play some sort of a factor.
Game 1 is vital, win that and ride that wave into game 2 and I can see the Hawks flying to LA up 2-0.
Split in LA and it becomes a short series. Like when playing the Blues, scoring first is essential.

Lose game 1 and LA either takes the series or the Hawks somehow find a way in 7 games.
- PFD_Hawks

Hate the afternoon starts. Hawks seem to SNOOZE their way into disaster in these games. Maybe it being game 1 will have them more on their toes. The game 2 loss to Detroit at home was deffo an early turning point. We came into the game gassed up on our G1 press clippings and mailed in an ABSOLUTE poopE effort and Detroit adjusted and KICKED OUR BUTTS.

Tall task to take 2 in 2 days, but i want the boys to flash their boarding passes with 2-zip lead. No more PHUCK'N MAIL IN JOBS at home. Clean slate and the near death experience should have us in a much better zone mentally.

As for Quick, yeah he GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. But TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC and shoot high on this limbo champ.

Your nuts JJ. This is going to be kings in seven and they are going to hurt about 5 hawks as well. THose guys will hit everything that move and aside from carcillo the hawks are a bunch of icegirls. Lastly you give no credit to the kings D those guys will NOT panic at hawks speed and well not look for big hits they'll just pock pucks away from your guys that want to be dancers they'll force the hawks to dump and chase whitch seems to be a style of game the hawks don't like. Finally the kings are just flat better then the wings and wild, so far the hawks have had to fairly easy sets and nearly lost one. THe kings though having played two difficult series i believe the first one was only six games not seven. They are a team that steps it up in the playoffs, your regular season wins over them mean zip.That and the kings have won 14 straight games at home. All they need to do is figure a way to win one game on the road and things are going to be tuff for the hawks. your right, your a damn homer.Hawks still might win but it won't be as easy as you seem to think.

Your nuts JJ. This is going to be kings in seven and they are going to hurt about 5 hawks as well. THose guys will hit everything that move and aside from carcillo the hawks are a bunch of icegirls. Lastly you give no credit to the kings D those guys will NOT panic at hawks speed and well not look for big hits they'll just pock pucks away from your guys that want to be dancers they'll force the hawks to dump and chase whitch seems to be a style of game the hawks don't like. Finally the kings are just flat better then the wings and wild, so far the hawks have had to fairly easy sets and nearly lost one. THe kings though having played two difficult series i believe the first one was only six games not seven. They are a team that steps it up in the playoffs, your regular season wins over them mean zip.That and the kings have won 14 straight games at home. All they need to do is figure a way to win one game on the road and things are going to be tuff for the hawks. your right, your a damn homer.Hawks still might win but it won't be as easy as you seem to think.
- deadsector

You must be talking about Taylor 'i can't skate in the warmup without breaking my head open' Hall, and the rest of the cruddy overrated kids who are racking up record green fees again this spring

You must be talking about Taylor 'i can't skate in the warmup without breaking my head open' Hall, and the rest of the cruddy overrated kids who are racking up record green fees again this spring

- philco28

Your nuts JJ. This is going to be kings in seven and they are going to hurt about 5 hawks as well. THose guys will hit everything that move and aside from carcillo the hawks are a bunch of icegirls. Lastly you give no credit to the kings D those guys will NOT panic at hawks speed and well not look for big hits they'll just pock pucks away from your guys that want to be dancers they'll force the hawks to dump and chase whitch seems to be a style of game the hawks don't like. Finally the kings are just flat better then the wings and wild, so far the hawks have had to fairly easy sets and nearly lost one. THe kings though having played two difficult series i believe the first one was only six games not seven. They are a team that steps it up in the playoffs, your regular season wins over them mean zip.That and the kings have won 14 straight games at home. All they need to do is figure a way to win one game on the road and things are going to be tuff for the hawks. your right, your a damn homer.Hawks still might win but it won't be as easy as you seem to think.
- deadsector

So let me get this straight--you are upset that Mr. Jäckel has predicted an easy series win? Since when are seven game series ever easy wins? You seem to be trying to have it both ways yourself--you start off telling us that the Kings will destroy the Blackhawks, and you conclude with, "Hawks still might win but it won't be as easy as you seem to think."

Saad and Stalberg, can u guys use ur speed to make a difference this round, or will you get bumped off the puck every time you touch it like frail twigs? That could make the difference in this series.
- SimpleJack

I agree. That 3rd line will be key. You know shaw will have a good series no matter what. I'm sure he's looking forward to this series.

I first discovered hockey watching the Kings of Marcel Dionne via ON TV back in the late 70s/early80s. Sadly, I never saw it on once I moved to Chicago until 2008, when I became a fan again. I think this will be an outstanding series. Could go either way.

I first discovered hockey watching the Kings of Marcel Dionne via ON TV back in the late 70s/early80s. Sadly, I never saw it on once I moved to Chicago until 2008, when I became a fan again. I think this will be an outstanding series. Could go either way.
- NewToHockey

I think Hawks really need to take the 1st 2 at home. But like Phil said, it won't be easy, especially an earlier saturday game. Hopefully this momentum will overcome the slow starts.

I first discovered hockey watching the Kings of Marcel Dionne via ON TV back in the late 70s/early80s. Sadly, I never saw it on once I moved to Chicago until 2008, when I became a fan again. I think this will be an outstanding series. Could go either way.
- NewToHockey

So you're not "new" to hockey...you've returned to hockey?

Great analysis JJ. I am a little late because of work so I don't know if it has been discussed yet but Quick's record against the Hawks is terrible (something like an .869 save pct and a big time losing record). I think because he comes out of the net so aggressively that he gets burned by the Hawks because they are patient with the puck and wait that extra second to get a clean look at the net. He simply does not have the numbers against the Hawks that he does against the other teams. Hawks in 7!!!! GO HAWKS!!!!

Hawks win.......in three

Hawks in 6

Your nuts JJ. This is going to be kings in seven and they are going to hurt about 5 hawks as well. THose guys will hit everything that move and aside from carcillo the hawks are a bunch of icegirls. Lastly you give no credit to the kings D those guys will NOT panic at hawks speed and well not look for big hits they'll just pock pucks away from your guys that want to be dancers they'll force the hawks to dump and chase whitch seems to be a style of game the hawks don't like. Finally the kings are just flat better then the wings and wild, so far the hawks have had to fairly easy sets and nearly lost one. THe kings though having played two difficult series i believe the first one was only six games not seven. They are a team that steps it up in the playoffs, your regular season wins over them mean zip.That and the kings have won 14 straight games at home. All they need to do is figure a way to win one game on the road and things are going to be tuff for the hawks. your right, your a damn homer.Hawks still might win but it won't be as easy as you seem to think.
- deadsector

I like how these "experts" (which includes many TV and radio analysts I have listened to in the past 2 days) downplay the Hawks and make world beaters out of LA. Yet those who have to put their money down where their mouths are (Vegas) are picking the Hawks. When the Hawks were underestimated in the past (Vancouver, San Jose) they posted their best performancess. Less pressure when you are in an underdog role -don't mind that at all. Keep heaping the praises on LA.

We are not Vancouver. And LA should figure that out quickly.
- QStache

And the Kings are not the Wild or Wings. Chicago should figure that out quickly.

I like how these "experts" (which includes many TV and radio analysts I have listened to in the past 2 days) downplay the Hawks and make world beaters out of LA. Yet those who have to put their money down where their mouths are (Vegas) are picking the Hawks. When the Hawks were underestimated in the past (Vancouver, San Jose) they posted their best performancess. Less pressure when you are in an underdog role -don't mind that at all. Keep heaping the praises on LA.
- 67hawks

I agree, I think we are getting bloated analysis from NHLN and some other outlets, trust me we are plenty scared but going to come out swinging

Hawks win.......in three
- UnnamedSource

Let's hope the Hawks don't have to win 3-1 in overtime in a game this series.........

I agree, I think we are getting bloated analysis from NHLN and some other outlets, trust me we are plenty scared but going to come out swinging
- MikeOxbyg

Both teams strengths can expose both teams weaknesses. This series probably going to be awesome.

Quick is the man because he has done it before (And I look forward to him leading the Americans to 2014 Gold) but Crawford haw been pretty good and will be great this series.

And the Kings are not the Wild or Wings. Chicago should figure that out quickly.
- scootty

I so do miss the Nuck trolls. They had so much more passion and hate in their comments.

Hawks win.......in three
- UnnamedSource

Good call!

I so do miss the Nuck trolls. They had so much more passion and hate in their comments.
- Beaver-Warrior

I don't. However, I'm holding out hope that Gillis hires Torts as his next head coach. That should perpetuate the three ringed circus also known as the Vancouver Canucks.

Hawks win.......in three
- UnnamedSource

Are they starting out 1-0 since they won game 7 twice?