You know reading some of the commentary on this thread actually has me wondering: What Hawk team have you watched all year and what Hawk team have you been watching lately in this playoff run to be so "wishy washy"?

Yes.. Boston indeed has a very good team. Yes their goalie is playing great. Yes, they have a very solid defense.

- The Hawks were wire to wire the best team in hockey this year and arguably have had the best playoff run to this point out of any team.

- The Hawks have faster/more skilled forwards than the Bruins

- The Hawks defense was better than the Bruins throughout the season and have played just as well as the Bruins in this playoff run.

- Crawford and Tukka Rask - supposedly a strength the Bruins have against the Hawks - have produced exactly the same this postseason run.

- The Hawks have four games at home....

- Supposedly the strength the Bruins will exploit against the Hawks is their physical play. The Hawks just threw aside the Kings in five games and they have just as physical of a team.

- Speed kills. The Hawks have a lot of it and exploited that strength throughout the Kings series.

I think everyone is highly "intimated" by the Bruins sweeping the vaunted Penguins. The Pens defense was a colossal liability and the reason why I chose Boston to win that series, and why I hoped the Hawks faced the Pens.

Guys: This Hawks team is good.. really good. Have confidence.

Has Kane finally come out of his slump? If this is the beginning of a hot streak he certainly picked the right time.
- UnnamedSource

I think the media criticism might have gotten to him, and he picked up his energy level, to be sure. But I credit Q and the line strategies for his recent resurgence as much as anything. Bicks and Toews were both heroic last night in setting up Kane for positions in which he could succeed.

The Stalberg vs. Bickel UFA comps are completely over as far as I'm concerned. Team staff can help Viktor pack his bags and drive him to the airport to any city that wants to take him. Bicks, on the other hand, you pay whatever the market demands you pay him and worry about salary cap hits later. End of story.

summer's good thanks. there's lots of hockey to watch. i just watched the hawks beat the kings like you did.

i think Boston will win because Jacobs has pictures of Bettman and the Bruins get away with murder. i hope Chicago wins with their top end skill since that's how hockey should be played.

plus, if only bruin and hawk fans were still on this site, it would be pretty lonely for you.
- therealagent

Yawn. Nice try to feign objectivity.

This thread does pretty well with just Hawk fans. I enjoy most of the guest posters from other teams. Nuck posters here generally contribute nothing and their total absence would not be missed. Just like the current group of diving cheap shot artists you call a team.

Now take off, hoser.

I just can't wait to see how many orgasms Kevin Weekes has on HNIC again..

Bruins just rub him the right way....

>Easy and DESERVED first round match-up against Wild. Check.
>Great coaching from Babcock, "tough on Hawks stars all series", tremendous deficit to overcome against Wings in round two. Check.
>Best goalie, SC Champs swagger, super-physical Kings in WCF. Check.
>Hawks have answered every challenge -- what's one more?
>Think the Wings and Kings series in succession sets the Hawks up perfectly for the Bruins
>Bruins are a "better Kings"
>Hawks know they MUST raise their game to yet another level -- and they will
>Stars are aligned for an epic year in Blackhawk history

I think the media criticism might have gotten to him, and he picked up his energy level, to be sure. But I credit Q and the line strategies for his recent resurgence as much as anything. Bicks and Toews were both heroic last night in setting up Kane for positions in which he could succeed.

The Stalberg vs. Bickel UFA comps are completely over as far as I'm concerned. Team staff can help Viktor pack his bags and drive him to the airport to any city that wants to take him. Bicks, on the other hand, you pay whatever the market demands you pay him and worry about salary cap hits later. End of story.
- Tugboat

While I was in my...um office this morning I was pondering the Bickel/Stalberg thing. I think it is correct to predict Bickel has hit the jack pot with his post season performance. He could get upwards to $4-5 million on a fiver year deal. Is that smart money to throw around? A few things say yes like....1-The Hawks don't have anyone close to his size and readiness in the system to play on the roster next year.....2- he has finally come into his own and finally developed....3- He is playing like a top 6 forward.........and a few things say no.....1- Contract year performance, can he be consistent? Something he has failed to do his whole career. 2- Are you going to give top six money to a guy who played on the third line all season and just now is playing on the top line? 3-With the cap being lowered next year can the Hawks afford to pay him that without sacrificing other parts of the team. One other thought if Bickel has priced himself off the Hawks does this mean there will be money for Stalberg?........interesting situation.

Excellent read JJ. I predict Hawks in 5 or 6 mostly due to their ability to attack and defend as a 5 man unit, something Pittsburgh could not do. Also I predicted the Hawks to win the Cup at the beginning of the playoffs and nothing has changed, Bruins are very good but will not be able to contain the speed of our 5 man attack.

I think the media criticism might have gotten to him, and he picked up his energy level, to be sure. But I credit Q and the line strategies for his recent resurgence as much as anything. Bicks and Toews were both heroic last night in setting up Kane for positions in which he could succeed.

The Stalberg vs. Bickel UFA comps are completely over as far as I'm concerned. Team staff can help Viktor pack his bags and drive him to the airport to any city that wants to take him. Bicks, on the other hand, you pay whatever the market demands you pay him and worry about salary cap hits later. End of story.
- Tugboat

I think putting Kane with Toews helped Kane a lot. My issue with dumping casb on Bickell is that he is a third line forward and someone will overpay based on these playoffs. He has benefited from all the defensive focus on Toews.

It was actually reported here originally by an LA poster - pretty sure.

I'd rather not do any homework on Hrudey anyways. Thanks for doing it for us though.

Qualified or not - it was still a sweep prediction.

I predict a sweep for the Bruins - if Kane slips under a gas truck and Toews and Keith contract Ebola by Weds.....

Please be sure to monitor all comments about my sweep prediction and inform any and all commentators to "do their home work".

You should have time now. You know why.
- tredbrta

I think you forgot if Kane isn't put in jail for beating up another cab driver for .22 cents.

Excellent read JJ. I predict Hawks in 5 or 6 mostly due to their ability to attack and defend as a 5 man unit, something Pittsburgh could not do. Also I predicted the Hawks to win the Cup at the beginning of the playoffs and nothing has changed, Bruins are very good but will not be able to contain the speed of our 5 man attack.
- HawkfaninBC

i have to scratch my head when people want to give Boston the clear defensive advantage in this series. they are both great defensive teams that were at the very top of their conference in GAA through both the regular and post season. the western conference is clearly the deeper conference so if anything, i think the hawks have been slightly better.

everyone was saying the same thing about LA heading into that series... too big, too physical for hawks... superior goaltending.... and disposed in 5. the bruins have gained quite the bandwagon after disposing of the severely overrated Pens but there is a rude wake up call coming. Hawks are gonna make this a shorter series than people think... Hawks in 5 or 6 games.

I think you forgot if Kane isn't put in jail for beating up another cab driver for .22 cents.
- waxieman

get mad!!

...1-The Hawks don't have anyone close to his size and readiness in the system to play on the roster next year.....2- he has finally come into his own and finally developed....3- He is playing like a top 6 forward.........and a few things say no.....1- Contract year performance, can he be consistent? Something he has failed to do his whole career. 2- Are you going to give top six money to a guy who played on the third line all season and just now is playing on the top line? 3-With the cap being lowered next year can the Hawks afford to pay him that without sacrificing other parts of the team. One other thought if Bickel has priced himself off the Hawks does this mean there will be money for Stalberg?........interesting situation.
- UnnamedSource

I don't crunch cap numbers. It's not my job. But what I look at as a fan is: Who's stepping up to help win the Cup when it's time to step up and win a Cup? Those are the players you want to keep on your club and build around. One of the questions asked here about Bickell is whether he's "arriving", or whether instead he's "playing for a contract". I suspect there are elements of both, though I don't pretend to know him or what ultimately motivates him. But the fact remains he's elevated his game as the stage gets bigger, when it most counts. Stalls has not. It's pretty simple really.

I think you forgot if Kane isn't put in jail for beating up another cab driver for .22 cents.
- waxieman[/quote

I think putting Kane with Toews helped Kane a lot. My issue with dumping casb on Bickell is that he is a third line forward and someone will overpay based on these playoffs. He has benefited from all the defensive focus on Toews.
- faustus1500

Playing with Toews will help anybody, but especially Kane because Toews does so much corner and board work, meaning 88 can stay in the middle of the ice and make plays. Funny Toews stat Games1-4: 12 games played 0G2A Games5-7:5 games played 1G6A. He's either stepping his game up as series progress, or wearing down the guys covering him

[quote=waxieman]I think you forgot if Kane isn't put in jail for beating up another cab driver for .22 cents.
- HawkfaninBC[/quote

https://www.google.com/se...0%3Bd%7CRq1s68kJJ6zF4M%3A

1) Frolik's energy and speed and Kruger's intelligence and heart are driving that line. Bolland is . . . meh
2) The Wings did wake the Hawks up. Hey, FULL MARKS to the Hawk FO and coaching staff for finding some of these guys (Kruger, Shaw), lining up veteran adds (Rozsival, Oduya) and getting the most out of some others (Bickell, Frolik).
3) I think Q has a big advantage in that he might be able to counter krejci with his "fourth" line (Bolland/Kruger/Frolik). Julien will want Bergeron on Toews, and Q will try to get around that, but it still leaves 10/26/81 and a matchup problem maybe for the Bruins
- John Jaeckel

The match ups battles will be very interesting. But EXCELLENT point in noting that if bolland's line can SOMEHOW neutralize krejci's line it goes a loooong way into gaining an overall advantage. I hope q can use bolland's line effectively

The thing i love about this Hawks team is that while they really come off as a flashy, speedy, offensive minded, glitz and glamour type of team loaded with start players and popular names, they defy the logic in sports that those types of teams dont amount to anything once the going gets tough. Our team has such a rare trait in that it balances out all those things by being incredibly good on defense. Superb Penalty Kill. Even our goaltending is solid enough now to hold down the fort behind our 6 defensemen. I really think a lot of the national fan base looks at our team and see's the flashy star players, and doesnt see all the tough nosed defense we play.

Also, i believe this Bruins team might be labeled as a team that doesnt have the offensive capabilities of Chicago. I get it that their overall team speed doesnt match ours, truthfully nobodies does, but there is far more to it than that. Are their forwards as FAST as ours? maybe not. But i think they are as SKILLED. And the way Boston's defense steps up into the attack makes them just as dangerous as Chicago's. Im not gonna say who wins this series, but i will say its going 7 games. A classic for the ages. The 2 teams are just too similar and cancel out way too much to have one side gain any sort of noticeable advantage.

I think you forgot if Kane isn't put in jail for beating up another cab driver for .22 cents.
- waxieman

After last night Kane will never have to pay for a cab in Chicago again. No risk here.

i have to scratch my head when people want to give Boston the clear defensive advantage in this series. they are both great defensive teams that were at the very top of their conference in GAA through both the regular and post season. the western conference is clearly the deeper conference so if anything, i think the hawks have been slightly better.

everyone was saying the same thing about LA heading into that series... too big, too physical for hawks... superior goaltending.... and disposed in 5. the bruins have gained quite the bandwagon after disposing of the severely overrated Pens but there is a rude wake up call coming. Hawks are gonna make this a shorter series than people think... Hawks in 5 or 6 games.
- Sconnie

THIS

As most know here on this message board - I'm not a "homer" Hawks fan. But it sincerely cracks me up those fans who are giving Boston a clear defensive advantage in this series. They don't. In fact, I think the Hawks are the better defensive team.

I'm not going to even discuss - at least in this post - the obvious Hawks advantage in regards to pure skill/speed at forward. As JJ mentioned Julien has some matchups that he's going to have to find a way to account for.

The Bruins disposed of a very very overrated Pens team - give them all the credit in the World for doing so.

You know reading some of the commentary on this thread actually has me wondering: What Hawk team have you watched all year and what Hawk team have you been watching lately in this playoff run to be so "wishy washy"?

Yes.. Boston indeed has a very good team. Yes their goalie is playing great. Yes, they have a very solid defense.

- The Hawks were wire to wire the best team in hockey this year and arguably have had the best playoff run to this point out of any team.

- The Hawks have faster/more skilled forwards than the Bruins

- The Hawks defense was better than the Bruins throughout the season and have played just as well as the Bruins in this playoff run.

- Crawford and Tukka Rask - supposedly a strength the Bruins have against the Hawks - have produced exactly the same this postseason run.

- The Hawks have four games at home....

- Supposedly the strength the Bruins will exploit against the Hawks is their physical play. The Hawks just threw aside the Kings in five games and they have just as physical of a team.

- Speed kills. The Hawks have a lot of it and exploited that strength throughout the Kings series.

I think everyone is highly "intimated" by the Bruins sweeping the vaunted Penguins. The Pens defense was a colossal liability and the reason why I chose Boston to win that series, and why I hoped the Hawks faced the Pens.

Guys: This Hawks team is good.. really good. Have confidence.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Hawks in 6..if I were more confident I would say 5.

The bruins and hawks are a good matchup. Both have vets with lots of jewlry and both teams have overcome crazy adversity this post season-and both have had a lot of luck. Both well coached and both can play multiple stlyes. Both have frmer norris trphy winners playing some of their best hockey right now. Yet, when the hawks are on-nobody touches them. It seems that teams try to contain the hawks as their best plan at beating them. And when they do the hawks adjust and don't look back. Sure bos can win. But they'll have to play their best to do that and it will take 6 or 7 games. If the hawks play their BEST-its over in 5.

https://www.google.com/search?q=patrick+kane+mugshot+photo&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i%7C0%3Bd%7CRq1s68kJJ6zF4M%3A
- waxieman

I'll take the little drunkard on my team any day, he's a winner!

I don't believe there is a better defensive player in the 2013 playoffs, including Charra, than Keith. And you have it as a >>>. Good stuff.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I'd say #4 has been the Hawks best D man, but Keith has had a couple of REALLY outstanding games.

I'll take the little drunkard on my team any day, he's a winner!
- moots

+1 and I'd hardly call him a drunkard more like a guy that likes to get wasted a couple times a year. Its called being American. Good for him

He said he put no value in takeaway and giveaway stats, because they're compiled subjectively in each building. While that's true, they are also compiled subjectively in 30 different buildings and thus there is a balancing out—and huge margins in one or the other are therefore telling.

Two huge problems with this rationale:

1) A team plays half its games in its own building, so the home scorekeeper has a huge effect on the final totals. A very biased scorekeeper, or one who is simply very generous or very stingy with awarding them, can have a massive effect.

For example, this season Chicago was credited with 312 takeaways and 207 giveaways at home, but only 155 takeaways and 138 giveaways on the road. Some small part of that discrepancy might be that Chicago played a more low-event game on average in other team's buildings, but I find it hard to believe that Chicago really has twice as many takeaways and 50 percent more turnovers per game when playing at home.

Just go back a few years and keep looking at the home/road splits for real time stats -- it's fascinating. Toronto's home scorer seems to give out giveaways like candy. San Jose is always near the top of the league in home turnovers/takeaway and always near the bottom in road turnovers/takeaways. The discrepancies are so prodigiously large that scorer bias is really the only explanation.

2) One way to attempt to get around this problem is to throw out the home information entirely and only use road data, the theory being that the biases will average out more if you eliminate the guy in your own building from the sample. If I MUST use real-time stats to make a judgment, this is what I typically do.

But, that's especially problematic this year because A) teams only played in their own conference, reducing the amount of buildings in the sample to 14 per team with no overlap between teams of different conferences, and B) teams only played 24 total road games, down from the usual sample of 41, providing less data and therefore less reliable information.

TL/DR

I think you're right in the general sense that Chicago is very good (among the best, perhaps THE best, though not necessarily) at taking the puck away. And I also think you're right that Boston is fairly turnover prone.

But trying to use the actual data for anything more than general guesses is foolish because there's just way too much funk in that table to put much faith in virtually any team's home scorer. Just because one team has a big lead in the credited takeaways doesn't mean that team really, actually took the puck away the most. There's just WAY too much noise and bias within the system to make that claim.

EDIT: And since this is a prediction blog, Hawks in 6.

tredbrta: Your recommendations from the other thread read like they were written by a suburbanite. Como Inn has been closed for years and the rest of your recommendations look like you looked at a 1998 Fodor's Guide to Chicago.

UnnamedSource: I see I'm not the only one that thinks you're a self-important turd. Keep posting, pal. People like you. They really do. Just keep telling yourself that.

Glad to see certain people keep calling 88 a passenger who, parenthetically, "finally stepped up" because that fits their narrative better than recognizing Kane's immense talent, heart and unbelievably clutch play.

Glad Ogi finally realized some of his foolishness. Others here have recognized it for a while.

Fans don't have to be bad fans. But, I guess fans that spend countless hours on an Internet message board feel that's their right and many here, including the esteemed blogger, personify that notion. And if you offer a contrary opinion you're called a kook-aid drinker and branded a shill for the organization instead of a reasonable, level-headed poster that sees the vision of the organization and really appreciates what is happening. Maybe you had to have long-suffered as a Hawks fan to have that perspective.