John Jaeckel: Chicago-Boston Prediction

FIRST

I hate Boston! Chicago in 6

This should be a great Stanley Cup final. 2 original 6, highly skilled teams. Boston will be a battle, but I see the Hawks winning in 6 or 7 games, too.

Bruins in 5 or 6

Gonna be a great final

John Jaeckel: Chicago-Boston Prediction
- John Jaeckel

very cool blog, enjoy reading and following along even if i chip in a bit too much at times.

the bruins two years ago. the hawks visited boston and got outclassed. by far. the bruins won the cup.

this year. should be fun, but i do not think the bruins are unbeatable like they were a few years ago.

my prediction, is we will win in 5.

This is going to be a fantastic series. Two great hockey cities.

I'll say Hawks in 7 also.

Boston's an excellent and deep hockey team with a goalie that is on top of his game.

I've been a firm believer that nobody can beat us 4 out of 7, but Boston is capable. Home ice will be HUGE and like in 2010 vs Philly and most recently vs L.A., it would great if we could hold serve at home and hop on the bird with a 2-0 lead.

Also, as mentioned on another thread...we ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR AND SHUT DOWN their d-men from the point. The B's d'men have scored something like 15 goals, many on uncontested shots from the point. Shutting down that part of their game is KEY to victory.

P.S. a big Fungula to Don Cherry who wrongly and stupidly said Andrew Shaw's CLEAN first period hit on Mike Richards was the turning point in the game, because he felt it woke the Kings up.

FUNGUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULA GRAPES

Hey JJ!!

I didn't get to watch all of the game last night, but was just wondering, i heard some praise in OT and 2OT that the bolland Frolik Kruger line was very good, is Bolland maybe coming around? Or are Krugman and Fro just playing out of their minds and making him look good?

Another thing, I don't recall exactly if it was after game 5 or 6 in the Wings series, but you posted something along the lines of a friend/may or may not be a former NHLer, thought the Wings woke up a sleeping giant in the Hawks, do you find this even more true now after all that has happened? And do you think the Toews line will match up against the Krejci line if Q can get the matchup?

Boston's an excellent and deep hockey team with a goalie that is on top of his game.

I've been a firm believer that nobody can beat us 4 out of 7, but Boston is capable. Home ice will be HUGE and like in 2010 vs Philly and most recently vs L.A., it would great if we could hold serve at home and hop on the bird with a 2-0 lead.

Also, as mentioned on another thread...we ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR AND SHUT DOWN their d-men from the point. The B's d'men have scored something like 15 goals, many on uncontested shots from the point. Shutting down that part of their game is KEY to victory.

P.S. a big Fungula to Don Cherry who wrongly and stupidly said Andrew Shaw's CLEAN first period hit on Mike Richards was the turning point in the game, because he felt it woke the Kings up.

FUNGUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULA GRAPES

- philco28

yes.

Hey JJ!!

I didn't get to watch all of the game last night, but was just wondering, i heard some praise in OT and 2OT that the bolland Frolik Kruger line was very good, is Bolland maybe coming around? Or are Krugman and Fro just playing out of their minds and making him look good?

Another thing, I don't recall exactly if it was after game 5 or 6 in the Wings series, but you posted something along the lines of a friend/may or may not be a former NHLer, thought the Wings woke up a sleeping giant in the Hawks, do you find this even more true now after all that has happened? And do you think the Toews line will match up against the Krejci line if Q can get the matchup?
- captainserious

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

Bruins in 7.

In fairness to Hrudey, what he said was if the Kings and Quick play to the same level as the first two rounds and the Hawks continue to play the way they did in the first 2 rounds he could see LA winning in Four. Well Quick didn't , the Kings didn't and the Hawks played great. Love the way people hear a little of something and then go with it without doing any homework.

In fairness to Hrudey, what he said was if the Kings and Quick play to the same level as the first two rounds and the Hawks continue to play the way they did in the first 2 rounds he could see LA winning in Four. Well Quick didn't , the Kings didn't and the Hawks played great. Love the way people hear a little of something and then go with it without doing any homework.
- waxieman

Hrudey was "down" for the Kings before and during the series, very consistently, on CBC—it was embarrassing at times. Maybe you're the one who only heard a little of something and went with it. Do your own homework.

My prediction is both teams will play at least 4 more games !

Bruins in 7.
- Rseen

I really can't argue (much) with this prediction. I can see it very easily.

I rarely post here anymore, but JJ this analysis is so solid I had to give you a two thumbs up! Very nicely done.

What jumps out most to me is the comment about the Hawks seemingly having six men on the ice "at times". Any objective Hawks fan knows their compete level can be questioned many times throughout a season, especially from their "stars", but when it is there this club does seem like they have one more player on the ice than the opponent.

And their speed is just 1/2 of that, the other being positioning. As we saw in Game 4 v LA the Hawk positioning was first rate and when you add their speed and tenacity to that they simply play at warp speed, unparalleled.

IF the Hawks bring enough compete, often enough, they will swarm the Bruins often enough, to cause enough turnovers/takeaways often enough to make the difference. ......My question is will they?

I didn't know if the Hawks would win the Cup until Game 4 v the Kings. It was their positioning that amplified their speed along with their compete in that game, without Kieth, that made me think it was theirs to lose.

Love the Bruins and Kings style. Skill mixed with grit in front of a first rate goalie. But IMO this is the Hawks' series to lose.,,,,,,,,The first 10 minutes of Game 1 will probably look a lot like last night's 1st period and from there we'll see how long and how often the Hawks decide to play that way.

No matter the outcome we have two Original Six's playing for the cup. A fan just can't lose.

Hrudey was "down" for the Kings before and during the series, very consistently, on CBC—it was embarrassing at times. Maybe you're the one who only heard a little of something and went with it. Do your own homework.
- John Jaeckel

Kelly Fruitey is an IDIOT. End of story.

I am cheering for Chicago, but I can see Boston winning this. Chicago has to get past Rask who is playing lights out right now. He's given up 3 goals in his last 5 games.

Kruger's intelligence and heart are driving that line.
- John Jaeckel

If it wasn't for Bickell IMO Kruger is the guy who most evolved during these playoffs. Best way I can describe his play is he reminds me of a Red Wing. Kid makes little plays all over the ice, is tying up sticks, obstructing, screening, winning board battles, filling lanes, back checking, getting pucks in and out, covering for pinching Dmen and is just simply aware. IMO he's arrived and I love the kid's game.

good review JJ
I am a huge fan of the way the bruins are put together and play the game -always have been - they are one of the few teams that always seem to compete and play hard.
Hoping the series lives up to the hype and anticipation - don't think you could have asked for a better matchup.
Thought the Kings were going to be a longer/harder series. Not that it was easy, but after that first game, it was blatantly obvious the kings couldn't handle the hawks speed.
looking forward to wednesday - Go Hawks!

If it wasn't for Bickell IMO Kruger is the guy who most evolved during these playoffs. Best way I can describe his play is he reminds me of a Red Wing. Kid makes little plays all over the ice, is tying up sticks, obstructing, screening, winning board battles, filling lanes, back checking, getting pucks in and out, covering for pinching Dmen and is just simply aware. IMO he's arrived and I love the kid's game.
- Mr Ricochet

He's been OUTSTANDING. Lot of jump, great along the boards, a superb defender and he and Fro have been a dynamite pk tandem. Just wish he'd SHOOT the puck. We saw he can when had that SNIPE late in the year.

My prediction is both teams will play at least 4 more games !
- blizzzard

Bold!


I wanna see a Marchand-Bolland scrap!

Hard to handicap this series and it makes it even more interesting because the teams and conferences didn't play this season. Maybe it comes down to which team adapts to others style better. Detroit and L.A. were physical with the Hawks but not as much as the Bruins will be. The Hawks were able to play more physical against Kings and I think that bodes well for them in the series with Boston. The Bruins do have skill to go along with brawn so they won't be skated out of the building either. If I have to pick I'd say Hawks in 7.

Hrudey was "down" for the Kings before and during the series, very consistently, on CBC—it was embarrassing at times. Maybe you're the one who only heard a little of something and went with it. Do your own homework.
- John Jaeckel

Live in the US don't get CBC, heard Hrudey interview on the Mayors podcast. If Hrudey was still pimping the Kings after each game on CBC I stand corrected on the homework comment. Enjoyed your blog during the series. Bruins in 6