Will you PLEASE try to be good now?
- StLBravesFan

Although we don't like to see Ogi banned, we don't like to see him being good either. Where's the fun in that???

I heard you made quite an impression over in the land of jean shorts.....
- SteveRain

This never gets old.

Ready for this series to start.

Oh yay! Go Blues! No one cares dude. We can all read the internet. Thanks for repeating what your beat writers say on twitter though.
- rollpards19

Someone is wound up!

This is precisely how I feel.

All plans will revolve around me either being at a TV to watch roadies or leaving work early to get to the UC early for games.

And I'm perfectly OK with that.
- CaptainBlackhawk

When the better half and I got together she said she was not interested in a sports fan. I said I only follow the Hawks, which made April-Oct open. Oh well, July is a good vacation month and I lied about football.

How's it going, Stever? I know there's been some talk about Bollig sitting; but I don't see sitting a guy who dressed for every game of the year. Q (and Stan) seems to like what he brings.
- mohel

Not bad...how are things going by you?

yeah, I don't see him sitting unless he takes some bad penalties. They need him to be a physical force and take some life out of these blues guys who are playing wounded.

Someone is wound up!
- carcus

He certainly is!

This never gets old.

Ready for this series to start.
- carcus

Oh I travel to STL, and the population of Arnold alone made Levi millions. Probably Alton, Collinsville, Fairview Heights as well.....

Bear...Boston is as much of a threat as the Pens,Wings,Blues,Avs,Sharks etc....No one has a clue what will happen when the playoffs start....The Hawks have beaten the Blues in regulation a few times, and the Blues have beaten the Hawks a few times....it's all up in the air...and it sucks that it's only Tuesday.....I'm gonna hate having to wake up Thursday to watch the game, but as soon as the puck drops I'm gonna be going crazy
- captainserious

Boston is the chalk to win the Cup and should be...

The question is how many games they take to get to the Final...Chara is 37 and in great shape but he is still 37.

- Ogilthorpe2

Hi Ogi! Gald you are back.

Not bad...how are things going by you?

yeah, I don't see him sitting unless he takes some bad penalties. They need him to be a physical force and take some life out of these blues guys who are playing wounded.
- SteveRain

Well, I was not happy to see snow on the phucking ground, I can tell you that!

Versteeg and Zus would likely sit before Bollig. He and Bickell are important in this series, imo. As Elbows has pointed out, the Hawks hit back in the post-season.

Oh I travel to STL, and the population of Arnold alone made Levi millions. Probably Alton, Collinsville, Fairview Heights as well.....
- SteveRain

Oh, they have for sure. Add Granite City, Hazelwood, Lemay, Eureka..............to many to get them all.

- Ogilthorpe2

It's alive!

- Ogilthorpe2

Ogie Dufresne?

Sorry, I'll show myself out now.

Welcome back!!!!!
- DarthKane

2nd that

2nd that

- philco28

I better go check the Blues board....

I better go check the Blues board....
- mohel

It will likely be the Maytag repairman, Ogi and Carcus over there

Oh, they have for sure. Add Granite City, Hazelwood, Lemay, Eureka..............to many to get them all.
- carcus

All good....looking forward to a great series.

My concern, as has been the case all along, is that it is almost assumed that Kane and Toews hit the ice running and the team finds ways to score some goals. The problem is that should they take a few games to get their feet under them, it could be a big problem.

As we saw all year, and down the stretch, Zus gives you ZERO, offensively. And when the Hawks chase goals, he often sits anyways, thus taking away the teams ability to roll 4 lines. It will be more chinese fire drill stuff.

Vs a beat up Blues team, assume a few starters our for a few games, you can get by with him. But if you are going full rosters, the only place Zues would have a practical role would be vs Minnesota.

Before many go balistic on me, I have sat here silenced for a long period of time, so as not to beat that horse. But this is the logic and rational behind it. We are near go time. As always, hope I am wrong on this one.

Well, I was not happy to see snow on the phucking ground, I can tell you that!

Versteeg and Zus would likely sit before Bollig. He and Bickell are important in this series, imo. As Elbows has pointed out, the Hawks hit back in the post-season.
- mohel

Correct. Troy Brouwer took out good ole Dion back in 2009. Large bodies hitting guys over and over again, causes a lot problems. See Oduya in 2012 vs Phoenix when he was giving away pies at an alarming rate....

Boston is the chalk to win the Cup and should be...

The question is how many games they take to get to the Final...Chara is 37 and in great shape but he is still 37.
- Al

No No...Pirri is 37.....just kidding ladies...just kidding.....

Pitt will be team to beat there this year in the east.

Some like to give Bylsma crap, but no coach has dealt with more frequent injuries and absenses of key players than he has, yet they still win and have success.

I think they are in a position to put it all together with everyone healthy.

My concern, as has been the case all along, is that it is almost assumed that Kane and Toews hit the ice running and the team finds ways to score some goals. The problem is that should they take a few games to get their feet under them, it could be a big problem.

As we saw all year, and down the stretch, Zus gives you ZERO, offensively. And when the Hawks chase goals, he often sits anyways, thus taking away the teams ability to roll 4 lines. It will be more chinese fire drill stuff.

Vs a beat up Blues team, assume a few starters our for a few games, you can get by with him. But if you are going full rosters, the only place Zues would have a practical role would be vs Minnesota.

Before many go balistic on me, I have sat here silenced for a long period of time, so as not to beat that horse. But this is the logic and rational behind it. We are near go time. As always, hope I am wrong on this one.
- TrueGrit

Sit down and join the circle Grit, most of us don't want Zus playing either.

Boston is the chalk to win the Cup and should be...

The question is how many games they take to get to the Final...Chara is 37 and in great shape but he is still 37.
- Al

Al..I read your stuff all the time...and it is always top notch...But I don't like talking about a team making the finals when the playoffs haven't even started...IF Chara were to go down, the way any player could with a playoff ending injury, the Bruins would have as good a chance to win the Cup as the Maple Leafs

No No...Pirri is 37.....just kidding ladies...just kidding.....

Pitt will be team to beat there this year in the east.

Some like to give Bylsma crap, but no coach has dealt with more frequent injuries and absenses of key players than he has, yet they still win and have success.

I think they are in a position to put it all together with everyone healthy.
- TrueGrit

They don't have the goaltending to win the East. Fleury is too far removed from his last Cup performance and he tends to collapse in the post season.

Boston is the favourite in the East but I also think Montreal has a chance (as much as I hate to say that).

Correct. Troy Brouwer took out good ole Dion back in 2009. Large bodies hitting guys over and over again, causes a lot problems. See Oduya in 2012 vs Phoenix when he was giving away pies at an alarming rate....
- SteveRain

While Bollig and Bickell do need to lay the wood when called for, the rest of the team needs to play their game - fast hockey with fast decisions. There is often a concern expressed that a big team will wear down a small team in a series, and there can be truth to that. But I also think a fast team can wear out a big team over time as well - chasing for seven games will wear out a team. As support, check out the Hawks record over the past several years late in series against heavy teams.

Has to translate to a clear advantage on the scoreboard or it means very little.
- Return of the Roar

Of course.

My point was in relation to the "it will be interesting to see how the refs call the series". If there isn't a clear advantage to the Hawks it would be a massive change from what we saw over an 82 game championship schedule.