In recent years, the 'hawks have been able to get in goaltender's heads...especially ones that are hot. See: Smith, Mike. Luongo, Roberto. Quick, Jonathan.

Not all the time, and the good 'tenders bounce back (Quick), but one game where Dubnyk gets peppered and I think it's all gonna roll the 'hawks way.
- CanOCorn

Quick backstopped the Kings to their first cup, and while not great last season he did what he had to do, this past year he was Average for a lot of it. Carey Price is consistently outstanding, Lundquvist the same. Guys like Rask, Luongo, Rinne, and the flavors of the day have nice runs, but can't necessarily maintain once the playoffs start.

I picked Montreal over OTT because I just didn't believe that Hammond could continue on his streak.

Dubnyk's record is as much a result of the quality of play in front of him than his actual individual play (don't get me wrong, he has been playing well). My personal thought is that if the Hawks get the same chances they did against Rinne they will score more.

Off subject, an interesting perspective from James Tanner's last blog. He gave nice props to the Blackhawks, but also opined that you could put a pretty solid team together made up of only players the Blackhawks have traded away since the 2010 Stanley Cup.

Who is skating on the second line with Kane and Richards. Would really like a more physical forward on that line to go retrieve pucks in the corners and create space for Kane. I just don't want to change the other three lines
- molly2522

Ask and ye shall receive - at least in part. The lord giveth - Bicks on L2 and the lord taketh away - other line changes.

Lines in practice today:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Richards-Kane
Sharp-Vermette-Teravainen (me like mucho)
Desjardin-Kruger-Shaw

Tied with me.
- TheTrob

Awesome!

LINES ARE:
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Richards-Kane
Sharp-Vermette-Teravainen (me like mucho)
Desjardin-Kruger-Shaw
- Marlowe

Like the balance just don't like changing the third line as it was made-up but TT has shown himself to be NHL ready

I would be shocked if Versteeg isn't in. It seems no matter how he plays he has tenure in the lineup.

I would be shocked if Versteeg isn't in. It seems no matter how he plays he has tenure in the lineup.
- kwolf68

Or could it be a difference in how the coaching staff see MN? Need more speed, creativity, attack on the net? Or is it a message to Steeger like the one to Vermette at the start of he last series? I wouldn't be surorised to see TT in there. I think that line (Sharp - Vermette- TT) could be petty dynamic. Could also be something unknown for MN to deal with and hopefully not contain. Gives them something new to think about for a few days anyway.

I would be shocked if Versteeg isn't in. It seems no matter how he plays he has tenure in the lineup.
- kwolf68

Q said it was more about wanting to get Teravainen back in the lineup than it was about wanting to get Versteeg out of it. #Blackhawks

But actually ...

HOW did Dubnyk all of a sudden become one of the league's hottest goal-tenders?

HOW does a goalie go from being arguably the WORST goalie in the NHL in Edmonton, to still playing like utter-crap in Arizona, to becoming a brick wall in Minnesota? Change in scheme? Much improved D in front of him? Did a genie answer his one wish? Did he realize he was all of a sudden supposed to prevent goals rather than allow them?

Baffling. Either way, I'm stoked for this series. For some reason I sense a lot of 2-1, 3-2 games, but every mistake counts in this series. Hopefully the 'Hawks make less of them.

Q said it was more about wanting to get Teravainen back in the lineup than it was about wanting to get Versteeg out of it. #Blackhawks
- Glenman12

Whatever his excuse is I am fine with it.

Tied with me.
- TheTrob

What's the link for the bracket challenge again? Want to look up the standings. Thanks.

I have Minny over Chicago. I just feel as if they have been playing better hockey than Chicago as of late. I'm liking the Playoffs so far. All my picks have been right except for Ottawa beating MTL. Ottawa just went into the playoffs extremely hot, I could not vote against them....

Q said it was more about wanting to get Teravainen back in the lineup than it was about wanting to get Versteeg out of it. #Blackhawks
- Glenman12

86 has been a surprise. His skills are obvious, but his ability to slip hits headed his way and his drive to get to the net are fantastic. He also has great on ice vision and his passing skills are impressive for a young player. This guy will only get better the more he plays. Tough series ahead but I think the Hawks take it.

You can also tell that this group knows big changes have to happen this summer. 10, 81 and 2 are on a mission to bring another Cup to the Hawks. I cant remember seeing 81 playing angry in a playoff game. The guy is always so smooth and calm. 10 has flat been a monster. Flying all over. This is a Cup savvy veteran group. That heavy weight champ that knows how to wait to unleash that roundhouse you never saw coming.

Very thorough as usual JJ. As a fan of the Wild, the Hawks are a team that I have admired since their first cup win of the Kane and Toews era. As frustrating as the last 2 post seasons have been being dispatched by the Hawks in both, I've enjoyed cheering them on beyond my own disappointment as a fan of the Wild and more importantly a life long fan of Minnesota hockey going back to our beloved North Stars.

I think over the past 3 seasons the Wild have become a slightly less skilled version of the Hawks. Although Yeos system is more defensively structured, I think he has tried to emulate the same type of hard forechecking, 4 man offensive play that the Hawks utilize.

This should be an interesting series. As much as I think the Wild have improved this season for several obvious reasons, I think they'll have their hands full once again with a grizzled post season veteran Hawk team.

But actually ...

HOW did Dubnyk all of a sudden become one of the league's hottest goal-tenders?

HOW does a goalie go from being arguably the WORST goalie in the NHL in Edmonton, to still playing like utter-crap in Arizona, to becoming a brick wall in Minnesota? Change in scheme? Much improved D in front of him? Did a genie answer his one wish? Did he realize he was all of a sudden supposed to prevent goals rather than allow them?

Baffling. Either way, I'm stoked for this series. For some reason I sense a lot of 2-1, 3-2 games, but every mistake counts in this series. Hopefully the 'Hawks make less of them.
- TommyHawk

He never was a crap goalie at all. Edmonton was pure garbage and Arizona was awful this season. The Loss of Yandle hurt the Coyotes more than people thought. I don't think he is a great goalie but he is good and playing with Suter and a really good D core doesn't hurt either.

Q said it was more about wanting to get Teravainen back in the lineup than it was about wanting to get Versteeg out of it. #Blackhawks
- Glenman12

And here I thought Q had finally come to his senses . . .

He never was a crap goalie at all. Edmonton was pure garbage and Arizona was awful this season. The Loss of Yandle hurt the Coyotes more than people thought. I don't think he is a great goalie but he is good and playing with Suter and a really good D core doesn't hurt either.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Agreed, scouting on Dubnyk for a while now has been that he had the basic tools of a really good NHL goalie, needed to put it together. Edmonton and AZ were not exactly the places to do it.

What's also interesting about this series is that while Dubnyk was the best goalie in the league the last 30 games, you can easily say Crawford was one of the top 2-3 the first 50 games or so. He was up and down after coming back from injury but mostrly saved the Hawks' bacon when the played like garbage down the stretch. If the Hawks get a solid, focused Crawford in round 2, that's a huge boost to their chances.

Very thorough as usual JJ. As a fan of the Wild, the Hawks are a team that I have admired since their first cup win of the Kane and Toews era. As frustrating as the last 2 post seasons have been being dispatched by the Hawks in both, I've enjoyed cheering them on beyond my own disappointment as a fan of the Wild and more importantly a life long fan of Minnesota hockey going back to our beloved North Stars.

I think over the past 3 seasons the Wild have become a slightly less skilled version of the Hawks. Although Yeos system is more defensively structured, I think he has tried to emulate the same type of hard forechecking, 4 man offensive play that the Hawks utilize.

This should be an interesting series. As much as I think the Wild have improved this season for several obvious reasons, I think they'll have their hands full once again with a grizzled post season veteran Hawk team.
- MnGump

Thx Gump, should be a good one, and I really have a tough time calling this one

Probably. If Detroit somehow gets through they'll probably be tough though.
I can't really make myself like the Rangers even though they've shown themselves to be pretty good.
- Tangled

I'd picked the Wings in an upset over TB...we'll see on that one. Wings are usually a tough out though.

But actually ...

HOW did Dubnyk all of a sudden become one of the league's hottest goal-tenders?

HOW does a goalie go from being arguably the WORST goalie in the NHL in Edmonton, to still playing like utter-crap in Arizona, to becoming a brick wall in Minnesota? Change in scheme? Much improved D in front of him? Did a genie answer his one wish? Did he realize he was all of a sudden supposed to prevent goals rather than allow them?

Baffling. Either way, I'm stoked for this series. For some reason I sense a lot of 2-1, 3-2 games, but every mistake counts in this series. Hopefully the 'Hawks make less of them.
- TommyHawk

Tommy this is easy. take a first round pick. a guy with talent, dont develop him, rush him into the NHL because your organization does not have the gonads to wait. Just destroy his confidence and discard him. Then give him a mentor, have a system in front of him and give him back the desire to compete with all the tools necessary to succeed.

TT for Steeger then?
- Assman22

I would be fine with that

>JJ, as always, excellent preview
>Hawks will need to attack the Wild in layers -- including Dmen joining the rush
>As you said, Hawks 5-man cycle in the OZ will also need to be clicking
>Time for Rozy to be micromanaged by the coaching staff -- he needs to stop thinking he is 26 years old and trying to play like it -- creates too many scoring chances for the other team by slowing the game down in his own end -- when he could have moved the puck quickly and safely -- show him the tape
>Seeing #44 in person the other night was a nightmare -- ice tilted to the Preds everytime he was on it -- Preds players 20 feet away from pucks he was 5 feet away from beat him handily to those pucks -- can't believe #44 is going to play in round 2
>As you also said, like the Hawks down the middle -- Richards and Vermette very good in Game 6
>As of this AM, the lines look great -- time for the D to be righted
>DD gives up rebounds, if the Hawks win both slot battles, they move on

Off subject, an interesting perspective from James Tanner's last blog. He gave nice props to the Blackhawks, but also opined that you could put a pretty solid team together made up of only players the Blackhawks have traded away since the 2010 Stanley Cup.
- scottak

Another statement of the obvious from an oblivious, unoriginal moron.

Tanner makes the Preds blogger look like the hockey equivalent of Elon Musk. Love the way he throws out his hot air blogs with the logos of the hottest teams to draw hits. You click through only to find his latest notes on which CD purchases pleased/displeased him in the last year. Is this a high school girl's facebook update or a hockey blog?

so TT is in?

I feel like if he makes one mistake in G1 he is out, and Versteeg is back in. I hope I'm wrong, and I hope he doesn't make a mistake, but i feel like his leash will be short

As opposed to Versteeg whose leash could reach from the UC all the way to the Xcel Energy Center

Minny should put the Hawks out of their misery in 6