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

PEDs?

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.
- Cup-Bearer

Nicely put. I think it's been there all along, but like you said, ruin a guys confidence at a young age and let him get kicked around for awhile is enough to destroy any player.

He made strides playing with Arizona this year and only improved once he landed in Minny. I do think Yeos defensive structure as well as having the personnel to execute it have certainly helped Dubnyk excel.

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.
- Marlowe

It certainly gives you a lot of scoring potential.

Minny should put the Hawks out of their misery in 6
- toneez

Easy dude NY will put you guys out in no time

Tough series to predict, I have no doubt this will be a seven game series. I have said it for awhile, the barn in Minny is tough to play in. From here on out I think it will be the toughest place to win on the road other than Montreal because you have to deal with the officiating.

The only thing that will put the Hawks over anyone left is #19. This guy is unreal. The Toews v. Crosby argument is done. If you want scoring titles in your trophy case Sid is your guy. If you want Cups then Toews is your guy. That Kane is no slouch either.

Minny should put the Hawks out of their misery in 6
- toneez

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.
- z1990z

Definitely. These guys know its their last hoorah together and are playing hard to go out with a bang instead of a whimper.

Nicely put. I think it's been there all along, but like you said, ruin a guys confidence at a young age and let him get kicked around for awhile is enough to destroy any player.

He made strides playing with Arizona this year and only improved once he landed in Minny. I do think Yeos defensive structure as well as having the personnel to execute it have certainly helped Dubnyk excel.
- MnGump

Sean Burke is an excellent goalie coach and got Dubnyk back on the right track while he was in Arizona. DD was a first round pick, unfortunately he was drafted by those mental midgets in Edmonton.

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
- ehawk

And back and forth about another 1,000+ times.
Must be some kind of photos . . .

This is by far and away the best Wild team that the Blackhawks have faced over the last few post seasons. As JJ eluded to, this series to me is all about Dubynk.

The wild were an average team, maybe slightly better, until he was brought in and playing out of his mind. When this happened, so too did the Wild start playing better hockey overall. Therefore, it starts and ends between the pipes. Get to Dubynk and you take this series.

The Wild play a very cerebral game but the Blackhawks roll so many lines that can sustain pressure, score, and back check that its difficult for any team to matchup. Moreover, the Wild do not possess near the speed that we saw from the Predators so the Hawks should get the advantage here too. Both teams have a lot of heart but the Blackhawks also have the edge in top end talent.

We'll see....

the Wild do not possess near the speed that we saw from the Predators
- Bjm84

The Wild are the fastest team in the Western Conference. Maybe only second in the entire league to the Rangers.

And back and forth about another 1,000+ times.
Must be some kind of photos . . .

- savvyone-1

a few detours along the way too

The Wild are the fastest team in the Western Conference. Maybe only second in the entire league to the Rangers.
- BreakoutHockey

Agree collectively they are hella fast...but their D is not as fast as Nashville.

This "Devan Dubnyk reverts talk" is poppycock.
The guy has had good goaltender coaching for the last couple.

I am sure it is a matter of not only not attempting to play like a smaller guy, but to relax inside the "big man technique" but also to lose his tendancy to "back in under" the netting.

(if I was the hawk coaching staff, I would let it be known that we think, in the past pucks have crossed the goal line on his chest, and we want some calls to Toronto on these kinda "stops.")

Obviously, he got both a confidence boost and has relaxed inside the Wild scheme where he has good puck retrievers all throughout the line-up.

In his head, he must be thinking, "It sure is nice to play with a team that can go out and get me some goals, even score some when I've let some in, so i won't fret."

But by and large he isn't Pekka Rinne...if you get to him with tarffic surprise shots and movement, he gets beat like anybody else.

I don't know why this doubled up/


Another thing on Dubnyk:

He has trouble on the stick side. It's as if he refuses to move the right stick arm away from close to his side...doesn't use it to work anywhere on high shots of midbody shots that are a bit away.

He seems to always get under the bar when the opponents are cycling behind him, and then, when the attack shot might come from the circle, fast off a pass, after DD being under, he struggles to decide whether to stay in the new "stand tall technique" of the giant goaltender, or flop. It leaves him open everywhere from five hole, mid body and high.

Twitter notes: several sources (Kuc, Lazarus etc basically the usual suspects):
•Keith is in fact resting today
•Crow has the net for game 1 v MN - all said Q looked like he was in pain giving that information away this far in advance of the game (hee)

This "Devan Dubnyk reverts talk" is poppycock.
The guy has had good goaltender coaching for the last couple.

I am sure it is a matter of not only not attempting to play like a smaller guy, but to relax inside the "big man technique" but also to lose his tendancy to "back in under" the netting.

(if I was the hawk coaching staff, I would let it be known that we think, in the past pucks have crossed the goal line on his chest, and we want some calls to Toronto on these kinda "stops.")

Obviously, he got both a confidence boost and has relaxed inside the Wild scheme where he has good puck retrievers all throughout the line-up.

In his head, he must be thinking, "It sure is nice to play with a team that can go out and get me some goals, even score some when I've let some in, so i won't fret."

But by and large he isn't Pekka Rinne...if you get to him with tarffic surprise shots and movement, he gets beat like anybody else.
- wiz1901

IDK, I feel like alot of his success has to do with the Wild style of play and team motive. He isnt left out to dry like in EDM. I mean Bryz looked like a vezina nominee last year.

Fantastic write up JJ. I totally agree, this is going to be a grueling series that could very well go 7 games.

BTW, for anyone that didn't read it, you have to take a look at the STL blog that was posted today. Absolutely dreadful but made me laugh at the same time.

I see Q finally stopped drinking before putting the morning skate/practice lines together

Fantastic write up JJ. I totally agree, this is going to be a grueling series that could very well go 7 games.

BTW, for anyone that didn't read it, you have to take a look at the STL blog that was posted today. Absolutely dreadful but made me laugh at the same time.
- tboucher77

The one from Tanner?

He is clueless.

Tough series to predict, I have no doubt this will be a seven game series. I have said it for awhile, the barn in Minny is tough to play in. From here on out I think it will be the toughest place to win on the road other than Montreal because you have to deal with the officiating.

The only thing that will put the Hawks over anyone left is #19. This guy is unreal. The Toews v. Crosby argument is done. If you want scoring titles in your trophy case Sid is your guy. If you want Cups then Toews is your guy. That Kane is no slouch either.
- nickmo2699

The one thing that gives me some confidence going into this is that Koivu has done a pretty good job containing Toews in the post season. It's been Bickel that has killed us, along with Kane. If Bickel is on the second line, I like the match up with the Parise line. If he's elevated to the Toews Hossa line, the Koivu line will have a tough time containing them. My prediction is that if the Wild win, it will be in 6 games or under. I dont see them winning a game 7 on the road in the United Center!

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

Let's see...

J Hayes Ladd Brouwer
K Hayes Bolland Frolik
Kopecky Pirri Morin
Stalberg Smith ---

Buff Leddy (edited)
Campbell Dahlbeck
Stanton Clendenning
Olsen

Niemi
Emery

9-10 of these guys can crack the Hawks lineup on a lower line if salary is no issue.

But as composed I think it would give the Sabres a run for their money and not much more.

Let's see...

J Hayes Ladd Brouwer
K Hayes Bolland Frolik
Kopecky Pirri Morin
Stalberg Smith ---

Buff Campbell
Dahlbeck Stanton
Clendenning Olsen

Niemi
Emery

9-10 of these guys can crack the Hawks lineup on a lower line if salary is no issue.

But as composed I think it would give the Sabres a run for their money and not much more.
- busmaster

Forgetting Leddy...

Forgetting Leddy...
- mnhockeyguy

You're right. Don't take it personally.

Forgetting Leddy...
- mnhockeyguy

Oh thats the key now this lineup contends for the cup