He had multiple games this postseason he 100% should have. And, frankly, it doesn't matter one iota at this point.
- CaptainBlackhawk

What matters at this point then captain homer ?

How many cups does nashville have ? Renne ? I can play that game too ...
- HurriKane

Well you're playing the wrong game. Hope you got a good seat on the bandwagon.

What matters at this point then captain homer ?
- Mr_Underwood

Oh! The homer card gets pulled!

Well you're playing the wrong game. Hope you got a good seat on the bandwagon.
- Mr_Underwood

Bandwagon ???? .... Gee , I never heard that one before ...
Signed ... Bandwagoner since 1973

So he has to make a prediction to have an opinion? Seems legit.
- Mr_Underwood

No. but if he has an opinion, you would have to assume he has an idea of what his prediction might be; and the silence associated with his refusal to give one, is deafening... Badgering the Chicago fanbase for their supreme confidence in the Blackhawks is not only irrelevant, but idiotic if you , yourself, believe that the Hawks will win...

Playing the victim while being the aggressor is self mutilating at best...

Oh! The homer card gets pulled!
- CaptainBlackhawk

Always amusing since the alternative to being accused a homer so far is being wrong.

Looking forward to seeing how Coop plays the matchups. I don't think Q will go with 19 and 88 together yet.

If Tampa manages to win this one, they should/will get a lot of respect around the league. Chicago has been the team to beat in the last few years. They really know how to win.

Oh how cute. Take one game, and make a broad/general statement.
- CaptainBlackhawk

He was answering a guy who took 3 games, and made a broad/general statement.

Jeez you blackhawk fans posting here are really ignorant. How many of TBs postseason games have you watched this year? Sure Tampa is the underdogs but until puck drops tomorrow night theres no big reason predicting how the outcome will be and in how many games.

I think it's really close, I think the experience of the forward core of the hawks just edges out tampa's. But I really think the defense of the bolts is a bit better than chicagos. But Chicago has a coaching advantage but Tampa has a better goalie situation. It's really a toss up in 7 if you ask me.

Michael get ready for the Hawks fans... seriously... only the things they say are fact and everything we say is wrong. That's what I have noticed reading their blog and ours.

John Jaeckel says for the Lightning to win Bishop has to stand on his head, the Bolts get lucky bounces in an up tempo game or an injury to one of the Hawks top four defenders. That's the only way. What do you think about that?

Hawks fans are very dismissive of the Bolts... they are underestimating this team. I have watched them all year and they are much better then the Hawks fans are giving them.

I don't know how this series will end up but those already anointing the Hawks the champions will surely be surprised by what the Bolts can bring.
- stammerman

Change this to "SOME Hawks fans" and i will wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
"SOME" of us Hawk fans believe this will be a battle just like the last series.

From what I saw in game 7 of the Blackhawks game(also the only game I watched that series) the Blackhawks seem like they wont be as hard on the Lightning's offense. Unlike Detroit and NY, who clogged up the neutral zone all series, Chicago seemed to give it to Anahiem . IF they do that with the Lightning, I expect us to have a good chance of winning the series.

Guys. many seem to get heated when they encounter a difference of opinion. Chill out.

Fact is the Hawks top 4 "D" HAVE played a lot of minutes. Fact is Tampa CAN rev up the offense, especially the top 2 lines. Fact is Hawks DO have the better experience. And the BIGGEST fact is, NONE of us truly know how the series will go.

So, make your point....but, respect the views of others. personally I think hawks top 4 "D" will be just fine, but you never know when the guys will start to tire....well, all except Keith, he is a machine.

I think Hawks will take it mostly on experience, and the fact that MOST teams first REAL crack at the CUP comes up a little short before they finally do it. I think the Bolts will be contenders for the next 10 years and will likely win one or two in the next few years. Great core of young guys.

Bolts reminded me some of the 2009 Hawks...a young, fast, hard skating team, but needed a lesson from the Wings before they took the next step.

Go Hawks, and here's to a good series Bolts!!! (at least it should be clean, fast hockey!)

No. but if he has an opinion, you would have to assume he has an idea of what his prediction might be; and the silence associated with his refusal to give one, is deafening... Badgering the Chicago fanbase for their supreme confidence in the Blackhawks is not only irrelevant, but idiotic if you , yourself, believe that the Hawks will win...

Playing the victim while being the aggressor is self mutilating at best...
- PuckAndSticks

This might be hard for you to comprehend but believe it or not some people just like to watch the games without pretending to be an expert by making a prediction.

Not just most of the Hawks fans, but most of the people on this site, the "experts" other fans, friends, almost everyone has the Blackhawks winning. And that is a justified prediction, given that the Blackhawks are basically a modern day NHL dynasty. But most people don't give enough credit to the Lightning. They are basically equal to the Blackhawks in all positions besides the third and fourth line. Although the Blackhawks have experience(which the Lightning have shown they could care less about), the Lightning have arguably been the most resilient team in the post season. I have never seen a team that when they lose a game very badly, to be able to bounce back EVERY TIME the next game and outplay their opponent. The Lightning won't go down without a serious fight. This series will go 6 or 7 Lightning

Blows my mind that people still keep picking against Blackhawks this postseason.
- Aliaksandrhn

Welcome to the Jaeckel Is Arrogant/Angry Ducks And Predators Fan Thread.

It was so horrible, I got (3) phone calls from friends around 6 a.m. to let me know he passed away the morning he did.


- CaptainBlackhawk

IIRC it was September 27th 2007. That day I ordered a 10 game package, the very day Wirtz died. Before that the last time I gave Wirtz a nickel of my money was in 1985 v the Flyers.....Was on the list, was called in June of 2008 and have had season tix since.

This fan boycotted Wirtz for 22 years. Many refused to give Wirtz a dime myself included.

You are such a douche.
- Mr_Underwood

Thanks, but you left out arrogant. Cheers!

You are such a douche.
- Mr_Underwood

I'm so happy we have Mike as a blogger. Respectful and a great writer that isn't afraid to call out the team when they play poorly, but also gives credit when credit is due.

Bandwagon ???? .... Gee , I never heard that one before ...
Signed ... Bandwagoner since 1973
- HurriKane

jeez....1973, 1961.....i didn't know there were so many senior citizens in chicago who knew how to internet.

All have played well, but the Bolts have better scoring... 5 of the top 10 goalscorers, Chi will need to really shut that down.


I still think that CHI has it, but anybody who underestimates TBL does so at their own peril...
- lumlums

Yes they will perish.

I would have put PP and PK as a reason. The Hawks were no. 2 defensively during the season but the Habs and Rangers were also 1 and 3. and we scored on the PP over a 35% clip and both the Habs and Rangers who were killing penalties at a 86% rate until we played them. The Hawks are average on PK compared to the Habs and Rags edge Tampa.

The Lightning are a great team and this should be an excellent series. I don't think any of the Hawks fans should be counting Tampa Bay out at all. You have to forgive some of the Hawks fans we generally as a group love our team and at this point have a lot of reason to be confident going forward. I have been lucky enough to attend a Lightning game this season and I watched Tyler Johnson score a hat trick against Pittsburgh that night. The Amalie arena was rocking and I absolutely loved the atmosphere there and the energy of the fans. My son has been lucky enough to attend three of their games this year and he's smitten. I have a family member who lives about 40 mins from Tampa so that is our vacation spot here on out and I am sure I will attend many more Lightning games in the future. Hawks will always be my team and of course I want them to win, I try not to make predictions. All I know and care about is that it's two excellent fast hockey teams and it will be a great series probably clean fast hockey a true treat for the real hockey fans.

Respect.

I'm so happy we have Mike as a blogger. Respectful and a great writer that isn't afraid to call out the team when they play poorly, but also gives credit when credit is due.
- jvar17

I agree. Mike is always a good read. One of the better on the site.

Michael get ready for the Hawks fans... seriously... only the things they say are fact and everything we say is wrong. That's what I have noticed reading their blog and ours.

John Jaeckel says for the Lightning to win Bishop has to stand on his head, the Bolts get lucky bounces in an up tempo game or an injury to one of the Hawks top four defenders. That's the only way. What do you think about that?

Hawks fans are very dismissive of the Bolts... they are underestimating this team. I have watched them all year and they are much better then the Hawks fans are giving them.

I don't know how this series will end up but those already anointing the Hawks the champions will surely be surprised by what the Bolts can bring.
- stammerman

You're just now finding this out ?? LOL... Did you expect anything else? Don't want to stigmatize all Hawk fans though... I enjoy talking to some of them.

I would really like Stevie Y's team to win this one. He's turned into a great GM. He had a good mentor in Ken Holland.

Of course the Hawks are the favorite... But I am amused at how overconfident all the Hawks fans are. Chicago hasn't played a team even close to the speed of Tampa (sorry.... Minnesota does not count). The Bolts are the fasted team in the NHL... and have a great transition game. They are not overly physical... but they are a big and fast team with 5 players at least 6' 5" which helps out along the boards, in the corners and behind the net (they won't get pushed around). I also think Tampa's defense is underrated. I've been very impressed overall watching this team in the playoffs.

Looking forward to a great series.

Change this to "SOME Hawks fans" and i will wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
"SOME" of us Hawk fans believe this will be a battle just like the last series.
- camfor

First I agree camfor not all but a lot of Hawks fans are being dismissive (underestimating) to the Bolts. All I was trying to say was the Bolts are plenty capable of playing with the Hawks and can win the series just like the Hawks surely can.

No. but if he has an opinion, you would have to assume he has an idea of what his prediction might be; and the silence associated with his refusal to give one, is deafening... Badgering the Chicago fanbase for their supreme confidence in the Blackhawks is not only irrelevant, but idiotic if you , yourself, believe that the Hawks will win...

Playing the victim while being the aggressor is self mutilating at best...
- PuckAndSticks

I wasn't calling out your fan base I was replying to the Lightning blogger to be ready for the Hawks fans coming in here and tell us he is wrong and we can't be right on some of the things we say about the series. That is not badgering, if I did that on your board I could see it but not on the Bolts board talking to the Bolts blogger.

I don't know why you don't understand that I don't have to make a prediction, not deafening at all. I said I have no idea how the series will go as both teams are capable of winning, can't wait to watch the first game at Amalie. I'm looking forward to this series and I think it will be a great series very fast and skilled teams on both sides.

Lastly, I was just stating that lots of Hawks fans (not all camfor) are underestimating the Bolts and they feel they are right no matter and I am wrong if I try to discuss as that is what I have experienced. You are actually in a way proving my point right now because you are saying I am wrong because I won't make a prediction when I don't have to make a prediction as it has nothing to do with me telling our Lightning blogger his piece on the Lightning board would be scrutinized by Hawks posts and that we would not be able to debate about it.