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.
- Ballam

The Chicago Blackhawks have been around an AWFUL long time. During the mass majority of that time, the Hawks were consistently drawing large crowds. That's my point. There were about 8-9 years in which Hawk fans, again, stopped being abused.

Did Harold Ballard not allow fans to watch home games, instead telling them to go and pay to watch every single regular season game while lining his own pockets?

Did Harold Ballard reject trades that would cause an uptick in salary on the team and be quoted as saying "That will cost money"?

Did Harold Ballard purposely not sign key/homegrown free agents simply because he didn't want to pay them, but then turn around & sign aged/over the hill free agents?

That's three issues off the top of my head. 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.

Read a book (there is actually a book on this very topic): Mark Weinberg,"Career Misconduct: The Story of Bill Wirtz's Greed"
- CaptainBlackhawk

Ballard refused to sign Gretzky as a free agent because of the money, despite the fact that gretzky wanted to play for his boyhood team before retiring.


So yes...

The Bolts can win if they....

1) Roll four scoring lines and not two. It's really that simple. Depth wins championships and is going to be essential to beat the Blackhawks.

2) Sustain a cycle game. You will not wear out the Blackhawks playing merely a transition game because Chicago forwards backcheck so incredibly well.

If these things happen then the Bolts have a pretty good shot. If not, you have no chance.

The Bolts can win if they....

1) Roll four scoring lines and not two. It's really that simple. Depth wins championships and is going to be essential to beat the Blackhawks.

2) Sustain a cycle game. You will not wear out the Blackhawks playing merely a transition game because Chicago forwards backcheck so incredibly well.

If these things happen then the Bolts have a pretty good shot. If not, you have no chance.
- Bjm84

Why do some of you fans continue to rip on Hawk fans saying they are being "dismissive"?

Again - the mass majority of Hawk fans know the Lightning won't be an easy out. However, there are reasons why Hawk fans are confident they will beat the Lightning. That's being dismissive? Please.

Lightning fans have pointed to two reasons why they have a chance:

- They are fast
- The Hawks defense might be tired

The Hawks are a very fast team as well. The Hawks defense hasn't remotely looked tired.

Ballard refused to sign Gretzky as a free agent because of the money, despite the fact that gretzky wanted to play for his boyhood team before retiring.


So yes...
- lumlums

This negates nothing of what I previously did post.

Time to revise:

Three reasons that Hawks will win the cup:

1) Toews

2) Crawford

3) A completely reasonable and non-arrogant fanbase who give it everything and was totally there for the team 10 years ago...


PS: I'll enjoy my ban when the oh-so-reasonable Hawks ref comes in here...
- lumlums

Revision 1) We have two very good teams in the SCF - the players will decide who wins.

Revision 2) For those harping on the wear and tear on the Hawks top 4 D, please do not ASSUME anything regarding injuries on either team. All you do is make an A$$ out of....

Revision 3) I have been a Hawks fan since 1976 and a season ticket holder since 1979. Please don't whine about a fan base who finally has a winning team to root for though I will admit some Hawk fans can be quite arrogant. We suffered for as long as the Toronto fans before we finally got a Cup in 2010 (49 years).

This negates nothing of what I previously did post.
- CaptainBlackhawk

No, but you act like you're the only one franchise who has had bad times. The Leafs had their first games in over a decade this year that didn't have every seat sold... and we've been poop for much longer than that. Regardless of product, there was an ass in every seat for over a decade of sucking... I don't care what your reasons or how bad it was, if you quit on the team you don't have the right to come back and lecture any fans of any franchise on how to be a fan when your team finally finds success...

Revision 1) We have two very good teams in the SCF - the players will decide who wins.

Revision 2) For those harping on the wear and tear on the Hawks top 4 D, please do not ASSUME anything regarding injuries on either team. All you do is make an A$$ out of....

Revision 3) I have been a Hawks fan since 1976 and a season ticket holder since 1979. Please don't whine about a fan base who finally has a winning team to root for though I will admit some Hawk fans can be quite arrogant. We suffered for as long as the Toronto fans before we finally got a Cup in 2010 (49 years).
- FourOrr

Good for you

As I mentioned in a previous comment, for those who have stood by the team, I tip my hat to you. That's what being a fan is, and those folks are typically the most reasonable.

Those who brashly troll and come forth with arrogance spewing from their mouths and fingers need to kindly go f*** themselves...

Good for you

As I mentioned in a previous comment, for those who have stood by the team, I tip my hat to you. That's what being a fan is, and those folks are typically the most reasonable.

Those who brashly troll and come forth with arrogance spewing from their mouths and fingers need to kindly go f*** themselves...
- lumlums[/quote]
Speaking of which, I'm suprised their idiot troll blogger hasn't made an appearance on this blog yet.

Good for you

As I mentioned in a previous comment, for those who have stood by the team, I tip my hat to you. That's what being a fan is, and those folks are typically the most reasonable.

Those who brashly troll and come forth with arrogance spewing from their mouths and fingers need to kindly go f*** themselves...
- lumlums

As a Hawk fan, I totally dislike the hawksters who become obnoxious, arrogant, loud and insulting to other teams. MOST Hawk fans remember the leaner times and are truly just enjoying the recent fun and success of the last ten years. I mean, we wouldn't want hawk fans becoming like Hab fans (not all, but most), who belittle all and seem entitled by nature (even though have done squat for 20+ years)

Win with class, lose with class....and hope this series is as fast and entertaining as I expect it to be. Good luck Bolt fans. Go Hawks!!!

As a Hawk fan, I totally dislike the hawksters who become obnoxious, arrogant, loud and insulting to other teams. MOST Hawk fans remember the leaner times and are truly just enjoying the recent fun and success of the last ten years. I mean, we wouldn't want hawk fans becoming like Hab fans (not all, but most), who belittle all and seem entitled by nature (even though have done squat for 20+ years)

Win with class, lose with class....and hope this series is as fast and entertaining as I expect it to be. Good luck Bolt fans. Go Hawks!!!
- hawk35

Agreed. I may be a Leafs fan but I'm also a born and raised Red Devil (Manchester United), so I've seen my fair share of winning to go with the losing... the key is to always act with class, win or lose (unless they're Chelsea or Manchester city fans... )

He does his routine on everyone. Most of the Lightning fans were dueling with him during the Red Wings series. He is pretty fast with the lines.

Should be a great series.
- Leafsandbolts

We can only hope!

I expect this to be an exciting series that goes 6-7 games. Picking a winner is nearly impossible..
- Tampa PP has been awesome
- Chicago PK has been suspect
- Which Crawford will show up?

I cant wait for the puck to drop!

As a Hawk fan, I totally dislike the hawksters who become obnoxious, arrogant, loud and insulting to other teams. MOST Hawk fans remember the leaner times and are truly just enjoying the recent fun and success of the last ten years. I mean, we wouldn't want hawk fans becoming like Hab fans (not all, but most), who belittle all and seem entitled by nature (even though have done squat for 20+ years)

Win with class, lose with class....and hope this series is as fast and entertaining as I expect it to be. Good luck Bolt fans. Go Hawks!!!
- hawk35

Well said..Please do not judge our fan base by a few fans that just opened up their Kane jersey yesterday.

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

Thank you!

4. Tyler Johnson > Patrick Kane

4. Tyler Johnson > Patrick Kane
- yzermaneely

You are high.

I can't wait for this series. I feel like the Hawks have the advantage due to pretty much everything that has already been said 100x. It's no use going over experience, pedigree, clutch, top 4 yada yada yada again.

I will say this: I love the game the Bolts play. Fast, skill, non-douchebag hockey. If the Hawks lose the cup, it will be because the Bolts outplayed us at HOCKEY, not "cheap shots to get in their head" or slashing when the refs aren't looking so that so-and-so isn't shooting well. I can live with a Hawks loss to the Bolts, much more than I could have to a goon team like the Ducks.

Here's to a great HOCKEY series, that should be good for the fans and the league as a whole

I read a lot about Hawk fan arrogance because we think, no matter who we play, that we will win a series. I don't think it's arrogance. What we've seen from this core is:

2010 - Series vs Nashville tied 2-2, down a goal, shorthanded under 30 seconds in Game 5. They tie in regulation, win in OT, win series in 6.
2011 - Down 3-0 to Vancouver, force Game 7 OT.
2013 - Down 3-1 to Detroit, win series 4-3
2013 - SCF, down 2-1 in Game 6 with under 2:00 to play. Score 2 goals, win SC
2014 - Down 2-0 to St. Louis, win 4 straight (2 in OT) to win series 4-2
2014 - Down 3-1 to LA, come back to force Game 7 OT
2015 - Down 3-2 to Anaheim, win series 4-3

When push comes to shove, Q knows the right buttons to push and this team responds. Because we've seen this team come back multiple times from bad situations, there is a confidence that they can beat anyone in any situation.

Good for you

That's what being a fan is, and those folks are typically the most reasonable.


- lumlums

This is YOUR OPINION of what a fan is. MY OPINION of a fan is someone who chooses not to give his/her money to an owner who did absolutely nothing with that money to make his team better. A fan can only take so much when the owner dismisses the likes of Roenick, Belfour and Chelios and then tries to tell us that Mark Bell and Kyle Calder are the second coming of the Lord himself.

I had enough...many Hawks fans had enough. We stopped going. If you think that is wrong then good for you. Personally I like to be smart with money and letting a sports owner shove it up my ass was not my opinion of being smart with my money. The day that Dollar Bill Wirtz died was the day I started coming back.