you know your team better than i do...however

1. same coach
2. backass, berglund, tarasenko, berglund, schwartz, petrangelo, boumiester, shatenkirk, elliot, ott have been there for the last 3 1 st round blow outs going a combined 2-10 during crunch time games 3-6...that is your core
3. Stasny and few others were their last year

so yes this is essentially the same team
- bogiedoc

That is like saying the hawks are the same team

They aren't

Blues have Fabbri Upshall Brodziak Brouwer Parayko and Edmundson new

Not completely disagreeing with you but that is a lot of turnover to say its essentially the same team

forward depth chart:

ladd-toews-hossa
panerin-anisimov-kane
fliesch-tt-weiss
shaw-krug-desi

13. panik
14. ras
15. mash
16. bicks

the only way mash should sniff the playoffs if hossa and shaw plus another forward are out...

could be mash is skating practice as a place holder for the injured forwards...and if bicks ends up playing we are in deep poop
- bogiedoc

Agree let's not panic no way Mash is playing over Weise Q is not that crazy is he?

Who is practicing without restrictions is much more important than who got the day off today.
- Jason Millen

Think a poster mentioned Shaw was skating. Hossa & Shaw will be ready for GM 1 according to published reports. Allen reportedly also ready for GM 1 as well.

IMO, neither coach will likely show his entire hand at this point WRT lineups two days out

Chicago has more stars than St. Louis while the Blues have considerably more depth than the Hawks. Based upon talent, the Blues should win in six. Based upon history, the Hawks should win in six. The difference will be coaching. Quenneville gets the most out of his team come playoff time while Hitchcock hasn't while in St. Louis. Hawks in seven.
- the_voice

Gotta wonder if the Blues players are so tired of Hitch and his games that they throw him under the bus-- knowing if they lose in 1st round-- he will be gone next year-- yes it could be that dysfunctional-- how hard will that team play for Hitch-- how do they respond to adversity?

Its been discussed openly by NHL analysts that Hitch has trouble keeping his players playing for him-- not a ton of respect for a fat bully who never played the game--

Mashinter in the lineup over Weise is sickening.
- EnzoD

Q said Ladd is having a matience day. Mash is only in the line up because Panik was taking ladds spot. It will come down to who is playing between Panik and Weis on that third line opposite of flash. Mash isn't going to be in the game 1, franking relax Jesus. Everyone is good to go for game one, Sved is fine, only one out is Keith.

Gotta wonder if the Blues players are so tired of Hitch and his games that they throw him under the bus-- knowing if they lose in 1st round-- he will be gone next year-- yes it could be that dysfunctional-- how hard will that team play for Hitch-- how do they respond to adversity?

Its been discussed openly by NHL analysts that Hitch has trouble keeping his players playing for him-- not a ton of respect for a fat bully who never played the game--
- jb3333

At some point its t he players and not the coach but I think Hitch is gone after this year

He is ready for other interests

That is like saying the hawks are the same team

They aren't

Blues have Fabbri Upshall Brodziak Brouwer Parayko and Edmundson new

Not completely disagreeing with you but that is a lot of turnover to say its essentially the same team
- sycsam

i agree you have had a few 3rd/4th line 3 rd pairing changes...but the guys you changed over weren't your core who have spit the bit in 3 straight 1st round home ice series and have looked bad doing so...thats all i am saying...they have been LOSERS...i am not being a jerk but if you think those guys you added are going to make the difference...fine good luck...

Think a poster mentioned Shaw was skating. Hossa & Shaw will be ready for GM 1 according to published reports. Allen reportedly also ready for GM 1 as well.

IMO, neither coach will likely show his entire hand at this point WRT lineups two days out
- grinder10

Exactly.

Also, Allen practiced in full today and without restriction. Assuming no soreness/setbacks later, he will be the backup to start game 1. No impact of showing this hand. Much of the other stuff is somewhat gamesmanship.

i agree you have had a few 3rd/4th line 3 rd pairing changes...but the guys you changed over weren't your core who have spit the bit in 3 straight 1st round home ice series and have looked bad doing so...thats all i am saying...they have been LOSERS...i am not being a jerk but if you think those guys you added are going to make the difference...fine good luck...
- bogiedoc

Bogie.....the truth is somewhere in the middle. if I have time tonight, I'll try and lay out why I believe that.

Q said Ladd is having a matience day. Mash is only in the line up because Panik was taking ladds spot. It will come down to who is playing between Panik and Weis on that third line opposite of flash. Mash isn't going to be in the game 1, franking relax Jesus.
- SoftServe

When Q dresses Mashinter Game 1 do I tell you or Jesus "I told you so"??

What are the Bio's on the 2kids from UND that some are talking about?

When Q dresses Mashinter Game 1 do I tell you or Jesus "I told you so"??
- EnzoD

Your a franking smart ass arent you ? There's no chance he's in game 1. You people look way to much into things. Those line ups today are 2 days before the actual game with one player in laad having the day off.

i agree you have had a few 3rd/4th line 3 rd pairing changes...but the guys you changed over weren't your core who have spit the bit in 3 straight 1st round home ice series and have looked bad doing so...thats all i am saying...they have been LOSERS...i am not being a jerk but if you think those guys you added are going to make the difference...fine good luck...
- bogiedoc

They are different types of players

We shall see

You might be right

I might be right

G damn I phone. awful.

Head injury for sure.....could be Shaw's hair but doubtful.
- SteveRain

Ha! I think you meant above the neck, not above the head.

Your a franking smart ass arent you ? There's no chance he's in game 1. You people look way to much into things. Those line ups today are 2 days before the actual game with one player in laad having the day off.
- SoftServe

And Weise doesn't take part in line rushes because??? The only logical explanation I can think of is that Mashinter is ahead of Weise on the depth chart. Tell me where I'm wrong...

They are different types of players

We shall see

You might be right

I might be right
- sycsam

Parayko and Fabbri are two big additions. Backes with a nagging injury won't matter bc his biggest impact in the Hawks-Blues matchups is always with the body. The Blues were a tough team in 2014 and are better this year. This should be great hockey with a lot of nasty early and often. This may be a bold prediction, but I'm taking the Sharks and Predators in 7 games over LA&ANA.

Exactly.

Also, Allen practiced in full today and without restriction. Assuming no soreness/setbacks later, he will be the backup to start game 1. No impact of showing this hand. Much of the other stuff is somewhat gamesmanship.
- Jason Millen

Jammer, any chance Allen gets the net over Elliott? With Keith out in Game 1, the Blues cannot afford a goalie meltdown to give the Hawks an edge.

And Weise doesn't take part in line rushes because??? The only logical explanation I can think of is that Mashinter is ahead of Weise on the depth chart. Tell me where I'm wrong...
- EnzoD

Maybe Quenneville doesn't like what he sees out of Weise as far as his effort? You don't know. There could be a number of reasons that you or I will never know. Quenneville is a smart man, and a legendary coach. He knows better than you or I.

Q played this game last year with Vermette, he even scratched him in a playoff game and boy the media really grilled him about it, if Mashinter plays I imagine he will face similar questioning.

would be the 4th year in a row...kings 4-2, hawks 4-2, wild 4-2 with home ice in all 3...in games 4, 5 and 6 they are 2-10....

and they are basically the same team this year with their share of problems; so all this blues luv is interesting
- bogiedoc

Not the same team.

Fabbri and Brouwer in our top 9 give us a deeper offense. Edmundson & Parayko have solidified an already good, deep defense. They also added since muscle, which was lacking from the defense.

We have played all year without icing our optimal lineup, and just missed out on 1st in the West. This is a really dangerous team, and anyone that dismisses them for past team's failures is foolish.

Jammer, any chance Allen gets the net over Elliott? With Keith out in Game 1, the Blues cannot afford a goalie meltdown to give the Hawks an edge.
- Hank_Greenberg

Elliott is playing game 1.

Blackhawks in 3

Blackhawks in 3
- hawkeytalkman

If it were under the old format, it would be Hawks (4) vs Kings (5)! Instead, it's Blues (2) vs Hawks (3)!

Parayko and Fabbri are two big additions. Backes with a nagging injury won't matter bc his biggest impact in the Hawks-Blues matchups is always with the body. The Blues were a tough team in 2014 and are better this year. This should be great hockey with a lot of nasty early and often. This may be a bold prediction, but I'm taking the Sharks and Predators in 7 games over LA&ANA.
- EnzoD

not that bold....with the parity, the damn cap and how the game is played and called now...any playoff series can be a sweep either way to a 7 game 3OT winner. NHL playoff hockey is so much fun because of the unpredicatability inter and intra game...

i am not going to predict individual series but I like the ducks and caps in the finals...
great goaltending and special teams and decent 5 on 5 play...only team that beat the caps is the caps....

the ducks have gone 35-10-5 over 50 games after that horrible 0-8-2 start....thats resiliency and no quit, kudos to them and boudreau and with what happened last year with the hawks i think they are big time motivated and brimming with confidence. I am a big fan of getzlaf...perry you can anchor and throw in the ocean for all i care....