Chicago goaltending needs to be more consistent than it's been - both of them.
- StLBravesFan

I think that'll happen when the defense plays at the level I know they are capable of. I believe the Preds will have trouble scoring 3 goals a game.

"I hope that Panarin has the same kind of ability to score goals in the playoff as he did to earn his secondary performance bonus. Last year vs the Blues missed a couple of wide open nets. "



Neverminding that since goals have always been the scoring tie-breaker that Kane and Panarin both had 7 points in 7 games but Panarin had 2 goals to Kane's 1 -that, technically Panarin led the team in playoff scoring last season...

and that an assist is as good as a goal...

Chicago goaltending needs to be more consistent than it's been - both of them.
- StLBravesFan

Still think overall CHI goaltending tandem > Preds tandem and have been more consistent too. Seros (sp?) may be better than Rinne. Ageee with whoever said CHI forward core is deeper. Tho the Preds Swedish 2 are pretty darn good - Arvidson must be darn good because he annoys me!

"I hope that Panarin has the same kind of ability to score goals in the playoff as he did to earn his secondary performance bonus. Last year vs the Blues missed a couple of wide open nets. "



Neverminding that since goals have always been the scoring tie-breaker that Kane and Panarin both had 7 points in 7 games but Panarin had 2 goals to Kane's 1 -that, technically Panarin led the team in playoff scoring last season...

and that an assist is as good as a goal...
- steve-hist-sdc

Toews 0 goals as well

Tarasenko potted #39. 13:25 left.

Hey guys good luck to you! Classy move by Duncan Kieth yesterday after the OT goal, retrieved the puck out of the net and sent it to center ice to Quick. Quick gave it to Bob Miller our retiring announcer.

During almost every playoff there's an upset in the first round. Last season it was the Preds over the Ducks. The year before it was the Wild over the Blues. The year before that it was the Wild over the Avs.

This season it will be Nashville over Chicago, mark my words.
- DarthKane

Just in case you're serious this time, I don't agree with everything, but I agree it could happen if there is a lot of special teams play. Five on five and they cover Arvedssen(sp?)
then I'd think the hawks would come out on top.

Hey guys good luck to you! Classy move by Duncan Kieth yesterday after the OT goal, retrieved the puck out of the net and sent it to center ice to Quick. Quick gave it to Bob Miller our retiring announcer.
- arh777

Hope too see you guys back in playoffs next year!

Tarasenko potted #39. 13:25 left.
- MartiniMan

He had 2 assists tonight I believe. Still don't know how that impacts Panarin, thought it was done and Panarin gets the bonus.

They're may be other upsets, but the Preds/Hawks will be the biggest.

Preds PK > Hawks PK
Preds PP > Hawks PP
Preds goaltending > Hawks goaltending
Preds defense > Hawks defense
Preds offence = Hawks offence (2 goals separate them over the season)

Add this all up and you get an upset.
- DarthKane

You gotta be poopting me! The Subban - Weber trade makes so much difference. That grenade launcher from the Blue line was the Preds #1 weapon in the playoffs. Preds are a lesser team now.

He had 2 assists tonight I believe. Still don't know how that impacts Panarin, thought it was done and Panarin gets the bonus.
- kwolf68

Panarin will finish outside the top 10 in scoring

So when is game 1?

Panarin will finish outside the top 10 in scoring
- etchtech

Using the NHL.com stats this is what I come up with:
Schedule B bonuses (maximum of $1.725 million): $1,725,000 for any of the following achievements - top 10 forward in the league in goals/assists/points/points per game (min 42GP); top 5 in league in Hart/Selke/Richard voting; NHL First or Second team all star; Conn Smythe

Player Team Pos P↓
1 Connor McDavid EDM C 98
2 Sidney Crosby PIT C 89
3 Patrick Kane CHI R 89
4 Nicklas Backstrom WSH C 86
5 Nikita Kucherov TBL R 85
6 Brad Marchand BOS L 85
7 Mark Scheifele WPG C 82
8 Brent Burns SJS D 76
9 Vladimir Tarasenko STL R 75
10 Leon Draisaitl EDM C 75
11 Artemi Panarin CHI L 74
12 Blake Wheeler WPG R 74
13 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 72

22nd in Goals
28th in Assists
22nd in Points Per game

***Burns is a DEFENSEMAN, so Panarin moves up to 10th.

If this is incorrect, please let me know.

Using the NHL.com stats this is what I come up with:
Schedule B bonuses (maximum of $1.725 million): $1,725,000 for any of the following achievements - top 10 forward in the league in goals/assists/points/points per game (min 42GP); top 5 in league in Hart/Selke/Richard voting; NHL First or Second team all star; Conn Smythe

Player Team Pos P↓
1 Connor McDavid EDM C 98
2 Sidney Crosby PIT C 89
3 Patrick Kane CHI R 89
4 Nicklas Backstrom WSH C 86
5 Nikita Kucherov TBL R 85
6 Brad Marchand BOS L 85
7 Mark Scheifele WPG C 82
8 Brent Burns SJS D 76
9 Vladimir Tarasenko STL R 75
10 Leon Draisaitl EDM C 75
11 Artemi Panarin CHI L 74
12 Blake Wheeler WPG R 74
13 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 72

22nd in Goals
28th in Assists
22nd in Points Per game

***Burns is a DEFENSEMAN, so Panarin moves up to 10th.

If this is incorrect, please let me know.
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Spot on Matt......Breadman earns his bonus finishing in a tie for 10th. That's 3 minimum salary players next year. Oh well, now it looks like Krugs, Crow or both are probably gone. The crazy thing is Malkin only played in 62 games yet finished a mere 2 points behind him. If Malkin doesn't get hurt......Breadman probably finishes outside the top 10. Hopefully he and his teammates will make it all academic (more or less) by winning Cup #4 in two months.

Best time of year starting Thursday, well except for the recently completed Masters' week that is!!!!

Edit:

TECHNICALLY if our favorite Duck (Getzlaf) gets 3 points in the last 8 minutes or OT of tonight's game, Breadman finishes 11th.........good luck with that.

Edm blogger on McDavid: He’s the best player in the NHL and the Oilers don’t have to apologize to anybody for that. And make no mistake, he’s the best player in the NHL. It isn’t Crosby anymore (who is still fantastic). This kid is the game-genie of the National Hockey League. He’s too fast, too skilled, too smart, and too driven.


hmmmm...agree or not?

oil could win the pacific with a win and edm loss....and so far so good

Edm blogger on McDavid: He’s the best player in the NHL and the Oilers don’t have to apologize to anybody for that. And make no mistake, he’s the best player in the NHL. It isn’t Crosby anymore (who is still fantastic). This kid is the game-genie of the National Hockey League. He’s too fast, too skilled, too smart, and too driven.


hmmmm...agree or not?

oil could win the pacific with a win and edm loss....and so far so good
- bogiedoc

Agree. McDavid is the best ... and he's only 20!

Agree. McDavid is the best ... and he's only 20!
- EbonyRaptor

Agreed, Anaheim is too strong through the middle though. They could beat the Sharks. But soon....

I don't know about you guys - but I look forward to resident "smashville" d-bag McCann calling us a bunch of bandwagon fans during his pre/post game write ups.

The Hawks have better goaltending and forward corp - Hawks in 6.
- Chief4Feathers

I mean if you arent a bandwagon fan then you arent a bandwagon fan. Point is there are a poopload of bandwagon hawksuckers out there and in attendance. Some people think its funny and edgy to wear opposing team gear and be an obnoxious douche at the games. It happened in the Detroit days, it'll keep happening as long as Chicago stays successful. Its like out of state Patriots fans. Games have to be played for a reason and anything can happen.

I'm respecting my team, not disrespecting yours. A notion that alot of fans visiting opposing arenas should take into consideration. GL hawkbros cause were all in for a rough ride.

Remembering last summer and the rumors going around about players the Blackhawks should acquire. For what it is worth:

Jiri Hudler: GP: 32; G: 3; A: 8; P: 11
Jimmy Vesey GP: 80; G: 17; A: 12; P: 27

Ryan Hartman GP: 76; G: 19; A: 12; P: 31
Nick Schmaltz GP: 61; G: 6; A: 22; P: 28

I can't even remember the other rumors. But credit to Stan, the front office, and Q on the roster choices.

Carolina wins in o.t. Bickell with a shootout goal. Nice finish.

BICKS! 17 seconds of glory.

Remembering last summer and the rumors going around about players the Blackhawks should acquire. For what it is worth:

Jiri Hudler: GP: 32; G: 3; A: 8; P: 11
Jimmy Vesey GP: 80; G: 17; A: 12; P: 27

Ryan Hartman GP: 76; G: 19; A: 12; P: 31
Nick Schmaltz GP: 61; G: 6; A: 22; P: 28

I can't even remember the other rumors. But credit to Stan, the front office, and Q on the roster choices.
- matt_ahrens

I was thinking about this recently as well. Boedker was of interest and has around 25 points with the Sharks. Plus, Panik was supposed to be a bottom-6 grinder yet he outpaced all of these guys with 22 goals and 44 points.

Congrats to Bickell and everything he did for the Hawks

Classy player, took a huge team friendly deal prior to him leading the team to Cup #2. Would never have won it without him. Guy is an absolute warrior and was a pleasure to watch his career. The MS doesn't stand a chance against him. Thanks, Bick and best wishes

:/ ... to all of those bloggers out there talking about Panarin's goal being a $2.5 mil goal... a reality check. Say Kane takes that shot and scores - Panarin gets a secondary assist and has the same amount of points anyway. Panarin passed it to Keith who I think faked the shot and passed it to Kane - who had Quick diving to his left - put it on Panarin's stick -and Quick couldn't dive back right (and who could, really) ... the LA D man dove late ...

I think too that 'tied for 10th' in reality, the tie-breaker is always goals scored first -and Panarin already had that over Wheeler whether he got a goal or not.

Face it, pay the man his money, he's been worth it.

Sitting the guy out when there was nothing else to play for, frankly that would have been a Dollar Bill move, and been counter to the culture established by Rocky Wirtz. Boo hoo - the salary cap, but whatever... it is what it is. It always has been.


For the record, I'm still shook up that the lost Stahlberg

First round schedule is out or partially out. I can't believe they're actually starting a game before 830pm central oh wait game 3 at Nashville 930pm start Eastern...thanks Gary.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-280159064?tid=287339198

Blackhawks Breakdown @HawksBreakdown
2h

When Kruger and Hartman are on the ice together at 5v5 (238 minutes this season), CHI takes 60% of total shots, scores 73% of total goals.