Michael Stuart: Three Reasons the Tampa Bay Lightning Will Win the Stanley Cup

Stop already. Do your homework and research for yourself. The "overworked" defense was supposed to crumble to the mighty Ducks heavy forecheck. Well, they got stronger as the series progressed. Fact.

Hope the Lightning can knock off the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks haven't faced a team with as much speed as the Lightning and I do think if the Lightning can win some possession time they have a really good shot of wearing out the Blackhawks defense but they have to start winning some face offs too.

Hope the Lightning can knock off the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks haven't faced a team with as much speed as the Lightning and I do think if the Lightning can win some possession time they have a really good shot of wearing out the Blackhawks defense but they have to start winning some face offs too.
- doppelthat

Absolutely. This is going to be key. Great point.

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.

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

I'm not too worried about what people think before the puck has even dropped for Game One. We can all make predictions. They're all equally meaningful, in that they're worthless. I think Chicago is the favorite in this series, and rightfully so. I also think Tampa could surprise people. I think it's going to be a great series either way, and I plan to analyze it/write about it just like I've done for the last three!

I'm not too worried about what people think before the puck has even dropped for Game One. We can all make predictions. They're all equally meaningful, in that they're worthless. I think Chicago is the favorite in this series, and rightfully so. I also think Tampa could surprise people. I think it's going to be a great series either way, and I plan to analyze it/write about it just like I've done for the last three!
- Michael_Stuart

Like I said I have no idea how the series will go, I do think it will be a great series to watch. Both teams play the game fast and skilled.

Stop already. Do your homework and research for yourself. The "overworked" defense was supposed to crumble to the mighty Ducks heavy forecheck. Well, they got stronger as the series progressed. Fact.
- powerenforcer

a) Mike said that tomorrow he;ll do the reverse blog. If you actually read what he writes consistently then you'll see that he's pretty fair.

b) Remember all those things you heard about McDonagh's broken foot? Or Staal having a fractured ankle? Or Girardi having an MCL sprain? Nope, because it'e the cup. At this moment in time the entire roster could be nursing injuries and they play through it because it's the cup. Even if they do not release anything formal, you bet those extra minutes are feeling tough right now...

a) Mike said that tomorrow he;ll do the reverse blog. If you actually read what he writes consistently then you'll see that he's pretty fair.

b) Remember all those things you heard about McDonagh's broken foot? Or Staal having a fractured ankle? Or Girardi having an MCL sprain? Nope, because it'e the cup. At this moment in time the entire roster could be nursing injuries and they play through it because it's the cup. Even if they do not release anything formal, you bet those extra minutes are feeling tough right now...
- lumlums

I'm not too worried about what people think before the puck has even dropped for Game One. We can all make predictions. They're all equally meaningful, in that they're worthless. I think Chicago is the favorite in this series, and rightfully so. I also think Tampa could surprise people. I think it's going to be a great series either way, and I plan to analyze it/write about it just like I've done for the last three!
- Michael_Stuart

three of four points in regular season, BUT OHEMGEE CHICAGO AHH GUNNA BE A DIENASTEE!!!!!

three of four points in regular season, BUT OHEMGEE CHICAGO AHH GUNNA BE A DIENASTEE!!!!!
- lumlums

Chicago in 3.

Not gonna lie ... I never watched the Bolts play very much so I am not familiar with the team . After game one , there will be plenty to talk about and we will all know where each team stands . Can't go by the 2 regular season games really , because the Hawks are playing wayyyyyyyyyyy better hockey in the playoffs then they did all season . Not sure about the bolts though ... Should be a fun series though and looking forward to it .... Good luck Bolt Fans ...

Chicago in 3.
- Michael_Stuart

Not gonna lie ... I never watched the Bolts play very much so I am not familiar with the team . After game one , there will be plenty to talk about and we will all know where each team stands . Can't go by the 2 regular season games really , because the Hawks are playing wayyyyyyyyyyy better hockey in the playoffs then they did all season . Not sure about the bolts though ... Should be a fun series though and looking forward to it .... Good luck Bolt Fans ...
- HurriKane

Bolts will test Crawford more than he'e been tested all playoffs. If he can stand on his head and play 0.930 then the cup is yours.


Even average play from him could see the cup having a FL postal code this coming year...

Bolts will test Crawford more than he'e been tested all playoffs. If he can stand on his head and play 0.930 then the cup is yours.


Even average play from him could see the cup having a FL postal code this coming year...
- lumlums

Well Crawford has outlasted Renne , Dubnyk , and Anderson so bring it on . We also have 4 lines that can score , how are the bolts 3 and 4 line ?

Bolts will test Crawford more than he'e been tested all playoffs. If he can stand on his head and play 0.930 then the cup is yours.


Even average play from him could see the cup having a FL postal code this coming year...
- lumlums

The Hawks won't test Bishop more than he's been tested all playoffs?
The Bolts have played a top 4 similar to the Hawks?

I truly believe the difference in this series will be two things:

- Can Tampa Bay get significantly more production from their 3rd and 4th lines.

- Will the Chicago top 4 be able to adequately slow down the top 2 lines of the Bolts

People seriously need to stop with this "overworked" "tired" Chicago bullpoop. It hasn't happened yet,

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

Well Crawford has outlasted Renne , Dubnyk , and Anderson so bring it on . We also have 4 lines that can score , how are the bolts 3 and 4 line ?
- HurriKane

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...

The Hawks won't test Bishop more than he's been tested all playoffs?
The Bolts have played a top 4 similar to the Hawks?

I truly believe the difference in this series will be two things:

- Can Tampa Bay get significantly more production from their 3rd and 4th lines.

- Will the Chicago top 4 be able to adequately slow down the top 2 lines of the Bolts

People seriously need to stop with this "overworked" "tired" Chicago bullpoop. It hasn't happened yet,
- CaptainBlackhawk

I love Toews. And I love Kane... but I think that the TBL brings more offense. CHI has a better D, but it's banged up. I think the series comes down to whichever D deals with the other O better...

TB will need to show team defense and a transition game like they had against the Habs in game 6, without it they are going to be steamrolled. All the areas that NYR and MTL are weak in the Hawks are one of the most dominant teams in (multiple shutdown lines that can score and multiple top pairing D-men; where the Hawks falter is sup-par goalie. TBs best chance is a tired top 4 from Chicago and Crawford giving up softies.

Tampa Bay is a very talented team, but, they are in for a big surprise!!
Chicago is going to overwhelm them in this series.
Hawks in 6.

Good blog. But I feel the need to point out:

We've been hearing the story that the Chicago D is going to fall start slipping for a while now. It hasn't happened yet. Could it? sure, but if I were a betting man.

Also, while Tampa's D has been able to be sheltered more, they haven't faced a team like the Hawks yet.

I liked points two and three though. Alghough Crawford, while shaky, will be reliable in this series.

Hawks vets get the job done where it counts, as they did last series.

Hawks in 6, in a very entertaining series.

Good blog. But I feel the need to point out:

We've been hearing the story that the Chicago D is going to fall start slipping for a while now. It hasn't happened yet. Could it? sure, but if I were a betting man.

Also, while Tampa's D has been able to be sheltered more, they haven't faced a team like the Hawks yet.

I liked points two and three though. Alghough Crawford, while shaky, will be reliable in this series.

Hawks vets get the job done where it counts, as they did last series.

Hawks in 6, in a very entertaining series.
- david22

"Oh man, you don't hear about he Hawks D being hurts..."


"STEP RIGHT UP: McDonagh has a broken foot, Girardi has an MCL sprain and Stall has a fractured ankle!!!"




Thank God we knew about that beforehand....

Good blog. But I feel the need to point out:

We've been hearing the story that the Chicago D is going to fall start slipping for a while now. It hasn't happened yet. Could it? sure, but if I were a betting man.

Also, while Tampa's D has been able to be sheltered more, they haven't faced a team like the Hawks yet.

I liked points two and three though. Alghough Crawford, while shaky, will be reliable in this series.

Hawks vets get the job done where it counts, as they did last series.

Hawks in 6, in a very entertaining series.
- david22

It becomes more likely with every passing series though, doesn't it? Especially with Tampa's speed.

I love Toews. And I love Kane... but I think that the TBL brings more offense. CHI has a better D, but it's banged up. I think the series comes down to whichever D deals with the other O better...
- lumlums

The Toews line vs the triplets will dictate this series. Aside from having the D that Chicago has; Toews and Hossa are both in the top 10 for converting defensive zone transitions and starts in to offensive zone production.