Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

would actually prefer that...

President's trophy and an easy first round 4-1 win and we are now going to insert a guy who didn't play a minute this year? Makes no sense at all.
- ilinkhawk

Seems they are just plugging different guys into 2C (ostensibly, Handzus is "resting"). Feels like a Q mindgame and maybe a little bit of an audition as far as his options. He probably knows who he's putting there Game 1, it's probably either Bolland or Handzus. Or Kruger. Or . . .

Great analysis. Abdelkader is not being taken lightly by the Hawks, BTW. And Smith and Quincey are in the cross hairs Game 1. Ben Smith is in there because he is greasy as hell around the opponent's net.
- John Jaeckel

Justin A. Classic playoff style who's game shines much more postseason. You need guys like this on your squad....

This is a Hawks thread, so of course it's pro-Hawks. The Hawks haven't lost in regulation in two years to the Wings. Hopefully though only the fans are overconfident and the team is taking this one game at a time.
- Hemingways

Yeah, I get it. I guess I'm just used to a more balanced, unbiased viewpoint from the Wings blogger.

You may be the only one...
- drice97

Hawks In 5

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

Not true.

Four Detroit beat writers took the Hawks yesterday. I haven't heard one yet that hasn't (although Khan wasn't one of those guys).

Three things could tip this series to the Wings: a big injury, Crawford giving up a soft goal at a bad time, or the Hawks come out flat and don't recover fast enough.

Otherwise, it is an uphill slog for the Wings. If you can't see that, maybe you're the one with the homer glasses on. Just saying.

Yeah, I get it. I guess I'm just used to a more balanced, unbiased viewpoint from the Wings blogger.
- drice97

if he is unbiased then he should not be called a "wings" blogger

Yeah, I get it. I guess I'm just used to a more balanced, unbiased viewpoint from the Wings blogger.
- drice97

You must be new around here. JJ is one of the more unbiased, non-homer bloggers on this site. I think you are getting the posters on here confused with the blogger. JJ may have picked the Hawks to win the series (as most are, even your hometown beat writers) but he has been more than reverential to the Wings in his previews.

Anything can happen in the NHL. All of these teams are good. But it is was it is... Kind of hard to make a case the Wings should beat the Hawks isn't it??
- ilinkhawk

Uphill battle for sure, for the Wings. I won't dispute that. But it's the playoffs. I've said in previous threads, the playoffs are quirky. We all know it's a game of inches (centimeters if you're in Canada) and sometimes, no matter how much you battle, the bounces just don't go your way. Sometimes, no matter how good your team is, it's the puck-luck that can save, or doom, a team.

I don't think the Wings are as old and slow as your blogger would have you believe. The Wings are playing much better than they were the last time they played the Hawks. It's not the same team. I'm not saying the Wings will win the series. I just don't think they're going to get steamrolled, like it seems most on this blog do.

Yeah, I get it. I guess I'm just used to a more balanced, unbiased viewpoint from the Wings blogger.
- drice97

My response is in your post.

If you want an analysis slanted to the team that is 7-0-2 against the favorite over the last two years and lost 7-1 in their last (or next to last, I forget) meeting, I'm sure you can find a more "balanced" perspective from a Wing writer or blogger. Somewhere.

I mean, saying the Wings execute their system flawlessly, do the little things necessary to win, are masterfully coached, all those thingsm that the Hawk power play sucks—that's biased.

Apparently, regardless, it's not enough for you.

Good lord.

Good grief, reading this blog, one would think it's utterly pointless to even play the games. Just move the Blackhawks into the WCF and save the travel expenses.
- drice97

Not from me. The Wings are a class organization with a great coach. This series will be far from a cake walk. Cant wait for the games to begin. Wont say Im sad to see you guys head to the eastern conference though..

if he is unbiased then he should not be called a "wings" blogger
- bogiedoc

He's an Oilers fan, but he blogs for the Wings.

Uphill battle for sure, for the Wings. I won't dispute that. But it's the playoffs. I've said in previous threads, the playoffs are quirky. We all know it's a game of inches (centimeters if you're in Canada) and sometimes, no matter how much you battle, the bounces just don't go your way. Sometimes, no matter how good your team is, it's the puck-luck that can save, or doom, a team.

I don't think the Wings are as old and slow as your blogger would have you believe. The Wings are playing much better than they were the last time they played the Hawks. It's not the same team. I'm not saying the Wings will win the series. I just don't think they're going to get steamrolled, like it seems most on this blog do.
- drice97

Who said they're getting steamrolled? I predicted Hawks in 6. Not a steamroling.

if he is unbiased then he should not be called a "wings" blogger
- bogiedoc

Perhaps you're not familiar with the definition of "unbiased"...

Not from me. The Wings are a class organization with a great coach. This series will be far from a cake walk. Cant wait for the games to begin. Wont say Im sad to see you guys head to the eastern conference though..
- z1990z

Something I say all the time, by the way.

Perhaps you're not familiar with the definition of "unbiased"...
- drice97

Why do you take shots at me and not engage in my responses?

Does anyone else think the Penguins are in big trouble against the Senators ?
- mrpaulish

In big trouble? No, the series hasn't even started yet.
Are they going to be a tougher test than the Islanders? Absolutely.
The Penguins still have more top-end talent than the Islanders, and if they can sore up some of their deficiencies (team defense, anyone?), they should win the series.
Also will be interesting to see if they stick with Vokoun, and if so, if he continues to play rock solid.

But that's a big "if"...

Something I say all the time, by the way.
- John Jaeckel

I know JJ... just putting that back out there for the Wings fans who think we are burning Yzerman jerseys in here.

Who said they're getting steamrolled? I predicted Hawks in 6. Not a steamroling.
- John Jaeckel

Hawks in 5...maybe a slight steamrolling

Whatever.

In big trouble? No, the series hasn't even started yet.
Are they going to be a tougher test than the Islanders? Absolutely.
The Penguins still have more top-end talent than the Islanders, and if they can sore up some of their deficiencies (team defense, anyone?), they should win the series.
Also will be interesting to see if they stick with Vokoun, and if so, if he continues to play rock solid.

But that's a big "if"...
- Holes02

Well.. I have Ottawa as the Eastern Conference Champ.. They are a motivated group with a vezina guy in net. Pens didnt look all that great against the Islanders. Would love nothing more then to watch the Pens get pounded and knocked out.

Lines from Myers...#Blackhawks lines: 20-19-81, 10-28-88, 29-36-65, 13-16-67.

Ben Smith centering 2nd line ? I'll be watching Smith to see if he's overcome his habit of neutral/d zone turnovers.

I HATE TURNOVERS by anyone.
- philco28

It looks like Smith is just keeping Handzus' spot warm on the 2nd line because he wasn't practicing today.

Why do you take shots at me and not engage in my responses?
- John Jaeckel

Jeez, John, give a guy a chance to respond.

Look, I've already said in a previous post that the Wings have an uphill battle. Two sentences about what the Wings do well doesn't necessarily contribute an "unbiased" opinion. The overall tone of your blog, and previous blog 'Hawks in 6' give the impression that it's just a formality to play these games.

I'm really not trying to troll. I get it, I'm in Hawks blog. You guys are confident and with good reason.

I know JJ... just putting that back out there for the Wings fans who think we are burning Yzerman jerseys in here.
- z1990z

Hell I'm burning his and pissing on fedorov's

It looks like Smith is just keeping Handzus' spot warm on the 2nd line because he wasn't practicing today.
- DarthKane

I have no problem with Handzus there. Even though he gave up a large pepperoni the other night, he is a very smart hockey player. I think just what Q wants more of in this series.