Do the Pens look dreadful or what?...

...conversely, the Bruins look great.

Sweep likely in the east.
- ArlingtonRob

And in the West......

Wow does Fleury suck,.......

Don't care who wins just want to see a long series.
- eagle50

It is going to be really hard for the pens to win in Boston. This could be a sweep. I actually hate both teams. I would have rather played the pens, though. Boston looks a lot tougher to play, plus with the pens it would have been really exciting run-and-gun type of series

It is going to be really hard for the pens to win in Boston. This could be a sweep. I actually hate both teams. I would have rather played the pens, though. Boston looks a lot tougher to play, plus with the pens it would have been really exciting run-and-gun type of series
- tomcat24

Find solace in the fact that Boston is only really rolling 2 lines of offense.

The Lucic/Krejci/Horton has been pretty much it, with contributions from Marchand and Bergeron.

Not saying if the Hawks/Bruins do meet that it will be easy, but the Hawks have weapons in many different places.

Wow. I hope the team has a far more realistic attitude than this board. We have had a some great effort and games but lets not get too overly confident. A few favorable bounces and they could be kicking our a**. We have to really work our butts off to ensure that doesn't happen especially going into their turf now!
- fvineze

I'm incredibly realistic. Look at that list and tell me which of those teams had/have the defensive depth/skill and forward speed that the Hawks do.

Antti Raanta is a nice depth acquisition at this point. Time will tell how it works out, but since the Hawks have few quality goalie prospects finding them outside the organization is a must.
- ArlingtonRob

Agree....

Wow. I hope the team has a far more realistic attitude than this board. We have had a some great effort and games but lets not get too overly confident. A few favorable bounces and they could be kicking our a**. We have to really work our butts off to ensure that doesn't happen especially going into their turf now!
- fvineze

I'm overly confident, but I don't think it will have any bearing on the outcome of the next game. But maybe if you wish hard enough will be in luck!

I'm incredibly realistic. Look at that list and tell me which of those teams had/have the defensive depth/skill and forward speed that the Hawks do.
- CaptainBlackhawk

The only ones that come close from that list are the Bruins, but they don't have the forward depth or the defensive speed that the Hawks have.

I'm incredibly realistic. Look at that list and tell me which of those teams had/have the defensive depth/skill and forward speed that the Hawks do.
- CaptainBlackhawk

our depth wasn't lookin too impressive when we were down 3 games to 1 vice Detroit. Just saying, on more than one occasion its been - for the grace of god...

And I would say you are wrong and am undermining the whole premise of an MVP if you believe he is the MVP based on his performance so far.

- fvineze

Explain the premise of an MVP and say how Crawford doesn't meet those? Certainly no forward has been good enough, maybe Keith, but Crawford's numbers are getting ridiculous?

our depth wasn't lookin too impressive when we were down 3 games to 1 vice Detroit. Just saying, on more than one occasion its been - for the grace of god...
- fvineze

Yet our depth allowed us to win the last three games and capture the series, AND take a 2-0 lead in the conference finals and you're still here trying to piss in people's Cheerios

Explain the premise of an MVP and say how Crawford doesn't meet those? Certainly no forward has been good enough, maybe Keith, but Crawford's numbers are getting ridiculous?
- rollpards19

Crawford and Keith have been the MVP's to this point. I'd be ok with either one.

Find solace in the fact that Boston is only really rolling 2 lines of offense.

The Lucic/Krejci/Horton has been pretty much it, with contributions from Marchand and Bergeron.

Not saying if the Hawks/Bruins do meet that it will be easy, but the Hawks have weapons in many different places.
- teh_HAWKZ

They remind me a little of LA. A few guys with actual skill then like a million grinders who are at a huge advantage in the playoffs.

And in the West......
- mrpaulish

One difference though...Bruins winning first two on the road, which rips the heart out of the Pens.

Yet our depth allowed us to win the last three games and capture the series, AND take a 2-0 lead in the conference finals and you're still here trying to piss in people's Cheerios
- darkman

Nope, not my intent. Just, that I'd rather the cheerios be in the Cup.

our depth wasn't lookin too impressive when we were down 3 games to 1 vice Detroit. Just saying, on more than one occasion its been - for the grace of god...
- fvineze

The Hawks were down to Detroit for a few different reasons:

- They were hitting posts and not net

- Howard played out of mind/unbelievable

- the depth I spoke about 100% lead to the Hawks winning 3 games in a row against a very good Detroit team AND taking a 2-0 lead against the defending champs. That actually furthers my statement.

The Hawks had numerous chances to score - they weren't burying those chances.

You're avoiding the question - and that's OK. There isn't a team in hockey that can match the Hawks talent on the blue line or forward speed. And out of that list that I supplied none of those teams could match that either.

It's simply confidence in the statement. Saying that, the Kings are a big time opponent - I fully expect this still to be a very good series.

Wow does Fleury suck,.......



- mrpaulish

Yet he has a ring...and I recall vividly when the Pens "upset" the Lidstrom led Wings, winning game 7 in Detroit...

...which was nice.

Crawford and Keith have been the MVP's to this point. I'd be ok with either one.
- darkman

To me this is what makes the hawks such a great TEAM. It is pretty hard to pick an mvp. Just like in 2010. There could have been as many as 6 players who could have been named the MVP. I still don't think toews should have been it. In 2011 it was really obvious about Tim thomas. Not even close. And last year Quick was the Easy choice

Nope, not my intent. Just, that I'd rather the cheerios be in the Cup.
- fvineze

But you'd still piss in them?

And I would say you are wrong and am undermining the whole premise of an MVP if you believe he is the MVP based on his performance so far.

- fvineze

So tell me what is the premise of an MVP in your eyes, cause Quick won it last year with 1.41ga and .946sv% and Crawford is at 1.67ga and .938sv% I'm not saying it will stay there or we will win it all but if we do and his numbers stay around this area he might!

Yet he has a ring...and I recall vividly when the Pens "upset" the Lidstrom led Wings, winning game 7 in Detroit...

...which was nice.
- ArlingtonRob

Yeah almost had 2 rings. Back-to-back Cup finals. He had the talent. He was a top draft pick for a reason. Too bad, though.

One difference though...Bruins winning first two on the road, which rips the heart out of the Pens.
- ArlingtonRob

What heart? Haven't seen any from the Pens yet. And their totally overrated minor league coach Bylsma has no answers either.

To me this is what makes the hawks such a great TEAM. It is pretty hard to pick an mvp. Just like in 2010. There could have been as many as 6 players who could have been named the MVP. I still don't think toews should have been it. In 2011 it was really obvious about Tim thomas. Not even close. And last year Quick was the Easy choice
- tomcat24

3rd most points since the lockout. Elite point production plus 200 foot game plus kills penalties plus 13 game point streak = Conn Smythe

Crawford and Keith have been the MVP's to this point. I'd be ok with either one.
- darkman

Agree. One of the great things is that no one player truly stands out, IMO. Keith, Crawford, Bickell, Hossa, Sharp...an argument can be made for any of them.

I'd give my vote to Keith at this point: his defense has been great, tied for the team lead in +/- at +7, playing against the best the other team has to offer, 1 G, 9A and 4 PPA as well.

That being said, part of me would want Sharp to win the Conn Smythe just to make Ogi shift uncomfortably in his pilot's seat.

Pens are blowing bronto and I can't see Boston losing the ECF.