I believe one of the big factors will be quick accurate puck movement to thwart the Ducks' game. Flames, despite their best efforts, don't do it effectively--yet. Chicago is certainly capable of doing so. A fast-paced surgical game may be what is needed

Strong puck movement by the Hawks should help protect their top 4 & get Anaheim chasing & moving around more than they'd like, creating scoring chances and perhaps power play opportunities. Though the officiating in their 2nd round with Calgary seemed disturbingly loose to me.

Andersen didn't appear to be challenged much in the last series. Hopefully the Hawks provide that challenge for him--more than he can bear

Great post. I think the longer the series goes it favors Anaheim, though. Chicago has four defenseman for all intents and purposes, and the fatigue on those top 4 will give the Ducks a slight edge. Anaheim in 7.
- duxcup07

Like it did with Minnesota and Nashville?

You're trading MICHAL ROZSIVAL out for Rundblad, not Bobby Orr.

Hate to break it to ya, but injuries and all, there is more pressure on the Ducks D. They aren't facing Winnipeg or the Calgary Flames.

I believe one of the big factors will be quick accurate puck movement to thwart the Ducks' game. Flames, despite their best efforts, don't do it effectively--yet. Chicago is certainly capable of doing so. A fast-paced surgical game may be what is needed

Strong puck movement by the Hawks should help protect their top 4 & get Anaheim chasing & moving around more than they'd like, creating scoring chances and perhaps power play opportunities. Though the officiating in their 2nd round with Calgary seemed disturbingly loose to me.

Andersen didn't appear to be challenged much in the last series. Hopefully the Hawks provide that challenge for him--more than he can bear
- grinder10

Reading so many of your guys' posts about starting anybody but Rundblad has been highly entertaining but maybe it might not be so bad. To me, it seemed like during the regular season, we had some issues with the defense and not being able to move the puck as well as we did in the past. It seems that we are not having those same types of issues during these playoffs. Maybe it is the forwards coming back to help out the defensemen and present them with much better options to get the puck to to then move the puck up ice quickly, but it just seems like that aspect has changed. If that is indeed the case, and it continues during this next series, then maybe Rundblad might have some help that he did not during the regular season.

'm not into predicting series winners but if I was forced to bet it would be on the Blackhawks, for a couple of reasons:

1) Speed in transition. Anaheim regularly activated their defence and had them in very deep vs Calgary because they didn't worry much about how quickly the Flames could go the other way and score. Give the Hawks a bunch of 2 on 1's or 3 on 1's and the Ducks will get burned big time.

2) Puck possession - Getzlaf and Perry are great players but they aren't so good chasing and playing without the puck. They will be doing more of that in this series than they did in the regular season and so far in the playoffs. Q will be all over his team to play fast, very fast. Kruger will have a major role up against Getzlaf and/or Kesler.

3) Boudreau - at the NHL level has never beaten a top end coach. I don't see him matching wits with Q in a matchup game or doing well if he is playing from behind.
- RickJ

Completely agree with #1 & 2 Rick. Flames whiffed on so many open passes and missed some great chances as a result. I don't expect the same performance from the Hawks.

Reading so many of your guys' posts about starting anybody but Rundblad has been highly entertaining but maybe it might not be so bad. To me, it seemed like during the regular season, we had some issues with the defense and not being able to move the puck as well as we did in the past. It seems that we are not having those same types of issues during these playoffs. Maybe it is the forwards coming back to help out the defensemen and present them with much better options to get the puck to to then move the puck up ice quickly, but it just seems like that aspect has changed. If that is indeed the case, and it continues during this next series, then maybe Rundblad might have some help that he did not during the regular season.
- ChiveOn1988

Forwards have been doing much better with support. When they left the D alone on an island, their overall play and record reflected it.

My brain tells me Hawks in 6. But I also think injuries will play a huge part in this series. Which important Hawk is really fragile? That man will have a target on him.

The Hawks won't be facing 3 AHL defenders (Clark, Blacker, and Manson) like they did in Anaheim in November during the circus trip. This should be a great series. Let's go Ducks!
- yzermaneely

Problem with that theory:

Janaury 30, Honda Center, Chicago, 4-1. Anaheim defense:

Fowler
Beauchemin
Lindholm
Stoner
Lovejoy
Vatanen

Anaheim's D now has Lindholm, Despres, Vatanen, and Fowler. Stoner isn't really mobile but the rest of that group can move. Beauchemin is older now but still mobile. Certainly more legs than the last few years. I guess we will see how much of a difference it makes.
- tredbrta

This.

The Ducks D is very, VERY mobile IMO.

However, no true #1 D, not enough experience for guys like Lindholm, Vatanen, and Despres, and i expect them to be exposed in their own end.

On the other hand the Ducks will have their hands full with our top 4 on D, something they haven't come close to seeing yet in these playoffs. To go along with things the Ducks haven't seen and wont be prepared for you can add the Hawks forward depth, and notably the top end star power(Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Saad) that will cause matchup nightmares. Ducks wont be able to rely on their top line to dominate, and i dont think they have the depth beyond that to compensate considering who they're facing.

And for what its worth, we manhandled them twice in Anaheim during the regular season and easily outplayed them at home but unfortunately Gibson stood on his head.

Hawks will win the WCF in 5 games

'm not into predicting series winners but if I was forced to bet it would be on the Blackhawks, for a couple of reasons:

1) Speed in transition. Anaheim regularly activated their defence and had them in very deep vs Calgary because they didn't worry much about how quickly the Flames could go the other way and score. Give the Hawks a bunch of 2 on 1's or 3 on 1's and the Ducks will get burned big time.

2) Puck possession - Getzlaf and Perry are great players but they aren't so good chasing and playing without the puck. They will be doing more of that in this series than they did in the regular season and so far in the playoffs. Q will be all over his team to play fast, very fast. Kruger will have a major role up against Getzlaf and/or Kesler.

3) Boudreau - at the NHL level has never beaten a top end coach. I don't see him matching wits with Q in a matchup game or doing well if he is playing from behind.
- RickJ

More stats that are not good for ANA.


Regular season giveaway/takeaway:

Anaheim: 745/479
Chicago: 634/593

Faceoff%:

Anaheim 51.6%
Chicago 52% (without Vermette)

Unfortunately, the Ducks scored on that play.
- MartiniMan

Ha, good memory.

Wow what a series this is gonna be! I am one of the few here in STL that had said from the beginning don't count out the Hawks! They are the team to beat. Kane or not they still are and were the team to beat. Yeah my Blues are the Cubs of hockey!

Congrats and good Luck!

Saying that this series is gonna be the best of any series that could or will come. Either of these teams will most likely win the Cup. The East won't match up.

This should be a 7 game contest. Great offense by both teams. Both teams are deep up front. On defense you in Chicago have and awesome 4some in Keith, Seabrook, Odouya and Hammer. Ducks do not have the names or the superstar status of Chicago, but they play well as a 3 line unit. After the Hawks top 4, there's a huge drop off.

Upfront yeah so here come the STL outta me they are going to have a tough time with the Perry Getzlaf and Maroon line. Patrick has gone from a prospect to a man this year. Size can't be taught. In front of the net he has magical hands. Beware!

I am pulling. Only for the Ducks as an admitted homer in Pat....but it wouldn't surprise me to see the Hawks do it again. They are the cream of the crop when the Cup is on the line.

You would probably remember this - the great Montreal teams of the late 1970's coached by Scotty had 3 great defenceman (Savard, Robinson and Lapointe) and the rest of the D was made up of a group that Habs fans blamed every goal against on - Nyrop, Chartraw, Bouchard, Engblom and Jimmy Roberts. Team lost 8 games in 1976. They actually tied 12 games when they didn't feel like winning that badly.

Very different era but this Hawks team has a similar structure - Toews is Lemaire, Kane is Lafleur, Hossa is Bob Gainey with offence to his game, a big 3 on D in Keith, Hammer and Seabs and Q is like Scotty.

And the Ducks are the Bruins who desperately wanted to beat the Habs but couldn't.
- RickJ

Cool post on Hab comparisons
I have TOEWS as a modern day Belliveau

Problem with that theory:

Janaury 30, Honda Center, Chicago, 4-1. Anaheim defense:

Fowler
Beauchemin
Lindholm
Stoner
Lovejoy
Vatanen
- John Jaeckel

That was one of the Hawks' best games of the year. Held ANA to 22 SOG.
Rozi with 18:00 and Runblad with 10:00. No Timmo

This.

The Ducks D is very, VERY mobile IMO.

However, no true #1 D, not enough experience for guys like Lindholm, Vatanen, and Despres, and i expect them to be exposed in their own end.

On the other hand the Ducks will have their hands full with our top 4 on D, something they haven't come close to seeing yet in these playoffs. To go along with things the Ducks haven't seen and wont be prepared for you can add the Hawks forward depth, and notably the top end star power(Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Saad) that will cause matchup nightmares. Ducks wont be able to rely on their top line to dominate, and i dont think they have the depth beyond that to compensate considering who they're facing.

And for what its worth, we manhandled them twice in Anaheim during the regular season and easily outplayed them at home but unfortunately Gibson stood on his head.

Hawks will win the WCF in 5 games
- SimpleJack

Francois Beauchemin is in their top pairing. Think about that. Pretty good defenseman, but he's maybe #4 on the Hawks.

Again, all the matchup pressure is on Boudreau to try to stop the Hawks, not the other way around

Cool post on Hab comparisons
I have TOEWS as a modern day Messier (or Trottier)
- Colbyboy

Fixed.

(all these Frenchie tough guy center men must be about to give Rick an aneurysm)

That's what an ass clown with an inferiority complex will deliver to you.

Hawks are 29-0 when leading after 2 periods. Ducks trailed every game after 2 periods against the Jets.
If they continue to fall behind they are in big trouble. If they don't it's going 7

I dont feel Hawks in 6

I feel it goes 7 and it is an Epic series.

We shall see

If both teams stay relatively healthy I will go with Chicago in 7

Good Luck

i think where scribes get into trouble is when they start talking about teams from conferences or divisions they don't normally cover. I have heard the BEST in the business make this mistake at times. Don't ask me about the Eastern Conference. I can tell you some things. But I know how much I don't know.
- John Jaeckel

But would you bloviate about something you don't know? That's the difference.

I guess one of the primary tenets of journalism is long gone: Know your facts.

Fixed.

(all these Frenchie tough guy center men must be about to give Rick an aneurysm)
- John Jaeckel

Every time the Habs lose in the playoffs I tune in online to 690 TSN radio postgame to make my evening. They are on for about 4 hours skewering Coach Therrien, his mother, his ex-wife, the team's bad luck, the anti Montreal referees, Gary Bettman etc. It's hilarious.

When they win a game, its unbearable listening to them.

There's that. However, what I was getting at was the reliability of the +/- stat, in relation to that stat being skewed - with Rundblad's +/- inflated due to being used predominately in offensive situations, as opposed to being counted on defending against a team's top parings, critical defensive situations, ect.

Just my opinion, but the +/- of Rundblad is something that doesn't quite serve as some legitimate way to define that he isn't as bad as advertised by others here.
- EKolb13

So Q put him a position to succeed which exactly what I said.

As to your second point. Its my opinion that that their opinions don't serve to legitimize their point that he s bad as they think he is.

Or are you telling me I am not allowed to have my own opinion? Cause that is sure what it looks like to me.

This.

The Ducks D is very, VERY mobile IMO.

However, no true #1 D, not enough experience for guys like Lindholm, Vatanen, and Despres, and i expect them to be exposed in their own end.

On the other hand the Ducks will have their hands full with our top 4 on D, something they haven't come close to seeing yet in these playoffs. To go along with things the Ducks haven't seen and wont be prepared for you can add the Hawks forward depth, and notably the top end star power(Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Saad) that will cause matchup nightmares. Ducks wont be able to rely on their top line to dominate, and i dont think they have the depth beyond that to compensate considering who they're facing.

And for what its worth, we manhandled them twice in Anaheim during the regular season and easily outplayed them at home but unfortunately Gibson stood on his head.

Hawks will win the WCF in 5 games
- SimpleJack

They are also very young and inexperienced.

While that is the case, most coaches like one Lefty and one Righty in a pairing... so doing Seabs/Rundblad is 2 rightys and KT and Keith is 2 lefties.

I expect blended pairings roughly broken out to something like this

27/4- 21 minutes a game
2/7- 16 minutes a game
2/5- 8 minutes a game
44/7- 7 minutes a game
2/4- 4 minutes a game
27/7- 2 minutes a game
44/5- 2 minutes a game

28 for Keith
25 for Hammer
25 for Seabs
23 for Oduya
10 for Runblad
9 for Timonen
- gnosox1986

That low, eh? Hope you're right on. Won't limit DK's overall game as much as I am fearing it will.

He needs to stop blogging on this site. He works for the Preds and is ridiculously biased towards them. Paul has made it very apparent that he doesn't know the game well enough to write about it. They should have never let Brandon Felder stop blogging.
- nikoli1206

He needs to stop blogging about hockey. There has to be someone in your parts, one of the diehards....who could do this. Probably dozen's of you guys who are diehards and write something good every two days.

Or are you telling me I am not allowed to have my own opinion? Cause that is sure what it looks like to me.
- Elbows15

I never said that.

Francois Beauchemin is in their top pairing. Think about that. Pretty good defenseman, but he's maybe #4 on the Hawks.

Again, all the matchup pressure is on Boudreau to try to stop the Hawks, not the other way around
- John Jaeckel

This is where Q will shine. And maybe not necessarily from game 1, shift 1.

How he runs out the top-2 lines - back to back every single chance he has - will tell us exactly how deep in poop Boudreau really gets, and perhaps too, how fast. Maybe even quicksand.

I can still remember how Q flipped flopped the line combos around mid/late in game 4 of the 2010 SCF, essentially telling Laviolette, "Have Pronger defend THIS!"