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!


- ECBloosier

I wish that were the truth.

Should be a good serie!

In the East, I only hope Mtl survives against Tampa.

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)
- John Jaeckel

wow, those faceoff percentages are really really close......why does that mean they aren't good for anaheim?

wow, those faceoff percentages are really really close......why does that mean they aren't good for anaheim?
- nurk

Vermette has been having a ton of success at the dot during his time in Chicago, and especially in the playoffs. Huge, huge help, especially later in games and when you need to win a defensive zone draw.

Vermette has been having a ton of success at the dot during his time in Chicago, and especially in the playoffs. Huge, huge help, especially later in games and when you need to win a defensive zone draw.
- stp1978

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. is that what he meant by (not with vermette). i still don't see how that impacts the ducks faceoff percentage.

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.
- ECBloosier

Ah, what do you know about long time suffering? In terms of years without a title: Blues + Maple Leafs < Cubs

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. is that what he meant by (not with vermette). i still don't see how that impacts the ducks faceoff percentage.
- nurk

Umm, it will when they're facing off against him? No?

I know most people had the Hawks winning against the Preds...I also know that almost everyone had the Hawks Wild going 7, and some saying the Wild would win while others that the Hawks would win with some saying it is too close to call

I guess what I'm saying is it depends which Hawks team is going to show up,and which Crow is going to show up too...Ducks are an excellent team and shouldn't be thought of as weak because they had an easier path to the WCF...I also know that they don't have the D that the Preda do, nor a Suter type that the Wild do...but they have 2 superstar fwds in Getzlaf and Perry plus Kesler

One thing that worries me is did Kane possibly play his best already against the Wild? Is it realistic for Hawks fans to think he can keep tearing up any team that comes along? Hawks are gonna need even more depth scoring this round-Shaw,Bickell,Vermette,Teravainen are all going to need to step it up, and the D is going to need to be top notch now with Rozy gone....ugh not feeling good

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. is that what he meant by (not with vermette). i still don't see how that impacts the ducks faceoff percentage.
- nurk

Something's going to have to give when both teams have season percentages over 50%, right? Meaning, JJ thinks the Hawks are going to have a slight advantage over the Ducks at the dot over the course of the series.

Anaheim has the same guys taking draws as they did all year. Chicago has added Vermette, and he's been pretty strong at faceoffs. For a puck possession team like the Hawks, winning a majority of the draws is a precursor to success.

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.
- Elbows15

Wouldn't it be funny though if 15 of Rundblad's "+18" differential was he stepped on the ice 2 seconds before the 'Hawks scored?

Umm, it will when they're facing off against him? No?
- John Jaeckel

and the blackhawks faceoff men will be impacted by the ducks guys that went 51.4%. No?

Problem with that theory:

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

Fowler
Beauchemin
Lindholm
Stoner
Lovejoy
Vatanen
- John Jaeckel

That's not the problem with my theory. The October 28 game had the same defensive lineup, but Lovejoy was out for Fistric. That's not exactly an upgrade. Now they'll be playing with the same lineup substituting Despres. That's an upgrade over Fistric.

Like I said, I see the Blackhawks taking this series in 6 barring a major injury. I had these two teams in my bracket, and I had Chicago taking it. But Dubnyk was a paper tiger. The Nashville win was impressive. But without their best player, Shea Weber, for the last 4+ games, I'm not sure what it says.

This I know: This series will be worth watching. You'll see me there Friday night.

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.


- RickJ

In regards to your Hab post of earlier. Who is Courneyor? Cause that little SOB gave the Hawks fits.

Umm, it will when they're facing off against him? No?
- John Jaeckel

Also read the blog, I don't know who's gonna win more draws in this series. I do know that odds are Anaheim won't win 55%, like they did in rounds 1 and 2, not against Toews, Kruger and Vermette. At least, I don't think so.

Vermette's been an absolute machine in the dot.

And that's the gist of it. The puck possession numbers (regular seasons and playoffs at least as far as giveaway/takeaway) favor Chicago—and when that's the case, they usually win.

That's not the problem with my theory. The October 28 game had the same defensive lineup, but Lovejoy was out for Fistric. That's not exactly an upgrade. Now they'll be playing with the same lineup substituting Despres. That's an upgrade over Fistric.

Like I said, I see the Blackhawks taking this series in 6 barring a major injury. I had these two teams in my bracket, and I had Chicago taking it. But Dubnyk was a paper tiger. The Nashville win was impressive. But without their best player, Shea Weber, for the last 4+ games, I'm not sure what it says.

This I know: This series will be worth watching. You'll see me there Friday night.
- yzermaneely

I think these are very fair-minded, accurate comments.

and the blackhawks faceoff men will be impacted by the ducks guys that went 51.4%. No?
- nurk

The percentage for the Hawks doesn't include Vermette's uber dominant roughly 70% win rate over the last round.
EDIT: and what JJ said.

and the blackhawks faceoff men will be impacted by the ducks guys that went 51.4%. No?
- nurk

Sure. See my comment above.

And then go back to the original post. nothing like pulling out one sat (of three) to go after.

The takeaway/giveaway numbers strongly favor Chicago (regular season and playoff). The face-off numbers are slightly in favor of Chicago, regular season without a really good face-off guy for most of the season. Taken together (as they were presented together) it indicates a possession advantage for a team that plays a puck possession style.

and the blackhawks faceoff men will be impacted by the ducks guys that went 51.4%. No?
- nurk

Oh, you might want to check out Crawford's numbers versus the Ducks this year and Andersen's versus Chicago. Just . . . because.

Wouldn't it be funny though if 15 of Rundblad's "+18" differential was he stepped on the ice 2 seconds before the 'Hawks scored?
- blackhawk24

The real concern for me regarding Rundblad at the moment is he really struggles after long layoffs.

Say a couple of stories that said he was working hard in practice trying to stay ready. Says something that Q came right out and ended a lot of speculation by naming him fairly early on.

He just needs to be serviceable. Not great. He is surrounded by experienced vets. 2 of which are his countrymen. That can't do anything but help the kid. IMHO.

I know most people had the Hawks winning against the Preds...I also know that almost everyone had the Hawks Wild going 7, and some saying the Wild would win while others that the Hawks would win with some saying it is too close to call

I guess what I'm saying is it depends which Hawks team is going to show up,and which Crow is going to show up too...Ducks are an excellent team and shouldn't be thought of as weak because they had an easier path to the WCF...I also know that they don't have the D that the Preda do, nor a Suter type that the Wild do...but they have 2 superstar fwds in Getzlaf and Perry plus Kesler

One thing that worries me is did Kane possibly play his best already against the Wild? Is it realistic for Hawks fans to think he can keep tearing up any team that comes along? Hawks are gonna need even more depth scoring this round-Shaw,Bickell,Vermette,Teravainen are all going to need to step it up, and the D is going to need to be top notch now with Rozy gone....ugh not feeling good
- captainserious

I think Kane might run wild this series. He's rested, his line is clicking. His track record versus ANA this season is very strong.

Oh, you might want to check out Crawford's numbers versus the Ducks this year and Andersen's versus Chicago. Just . . . because.
- John Jaeckel

wait, crawford and anderson took faceoffs vs each other in the regular season?

when was this?

i used facts. sorry
- nurk

Yeah, so did I, you conveniently chose to misinterpret them to suit the purpose of being a troll and a troublemaker. And to add an insult that was entirely unnecessary.

See where that gets ya.

wait, crawford and anderson took faceoffs vs each other in the regular season?

when was this?
- nurk

Bye Nurk.

wait, crawford and anderson took faceoffs vs each other in the regular season?

when was this?
- nurk

Fredrik Andersen is the Ducks goalie, not Craig Anderson, Dr. FactCheckerdude.

See what I did there?

Also read the blog, I don't know who's gonna win more draws in this series. I do know that odds are Anaheim won't win 55%, like they did in rounds 1 and 2, not against Toews, Kruger and Vermette. At least, I don't think so.

Vermette's been an absolute machine in the dot.

And that's the gist of it. The puck possession numbers (regular seasons and playoffs at least as far as giveaway/takeaway) favor Chicago—and when that's the case, they usually win.
- John Jaeckel

Calgary and Winnipeg also not good faceoff teams like CHI

Calgarys two best faceoff men - Colborne at 52.4% and Stajan at 50.3%
WPGs two best faceoff men - Slater at 59.4% and Perreault at 51.6%

CHI has 3 guys better than Calgarys best guy and 3 guys better than WPGs second best guy in Vermette, Toews, and Kruger

Oh yea, and Shaw finished the year at 50.1% if need be