Sad, sad day.

Riley B. King - Memphis Blues Boy - BB King - one of the greatest American guitarists and musicians - and one of the last of his generation - died at 89.

The thrill is gone - for sure.
- StLBravesFan

Most definitely. We had our weekly private rat hockey session last night. A number of us found out via our phones while hanging out in the parking lot by cooler. It was really interesting to see that some of the 20 something year olds were as affected by it as us old fogies.

I'm glad I got to enjoy his place in Memphis but wish I could have seen him play a lot more.

Yes Sir, the thrill is gone and it is a sad day indeed. I saw BB King three times, once in the 70's as a teenager with my Dad when I didn't appreciate BB King or the music and wanted it to be over as soon as it began. Once in the 80's when I started to get it, and I took my Dad in the 90's when I loved the music and Mr. King as much as my Dad.
- paulr

I only saw him once, I was 4th row center when he opened for U2 in Ft. Worth. They brought him out during the encore and played 'When Love Comes to Town'. That segment ultimately appeared in the Rattle and Hum movie. Another great blues player gone.

youve th rown around more names and disrespect than anyone else in this blog, so get off your high (frank)in horse bro.

as ive tried to explain, i dont care about regular season stats when it comes to a prediction. 3 of the 82 games were against the ducks. every other game is against different competition on different nights with different circumstances. they dont mean anything to me. its a short playoff series where anything can happen, with 2 teams that are pretty stacked. thats all there is to it.

and stop with the minnesota stuff...i dont know a single person who picked the wild to win that series. theres a reason they got in as a wild card and had to go on a ridiculous 2nd half run to do it. smoke and mirrors.
- flyershockey

Coming on the blog to "mock the blogger" and stating your intent in the comments is not, umm, wise.

I’ve also heard the “you started it” argument before. I didn’t. I provided facts. You started getting personal. It went from there. I’m back to just providing facts.

Such as: in life, in hockey, on message boards, you can’t have it both ways.

“Stop about Minnesota”? Why? Because it deflates the lone logical underpinning you have—that playoff stats matter in a playoff matchup?

At this point, I’m not sure what your actual argument is, other than you don’t like the tone of my blog (something else you said). But when the guy from NBC Sports says essentially the same thing, that’s OK?

So it appears personal with you. You just seem too embroiled in this little squabble to step back and see it.

I will defend my arguments with the same logic I build them on. I don’t care if it’s you or anyone.

Coming on the blog to "mock the blogger" and stating your intent in the comments is not, umm, wise.

I’ve also heard the “you started it” argument before. I didn’t. I provided facts. You started getting personal. It went from there. I’m back to just providing facts.

Such as: in life, in hockey, on message boards, you can’t have it both ways.

“Stop about Minnesota”? Why? Because it deflates the lone logical underpinning you have—that playoff stats matter in a playoff matchup?

At this point, I’m not sure what your actual argument is, other than you don’t like the tone of my blog (something else you said). But when the guy from NBC Sports says essentially the same thing, that’s OK?

So it appears personal with you. You just seem too embroiled in this little squabble to step back and see it.

I will defend my arguments with the same logic I build them on. I don’t care if it’s you or anyone.
- John Jaeckel

if you just read my last post, you'd realize i said i dont care about any stats. i've said multiple times you can make them say anything you want to, as has been proven by both sides within these comments. everyone knew minnesota was a less talented and inferior team to the hawks, and it played out that way, irregardless of "stats." i never said anything about the blog from NBC sports. hes apparently a stats guy like you, cool. congrats.

my overall point is that i dont care what regular season stats say, this series is a toss up. you dont think the ducks have more than lets say a 5% chance to win the series because of stats from 79 other regular season games against different teams. to me thats laughable.

and you most certainly started with name calling before anyone else. and you do it all the time.

if you just read my last post, you'd realize i said i dont care about any stats. i've said multiple times you can make them say anything you want to, as has been proven by both sides within these comments. everyone knew minnesota was a less talented and inferior team to the hawks, and it played out that way, irregardless of "stats." i never said anything about the blog from NBC sports. hes apparently a stats guy like you, cool. congrats.

my overall point is that i dont care what regular season stats say, this series is a toss up. you dont think the ducks have more than lets say a 5% chance to win the series because of stats from 79 other regular season games against different teams. to me thats laughable.

and you most certainly started with name calling before anyone else. and you do it all the time.
- flyershockey

So basically, what you are saying is that nothing JJ wrote, outside of this series is a toss-up, would have convinced you of the merits of his stats/arguments? Got it.

So basically, what you are saying is that nothing JJ wrote, outside of this series is a toss-up, would have convinced you of the merits of his stats/arguments? Got it.
- QStache

every time he writes a series prediction blog for the hawks, its this this this this this favor hawks, hawks in 6. plenty of other people in here have said hawks in 6, no issue with that. the issue is how he always arrives to his hawks in 6 picking and choosing things that favor the hawks.

every time he writes a series prediction blog for the hawks, its this this this this this favor hawks, hawks in 6. plenty of other people in here have said hawks in 6, no issue with that. the issue is how he always arrives to his hawks in 6 picking and choosing things that favor the hawks.
- flyershockey

That's not accurate. You only have to go back one series prediction ago to see what he wrote before the MN series to know that is not the case:

This series has all the earmarks of a 7-game war.

My head says too close to call.

My heart says Chicago in 7.

every time he writes a series prediction blog for the hawks, its this this this this this favor hawks, hawks in 6. plenty of other people in here have said hawks in 6, no issue with that. the issue is how he always arrives to his hawks in 6 picking and choosing things that favor the hawks.
- flyershockey

and how often is he wrong compared to your predictions?....

That's not accurate. You only have to go back one series prediction ago to see what he wrote before the MN series to know that is not the case:
- QStache

so all those trusty stats didnt mean poop, eh? no way

My daughter got us to take her to Nashville and Memphis but never saw him there. I too loved the BBQ there, but man the portions were totally out of control. A platter for two at one BBQ joint in Nashville came on a lined garbage can lid and included 10 half cobs of corn, 10 corn bread muffic, the whole lid full of fries, a rack of ribs, 4 pork chops, pulled pork, beef brisket, beans and cole slaw. My wife and I could barely finish a quarter of it.

Did your daughter go there on a scholarship?
- paulr

This story sounds familiar. The story you told me you said you ordered two garbage can lids of food and all the in shape Americans sitting around your table were aghast that someone could eat so much.

every time he writes a series prediction blog for the hawks, its this this this this this favor hawks, hawks in 6. plenty of other people in here have said hawks in 6, no issue with that. the issue is how he always arrives to his hawks in 6 picking and choosing things that favor the hawks.
- flyershockey

Let it go gentlemen, you've made your points. To continue to pursue it will only lead to bitterness and to watch it inevitably denigrate into more name calling.

However, you're both right. Regular season stats mean nothing in the playoffs. it's all about matchups. Also, the Hawks are the superior puck possession team.

To me, the obvious two keys: 1) Will the big four hold up on defense? And will Timmo or Rundblad prove the Hawks ultimate undoing? 2) How will the Hawks handle the physical forecheck and cycle that the Ducks present? You know they will come out hard on both counts.

Looking forward to a great series, in both the East and the West.

every time he writes a series prediction blog for the hawks, its this this this this this favor hawks, hawks in 6. plenty of other people in here have said hawks in 6, no issue with that. the issue is how he always arrives to his hawks in 6 picking and choosing things that favor the hawks.
- flyershockey

Is "Hawks in 6" a prediction that the Ducks only have a 5% chance of winning the series? How did you arrive at that?

JJ makes a great argument - with statistics that support his prediction. You seem to have a problem with that when it is essentially what bloggers are supposed to do when making a prediction.

If you'd like a blogger who doesn't cite supporting data go read McCann who calls the Ducks a "prohibitive favorite" and will not explain how.

Most of your posts are really just an attempt to attack the blogger and those here who think the Hawks are a clear favorite. There are more than a few here calling this a tossup due to variables like officiating and the Rosi injury etc... but you conveniently ignore that group... sort of like you accuse JJ of ignoring statistics that favor the Ducks THOUGH you still haven't really outlined the data that supported the Ducks. Currently, you have transitioned into a "regular season stats don't matter" argument.

Until you can outline an actual counter argument with a list of supporting data why don't you (frank) off? You can come back and troll again if the Hawks lose the series. Most odds makers are favoring the Hawks in spite of home ice for the Ducks so you will have plenty of other targets to "debate" with your incredible portfolio of data points.

This story sounds familiar. The story you told me you said you ordered two garbage can lids of food and all the in shape Americans sitting around your table were aghast that someone could eat so much.
- HawkintheD

Go away!

so all those trusty stats didnt mean poop, eh? no way
- flyershockey

This is your new argument? No, sometimes stats don't mean poop. Anything else?

You must really fit in on Meltzer's thread.

My prediction is Hawks in 6, although the Ducks do have a 5% chance of winning the series.

so all those trusty stats didnt mean poop, eh? no way
- flyershockey

I mean if you want to interpret it that way, go for it. But I see a couple things in that prediction that maybe JJ didn't or couldn't stress enough at the time of the prediction:

(1) That Dubnyk wouldn't continue to perform the same way he performed in the nearly 40 games leading up to the playoffs or that he wouldn't perform the same way he did against the Hawks in the regular season. There are so many examples of goalies basically winning series, leading teams to the SCFs, that I think his prediction (that Dubnyk could steal the series) was a proper one.

(2) That the Hawks' faceoff advantage would be as pronounced as it was. He identified that the Hawks won 52 % of their faceoffs in the regular season. Who knew that they would dominate in the dot by an even greater percentage.

(3) He correctly identified that Kane feasted on the Wild in the regular season, but he may have underestimated the amount by which Kane would continue to do so in the playoffs.

He wasn't wrong in any of his predictions/analysis; he just may not have given them the credence it truly deserved.

But, he also predicted that the Hawks would win.

My prediction is Hawks in 6, although the Ducks do have a 5% chance of winning the series.
- MartiniMan

so all those trusty stats didnt mean poop, eh? no way
- flyershockey

SHUT THE (frank) UP!

Go away!
- paulr

Trash can lids of BBQ? That's called a healthy breakfast down here.

Can someone post the link to the brackets page. I lost it.

Thanks.

Win some, lose some. Hayes chose, for whatever reason, to pursue free agency rather than sign with the Hawks. This wasn't the fault of anyone in the Hawks organization. Sure Hayes would look good in a Hawk uniform but it's wather under the bridge. Hopefully the Hawk can go on and win the cup and make Mr. Hayes wonder if he made the right move.
- paulr

Sounds like the Hawks may be winning one of those back their way. Looks like the Columbus pick is opting not to sign with the Jackets, he possibly wants the time to lapse making him a free agent, That Riley kid I believe his name is , and quite possibly he has told his agent, his preferred destination............. Chicago Black Hawks. Got to ask someone way more in tune with the situation, the specs on this kid. Couldn't even tell you what position he plays. Someone ????????

Sounds like the Hawks may be winning one of those back their way. Looks like the Columbus pick is opting not to sign with the Jackets, he possibly wants the time to lapse making him a free agent, That Riley kid I believe his name is , and quite possibly he has told his agent, his preferred destination............. Chicago Black Hawks. Got to ask someone way more in tune with the situation, the specs on this kid. Couldn't even tell you what position he plays. Someone ????????
- wonthecup10

Have heard people say as a comparable if Milan Lucic was a defenseman...that's who Reilly reminds me of.

Have heard people say as a comparable if Milan Lucic was a defenseman...that's who Reilly reminds me of.
- HawkintheD

Now you are going to get the man excited when the real truth is that Reilly has gained 30 lbs and he now is half the size of Duncan Keith.

Sounds like the Hawks may be winning one of those back their way. Looks like the Columbus pick is opting not to sign with the Jackets, he possibly wants the time to lapse making him a free agent, That Riley kid I believe his name is , and quite possibly he has told his agent, his preferred destination............. Chicago Black Hawks. Got to ask someone way more in tune with the situation, the specs on this kid. Couldn't even tell you what position he plays. Someone ????????
- wonthecup10

There were some detailed posts back when their blogger came out with it. Kudos to Wiz who had the rumor last weekend. Wiz caught that the kid is listed as a prospect on the Hawks website. He was a Hobey Baker finalist. Father is a minority owner of the Wild so it was thought he might sign there. He has 2 brothers at Minn playing forward too. He has to de commit from Minn and then CBJ has 30 days to sign him. Pat Brissen is his advisor. Some comps to Keith. He added 20-30 lbs since being drafted and seems to have some great foot speed. Doesn't look anywhere close to done yet. Considered CBJs top d prospect.

I know I'm the enemy coming onto these boards, but I come with upmost respect for the Hawks team. Of course I'm rooting for the Ducks, and hoping they come away with the series win, but it's not going to be easy at all. Three observations of the Ducks, for what it's worth.

One: Murray (GM) acknowledged after we lost to Tampa Bay (for the 2nd time) we were unable to keep up with the speed teams, so he addressed that at the trade deadline. Our roster went through a shake-up if you will, with a number of players traded, and others brought in. We're faster now then before. Probably not as fast as Chicago, but we've advanced above turtle speed.

Two: Silfverberg was moved up to the second line to play with Kesler and Beleskey. The second line now has improved dramatically. Silf now gets some PP time as well.

Third: Trading Lovejoy and adding Despres (what was Pitt. thinking?). We didn't know what we were getting with Despres, so we also traded for Wisniewski (who hasn't even played this postseason). Despres has been a huge surprise for us. He's been paired with Fowler, and as a result, Fowler has improved. Fowler has never looked better.

Looks like Jiri Sekac will make his playoff debut also. More speed, and looked good on our 3/4 lines earlier.

Anyway, it's going to be a tough series. Ducks are playing real well right now. Regular season stats don't mean anything. Both of our teams losing a game 7 at home to the Kings last year has put us both on a mission now. Best of luck.

Now you are going to get the man excited when the real truth is that Reilly has gained 30 lbs and he now is half the size of Duncan Keith.
- RickJ

LOL! Sorry Rick and WTC, couldn't resist.