The argument that Chicago was better in the regular season holds no water. Look at the standings (82 games sample). The Ducks are at the top. This is being completely ignored. You argued a weaker division made it happen, so I posted the divisional records. (21 game sample) Ducks came out on top again with a better record against the central than Chicago has against the Pacific. "It was the bottom teams," you said. The Ducks had a better record against the top central teams than Chicago had against the bottom pacific teams (9 game sample). So now you are resorting to the 3 head to head games to make your case. The only game the two played when Anaheim wasn't icing an AHL team was the game the Ducks won. I'd also like to point out that in the playoffs, the Ducks have been better in literally every single statistical category.

Anaheim has three amazing lines going now also. While you are going on about Kesler only playing against one line, you fail to mention the Ducks other line has Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks actually have a deeper defense than Chicago and Keith, unless hes paired with Seabrook, will have to stay back. The Ducks easily forced Calgary's big 3 to stay back and dump the puck in. Keith is all world, but he isn't as good as 3 players just by himself. And I'm looking forward to 25 minutes per game against Oduya. Have fun watching the same 4 guys all series against Anaheim's forecheck and cycle. You really think they wont be worn down by the end of the series?

I like the Hawks fans talk about playing along the boards but unfortunately I doubt the Hawks are planning for this. This series won't be about hitting, except in the Anaheim offensive zone. Anaheim gives the boards and clogs the middle really well. Their gap control has been unreal. Even Stoner can keep up with Kane and Saad playing a tight gap. The Hawks will be dumping the puck far more than you expect.

Home ice advantage means matchup advantage. This has all the makings of a repeat of last year's conference finals.
- sniper11

I think Stan Bowman and Coach Q should meet with Rocky Wirtz today and declare their preference to withdraw from the series. Clearly they have no chance of winning against the Ducks, especially with renowned strategist Porky Pig calling the shots behind the bench.

Are you kidding me? Directv isn't carrying the semifinal games on any St Louis channels? Well accept the US/Russia replay at 10pn

How can that be right?

Any thoughts for online streaming on the game?
- stljam

Must be showing reruns of Cardinal World Series victories instead.

Can you find a way to pickup TSN down there? Check TSN.ca, maybe you can pickup online.

Must be showing reruns of Cardinal World Series victories instead.

Can you find a way to pickup TSN down there? Check TSN.ca, maybe you can pickup online.
- RickJ

TSN is blocked. One of the dumbest things ever is that the US and Candad don't have reciprocal broadcast rights. Only way to get Rogers and TSN down here is to use a process that is probably, technically, illegal.

ETA - St Louis Newspaper Sports schedule only shows the IIHF Gold medal game being on TV

TSN is blocked. One of the dumbest things ever is that the US and Candad don't have reciprocal broadcast rights. Only way to get Rogers and TSN down here is to use a process that is probably, technically, illegal.
- stljam

My guess is that situation has much to do with your friends at ESPN.

If you are desperate and so inclined to listen on radio, the Canada game is on TSN radio now, 590 FAN Toronto and the USA game will be also. You should be able to get that down there via TSN.ca.

The argument that Chicago was better in the regular season holds no water. Look at the standings (82 games sample). The Ducks are at the top. This is being completely ignored. You argued a weaker division made it happen, so I posted the divisional records. (21 game sample) Ducks came out on top again with a better record against the central than Chicago has against the Pacific. "It was the bottom teams," you said. The Ducks had a better record against the top central teams than Chicago had against the bottom pacific teams (9 game sample). So now you are resorting to the 3 head to head games to make your case. The only game the two played when Anaheim wasn't icing an AHL team was the game the Ducks won. I'd also like to point out that in the playoffs, the Ducks have been better in literally every single statistical category.

Anaheim has three amazing lines going now also. While you are going on about Kesler only playing against one line, you fail to mention the Ducks other line has Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks actually have a deeper defense than Chicago and Keith, unless hes paired with Seabrook, will have to stay back. The Ducks easily forced Calgary's big 3 to stay back and dump the puck in. Keith is all world, but he isn't as good as 3 players just by himself. And I'm looking forward to 25 minutes per game against Oduya. Have fun watching the same 4 guys all series against Anaheim's forecheck and cycle. You really think they wont be worn down by the end of the series?

I like the Hawks fans talk about playing along the boards but unfortunately I doubt the Hawks are planning for this. This series won't be about hitting, except in the Anaheim offensive zone. Anaheim gives the boards and clogs the middle really well. Their gap control has been unreal. Even Stoner can keep up with Kane and Saad playing a tight gap. The Hawks will be dumping the puck far more than you expect.

Home ice advantage means matchup advantage. This has all the makings of a repeat of last year's conference finals.
- sniper11

If that's the case, that didn't work out so well for the team that held home ice advantage.

If that's the case, that didn't work out so well for the team that held home ice advantage.
- HawkintheD

It may not happen right away, but at some point in this series Bruce Boudreau is going to get absolutely schooled behind the bench.

For those who can't get the game on tv...

Try online via NBCSports Live Extra in the US.

My guess is that situation has much to do with your friends at ESPN.

If you are desperate and so inclined to listen on radio, the Canada game is on TSN radio now, 590 FAN Toronto and the USA game will be also. You should be able to get that down there via TSN.ca.
- RickJ

Of course my wife is still sleeping in the only room that has a TV with an HDMI connection so I guess I am stuck watching it on the laptop. Oh well.

Canada trying to survive the first few minutes...

I think Stan Bowman and Coach Q should meet with Rocky Wirtz today and declare their preference to withdraw from the series. Clearly they have no chance of winning against the Ducks, especially with renowned strategist Porky Pig calling the shots behind the bench.
- RickJ

Funniest retort I've heard in 3 yrs of reading this blog. Can't stop chuckling...thx.

Canada post...

Ughhhh that Czech player backchecked like OV. He stopped skating so Hall got ahead of him. So easy to actually have defended and prevented the goal with just a little effort.

Ughhhh that Czech player backchecked like OV. He stopped skating so Hall got ahead of him. So easy to actually have defended and prevented the goal with just a little effort.
- stljam

I have been watching quite a bit of this tournament. What's very noticeable is players who look the they were made to play on the big ice and then others that look like that that extra 15 feet of width is a killer to their game.

For those who can't get the game on tv...

Try online via NBCSports Live Extra in the US.
- stljam

Only if you have a cable tv account.

Only if you have a cable tv account.
- Beaver-Warrior

My directv account worked

Dumb rule.

The Czech player being there had no interference aspect to it. Maybe his foot was in the crease, maybe it was over the crease but he didn't interfere with Smith at all.

The argument that Chicago was better in the regular season holds no water. Look at the standings (82 games sample). The Ducks are at the top. This is being completely ignored. You argued a weaker division made it happen, so I posted the divisional records. (21 game sample) Ducks came out on top again with a better record against the central than Chicago has against the Pacific. "It was the bottom teams," you said. The Ducks had a better record against the top central teams than Chicago had against the bottom pacific teams (9 game sample). So now you are resorting to the 3 head to head games to make your case. The only game the two played when Anaheim wasn't icing an AHL team was the game the Ducks won. I'd also like to point out that in the playoffs, the Ducks have been better in literally every single statistical category.

Anaheim has three amazing lines going now also. While you are going on about Kesler only playing against one line, you fail to mention the Ducks other line has Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks actually have a deeper defense than Chicago and Keith, unless hes paired with Seabrook, will have to stay back. The Ducks easily forced Calgary's big 3 to stay back and dump the puck in. Keith is all world, but he isn't as good as 3 players just by himself. And I'm looking forward to 25 minutes per game against Oduya. Have fun watching the same 4 guys all series against Anaheim's forecheck and cycle. You really think they wont be worn down by the end of the series?

I like the Hawks fans talk about playing along the boards but unfortunately I doubt the Hawks are planning for this. This series won't be about hitting, except in the Anaheim offensive zone. Anaheim gives the boards and clogs the middle really well. Their gap control has been unreal. Even Stoner can keep up with Kane and Saad playing a tight gap. The Hawks will be dumping the puck far more than you expect.

Home ice advantage means matchup advantage. This has all the makings of a repeat of last year's conference finals.
- sniper11

I think the Hawks D-men will be able to get through 4 games without wearing down.

My directv account worked
- stljam

Shall I rephrase it to "only if you pay to watch tv"? I do so love to discuss what shade of blue the sky is.

Dumb rule.

The Czech player being there had no interference aspect to it. Maybe his foot was in the crease, maybe it was over the crease but he didn't interfere with Smith at all.
- stljam

Smith didn't act like he was shot with a high-powered sniper rifle when that skate was in the crease did he?

The argument that Chicago was better in the regular season holds no water. Look at the standings (82 games sample). The Ducks are at the top. This is being completely ignored. You argued a weaker division made it happen, so I posted the divisional records. (21 game sample) Ducks came out on top again with a better record against the central than Chicago has against the Pacific. "It was the bottom teams," you said. The Ducks had a better record against the top central teams than Chicago had against the bottom pacific teams (9 game sample). So now you are resorting to the 3 head to head games to make your case. The only game the two played when Anaheim wasn't icing an AHL team was the game the Ducks won. I'd also like to point out that in the playoffs, the Ducks have been better in literally every single statistical category.

Anaheim has three amazing lines going now also. While you are going on about Kesler only playing against one line, you fail to mention the Ducks other line has Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks actually have a deeper defense than Chicago and Keith, unless hes paired with Seabrook, will have to stay back. The Ducks easily forced Calgary's big 3 to stay back and dump the puck in. Keith is all world, but he isn't as good as 3 players just by himself. And I'm looking forward to 25 minutes per game against Oduya. Have fun watching the same 4 guys all series against Anaheim's forecheck and cycle. You really think they wont be worn down by the end of the series?

I like the Hawks fans talk about playing along the boards but unfortunately I doubt the Hawks are planning for this. This series won't be about hitting, except in the Anaheim offensive zone. Anaheim gives the boards and clogs the middle really well. Their gap control has been unreal. Even Stoner can keep up with Kane and Saad playing a tight gap. The Hawks will be dumping the puck far more than you expect.

Home ice advantage means matchup advantage. This has all the makings of a repeat of last year's conference finals.
- sniper11

Blasphemy.

Why the Blackhawks have the edge over Ducks
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...have-the-edge-over-ducks/

Defenseman (and Hobey Baker finalist) Mike Reilly has formally decommitted from University of Minnesota and informed CBJ (who drafted him and for whom he is the top D prospect) that he will test the waters as a UFA. It has been reported by McKenzie that the Blackhawks are a preferred destination though his father is a minority owner of the Wild.
http://bluejacketsxtra.di...illy-will-become-ufa.html

Smith didn't act like he was shot with a high-powered sniper rifle when that skate was in the crease did he?
- grinder10

well he was more than a foot away from him but I guess that is still progress

Moore goal went of his skate like a soccer redirect but no kicking motion.

Was hoping for OT, still have a chance.

Anyone else think the US will fold in the bronze medal game?

Moore goal went of his skate like a soccer redirect but no kicking motion.

Was hoping for OT, still have a chance.

Anyone else think the US will fold in the bronze medal game?
- stljam

Looked like it went off the stick to me. I was hoping for OT too. What do you know another 2-1 rangers game

Edit: saw an over head view, definitely went off the skate. It was hard to tell from other angles that's why I thought stick not skate

Moore goal went of his skate like a soccer redirect but no kicking motion.

Was hoping for OT, still have a chance.

Anyone else think the US will fold in the bronze medal game?
- stljam

Yeah - Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, Terasenko are playing - don't know why US stars like Kane, Saad, Johnson, Bishop refuse to play - selfish bastards.