I think the home ice advantage will be a key to winning this series. Tampa hasnt had as good record at home during the playoffs as they did in the regular season, but after seeing the the pace of the ANA/CHI game last night, tampa can really play the run'n'gun kind of game that the Rags and Wings shut down effectivly.

Tampa can play a really good north/south game if the series forms like that. But as seen against the rags, they can also shut down a team defensivly.

Anyone whos saying Chicago can start cleaning up the streets for the parade is crazy. Tampa has the depth of putting pressure on the Rundblad pairing, wich is not good news for the hawks. In contrary, Hawks has enough depth to put pressure on the Sustr pairing.

This series can go either way and another game 7 is not impossible. Conn smythe nominees? Toews, Keith, Johnson and Stamkos.
- Cloud

Rundblad will play 6 minutes a night, mostly o-zone starts, and never without Keith or Hjalmarsson. Your bottom 6 has 9 points in 20 games in the playoffs. Good luck with that.

Who won the bracket challenge in the lightning pool? And how many points did they get

Took a break for a few days and just read through every article regarding game 7... I take my medicine one way or the other.

Congrats to you guys and your team. They played very well and deserve to be where they are. Odd seeing both teams with losing records at home...sometimes the pressure to win a home can just be too much.

Also awesome to see that you will play four Original 6 teams. That is a gauntlet to say the least. Both teams have good story line in the Finals so it should be fun to watch. Good luck.

I think the home ice advantage will be a key to winning this series. Tampa hasnt had as good record at home during the playoffs as they did in the regular season, but after seeing the the pace of the ANA/CHI game last night, tampa can really play the run'n'gun kind of game that the Rags and Wings shut down effectivly.

Tampa can play a really good north/south game if the series forms like that. But as seen against the rags, they can also shut down a team defensivly.

Anyone whos saying Chicago can start cleaning up the streets for the parade is crazy. Tampa has the depth of putting pressure on the Rundblad pairing, wich is not good news for the hawks. In contrary, Hawks has enough depth to put pressure on the Sustr pairing.

This series can go either way and another game 7 is not impossible. Conn smythe nominees? Toews, Keith, Johnson and Stamkos.
- Cloud

I'm just curious: why do you think home ice will be "huge" in this series? If anything, the Hawks have proven multiple times over the years that they win key road games in the playoffs.

Also: You mention putting pressure on a defensive line. Frankly, the Lightning's defensive pairings might be the poorest this Hawks group will see throughout this playoffs. I'd be very frightened as a Lightning fan at that prospect. Not meaning that in anyway to be boasting.

Saying that, if Bishop plays extraordinary & the Lightning top 6 dominate, they have a chance to win this series. I'm just not sure how the Lightning plan on shutting down the Hawks bottom two lines with the defensive pairings they'll present. I actually completely disagree with you on your Rund-bad statement. The Lightning DON'T have the depth to put offensive minded forwards on the ice when Rund-bad is seeing time to exploit.

I picked the Lightning to come out of the East at the beginning of the year. They have a plethora of talent up front.

I'm just curious: why do you think home ice will be "huge" in this series? If anything, the Hawks have proven multiple times over the years that they win key road games in the playoffs.

Also: You mention putting pressure on a defensive line. Frankly, the Lightning's defensive pairings might be the poorest this Hawks group will see throughout this playoffs. I'd be very frightened as a Lightning fan at that prospect. Not meaning that in anyway to be boasting, that's just the facts.

Saying that, if Bishop plays extraordinary & the Lightning top 6 dominate, they have a chance to win this series. I'm just not sure how the Lightning plan on shutting down the Hawks bottom two lines with the defensive pairings they'll present.

I picked the Lightning to come out of the East at the beginning of the year. They have a plethora of talent up front.
- CaptainBlackhawk

if Bishop plays extraordinary, the Bolts can win this series, if they're top 6 dominates, they WILL win this series.

The first is probably more likely than the second.

Their top 6 might do pretty well, but this will be not just the best group of defensive forwards they've faced, but definitely the best group of offensive forwards. Toews, Hossa and Saad on one line, Kane on the other.

Same problem every team has had so far. And if you stop that, then you have to stop Kane and Toews together. No one has done both. And the Hawks have faced some good defenses and defensive teams throughout.

Who won the bracket challenge in the lightning pool? And how many points did they get
- RileyB77

It's not over yet.

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

I think we're doing OK...

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

/yawn.

Like the pre-09 Blackhawks "fan base" right? All fan bases are fickle.

True fans never leave. Right?

You eat here, work here, sleep here, play here, and crap here (assumption). Why don't you support your local team?

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

Bernstein

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

Ho hum... another one... Like the above poster said, look at the Blackhawks prior to their run... all fan bases are fickle... enough said. Been a Lightning season ticket holder for years, we fill our barn so I am not sure what you are seeing. But we live in a destination city were plenty of northerners will come on vacation in line with watching their team play the Bolts plus tons of you northerners already live down here who can get tickets. (frank)ing move on or if you do live down here how about you support the Bolts... OH MY GOD A TEAM IS TRYING TO DO WHATS BEST FOR ITS FANS NOT THE OPPOSING FANS... HOW INCREDULOUS THAT IS...

Bernstein
- Let.It.Roll

We don't give a sh!t what some schmuck in Chicago radio says. It's a two month old story can't he be original with a story on match ups etc. nothing else to write about that's a travesty if that's what he brings to a show in June.

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

The Wings went to back to back SCF winning one and losing one to Pittsburg and that was the two years before the Hawks won. As far as dynasty win 3 out of six and they'll be talk but lose and you'll be 2-4 in WCF and SCF impressive but no dynasty

I'm just curious: why do you think home ice will be "huge" in this series? If anything, the Hawks have proven multiple times over the years that they win key road games in the playoffs.

Also: You mention putting pressure on a defensive line. Frankly, the Lightning's defensive pairings might be the poorest this Hawks group will see throughout this playoffs. I'd be very frightened as a Lightning fan at that prospect. Not meaning that in anyway to be boasting.

Saying that, if Bishop plays extraordinary & the Lightning top 6 dominate, they have a chance to win this series. I'm just not sure how the Lightning plan on shutting down the Hawks bottom two lines with the defensive pairings they'll present. I actually completely disagree with you on your Rund-bad statement. The Lightning DON'T have the depth to put offensive minded forwards on the ice when Rund-bad is seeing time to exploit.

I picked the Lightning to come out of the East at the beginning of the year. They have a plethora of talent up front.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Tampa had an extrodinary record at home this regular season, but has more wins om the road in the playoffs. Im not saying that succes in regular=succes in the playoffs (which the record has shown). What im saying is that i think that the Chicago type of game suits their home game better then the previous 3 teams they faced.

Tampas top 2 is world class, their second pairing of Garrisson/Coburn is not bad. Garrisson had the best +- in the league and Coburn can really skate, with size. I dont worry to much.

You dont think Tampa has the offensive depth to put pressure on Rundblad? You mean the team that plays with 11 forwards, including Morrows 5 games per minute? Tampa has incredible depth and speed up front, CHI top 4 will have problems keeping up if they are gonna play 25+ minutes each. And im saying that even if i know that your top4 is the best in the league.

Typical small market crap:

http://chicago.cbslocal.c...icket-policy-is-pathetic/


And yes, I saw a lot of Lightning games the past two seasons, and seldom did I see sellouts, unless their opponent had a large contingent. What a joke.

If the Kings are mentioned as a modern day dynasty, the Hawks should be ahead of them on that list, regardless of this outcome. 5 of 7 years in the Conference finals or better. Nothing against the Kings, but that trumps their record.

What the Wings have done is excellent, but much of it was before the salary cap era, as far as winning Cups.
- howiehandles

When you say alot of Lightning games how many? Also who were the opponents? Be careful with your answer b/c I have had season tickets since 03 and I get to 30-35 of the games each year (so I've got more than a "few" games to base my attendance observations on). Sure for the big markets there are plenty of transplants here. But what you also fail to account is that for many of the northerners (especially in Canada), they come down during the season for vacation and escape the snow and go the balmy 50 degree beaches and warm 60 degree water and catch some hockey too. My point is your attendance/sell out premise may be based on a few games against big market teams that travel well and/or have alot of transplants here yet those games don't account for a California team or a Colorado or any others that still get 90% plus capacity with few road fans in attendance. This team isn't top 10 in NHL attendance going back 4-5 years b/c of road fans and I've got hundreds of games to base that on.

As for not liking the Lightning ticket policy? Cry me river

You dont think Tampa has the offensive depth to put pressure on Rundblad?
- Cloud

You mean the possible FOUR MINUTES he plays?

and Q only puts out when the faceoff is IN the attack zone to minimize his time in his own zone.

DC Comics (and Barry Allen) called...they want their copyrighted inignia back.

It was created in 1955 when the "Silver Age" Flash debuted Showcase #4.


It's kinda ironic that a team that outright stole their sweater's emblem would start making areas where visitor jersies are not allowed.


And let's be honest Amalie just never fills up with home fans and that is the nature of the teams based in warm climates where visiting fans love to go and watch their team, because they get a real vacation as well.

You think Las Vegas will be ateam with a huge home town fan base.

It just seems contradictory that the Lightning are more than willing to take the out of town cash all year and then now decide to try and fill the seats with local bandwagon "fans," many who might be there for the very first time.

DC Comics (and Barry Allen) called...they want their copyrighted inignia back.

It was created in 1955 when the "Silver Age" Flash debuted Showcase #4.


It's kinda ironic that a team that outright stole their sweater's emblem would start making areas where visitor jersies are not allowed.


And let's be honest Amalie just never fills up with home fans and that is the nature of the teams based in warm climates where visiting fans love to go and watch their team, because they get a real vacation as well.

You think Las Vegas will be ateam with a huge home town fan base.

It just seems contradictory that the Lightning are more than willing to take the out of town cash all year and then now decide to try and fill the seats with local bandwagon "fans," many who might be there for the very first time.
- wiz1901

Lets be honest all of you Hawks fans think the only reason we fill the arena is road fans, its farther from the truth.. what's the truth, I'll tell you your fans pay triple/quadruple the price of my tickets during the regular season so I sell the Wings/Hawks tix and pay for about half my season tickets, lots of STM do this so the building has lots of Hawks/Wings fans those games. The building always has 18K + even when non traveling teams come but no you say we can't fill our arena so (frank) off with that nonsense.

And go whine somewhere else, all of us Bolts fans on here don't give a poop anymore... every round of the playoffs we had to hear this. We didn't make the rules so why whine to us about it - contact the arena and female dog to them 813.301.6500. For (frank)s sake its 7% of the seats you can't wear Hawks jerseys and its the most expensive seats asked by those STMs to the team. Go wear your Jersey's in 93% of the rest of the arena and get loud during the national anthem which I think is a disgrace that your fans do that on the road, that is a tradition in your building not ours but they do it anyway and frankly I don't give enough of (frank) to go on your board and female dog about it. Rant over.

EDIT: On the emblem on the sweater... who gives a (frank)... its a Lightning Bolt... like there is no controversy surrounding the Blackhawks logo right or wrong.

It's not over yet.
- Michael_Stuart

I know I didn't win

Chicago fans whining before the series started? Who could have imagined that

Attendance is terrible, no Hawks jerseys in 7% of the arena, don't like the ticket policy, only have band wagon fans, please go away little troll. Look at your own attendance records pre 2009, half empty arena on a regular basis with no tv. All our games have been on tv for years even with less than competitive teams and we have been top 10 in attendance for many years. Stop the crap and talk hockey for cripes sake.

Attendance is terrible, no Hawks jerseys in 7% of the arena, don't like the ticket policy, only have band wagon fans, please go away little troll. Look at your own attendance records pre 2009, half empty arena on a regular basis with no tv. All our games have been on tv for years even with less than competitive teams and we have been top 10 in attendance for many years. Stop the crap and talk hockey for cripes sake.
- Bolts265

Hockey doesn't belong in Florida

Don't get me wrong I think Toews is one of the best players in the league but every time I see him in that playoff beard I can see him in a little black felt hat riding a buckboard in Amish country.

Attendance is terrible, no Hawks jerseys in 7% of the arena, don't like the ticket policy, only have band wagon fans, please go away little troll. Look at your own attendance records pre 2009, half empty arena on a regular basis with no tv. All our games have been on tv for years even with less than competitive teams and we have been top 10 in attendance for many years. Stop the crap and talk hockey for cripes sake.
- Bolts265

keep feeding him

Don't get me wrong I think Toews is one of the best players in the league but every time I see him in that playoff beard I can see him in a little black felt hat riding a buckboard in Amish country.
- tpd11

better than the Sidney Crosby pseudo beard