I would'nt try and push him for rationale. He's working with limited resources. Might push him too far.
- Tangled

Lol you haven't gotten over that yet?

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.
- Cloud

What do you mean "their home game suits them better than the previous 3 teams they faced"? The Hawks, again, over a large span of time have consistently proven one thing on the road in the playoffs: They consistently win big games on the road. I could care less what the Lightning home record is at this point. It means nothing.

The Hawks roll four lines that can score, and offer any team issues from a defensive perspective. I wouldn't put Stralman and Hedman in the "elite" class - good, but not elite. Their 3-4, 5-6 should be exploited.

No.. I don't think Tampa has the "offensive firepower" to put pressure on the four minutes Rund-bad will play.

"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"

Not sure I'd call Tampa's 3rd and 4th lines- "incredibly depth". Their top two? Very, very, very good. Then again, the Lightning's top two lines haven't faced Keith/Seabrook/Oduya/Hammer yet, either. The narrative of the Hawks top 4 having issues playing 25+ minutes was spun in the Anaheim series - the Hawks actually exploited the fact Anaheim got tired in that series.

As I said - I picked the Lightning to come out of the East. Very good team. I just think they have some question marks a proven/veteran team should be able to exploit.

What do you mean "their home game suits them better than the previous 3 teams they faced"? The Hawks, again, over a large span of time have consistently proven one thing on the road in the playoffs: They consistently win big games on the road. I could care less what the Lightning home record is at this point. It means nothing.

The Hawks roll four lines that can score, and offer any team issues from a defensive perspective. I wouldn't put Stralman and Hedman in the "elite" class - good, but not elite. Their 3-4, 5-6 should be exploited.

No.. I don't think Tampa has the "offensive firepower" to put pressure on the four minutes Rund-bad will play.

"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"

Not sure I'd call Tampa's 3rd and 4th lines- "incredibly depth". Their top two? Very, very, very good. Then again, the Lightning's top two lines haven't faced Keith/Seabrook/Oduya/Hammer yet, either. The narrative of the Hawks top 4 having issues playing 25+ minutes was spun in the Anaheim series - the Hawks actually exploited the fact Anaheim got tired in that series.

As I said - I picked the Lightning to come out of the East. Very good team. I just think they have some question marks a proven/veteran team should be able to exploit.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I think that debate has been settled. The rest of the defence has its issues, but Hedman-Stralman is as solid as they come.

Not coming to share, be criticized or to fight.
I posted this on the hawk board and thought you might like to read it. Your blogger can take it off if he wishes:

I am no Mike Milbury or Keith Jones, nor am I Dan Rosen or an analytics machine spitting out facts. Just what my eyeballs have seen.

Over the core of the last seasons under Yzerman’s supervision they have done things the right way.
They used their Syracuse Crunch AHL farm to develop their youngsters.

They were more than willing to select and wait for Russian prospects that were left on draft boards well pass where they ranked, due to the Russian factor. (“I don’t like it here or can’t wait to play so bye bye back to USSR”, or “Can make more in KHL.”) That let them take arguably the best goalie of the 2012 draft at 19 overall, and Niki Kucherov three picks before the end of the second round in 2011.

Like the hawks they were lucky enough to draft first overall when there was a true star quality player available and second over all when there was a giant fluid defenseman to develop.

Size wasn’t an issue, when they drafted since traded Radko Gudas, a well under six foot tough defender, under six foot Nikita Kucherov, Jonathan Droiun, or the signing of underrated Tyler Johnson who is at best 5 foot 7 and half, no matter what the NHL Guide says.

I could write a couple paragraphs on Tyler Johnson alone. He’s an American from the town where he played Junior with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.
He wasn’t drafted, told his size was the issue, and instead of putting his chin on his sweater and giving up all he did was persevere, get stronger, faster, and on ice smarter.

Let me admit, like most of us on the hawk board, I come from past generations and phases of how the game was played, and although even some of the toughest NHL original six defenders stood 5 foot 9 inches (Bobby Baun), none played in the high paced, big hit, world of giants of today where forwards and defenseman could come as big as ‘bolts Brian Boyle at 6’ 7”, and will make contact with the smaller skilled players with reckless abandon.

So while sitting six rows from the ice and saw Tyler Johnson’s size, I admittedly scoffed that sure, thinking, “Sure, he was really quick and handles the puck well, but he is gonna get caught where he gets hit, and besides, he’ll wear down in a 84 games season.” He got like 50 points last season, his first.
So this year, I had him already “judged” and tried to focus on other guys and what happened is he simply stood out. He really seems to have that gift they say the great players have where they slow the ice down and see the options. And this pistons he has for legs, well, remind me of Louie Angotti (who never could play full speed, but on that occasionally short shift seemed to be faster than the entire ice…man… if the short shift was part of the 60’s game, that might have changed things…ah, but that’s another post…)

Johnson is patient but deadly and get the jump on opponents with the strong low center of gravity
And the rookie linemates, well just remember they saw some ice together in Syracuse (and with Namestnikov and Killorn…) and Palat maybe six foot and thick is also pretty smart and at times strong on the puck. He is more of a lunchpail player who understands “layering” and gets in position and not only works his bags off, places the puck to the right place.
Niki Kucherov is a freaking wild card. His draft year I really liked his hands and release, but figured he would have to wait until early second because of his birthplace.
You better beware because he can get moving and pick a top corner like nobody’s business. He is downright scary and (I know over-used term) can change a game with one shot.
Stamkos has had moments of re-igniting but he has “struggled” in his 43 goal season I think due to nagging injuries. He still has that greta one-timer and quick hands from anywhere inside the attack zone.

It is easy to undervalue the contribution of former Red Wing Vallteri Filppula, a thick six footer who has nicely been a sort of glue at the pivot position. He was well schooled in the system they play and is a pretty good leader who plays to the strengths of his linemates and the situations. When Stamkos was made a wing on his line, he was the grease and oil for the line’s engine.

And Ryan Callaghan? I think all here know what he brings (and some of wish there would have been room for him to bring it to Chicago) and there simply is no need to spend more than a line to say he will do what he has to to win and provide solid leadership to his team.
Brian Boyle was part of the down low game that scored on darling in the game in Tampa I believe. (If not he sure provided enough muck and grease to make me think this Lightning team has such terrific balance and ways to bring in the attack.

It has taken awhile but Victor Hedman at times looked like he finally was playing with the kind of results a top two pick should. (We are quick to castrate a year old Rundblad, but the NHL is a tough league to be on the job trained in.) It became exceedingly clear that on many an occasion, Hedman was comfortable on the rush whether he was part of a two man, three man, or as the fourth man, and you see see him even lead it ala Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm, Jones and Josi.
Over the last years he has scored more than one goal on the Hawks from in close, or was part of the numbers leading to them.

The rest of the Lightning defense?
Yeah, i saw the praises heaped on Stralman here, but I probably can say with confidence he and Matt care and Jason Garrison, and Braydon Coburn and Andrj Sustr are big bodies who can lean in, they are a bit slower afoot than a team might like have back there. They are for the most part,smart and have good sticks but they get into to trouble.

The Blackhawks have in regular season games had some problems with the speed of Montreal, Minnesota, even Tampa.
That just means they cut the chances of odd man breaks and work their way through and set up the attack.

I don’t think that this will be a short series, though I think it could go South for the younger team.

You know you have another Hawk fan expert here too, who maybe instead of arguing with you need to consider his thoughts....Dominc / True Grit

I am done praising the opponent.
- wiz1901

I'm not sure I understand. Could you expand on this?

I think that debate has been settled. The rest of the defence has its issues, but Hedman-Stralman is as solid as they come.
- Michael_Stuart

I agree. Hedman-Stralman have proven time and again that they are an elite 1st pairing.