John Jaeckel: Rundblads On The Pond/Hawks in 6

First?

Nothing to argue here. Solid write-up as usual.

Off topic question, who are your picks in the East?
I personally would like to see an old Southeast Division match-up.

Same lines today in practice as yesterday. Desjardins out for second day in a row; Q said he was sick yesterday. (Get well soon Desi we need your big body and sure hands)

Good write up. I have the Hawks winning, but I think it might take 7 games to do it. That's where my money would go. I won't be surprised if it's 6 though. The Kane mismatch is a nightmare for most teams, and Anaheim is no exception.

I still think we're going to see Chicago vs. Tampa in the final. And I want to see that so badly.

Nothing to argue here. Solid write-up as usual.

Off topic question, who are your picks in the East?
I personally would like to see an old Southeast Division match-up.
- BURDA13

Tampa-Rangers but it's a tough call

I agree. Hawks in 6. Ducks are a good team but matchups are paramount in the postseason and I don't think they matchup well with the Hawks. Coaching is another huge advantage and we know how Q loves to play matchups. Don't think the Ducks have been tested thus far and now they'll be tested.

First?
- Assman22

It appears to be that way.

Tampa-Rangers but it's a tough call
- John Jaeckel

Rangers have the momentum for sure. But Ovi is already making promises. I'm excited to see if he can deliver

Skating is not one of them. Then again, he’s probably faster than the 3-Wheeled Jewel shopping cart (Or is it Dominick’s? Whatever works . . .) Rozsival. Rundblad can pass the puck and he can shoot it.
- John Jaeckel

Jewel still fits.

As always, thanks for the great write-up JJ. Having 2 young kids, I find I don't have as much time as I used to to watch other teams. Mind you, I still watch the Hawks every chance I get. Can anybody give me an idea of how Anaheim might play the Hawks? (extremely physical? Are they as fast as the Hawks? etc.) Thanks all and go Hawks!

John Jaeckel: Rundblads On The Pond/Hawks in 6
- John Jaeckel

Is there any merit to StanBow forcing Rundblad on Q in terms of playing time this round?

Capitals have the momentum for sure. But Ovi is already making promises. I'm excited to see if he can deliver
- BURDA13

Not so sure they have the momentum. I get they played with desperation late in the game but I don't really think that stuff carries over. I mean they just need to bring it the entire game.

Where the Caps screwed up is Game 5 at MSG. They sat back and played defense and waited for the Rangers to make a mistake. Did it nearly work? Yes. But the Rangers have feasted on one goal games so I would've attacked them while they were down.

Great write up as usual JJ.

Series probably doesn't start until Friday...

Runblad scares the heck out of me in his own end. We'll see how long he lasts.
Rosy's shopping cart will be sorely missed.

Hawks in six sounds about right to me.

Is there any merit to StanBow forcing Rundblad on Q in terms of playing time this round?
- golfbard

Doubtful. It's really abut the sticks. On basic merit, I think Q would go with Cumiskey but his being a lefty really has a bad domino effect on the rest of the defense and how they can line up.

That said, if Rundblad coughs one up leading to a goal, much less a couple, I think you'll see Cumiskey the next game.

Wow...6 games. I like the optimism. A few points, while Pavelec might be classified as weak or mediocre, if you watched that series, I would actually have put him in the stalwart category, and was not the reason Winnipeg lost, or was swept. They couldn't hold leads, as so many other teams this year against the Ducks.

It would appear there are a few interesting story lines, the Hawks dominant record holding a third period lead vs the Ducks unbelievable record of turning the table in the third not just in this playoffs, but this year, and even down the stretch last spring leading up to the playoffs.

Another story line: Ryan Kesler. Tell me Kane doesn't have a little animosity he went politician to recruit, and Kesler chose Anaheim over Chicago. I don't recall him really dominating against the Hawks during his Canuck stint, but I think Vermette will make a believer out of many Chicagoans, and thus Bowman for that pickup depending on if he matches Getzlaf or Kesler. Silfverberg especially and Beleskey look to be a real nice complementary line, just tough to compare them playing against the smaller Flames second and third liners.

Last storyline: glove and blocker hand high. Crawford has had his issues in the past glove side, but last night and in the Flames series, it appears that is the space you beat him and he gives it to you. Cue Patrick Kane and Sharp torque wrist rockets all day.

Clayton Stoner was a beast nearly beheading a few Hawks for the Wild last year, and I thought he was a nice pickup for them. Pretty crazy depth considering they haven't played Seabrook's groomate (or vice versa) and concusser Wisniewski this post season.

I guess I am looking forward to some of the most entertaining hockey we've seen with stakes to play for the Cup on the line. It's not the Blues, its not the Wild, its not the circa 2011 Canucks, or even the Kings. Offensively, these teams are squaring off to give us a pretty exciting and end to end hockey by two coaches that love to counterattack.

I like the Hawks pick, but I'll take them winning On Honda Pond.

Wow...6 games. I like the optimism. A few points, while Pavelec might be classified as weak or mediocre, if you watched that series, I would actually have put him in the stalwart category, and was not the reason Winnipeg lost, or was swept. They couldn't hold leads, as so many other teams this year against the Ducks.

It would appear there are a few interesting story lines, the Hawks dominant record holding a third period lead vs the Ducks unbelievable record of turning the table in the third not just in this playoffs, but this year, and even down the stretch last spring leading up to the playoffs.

Another story line: Ryan Kesler. Tell me Kane doesn't have a little animosity he went politician to recruit, and Kesler chose Anaheim over Chicago. I don't recall him really dominating against the Hawks during his Canuck stint, but I think Vermette will make a believer out of many Chicagoans, and thus Bowman for that pickup depending on if he matches Getzlaf or Kesler. Silfverberg especially and Beleskey look to be a real nice complementary line, just tough to compare them playing against the smaller Flames second and third liners.

Last storyline: glove and blocker hand high. Crawford has had his issues in the past glove side, but last night and in the Flames series, it appears that is the space you beat him and he gives it to you. Cue Patrick Kane and Sharp torque wrist rockets all day.

Clayton Stoner was a beast nearly beheading a few Hawks for the Wild last year, and I thought he was a nice pickup for them. Pretty crazy depth considering they haven't played Seabrook's groomate (or vice versa) and concusser Wisniewski this post season.

I guess I am looking forward to some of the most entertaining hockey we've seen with stakes to play for the Cup on the line. It's not the Blues, its not the Wild, its not the circa 2011 Canucks, or even the Kings. Offensively, these teams are squaring off to give us a pretty exciting and end to end hockey by two coaches that love to counterattack.

I like the Hawks pick, but I'll take them winning On Honda Pond.
- GuyForget

All great points. I also remember Shaw destroying Stoner in the first round in 2013.

"Doubtful. It's really abut the sticks. On basic merit, I think Q would go with Cumiskey but his being a lefty really has a bad domino effect on the rest of the defense and how they can line up.

That said, if Rundblad coughs one up leading to a goal, much less a couple, I think you'll see Cumiskey the next game. "

Let's say Rockford gets swept or is out in 5 games, could you see Johns leapfrogging Rudblad and/or Cumiskey and be skating as the #5 dman?

Skating is not one of them. Then again, he’s probably faster than the 3-Wheeled Jewel shopping cart (Or is it Dominick’s? Whatever works . . .)

Lately it looks more and more like Mariano's

Let's say Rockford gets swept or is out in 5 games, could you see Johns leapfrogging Rudblad and/or Cumiskey and be skating as the #5 dman?
- Dannyboy

#5? Don't you think Timonen get #5 minutes and responsibilities?

And how the hell did Corey Perry come back on the ice last night? Not just that but score the GWG?

I thought he was done and out for the post season when I saw it and his knee go in two directions. Wonder how swollen it was today.

Doubtful. It's really abut the sticks. On basic merit, I think Q would go with Cumiskey but his being a lefty really has a bad domino effect on the rest of the defense and how they can line up.

That said, if Rundblad coughs one up leading to a goal, much less a couple, I think you'll see Cumiskey the next game.
- John Jaeckel

You may be correct about stick side being the main reason. Other than Hjalmarsson who consistently plays on his off side, the rest of the Hawks D are much better on their dominant side.

The whole “I think he’s been fine in his own end.” is just Q speak for "what do you expect me to say". He will be on a very short leash. Match ups in ANA are going to be tough when ANA throws the 1st line out there against him. The strength of that line is exactly Rundblad's weakness. Rundblad struggles against any type of physical play, let alone from a beast sized line that gives "good" defensemen fits.

I would think that #4/#27 will see a bunch of that line if Q has his way, but it really depends on how many shifts #5/#44 actually get. If you watch the rotation of D, even when Rosival was in the mix, the top 4 were pretty interchangeable, with pairs being determined by whom was on the ice last. There was plenty of #2/#4 and #7/#27.

I would tend to agree that a few bad turnovers, or general lack of "compete" in #5 and he will watch a whole lot of the game. I would not be opposed to seeing a lot of #5/#44 on the PP however. It would be a good way to limit minutes of the top D.

"Doubtful. It's really abut the sticks. On basic merit, I think Q would go with Cumiskey but his being a lefty really has a bad domino effect on the rest of the defense and how they can line up.

That said, if Rundblad coughs one up leading to a goal, much less a couple, I think you'll see Cumiskey the next game. "

Let's say Rockford gets swept or is out in 5 games, could you see Johns leapfrogging Rudblad and/or Cumiskey and be skating as the #5 dman?
- Dannyboy

I could.

The Preds box score blogger (he does not watch games - only reads box scores) is calling the Ducks the "prohibitive favorite".... So the Hawks have that to overcome.

I really think the guy needs hits so bad he simply posts this stuff to get Chicago fans to post on his thread. Sort of a get "the red in" campaign.