Jason Millen: Blues vs. Blackhawks Preview: Part II Blues vs. Blackhawks Preview: Part II

Im glad to see this matchup again! Hopefully the Blue can beat the first round curse, Elliot looks like the man for the job!

Runbland isn't even playing in Chicago so I'm not going to take the
rest of this blog seriously .

Runbland isn't even playing in Chicago so I'm not going to take the
rest of this blog seriously .
- gramps

Try again - Rundblad returned from overseas to Rockford and was called up yesterday

http://wgntv.com/2016/04/...d-call-up-david-rundblad/

He's likley a black ace but is with the Hawks.

Try again - Rundblad returned from overseas to Rockford and was called up yesterday

http://wgntv.com/2016/04/...d-call-up-david-rundblad/

He's likley a black ace but is with the Hawks.
- Jason Millen

He still hasn't played for the Hawks since December.

BTW the Blues still have Hitchcock as coach in 2014 and now.


2014 has nothing to do with this series.

If the blues can't beat them this year ....they may never beat them in a playoff series

If the blues can't beat them this year ....they may never beat them in a playoff series
- southernhawk

never is a very long time my friend

He still hasn't played for the Hawks since December.

BTW the Blues still have Hitchcock as coach in 2014 and now.


2014 has nothing to do with this series.
- gramps

Don't think that was his point

I think his point is people claiming that this blues team is the same blues team that lost in past playoffs is inaccurate.

This blues team is vastly improved over 2014 and even 2015

Going to be a great series nonetheless and I for one hope Runblad plays so that hawks fans lose their minds even more

Hey gramps! If you spend less time yelling, "GET OFF MY LAWN!" You might realize that you just made Millen's point.

This is going to be interesting...

That 2014 group was really only a two line team. I give the Blues a slight edge not just because of improved depth but also the chemistry they've had down the stretch.

I understand why gramps is upset. If I were him I'd be praying to God not to see Rundblad in this series.

If the blues can't beat them this year ....they may never beat them in a playoff series
- southernhawk

Nah. Nothing in sports is ever that definitive. Been watching NHL hockey since the late 70's. Teams rise and fall, players come and go.

What you can say is that this core of Blackhawks have been decidedly better than the core of Blues that all came up around the same time.

What you have now is a number of newer Blues core players replacing the previous group and can this combination unseat the Hawks?

A legit question that will in part be answered by this series.

To me, these are two very even teams, neither victor will shock me.

Ron Darling?

Hahaha

Ron Darling?

Hahaha
- FourFeathers773

I saw that too Jam was probably typing a bit fast.

Nah. Nothing in sports is ever that definitive. Been watching NHL hockey since the late 70's. Teams rise and fall, players come and go.

What you can say is that this core of Blackhawks have been decidedly better than the core of Blues that all came up around the same time.

What you have now is a number of newer Blues core players replacing the previous group and can this combination unseat the Hawks?

A legit question that will in part be answered by this series.

To me, these are two very even teams, neither victor will shock me.
- bcallaway

Hmmm I miss you being crotchety

I saw that too Jam was probably typing a bit fast.
- sycsam

More like without sleep and after a 14 hour work day. oops

But gramps focused on Rundblad

Ron Darling?

Hahaha
- FourFeathers773

Got to love the hair


1986 Topps if anyone was curious, not that I am dating myself or anything, lol.

Ron Darling?

Hahaha
- FourFeathers773

Similar in some other ways - Scott's performance improved after he kicked his addiction. Ron used and lived through it while the Mets were performing.

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/...alcohol-and-amphetamines/

Good write up, a little bit of nit picking you write that Tarasanko has has improved and that with a few other forwards leads you to say they have better improved then Chicago at forward. Although I agree they have improved. But discussing Chicago forward changes you don't mention how much Kane has improved to the point of now being the best offence of player in the league. Losing Saad and Sharp were big loses, but Bread man is a lot better then Saad was in 2014. Ladd and AA more then make up for the loss of Sharp. So I would disagree with your forward assessment. Otherwise good review , like reviews like this instead of endless numbers and graphs that just hurt my eyes I must be another gramps. Should be an awesome series

Good write up, a little bit of nit picking you write that Tarasanko has has improved and that with a few other forwards leads you to say they have better improved then Chicago at forward. Although I agree they have improved. But discussing Chicago forward changes you don't mention how much Kane has improved to the point of now being the best offence of player in the league. Losing Saad and Sharp were big loses, but Bread man is a lot better then Saad was in 2014. Ladd and AA more then make up for the loss of Sharp. So I would disagree with your forward assessment. Otherwise good review , like reviews like this instead of endless numbers and graphs that just hurt my eyes I must be another gramps. Should be an awesome series
- HamiltonHawk

I'll edit the article as that was just poor wording...Tarasenko's LINE improved greatly because of swapping Sobotka for Lehtera. Sure Tarasenko has improved but that wasn't what I was referencing.

The Hawks upgraded at Forward but the Blues upgraded more. The upgrade difference favors the Blues. Whether or not the upgrades made the Blues forward lines better overall is a whole different matter.

Good write up, a little bit of nit picking you write that Tarasanko has has improved and that with a few other forwards leads you to say they have better improved then Chicago at forward. Although I agree they have improved. But discussing Chicago forward changes you don't mention how much Kane has improved to the point of now being the best offence of player in the league. Losing Saad and Sharp were big loses, but Bread man is a lot better then Saad was in 2014. Ladd and AA more then make up for the loss of Sharp. So I would disagree with your forward assessment. Otherwise good review , like reviews like this instead of endless numbers and graphs that just hurt my eyes I must be another gramps. Should be an awesome series
- HamiltonHawk

Looks like nit picking to me.

We HAVE to win tonight. It's only going to get harder. Without Keith Chicago's D is in BIG trouble. TVR on the top pairing that is laughable! As long as we can shut down Kane's line we should be good to go. Lets Go Blues!

For you stats/analytics geeks -

http://www.hockeyprospect...sing-logistic-regression/

The regression model gives the hawks a 1.9% chance of winning the cup and the Blues a 13.5% chance (7x more likely).

For you stats/analytics geeks -

http://www.hockeyprospect...sing-logistic-regression/

The regression model gives the hawks a 1.9% chance of winning the cup and the Blues a 13.5% chance (7x more likely).
- Jason Millen

That's pretty cool we'll see. I saw this too. Thought it was pretty interesting:

http://twitter.com/Ineffe...19674686708195329/photo/1

That's pretty cool we'll see. I saw this too. Thought it was pretty interesting:

http://twitter.com/Ineffe...19674686708195329/photo/1


- cuethenoise

I really just like the colors.

Lets Go Blues!