Review
This is game seven, the past does not matter. As much as some would like to re-hash every wrong committed in this series, they are all irrelevant to what will happen tonight.
Questions
There are some questions I've been pondering
* Frederik Andersen is a pretty cool customer. Unfortunately, he has been mentally off since game 4. Did the two consecutive days off give him time for a mental break or did it make things worse?
* If Andersen does not start sharp, how long before coach Bruce Boudreau goes to John Gibson?
* Duncan Keith has been exceptional for Chicago. Its clear that the Ducks strategy of playing physical on him has not worked to enough effect. What would happen if they decided to back off of playing Keith as hard on the boards but really stuck it to Hjalmerson, Oduja and Seabrook?
* Can the Ducks shake off the stigma of losing three consecutive game 7s?
* Is now the time when Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf stands up and carries this team (on his back if necessary) to the finals?
* If the Ducks go “ball to the wall… physical all game, can they stay out of the penalty box?
* If the Ducks go “ball to the wall… physical all game and stay out of the box, can Chicago beat them?
Western Conference Finals Game 7 – Chicago at Ducks
The build up to tonight's game already feels like the build up to a classic boxing title fight. The only thing missing will probably be Michael Buffer handling the introductions. As mentioned in previous blogs and by many writers and readers on hockeybuzz, this has been a phenomenal series.
I expect neither Chicago or the Ducks to make any changes to the way they play tonight. Anaheim will come out hitting early and often, while their Windy City opponents will continue to move the puck and create space. Additionally, these are two teams with a ton of pride, so it will all be left on the ice when the final horn sounds. Whoever is doing the post game interviews for NBC tonight, Brian Engblom or Pierre McGuire, may need a portable defibrillator handy in order to get someone to conscious enough to speak. Either that or talk to a back up goalie. Actually some of the fans may need to use resuscitation device of their own if this game plays out like most of the others in this series.
Anaheim's only lineup change tonight is that Tomas Fleischmann tags back in for Emerson Etem on line four. Here is tonight's expected 20 man roster:
Forwards Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry Beleskey-Kesler-Silfverberg Cogliano-Thompson-Palmieri Fleischmann-Rakell-Secac
Defensemen Lindholm-Beauchemin Fowler-Despres Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Frederik Andersen John Gibson
-Ed