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5 hours of sleep, coffee IV inserted, here’s what I have today in the aftermath of an epic Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

First, I heard a rumor out of Canada on Monday (very good source) that the Leafs have offered two mid-level roster players and a package of draft picks for Tampa Bay’s 3rd selection overall and Vincent LeCavalier, who would then be bought out.

Not making it up—I wouldn’t pretend to know enough about either team to do so. Good source, take it for what it is.

Back to the Finals.

Like the Series, Game 1 really could have gone either way. Both of these teams are balanced, confident and competitive. I fully expect each game to be close.

A lot of Bruin fans are lamenting the open sides they had and the post Zdeno Chara hit in OT. Posts have a way of equaling out over series and in the playoffs, and the Bruins benefitted from the post quite a bit in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Kaspars Daugavins failed to convert a glorious chance, but credit has to be given to Johnny Oduya for a heroic effort in tying up his stick.

Conversely. Patrick Kane, also, had the game on his blade at one point, only to have the puck roll away. These things happen.

We have discovered the Eastern Conference equivalent of Mike Babcock in terms of working refs—Claude Julien. It’s not that there isn’t some embellishment going on, and even especially Andrew Shaw. But if the refs had decided to call holding or holding the stick last night, the Bruins would have been short-handed about 75% of regulation.

And that’s what I noticed early on last night, the Hawks, as predicted, have a speed advantage. The Bruins will need to tighten things up in the neutral zone, and try to slow the Hawks down, much like the Kings tried to do.

Conversely, the Hawks must be more responsible deep in their own end. Boston forwards got open for clean shots, a couple resulting in goals, off bad Hawk decisions and turnovers.

A couple of interesting Game 1 phenomena: The Bruins had an ever so slight faceoff advantage in the game—not nearly what some anticipated. And the Hawks actually outhit the Bruins—which is not that surprising after the physical response the team has shown throughout the playoffs. In fact, 27 of the Hawks’ 61 hits were thrown by Brandon Bollig, Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell—the kind of hits that will wear an opponent down over the course of a series.

It is way too early to say anything conclusive about the series except the Hawks’ held serve and are now one game closer to the Stanley Cup. I believe there are going to be more close, incredibly hard fought games—than can go the Bruins’ way.

That said, The Hawks not only had more hits last night, they also had more shots, and they seemed be able to generate pressure with every one. In fact, three of the Hawks four goals came from their third line.

Boston fans can take heart that two of the four goals given up by Tuuka Rask were clear deflections/misdirects. However, it is also fairly safe to assume he is going to see a lot of shots from the Hawks’ relentless attack—that transformed Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Quick from all-world to down and out in the last two series.

If there was an advantage gained or to be gleaned from Game 1 beyond the notch in the win column, it appears the Hawks are deeper upfront than the Bruins—especially now with Nathan Horton possibly out for some or all of the series.

But there is a lot of hockey left to be played.


JJ

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