Michael Stuart: Lightning vs. Blackhawks: Game Two Preview

Go Seahawks!!!

Excellent preview!

Bishop can be beat. Crawford can be beat. Both teams will make adjustments. We'll see which coaching staff is best able to put their team in position to succeed.

If I were Quenneville, I'd split up Toews and Kane.

The best team will win this series.

I like how you bring up it will be interesting to see how both teams respond, a lot that I am seeing in the media is how the lightning will make adjustments and win the game. But what about the hawks? Not like they played a perfect game either, they know the lightning will have a response, so surely we expect adjustments from both sides. Looking forward to the game!

Just saw this, Joe Smith says Drouin is taking warmups, might play tonight

Great blog. Spot on. Well written.

Drouin: "If it was up to me, I'd be on the ice every night." But says not up to him, says a lot of good players on this team.

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 6, 2015

Drouin said he was told before morning skate that he'd be doing warmups. "pretty excited."

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 6, 2015

Great blog. Spot on. Well written.
- John Jaeckel

I like it better when you're fired up and opinionated

Seems like a good chance Drouin gets in tonight.

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 6, 2015

I like it better when you're fired up and opinionated
- LeftCoaster

I'm still plenty opinionated. Haha. I just think there are a lot of good hockey insights in the piece, and well-presented.

I'm still plenty opinionated. Haha. I just think there are a lot of good hockey insights in the piece, and well-presented.
- John Jaeckel

agree - enjoy Michael's blogs.

Should be a beauty. Good luck to Cooper and his group........

Like a horse race if you bust out of the gate full bore in a mile + race you'll have nothing for the final two-three furlongs. The Bolts need to pick their spots when to play at warp speed, as the experienced Hawks do. No team can sustain a frenetic pace for 60 minutes, or even 20.

A moral victory of playing with the Hawks for a period or two isn't any good. Coach and play to win the game not segments of it.

I still think Bishop is the Bolts' weak link, not the bottom 6, and expected to see Cooper play with the 3rd man high at times to help coming back. To the contrary he had Dmen in the Hawks' crease....... Interesting to see how this evolves as I'm sure Q has dissected the tape and has game planned for this.

Crawford has the look that Hawk fans know. He's square, in balance, tracking the puck very well and most importantly isn't a total anchor when he goes down, as he often can be. Besides the obvious cliches (pucks and people to the net) Crawford and the Hawks are vulnerable to feeds and plays from below the goal line..... Lotta good looks for the Bolts that way in Game 1.

Crow was the best player on the ice in Game 1 and v the Bolts the opposing goalie needs to be on his game, that is unless Bishop has one of his 4-5 goals allowed meltdowns. For all his detractors Crawford can carry a team on his back for long stretches.

I know I'm in the minority but I happen to like the Bolt bottom 6, to an extent. What's not to like about the Paquet line shutting down Toews and Kane in Game 1? More of that, although Q won't allow that without a response (line juggling) for too long, would be just fine with Cooper.

The Boyle line needs to step up now.

Amazing that so many didn't realize how multi skilled Hedman is. All the qualities to be the very best Dman in the world. Besides Boewmeister Hedman is a big guy I'd tune in just to watch skate.

FREE DROUIN!!!!*


* Or send him to NJ for the 6th overall.

I'm still plenty opinionated. Haha. I just think there are a lot of good hockey insights in the piece, and well-presented.
- John Jaeckel

I think that he did a phenomenal job stringing together the opinions of all of the kids on twitter into an eloquent blog

I think we see Stamkos and Johnson on a mission tonight. Bet it opens up a lot more than Weds.

Nice Piece Michael ... Any idea about Cedric Paquette , I totally forgot about that nasty puck to the hand in the last game , Broken finger ? Hawks are bringin it tonight , could be a totally diffrent game form the first .... How bout a track meet for the fans tonight and none of that prevent defense garbage .....

I think that he did a phenomenal job stringing together the opinions of all of the kids on twitter into an eloquent blog
- lumlums

Oh, no, if you incorporated the opinions of ALL the kids on Twitter, you'd have a serious trainwreck.

I see you're still in mourning. Feel better soon.

Oh, no, if you incorporated the opinions of ALL the kids on Twitter, you'd have a serious trainwreck.

I see you're still in mourning. Feel better soon.
- John Jaeckel

No mourning whatsoever, just a fine English lad taking a stroll around the bountiful gardens of HB.



I'm am trying to ensure that I form my own sentences without consulting with the KOT first though, how would you rank me on a scale of one to nailing it?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/bl...=40144&navid=nhl:topheads
Please let it be true

No mourning whatsoever, just a fine English lad taking a stroll around the bountiful gardens of HB.



I'm am trying to ensure that I form my own sentences without consulting with the KOT first though, how would you rank me on a scale of one to nailing it?
- lumlums

On a scale of don't care to nailing it, don't care.

On a scale of don't care to nailing it, don't care.
- John Jaeckel

The fact that you replied means that at the very least, the number of (frank)s you give is slightly more than the number of cups won by Vancouver

So I'm going to the game. Can I wear my Shea Weber jersey?

The fact that you replied means that at the very least, the number of (frank)s you give is slightly more than the number of cups won by Vancouver
- lumlums

Now I know you're sensnucksnocups

I HATE the capitals, but I am REALLY enjoying my time in DC (and Virginia). Will be checking updates from my phone from the George Washington monument! Go Bolts!!!!

I HATE the capitals, but I am REALLY enjoying my time in DC (and Virginia). Will be checking updates from my phone from the George Washington monument! Go Bolts!!!!
- Artyukhin76

On a nice vacation?