NHL Thread

[Thom Yorke]

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

The series has been pretty decent considering how one sided the 3-0 deficit is. I really thought Pitt looked like the better team in game 3 and came up empty. What a heartbreaker for them. Bostons first line has picked apart Pitt which is a big surprise to me. Should be an interesting game 4 as Pitt is gonna bring the heat, lets see what Boston has in store.

As for the Hawks series I think everything has gone as I thought it would. Their speed through the neutral zone has caused some problems for LA. Quick and the Kings might have spent a little too much in the past two series they look a little gassed at times. That was a sloppy goal Quick let in last night but overall I thought Chicago really brought the game to them in general. Where the hell did Bickel come from that dude has been a monster.

I thought the Penguins played well in the first 30-35 minutes of game 1, and dominated the second and third periods of game 3. Other than that, it has pretty much been all Bruins.

I think I underestimated how porous the Penguins D is when they play their usual high tempo style of game. The Bruins did whatever the hell they wanted in the first two games to advance the puck up the ice and pen the Penguins in their own zone, especially the Krejci line. And the Penguins didn't help their cause at all with what they were doing on offense. I haven't seen that many defensemen pinch only to lose possession and get caught up the ice for an odd-man rush. It's kind of one of those things that you look back on in hindsight and say, "How did I miss that?" One of the Bruins main strengths is their transition game and breakouts, and it looks like defending that might be the Penguins greatest weakness. They did tighten up a lot defensively in game 3, but the Bruins still found a way to expose them a lot in OT.

The Penguins came on VERY hard in the last two periods of regulation on Wednesday, but, even when they did, the Bruins collapsed very effectively around Rask to limit the Pens' opportunities and Rask himself has been great. How poorly Boston played in the second and third worries me a bit, but they did come on strong in OT and carried the play for the most part. Those second and third periods though... wow. Absolutely nothing was working for them. I don't think I've ever seen the Bruins get dominated on faceoffs like that. Everyone just kind of disappeared except Rask. Still, I take a bit of solace in the fact that they rebounded and that the Penguins threw everything they had into that game and still lost. Not sure how that will affect the Penguins going forward. They could have just hit an emotional wall after losing with that effort, or they could use it as something to build on.

Bruins need to show that killer instinct. They did it against New York, but they could be dealing with a sleeping giant in Pittsburgh if things start to slip.

The Kings just flat out aren't playing good hockey, and I really don't think they have been for most of the playoffs. Quick is pretty much the only thing going for them right now. St. Louis took it to them and carried the play for basically the whole series and they were kind of hit or miss against the Sharks. Having two shots on net in the third when you're trailing by one goal only a minute into the period is just inexcusable. 100% credit goes to Quick for taking them this far (and I wouldn't put it past him to mount a comeback in this series by himself) but I don't think the rest of the team really deserves to win, to be honest.

[Thom Yorke]

Holy crap, still in shock. That series just came and went like it was nothing when all signs before the series pointed to it being a long one. I honestly think that was one of the more dominant defensive performances in a series that you're ever going to see. Holding Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang, and Iginla, along with others, to 0 points is pretty incredible. So proud of this team. That game looked exactly like game 7 vs. Tampa Bay in 2011.

[Paul Smeenus]

Originally Posted by Thom Yorke

Holy crap, still in shock. That series just came and went like it was nothing when all signs before the series pointed to it being a long one. I honestly think that was one of the more dominant defensive performances in a series that you're ever going to see. Holding Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang, and Iginla, along with others, to 0 points is pretty incredible. So proud of this team. That game looked exactly like game 7 vs. Tampa Bay in 2011.

Rask was outstanding, no matter who comes out of the west there will be a matched set of extremely hot goalies in the finals Crawford has been sharp and Quick has totally carried the Kings

[Thom Yorke]

Here we go.

Interested to see how Chicago's lines play out. At first glance, you'd think it would be a no-brainer to put Chara out against Sharp-Toews-Hossa, but the size of the Bickell-Handzus combination could be tough to deal with. Last series, they put Chara and Seidenberg out against the bigger Malkin and Neal and let Ference and Boychuk, along with the Bergeron line, deal with the speed/quickness of Crosby. Still, you have to match up your best vs. their best, so it looks like Chara-Seidenberg will try to deal with the Toews line first and foremost. All I know is that they have to get the Bergeron line out against the Toews line as much as possible. Marchand could drive Toews nuts this series.

Chicago has a great group of defensemen that can all move the puck, but it'll be interesting to see if Boston's size and physicality down low can wear them down in the defensive zone. Every single one of Boston's top 6 forwards excel at cycling the puck down low, and, outside of Seguin, all their bottom 6 forwards are pretty damn good at it as well. Just have to try to bottle Chicago up in their own zone as much as possible this series, and be wary of their quick transition game. Boston's D are usually really involved on offense and love to pinch, but they have to be especially careful against a team that thrives on breakouts with their speed and puck-moving ability of their D.

Obviously the goal is to win every game, but I'd be happy going back to Boston with a split to take away home-ice. Overall, I'm saying Boston in 7.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Thom Yorke

Here we go.

Interested to see how Chicago's lines play out. At first glance, you'd think it would be a no-brainer to put Chara out against Sharp-Toews-Hossa, but the size of the Bickell-Handzus combination could be tough to deal with. Last series, they put Chara and Seidenberg out against the bigger Malkin and Neal and let Ference and Boychuk, along with the Bergeron line, deal with the speed/quickness of Crosby. Still, you have to match up your best vs. their best, so it looks like Chara-Seidenberg will try to deal with the Toews line first and foremost. All I know is that they have to get the Bergeron line out against the Toews line as much as possible. Marchand could drive Toews nuts this series.

Chicago has a great group of defensemen that can all move the puck, but it'll be interesting to see if Boston's size and physicality down low can wear them down in the defensive zone. Every single one of Boston's top 6 forwards excel at cycling the puck down low, and, outside of Seguin, all their bottom 6 forwards are pretty damn good at it as well. Just have to try to bottle Chicago up in their own zone as much as possible this series, and be wary of their quick transition game. Boston's D are usually really involved on offense and love to pinch, but they have to be especially careful against a team that thrives on breakouts with their speed and puck-moving ability of their D.

Obviously the goal is to win every game, but I'd be happy going back to Boston with a split to take away home-ice. Overall, I'm saying Boston in 7.

This is gearing up to be a great series. Boston reminds me alot of the Kings team from last year. Hot goalie with a wrecking ball of a team. Distributed scoring and guys that play well on the boards. I like their makeup alot, I could see either team winning if they get their game going.

Obviously Chicago wants to create some space in open ice and run and gun with Boston. Its obvious what both teams want to do, just a matter of imposing their will on each other. I gotta stick with Chicago, I really liked the looks they were creating against LA. I'll say 7 games also. Great original six matchup for sure, looking forward to it.

[Plankton]

Coach Q is doin some shuffling to protect Kane and Toews. Either way it's party time! Gonna be a great series.

[Paul Smeenus]

Also marginally favoring Blackhawks in 7

[Ninetales]

Im leaning towards boston right now but that might just be a gut feeling on my part.

I think im more comfortable believing that seguin and jagr will find the net at some point and help Bostons score by commity style than brian bickell continuing to be fernando pisani2.0. Tht being said toews could just as easily come out of his goal scoring slump as well. Rask > Crawford as well, despite the fact that i really like crawfords style (probably because its just so awkward to watch thus similar to my own)

[Laces Out Dan!]

Im honestly surprised Coach Q has taken Bickel off that first line..He's been such a huge part of the run so far. I think you need that grit on your top end against a team like Boston as well.

Also, sad to see Dallas Eakins go to Edmonton, he was really who I thought was the front runner for the new position in Van. Its lookin like the best shot now for behind the bench is John Stevens from LA. Also..Torts had an interview yesterday with the team..as Vigneault has an interview with New York.

[Ninetales]

Originally Posted by Laces Out Dan!

I think you need that grit on your top end against a team like Boston as well.

Thats the opposite of what you need against boston imo. Cant beat them at their own game so you may as well use your fast forwards to get by their slow d.

and i cant think of a single way torts would help vancouver in any situation.