Chicago Blackhawks - Phoenix Coyotes 1st Round Discussion

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Yahoo's Nick Cotsonika

NHL playoffs: Underdogs, upsets & first-round predictions - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

3. Phoenix Coyotes vs. 6. Chicago Blackhawks

Why the underdog can win: The Blackhawks were four points better than the Coyotes during the regular season – while playing in a much tougher division – and they still have the core that won the Cup two years ago. The Coyotes haven’t won a playoff series since moving from Winnipeg in 1996 – and maybe they never will. The NHL still hasn’t been able to sell the team it bought out of bankruptcy 2-1/2 years ago. The Coyotes brass has hinted there could be good news soon. But is that just because they don’t want a repeat of last year? As the playoffs began, a report said the Coyotes would relocate after elimination. It was wrong, but it still sabotaged them.

Why the underdog is still the underdog: Captain Jonathan Toews has been skating but has said he still has concussion symptoms. So why is he skating, let alone trying to come back? The power play has been a mess all season, and the goaltending does not match up. Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been shaky for Chicago, while Mike Smith led the Coyotes to the first division title in team history. The Coyotes went 20-6-5 after Feb. 1. They won their last three meetings with the Blackhawks. Maybe Phoenix will pull it off – a playoff victory and a franchise sale.

Odds of an upset: Good.

Pick: Coyotes in 7.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

ESPN:

Gotta love Buccigross constantly picking series to go 7 games. So noncommittal :lol:

Melrose going with the Kings in the 1st. Odd.

 

[BigP50]

Excited for the series to start!

 

[1ke]

Gotta wait for Thursday for this shit. :rage:

Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk

 

[Heisenberg]

Ah these damn Yotes fans are out in full force. Can't wait for game 1.

 

[DewsSox79]

ESPN:

Gotta love Buccigross constantly picking series to go 7 games. So noncommittal :lol:

Melrose going with the Kings in the 1st. Odd.

I wouldnt pick em if I had to bet real money, but there is a good chance the kings can upset the nucks. if goaltending is at all shaky for vancouver the kings can win. the kings goaltending will be there and their offense has been better.

 

[tbo41fan]

My official pick is Hawks in 6

Hawks win both in Phx
Coyotes win game 3 in Chicago
Hawks win game 4 at home
Coyotes win game 5 in Phoenix
Hawks win game 6 in Chicago

 

[Capt. Serious]

Steve Konroyd high? Crawf has advantage over Mike Smith?

Homerism at its finest.

 

[Captain Iago]

I wouldnt pick em if I had to bet real money, but there is a good chance the kings can upset the nucks. if goaltending is at all shaky for vancouver the kings can win. the kings goaltending will be there and their offense has been better.

Quick can make a huge difference. Still haven't heard any update on Carter, one of the major reasons why that anemic offense has been better.

 

[Captain Iago]

Steve Konroyd high? Crawf has advantage over Mike Smith?

Homerism at its finest.

Oh, I agree. But, what were his reasons why? Playoff experience/performance?

 

[DMelt36]

Oh, I agree. But, what were his reasons why? Playoff experience/performance?

Playoff experience and Crawford playing better in the last month.

Konroyd's huffing glue.

I've got more faith in Crawford than I did in February, but I don't know anyone that's fully confident in him. He'll have to prove it on the ice.

 

[Captain Iago]

Did he neglect Smith's recent 200 or so shutout minutes streak? Yikes.

 

[DMelt36]

A much more honest breakdown and better read from Hawks fans on Smith here:

SCH's First Round Preview: The Biggest Obstacle - Second City Hockey

Reasons for pessimism:

The big part of Smith's game, and one that is worrisome, is that he's an excellent puck handler. Combine that with the Yotes' coverage in the neutral zone, and they can smother a forecheck in a hurry by forcing you to dump it in and then watch helplessly as Smith dumps it out himself. If he gets to touch the puck, the Coyotes' d-men don't have to retrieve behind the net but can hang out on the half-wall or farther up to wait for an outlet from Smith. He's that good with the puck.

Reasons for optimism:

Ok, the shutout streak. Yeah, impressive. Even after it, he didn't give up more than a goal in a game. However, this streak came against the Sharks, Blues, Jackets, Ducks, and Wild. Other than the Sharks -- who aren't the bomb squad they used to be -- none of these teams are exactly the flame thrower guy from the opening scene of Lethal Weapon 4. And the Jackets threw 54 shots at him. If the Yotes let the Hawks get 50 shots per game, they'll be going home quickly.

Secondly, Smith has had a great season. But that doesn't mean he's automatically a playoff monster. As McClure calls him, HumongousBeeg put up great regular season numbers last year behind this team, and then fell apart in the playoffs. We don't have a sample size on him, he's only got three playoff appearances. I don't think he'll be bad, but nor am I ready to concede he's going to be Giguere in '04 either.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Quick can make a huge difference. Still haven't heard any update on Carter, one of the major reasons why that anemic offense has been better.

Yet Richards still hasn't done a heck of a lot.

Kings blew it when they moved Simmonds. Love me some Wayne Simmonds.

 

[tbo41fan]

Konroyd is a reject...

I may not like Olczyk, but I hope he sticks around so we don't have to see Konroyd too often

 

[Capt. Serious]

Jesse Rogers ‏ @ESPNChiHawks
5 on 3 work now...sharp and hossa are on the point with kane, toews, and bolland at forward

Jesse Rogers ‏ @ESPNChiHawks
So you know who to yell at later, Kitchen is running most of these drills

Mike Kitchen..epic fail.