Stanley Cup Final IGT: Game 1 - Blackhawks @ Lightning 6/3 at 7:00 p.m.

[DMelt36]

It's hockey time.

@

Puckdrop - Approximately 7:15 p.m.
TV - NBC
Radio - WGN AM 720

After an 82-game regular season, two relatively quiet playoff rounds and one Western Conference Final that nearly took our collective sanity, our Chicago Blackhawks are in their third Stanley Cup Final in the last six seasons. Their opponent is from the famous hockey hotbed of Tampa Bay, Florida, in the form of the Steven Stamkos-led lightning. He is at the forefront of a young, fast attack that dispatched of a trio of Original 6 teams on its way to the Stanley Cup. The Hawks have likely not faced a team with the speed that Tampa will take to the ice tonight, but the Lightning haven't seen anything like the Blackhawks in this postseason, either. Four more wins for Chicago, and there'll be a whole lotta dynasty talk. But you have to get win number one first.

Line combos appear to be the same as they were at the end of the WCF:

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

 

[TCD]

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Tampa isn't going to know or understand what hit em.

This is going to be a murdering on ice. 7-1 Hawks.

 

[HeHateMe]

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

The anxiety will set in after work when I'm on I-88 heading home.
I think Tampa takes game 1, 5-4.

 

[HeHateMe]

 

[italianbeef]

The Hawks have come too far to spit the bit. They know what's coming this summer and will be laser focused on bringing this thing home. Starts tonight. Hide the women and children.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

 

[supraman]

Shouldnt our 2nd and 3rd line be swapped?

 

[CRM 114]

I'm confused. Do I post in here tonight or do I post in Grimson's hawks thread in the All sports forum?

 

[Bigfoot]

**** Tampa and that shit hole known as Florida. Grab them by the nutz and Smash. Bigfoot smash

 

[clonetrooper264]

Lez git it

 

[B18]

What's the weakness of Tampa that we can exploit? I didn't follow them really, just know they have a lot of speed.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I'm confused. Do I post in here tonight or do I post in Grimson's hawks thread in the All sports forum?

You could watch it with the Tampa fans.

 

[MassHavoc]

Win.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Win.

Where's Wino?

 

[MassHavoc]

Where's Wino?

I guess that depends on what part of texas he was from...

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I guess that depends on what part of texas he was from...

Very true.

 

[CRM 114]

You could watch it with the Tampa fans.

Tampa fans actually exist?

 

[LordKOTL]

What's the weakness of Tampa that we can exploit? I didn't follow them really, just know they have a lot of speed.

The one thing that stood out to me based on playoff stats is that we have a marked edge in takeways over them--with our giveaways about the same as well as hits.

The exploit, as I see it, is getting the puck and keeping it--keeping them pinned which is something the 'hawks are good at. Their offense can't score if we continuously have the puck. Right now is the time for Hossa, Saad, Toews, and Kane (our TkA leaders over anyone on Tampa) to shine.

The exploit for Tampa, however, is to capitalize on any boneheaded plays or penalties the 'hawks commit. Their special teams will bury us if we play this like Game 5 or take too many too much man penalties.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Tampa fans actually exist?

I went to a game in Tampa in 2011 and it was a sellout.
Much better fan base than the Panthers.