THN picks the Hawks to lose in the SCF to the Caps

[agenthehe]

They were even making fun of themselves for yet again picking the caps (for I believe the 3rd consecutive year), but on a more Chicago note, they are picking the Caps to beat what some of the THN scribes think could be the Hawks rehoisting.



As usual The Hockey News yearbook is a good read and summary of what's going on (obviously some of the latest from the last week isn't in there as it's a print and not online in the what happened 30 seconds ago media world we live in), but it's always a good read from each teams local scribes to get a break down on each team.

 

[roshinaya]

I doubt the Caps will fair much better than they have the last couple of years in the post-season. I am not convinced that adding a couple of grinders in Brouwer and Ward is the difference maker. Vokoun also isn't exactly a playoff-tried goalie and in my opinion the lack of a goalie wasn't the main problem causing them to flop in the playoffs. It's their core that is suspect, a part from Ovechkin who genuinely looks like he wants to win it all (and has the stats to prove it), the rest of the top players have a tendency to disappear. Boudreau is also too much of a softie and doesn't run a tight enough of a ship to get his team to take the next step. He'll be gone after 11-12 when the Caps once again peter out in the playoffs.



The Hawks I see have a good chance as any to get back to the finals. The long off-season ought to do some good and getting ousted in the first round by the Canucks in a series that was very close to being historic is sure to wet the appetites of the players. And adding some sandpaper and players looking to get that next contract should help also.

 

[agenthehe]

I actually think they may have hit the SC finalists on the head this year. I've never been a huge fan of Washington's make up however they did add the right pieces this year where I think they've been lacking. As for the hawks (and I know I'm a homer) but I think they will hoist again.

 

[Smokinmedic]

I actually think they may have hit the SC finalists on the head this year. I've never been a huge fan of Washington's make up however they did add the right pieces this year where I think they've been lacking. As for the hawks (and I know I'm a homer) but I think they will hoist again.

I have to agree. I think that maybe the Caps have added the right pieces, but I just don't see them hoisting the cup this year. If they do make it to the finals against the Hawks, the Cup will be coming back to Chicago in June!

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

I actually think they may have hit the SC finalists on the head this year. I've never been a huge fan of Washington's make up however they did add the right pieces this year where I think they've been lacking. As for the hawks (and I know I'm a homer) but I think they will hoist again.

They added some nice parts, but they still have poor leadership, and their star players have a remarkable ability to disappear on the big stage. I also don't think they can win giving Semin the kind of minutes that they have, the guy is the epitome of lazy russian. Mike Green as their #1 "Defenceman" don't buy into that either. Vokoun has no playoff experience, and Neuvirth is only in his second year. Sorry, still too many problems with that team for me to jump on their bandwaggon

 

[supraman]

Yeah well TSN might pick the caps over hawks but I have EA Sport NHL mojo on our side. I played the caps twice in the finals and beat them twice so yeah we will beat the caps. Playing them twice was an omen from the hockey gods.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

It doesn't matter, that would be such a win-win situation for me I would be delirious.

 

[supraman]

It doesn't matter, that would be such a win-win situation for me I would be delirious.

Hehe I still want to see a Hawks/Bruins matchup. I tried to figure out if the hawks play the bruins in the finals this year who woulda won and I can't figure it out, it seems to be a complete wash. I think it would have been a series for the ages, low scoring, but exciting hard nosed hockey.

 

[esbrechtel]

Yeah well TSN might pick the caps over hawks but I have EA Sport NHL mojo on our side. I played the caps twice in the finals and beat them twice so yeah we will beat the caps. Playing them twice was an omen from the hockey gods.

That doesn't count it was against the computer with offsides turned off

 

[Tater]

That doesn't count it was against the computer with offsides turned off

And on the rookie setting.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Hehe I still want to see a Hawks/Bruins matchup. I tried to figure out if the hawks play the bruins in the finals this year who woulda won and I can't figure it out, it seems to be a complete wash. I think it would have been a series for the ages, low scoring, but exciting hard nosed hockey.

That would be a dream matchup for me. Hawks up 3-1 in the series and the Bruins are going after the stars. Q decides to put John Scott in the line up and he KOs Crybaby BooBoo Pants, Hunchback and Attempted Murderer all in one game.



Hawks win Game 5 at home wooooo!

 

[supraman]

That doesn't count it was against the computer with offsides turned off

Offsides and line changes are on

And on the rookie setting.

I play on the default level

That would be a dream matchup for me. Hawks up 3-1 in the series and the Bruins are going after the stars. Q decides to put John Scott in the line up and he KOs Crybaby BooBoo Pants, Hunchback and Attempted Murderer all in one game.



Hawks win Game 5 at home wooooo!

That scenario would be in your dreams. the series would be 2-2 with a total of 4 goals scored and it would just be a grind and a war without the dirty play of the casucks.

 

[the canadian dream]

Well Vokoun def takes them to the next level. No questions regarding that one. Could be the final piece of the puzzle. Brouwer is going to help them with depth issues also. Blueline is better than it ever has been.



I can't argue against the Caps having a great and legit shot.



As for the Hawks? I'm not anointing them Western Champs yet although looking at teams on paper only I think they do have a great shot at it (health withstanding). Tough tough tough conference as it always is (although I think the East is going to be tougher this year to come out of). As for the West... watch out for teams like L.A. I think they made some huge changes that could pay off. L.A. comes down to coaching in my opinion. They have the talent up and down the lines they have good depth they have good goalkeeping. I am not sure if they have championship coaching though.



I am also really interested in seeing how the Wild and Sharks do with all their recent changes. Neither I think will be Western Champions but I am soooo looking forward to watching these 2 teams.



Guess we have to talk about the Canucks also....No chance in hell they come out of the West again. I slot them as 1st round losers...which is what they should be. Lucky for them they play in such a crap division....the Wild might give them a run this year though..yah I said it.



**** me why am I talking about cup finalist anyways on August 30th?

 

[R K]

Would have been interesting to see where the Hawks would have been had they had all four centers healthy towards the end of the season and playoffs last year.



Not quite sure the Caps still have the defense to get there, and add to that their Stars, IE Ovi and Semin have YET to show up in said playoffs, they could be a stretch. Especially when you add the Bruins and Lightening to the mix.



I will still say IF the hawks remain relatively healthy they will win the Cup in 2012. No question in my mind.

 

[Ton]

If 50 points in 37 playoff games is "not showing up" then I'd like to know what your definition of "showing up" is.



Ovy has always showed up, this year it's time for the team to show up with him.

 

[R K]

If 50 points in 37 playoff games is "not showing up" then I'd like to know what your definition of "showing up" is.



Ovy has always showed up, this year it's time for the team to show up with him.

I don't know I've watched most of it. I still say not showing up. Even his own fans say he's over rated. I'm not sucking his dick. When he and his team actually win something after being "chosen" every year, I might change my mind.



He didn't show up last year when they needed him. No doubt.

 

[Variable]

If 50 points in 37 playoff games is "not showing up" then I'd like to know what your definition of "showing up" is.



Ovy has always showed up, this year it's time for the team to show up with him.

Yeah not sure where that criticism is coming from. Last playoffs he had more points in the Caps losses than he did in their wins during the playoffs. Don't really think he's the problem. The year before that against Montreal he had some big games, and then Halak and Montreal went kinda crazy. It wasn't for a lack of trying on his part. Think he took something like 25 shots over the last 3 games, only had one goal.



The year before that against Pittsburgh he and Crosby took turns being the best player on the planet almost every game. Not sure what more he could've done. He's one player. The lack of team success at the highest level in what is always proudly proclaimed to be the hardest tournament to win in sports shouldn't be put mostly on the shoulders of a single person, and one who doesn't really deserve that kind of criticism at that as shown by his performance at the level. I've never understood that complaint. It can't be both ways.

 

[JOVE23]

If Ovi had a supporting cast that wasn't Semin and Green he'd probably have a Cup to his name by now.

 

[R K]

Yeah not sure where that criticism is coming from. Last playoffs he had more points in the Caps losses than he did in their wins during the playoffs. Don't really think he's the problem. The year before that against Montreal he had some big games, and then Halak and Montreal went kinda crazy. It wasn't for a lack of trying on his part. Think he took something like 25 shots over the last 3 games, only had one goal.



The year before that against Pittsburgh he and Crosby took turns being the best player on the planet almost every game. Not sure what more he could've done. He's one player. The lack of team success at the highest level in what is always proudly proclaimed to be the hardest tournament to win in sports shouldn't be put mostly on the shoulders of a single person, and one who doesn't really deserve that kind of criticism at that as shown by his performance at the level. I've never understood that complaint. It can't be both ways.

See I disagree, like a lot of the Cap fans do. Look how many shots he had last year. And the year before. Whether trying to hard, not able to finish, what ever the reason.



You can't pin the same on Crosby.



I agree to a point, but, there were times last year he had chances to win the game and did not. During two of their games even the analysts were talking about how he was gripping his stick.



So I'll agree to disagree.

 

[Variable]

See I disagree, like a lot of the Cap fans do. Look how many shots he had last year. And the year before. Whether trying to hard, not able to finish, what ever the reason.



You can't pin the same on Crosby.



I agree to a point, but, there were times last year he had chances to win the game and did not. During two of their games even the analysts were talking about how he was gripping his stick.



So I'll agree to disagree.

You can't pin it on Crosby only because his team won the Stanley Cup. You're using what is seen ,by it's fans, as the ultimate team accomplishment in team sports against a single player. It just doesn't make any sense to me to put the brunt of criticism of not achieving that on any one player, especially one in which has played well, but can't make up for the 20 something other guys on the team. It's just not possible. It makes more sense to criticize the "experts" who pick the Caps. But even in that, looking at this upcoming year with the steal of the offseason acquisition in Vokoun, a goalie who is one of the few that CAN play above the overall talent of the defense in front of him, I'd probably pick them too.