WCQF: Hawks Defeat Blues in 6 Games! (SERIES DISCUSSION)

[The Count Dante]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="225764" data-time="1397506006">
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I havent been able to watch a whole lot of hockey this season. I guess the BJs improved their roster? Since in the west they were the laughing stock of the conference</p>
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 </p>


Basically they stopped trying to buy it and the squad is playing well. Most NHL fans would have trouble naming 5 guys on the squad. And as a goalie fan, you cant help but love Bobrovsky. They wont beat Pitt, but I think they might put on a good show.</p>

 

[EspoForever]

I would certainly not call them a laughing stock. They made the playoffs a couple years back and actually missed due to the tie breaker last year after a horrid start and were one of the best teams in the league last year's 2nd half.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Hawks in 5!!</p>


 </p>


Blues are going to get steam rolled with the injuries they have right now and there feels to be other issues within the team since that Miller/Ott trade if you ask me. Those last 2 weeks of the reg season didn't look like a team that was on the same page at all with themselves or with the coach.</p>


 </p>


I suspect Toews and Kane will be more than fine and will be energized as all shit. I predict a huge series for both of them.</p>


 </p>


Yah im getting a little cocky.</p>

 

[roshinaya]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="225742" data-time="1397502108">
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I think this series is going to come down to Ryan Miller. Does he stand on his head? Blues win in 7. If he is anything less than lights out, hawks in 7</p>
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 </p>


I seriously don't get what's so special about Ryan Miller? It's easy to shine in a dumpster fire like Buffalo. He had that one great year when he won the Vezina, but other than that he's been average or slightly above it. Yet people talking about him as he's one of the elite goalies in the league. Not saying he couldn't all of a sudden win the series by himself, but it looks to me those days are over, if there even were these days at all. If the Blues had kept Halak, someone who has a history of stealing series and always plays well against the Hawks, I would be seriously worried. But not anymore.</p>

 

[Variable]

It's easy for a goalie to play well in Buffalo? Not sure what numbers you're going with, but in the context of that horrible team having average to slightly above average numbers is great. </p>

 

[roshinaya]

I am not just talking about this year, more so of his whole career, where I just don't see him as that goalie god he sometimes is made out to be. He played very well in Buffalo this season, his sv% was far better there than he has on the superior Blues team. Miller was the only good thing in Buffalo this year, thus easy to shine.</p>

 

[Forklift]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="225720" data-time="1397498974">
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Teuvo played really well though.


Man Stephen Johns is one big ******. Too bad he's slower than molasses.</p>
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 </p>


What I saw in Teuvo Sunday was a guy who still needs to learn the North American game. He's still in the Finnish mindset of "everyone touches the puck". There were a couple instances where he was able to get positioning on his defender, and passed rather than going to the net. On one of them, he passed over to Ryan Hartman, and Hartman was clearly not expecting the puck.</p>


 </p>


He needs to start recognizing the North American game involves pucks and bodies to the net. Also, he was playing the point on the PP? I wasn't enjoying that at all - unless it's Ted Dent's way of trying to force him to shoot, but he wasn't looking for shots. Mind you, I'm not saying he won't be a plus player in the NHL. His skill set is elite. But at this point in his development, I wouldn't write his name into the Opening Night lineup in ink.</p>


 </p>


Johns looked OK in 5-on-5, but he was on the 1st PK unit, and he was a little out of his depth there. Seeing him paired with Dahlbeck was fun, two big guys who will both be Blackhawks in the very near future.</p>

 

[Forklift]

Back to the series though - while all the news out of Blackhawks camp regarding Toews and Kane is all sunshine and rainbows, the Blues have been very quiet about their guys, everyone is "questionable". I'm guessing they'll remain "questionable" until they each have 8 minutes in the first period.</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I heard on the radio that Backes, Oshie and Sobotka should be back for game one.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="225837" data-time="1397576602">
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I heard on the radio that Backes, Oshie and Sobotka should be back for game one.</p>
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 </p>


~~~~Oooooo, I am soooooo scared~~~~</p>


 </p>


Really though, if the Blues plan on gooning it up I don't see this being a long series. I am hoping that it can be short regardless, but if they think they will win via physical play they will be making tee times for next weekend. </p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

So yea.... lines at practice:

Steeg - Toews - Saad
Sharp - Zus - Hossa
Bickell - Shaw - Kane
Bollig - Kruger - Smith

Is Q trolling?

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="225839" data-time="1397579381">
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So yea.... lines at practice:


Steeg - Toews - Saad

Sharp - Zus - Hossa

Bickell - Shaw - Kane

Bollig - Kruger - Smith


Is Q trolling?</p>
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 </p>


Swap Kane with Saad and you have the same lines we've seen all year. I don't have a problem with any lineup before the game, because as everyone knows, it typically only lasts ten minutes to a period. </p>

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="225839" data-time="1397579381">
<div>


So yea.... lines at practice:


Steeg - Toews - Saad

Sharp - Zus - Hossa

Bickell - Shaw - Kane

Bollig - Kruger - Smith


Is Q trolling?</p>
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 </p>


Also you can play Zus at 2C when the Blues boast forwards who skate like they do. O, and also a slew of guys who were in their prime back in 2006. </p>

 

[supraman]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="225819" data-time="1397543325">
<div>


I seriously don't get what's so special about Ryan Miller? It's easy to shine in a dumpster fire like Buffalo. He had that one great year when he won the Vezina, but other than that he's been average or slightly above it. Yet people talking about him as he's one of the elite goalies in the league. Not saying he couldn't all of a sudden win the series by himself, but it looks to me those days are over, if there even were these days at all. If the Blues had kept Halak, someone who has a history of stealing series and always plays well against the Hawks, I would be seriously worried. But not anymore.</p>
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I get what you are saying and really since he decided to play and lose a game of chicken with Lucic he's been garbage in Buffalo. However he can be absolutely brilliant. Look at his 2010 Olympic performance, he was the reason we had a shot at gold. So if he plays lights out we are going to have a hard time scoring, if he is anything less (which is what I expect) we beat the blues.</p>

 

[Variable]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="225822" data-time="1397552151">
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I am not just talking about this year, more so of his whole career, where I just don't see him as that goalie god he sometimes is made out to be. He played very well in Buffalo this season, his sv% was far better there than he has on the superior Blues team. Miller was the only good thing in Buffalo this year, thus easy to shine.</p>
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 </p>


Read this http://www.wgr550.com/pages/13653741.php?</p>


 </p>


It's a couple years old but it still proves the point. He's been one of the best goalies since the lockout. And it's actually kinda prophetic when he starts talking about what value a goalie who makes 6+ million a year is worth to different teams who play different styles. Kinda like Crawford and the Hawks. </p>

 

[~rabid platypus~]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimsäväinen" data-cid="225837" data-time="1397576602">
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I heard on the radio that Backes, Oshie and Sobotka should be back for game one.</p>
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 </p>


Apparently Tarasenko got his cast off and says he is ready to go. Just needs to be cleared by the doctors. Woot! IF all those guys are back, I change my prediction and say Hawks in 5 not 4! </p>


 </p>


Progress!</p>

 

[supraman]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="~Rabid Platypus~" data-cid="225858" data-time="1397588125">
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Apparently Tarasenko got his cast off and says he is ready to go. Just needs to be cleared by the doctors. Woot! IF all those guys are back, I change my prediction and say Hawks in 5 not 4! </p>


 </p>


Progress!</p>
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 </p>


Rabid you really dont think the blues are going to be a tough matchup for the hawks? Blues won the season series 3-2 and you guys are physical as all get out.</p>

 

[~rabid platypus~]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="225859" data-time="1397588222">
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Rabid you really dont think the blues are going to be a tough matchup for the hawks? Blues won the season series 3-2 and you guys are physical as all get out.</p>
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 </p>


Honestly, no I don't. 2 of those 3 wins went to a shootout. The Hawks have another gear to jump to in the playoffs, where I don't think the Blues do. Even though the Blues are physical, if they worry too much about putting someone through the glass, the Hawks will just dance around them.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="225859" data-time="1397588222">
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Rabid you really dont think the blues are going to be a tough matchup for the hawks? Blues won the season series 3-2 and you guys are physical as all get out.</p>
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But for the hawks it was 2-1-2... and the two wins for the Hawks I believe were the last two games convincingly?</p>

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="225859" data-time="1397588222">
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Rabid you really dont think the blues are going to be a tough matchup for the hawks? Blues won the season series 3-2 and you guys are physical as all get out.</p>
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 </p>


How pessimistic are you as a Hawks fan, the Blues haven't beaten us in regulation since the 3rd game of the season. To boot they have been playing like crap lately against all opponents, and we have manhandled them in the past two outings. </p>


 </p>


I am pretty pleased with our first round opponent. </p>