Blackhawks To Face Wild
The Minnesota Wild upset the Colorado Avalanche in overtime of Game Seven to advance, and will now face the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Minnesota Wild upset the Colorado Avalanche in overtime of Game Seven to advance, and will now face the Chicago Blackhawks.
….just shows to go you – that’s why they play the games.
GO HAWKS!!
For the Wild to beat the Avs the way they did, just shows that they are a very good team…down the stretch I made the comment that the Wild were playing as well as anyone in the league…their goaltending hasn’t been great, and they still won that series…just a very balanced, consistent and tough team…this will NOT be an easy series…and the Hawks MUST win at home…winning in MIN will be tough. Bickell is going to once again be a key to the series…he and Crawford. Plus, with the Wild rolling 4 lines, the Hawks must have a 4th line that can play and eat up key minutes. Pommenville is red hot versus the Hawks and Moulson was a key acquisition. And for those thinking that Heatley’s career is over, he had a goal and 3 points in game 7 tonight.
LA just beat SJ (that’s got to be it for the SJ Coach) in a great comeback, and the Kings have a GREAT shot at beating ANA. Which means the Hawks could own home ice through the conference finals. They just won’t have it versus the Bruins in the Cup final.
Sr. Brad, I agree, but, considering four games at home (incl. the first two), less travel, no Varlamov, or high altitude = what a break/thank you!
Is any series “easy”? I believe that the key is the Hawks play “their game” – team defense in three zones/transition/possession. Of course Bickell and Crawford have to show-up – and, so does everyone else! (Point taken) I hope the Hawks are able to roll four lines, but Q will shorten the bench if he feels the situations call for that. Their best players will be THEIR BEST PLAYERS(?). Pommenville, Moulson, and Heatley (still) are good players…and of course Parise and Suter (and those “other” d-man), but the Hawks can “handle it”, right?
It’s probably best not to look forward beyond the second round. LA four straight – that’s some shit. Maybe Doug Wilson should go (as well)? It was *his* team and he didn’t add anything significant, etc. – I don’t know (Vlasic got hurt, Niemi sucked – there’s probably 10 or 12 more excuses?)
GO HAWKS!!
This was the best case scenario, opponents go to 7 games, Hawks get time to rest their legs, heal their injuries and bruises, and they get Home Ice advantage.
I look at the Sharks and I just don’t see a mentally tough team. McClellan and Wilson may be gone, but they probably need some turnover on that roster…maybe a new captain.
What a treat to have this game last night dvr and watch early this morning. Wild should have cleaned these guys out in 6 games, but justice served last night. Goalie situation in Minn. is tenuous with injury to Kuemper and the Bryz as back up. I think hawks solve the Wild, but there can be no coasting here in the least. Minn. plays a pretty relentless pressure game and choose normally to shut down neutral zone possession. Hawks will need precision passing to grab neutral zone with speed. Otherwise, get used to some tedious dump and chase. The Wild are a much better team than they were a year ago.
Best news for Hawks is travel isn’t bad compared to what it would have been had they been up against the Avs. This is an intangible that is not often discussed, and if you remember last year it worked good for us as well in the first 2 rounds with Minn first and then Wings.
San Jose feels shame today. Four straight after being up three. WTF?? Some heads must roll and I think Sharks are going to have to part ways with some of the core vets and move towards youth. TM is toast as coach?? This group has failed miserably. Don’t know what contracts look like with the older folks in that lineup, but some movement must take place.
Happy to be going to UC tomorrow. Got some rest the past few days, and ready for next round. You gotta love NHL playoffs, even if it drives you crazy with tension.
Lets Go Hawks!