CHICAGO VS LOS ANGELES

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To your point Dis, we have played 20 playoff games. In 8 of those games we faced a backup goalie starting. That is pretty crazy.

We also clearly got a break that the Habs upset the Bruins. That was a much better matchup for us.

That stuff is all real, but like you said we still had to get it done on the ice, so good for us taking advantage of that stuff.

And that is why I also think we get a good break that the WCF is going 7 games, I think that is very big for us. We can sit back, relax, scout, prepare, have 5 days off, and get ready for the SCF. Meanwhile the West teams have to battle an extra game, travel again, mentally focus on a draining game 7, and only get 2 days off. That is an edge for us, and let's hope we take advantage of that edge as we have all playoffs.
 
Yeah so 8 games vs backup goalies and 7 games vs MAF lol. Again this team deserves everything they have earned but sometimes when you make the Finals you get breaks along the way. 15 games vs backup goalies and Fleury. Wow


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Great point Dis. 15 out of 20 games against backup goalies or MAF. No doubt we are stepping up in class in the SCF. I am hopeful we can handle it. We will start to find out in 3 days. Ready to get it going...drop the puck.

I'm also ready to know which team we will play. Looking forward to watching that game tonight. Go Hawks, but now that the Kings have gone 7 again, and had to fly back to Chicago again, I won't be that upset if the Kings find a way. Should be a great game tonight.

I will add, if we do play the Hawks I would be very surprised if we didn't score goals in that series. They have allowed a decent amount of goals this playoffs. They allowed a decent amount of goals this season (their defensive #'s were not that good). And Crawford, while streaky, can be beaten.

That is why I want the Hawks. YES they have 5 or 6 really high level players, but I would take my chances putting our D and Hank up against their deep and talented scorers and hope we can slow them a little. And then I believe we will score some goals against then, I really do.

I like that mix more than I do against a BIG, deep (look at that C depth), and talented Kings team, who on paper were one of the best teams preventing goals this season (playoffs not withstanding).
 
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Interesting, Zipay argues that although it's close LA is the better matchup for the Rangers. Says that LA has been much more streaky while CHI has shown resiliency and has been more efficient in holding on to leads late in games. Also says LA's size isn't the big advantage some think, as speed and skill have seemed to neutralized size more often than not this year. Points to the fact that some of the biggest teams in the league (WPG, Leafs, Sens) missed the playoffs altogether.

I still think I'd rather see CHI and Crawford but either one is beatable.
 
I don't agree with Zipay, and he is the first person I have seen say that the Kings are the better matchup for us. The Kings have been pretty darn resilient I think. Down 3-0...came back to win. Down 3-2...came back to win. If they win tonight that is another game 7 win on the road, and this one after blowing a 3-1 series lead. That is pretty darn resilient.

And if the point is they have been streaky, okay what have the Hawks been? Lost 2 straight to the Blues, then won 4 straight. 2-0 up on the Wild, lost 2 straight. 3-1 down to the Kings, then won 3 straight if they win tonight. So both of these teams have been streaky.

Here is what I do know, besides the fact that both of these West teams are very good, is the Hawks have not been a great defensive team this season. And Quick is better than Crawford, despite the #'s he has put up these playoffs. And the Kings were one of the top defensive teams in the NHL this season. And the Kings are bigger and no doubt deeper, the Hawks 4th line really plays very little role for them this season. Plus they looked tired after game 4. Now they have rebounded to win games 5 & 6, but they still looked gassed pretty recently. That could be an advantage for us after a 7 game series for the Hawks.

Add it all together and I still "rather" play the Hawks, with the full understanding that either team is very good and will be a difficult challenge AND the understanding that I do feel we can play with either team, drop the puck and we'll see how it goes.
 
The one reason I clearly see for wanting to play the Kings instead is home ice advantage. The Kings are 5-4 at home in these playoffs, and quite frankly Staples is not that loud and not that much of an advantage for the Kings. Meanwhile the Hawks are 8-1 at home right now, and if they win tonight they will be 9-1 at the UC. That building is crazy loud, and that is a big home ice advantage for the Hawks. Knowing that we need to win at least one road game does make that a possible reason someone would rather play the Kings.
 
The Hawks are a more difficult match up for NY. Kane and Toews are just going to be a headache all series long with their size and speed, and then we still have to deal with Hossa, Sharp, Saad, etc. Very deep team, and playoff/Stanley Cup proven.
 
I have seen the light. I can now understand why the Western Conference Champion will be the favorite in the Stanley Cup Finals. It is because of their Fantastic defense and Stellar goaltending at this point in the year. 5 goals 18 shots 1 period game 7. LMAO
 
Kane is 5'11" and 181 pounds. Toews is 6'2" and 208 pounds. He is smaller than Kopitar, Stoll, and Carter.

Kane and Toews are not known for their size. Kane is one of the smallest guys for how good he is. Like an MSL, Zucc, or Hags.

Totally fair to rather play the Kings, but mentioning size for the Hawks in comparison to the Kings is not accurate. The Kings are the bigger and deeper team, and they out hit the Hawks every single game as well. They play like the bigger team.

The Kings have out hit them by 42 hits into tonight, and by 6 more in the 1st period. And they have won the overall faceoff battle as well in the series.

The Kings are the bigger deeper team. The Hawks have more pure high end skill, and an excellent home ice advantage. Pick your poison...:).
 
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What is interesting, and we will find out starting Wednesday, is the O fire power on these teams so good or is the D/goaltending on these teams so bad. There are a ton of goals and very little D in this series.

We'll see...
 
The Hawks are the best team in hockey. A modern-day (ie cap era) dynasty if they can win the 3rd in 5yrs. I overestimated Kane's size but he plays bigger than his actual sizae and has speed to burn. We're not the most physical team out there so it's not like we'd be using any size advantage to our favor.
 
Hawks are absolutely a modern cap dynasty but previous results don't matter 31.


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Disturbed said:
Hawks are absolutely a modern cap dynasty but previous results don't matter 31.


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True, to a point. We're talking about the defending SC Champs whose best players are only in their mid 20s. This is not some young team who'll be wide eyed at the Finals, but rather a team that's been there and knows what it takes to win it all.

I much rather play LA as good as they are. CHI is just a beast.
 
I was being sarcastic about prev results. They do matter IMO


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Disturbed said:
I was being sarcastic about prev results. They do matter IMO


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They do if it's recent. If the Hawks had won a Cup 5yrs ago and had turned over their roster i wouldn't care what their previous results were, but being recent i agree with you they matter.

Can't believe it's 3-3. Those Kings are pesky mofos.
 
Exactly. Look at Justin Williams. 6-0 in G7s and has 13 PTs 7 goals. Clutch player.

Kings are resilient. Great capper to an awesome series.


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Quick hasn't been good tonight


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Crushing goal with less than 2min to go.
 
I think we will get OT tonight


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If I'm Hags, Kreids, Zucc, or MSL watching this, I'm salivating at the breakaways we are going to get.
 
Ok here we go with the "these teams are not that great" posts even though they have won 3 of the past 4 cups with very similar rosters that's playing today.


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I think you may undervalue the Kings a little 31. They are a very good, big, deep team. As I have said from the start, as most have said from the start of this series, pick your poison. These are the last 2 SC winners for a reason.

Most everyone I have seen has said we rather play the Hawks, and I agree due to them being more of a speed skill team than a big physical team, and I think that is a better matchup for us, but again flip a coin really. This is not like last round when it wasn't even close...we were much better off playing the Habs by far. This is a flip a coin kind of deal. Both excellent teams.

One bigger and deeper. One more skilled and faster.

I do think if the Kings win the positive I see there is another 7 game series for them, 3 in these playoffs, traveling back to LA from Chicago, and Staples is just not a big home ice advantage as we see with the Kings 5-4 playoff record there.

Should be an interesting 3rd period.
 
Dis, would you be willing to say they are 2 great teams that are not playing great at this point in the season?
 
Well I will say Popadoc that the goalies don't look great tonight.

But there is a reason Crawford, for example, (who isn't as good as Quick IMO and others) is 16-2 in games 5-7 in his career

These teams both know how to win series in the playoffs. I know you don't think that matters from year to year but in my opinion it does

I will be surprised if the Kings don't tie it and we go to OT
 
And there it is.....Gaborik with another goal.

Crawford is giving up tons of rebounds. We saw that vs Tokarski too though.

This is headed to OT

Kings very resilient
 
Good I want four overtimes. Kill each other.
 
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