Lord Stanley's Cup 2013

[Por_sha911]

Blackhawks / Pens
Anyone want to make observations or predictions?

[flatbutt]

mmmmm I'll take Boston...

[s_morrison57]

I did an "on paper" analysis of the final 4 teams, I thought that the Bhawks were the better team and they proved to be too much for LA, I picked the Pens over the Bruins, on paper they were a better team but they were "no shows" and the better team on ice won.
Between the Bhawks & Bruins, on paper, they are very close, maybe a slight overall advantage to Chicago but both teams are playing great, maybe a slight advantage to Boston in goal but really too close to call.
I think it will be the Blackhawks in 7 and its going to be great hockey.
On a side note, I'd give the refereeing a C- through out the playoffs, its never going to be perfect, B+ would be about the best it can get but so far its been terrible. Missed calls, bad calls seem to be the norm, I don't like the ref's performance this playoffs, and for the finals it's supposed to be the best ref's in the league. I hope there isn't that many bad calls, especially momentum or game changing calls and I don't doubt that the league has/will speak to the ref's before the final starts. I expect the games to be called closer, penalties that where not called in past games will now be, at least at the start of the series. Another prediction of mine will be that Boston will come out in game 1 playing hard rough hockey, same game that's got them here, we all know that but the ref's will be calling more penalties and Boston will get more calls against than the Bhawks.
The up side is, its going to be great hockey, a fitting end to a crappy season, down side is we have to look at Bettman's face again, I wonder if we get a Saturday night game?
Finn

[Hawkeye's-911T]

I'll take the Hawks - in 7 - providing the refs don't put their whistles in their pockets as in the past. I agree with ya Finn, I can also do without Bettman's visage sullying up my tv screen.

Cheers
JB

[Por_sha911]

The problem with the refs this playoff season is that they are inconsistent. Some things get called others don't. Seems like they are not watching the whole game. I don't mind if they call the games tight or loose as long as it stays consistent for both teams throughout the series.
I can't imagine either team having an easy go of it but the Bruins are playing the best hockey of the year. Rask has upped his game at just the right time and the D is tighter than Fort knox. I think they have a better than 50% chance of hoisting the cup. As always, they need goals and to stay away from stupid penalties.

[Por_sha911]

I will say that if we make it to game 6 or 7 its the Bruins all the way. The Hawks have already been banged up by the Kings and the Bruins will wear you down even more. Chara can reach across the width of the ice and check you into next week...Everyone's favorite guy: Marchand will annoy the H3ll out of you and then score points all over the place (18 goals in 41 regular season games)...Watch out for Lucic or you may end up roadkill...Bergeron is one (if not THE) of the best defensive forwards in the league and he has a faceoff percentage that makes other centers cry...God help the Hawks if Seguin and Jagr start scoring.
The list goes on and on.

It will be a hard fought battle but I have a feeling some of my fellow pelicans are going to dread the final outcome. I can only hope.

[Por_sha911]

2013 Stanley Cup Final: PHT staff picks | ProHockeyTalk
Halford: ‘Hawks in 7

For the record, this pick featured more waffling than the Denny’s breakfast menu. I went with Chicago on PHT Extra, then started talking up the Bruins on NBC Radio, but am now going back to my original choice, Chicago. (I think.) No, definitely Chicago — I like the fact the ‘Hawks have home-ice advantage (9-1 at the United Center this postseason) and some important scorers rounding into form. Patrick Kane in particular — he has five points in his last four games, the same number of points he had over his previous 10 games.

Brough: Bruins in 6

I’m going to do what I should have done the previous two rounds, and that’s pick the Boston Bruins. Everyone knows about their defense and goaltending; that’s been talked to death. But the B’s are scoring, too, with 3.12 goals per game in the playoffs. I also have to wonder if this is going to be the series that Chicago gets exposed for having Michal Handzus as its second-line center. Maybe that’s unfair, since he’s been better than expected since coming over from San Jose. The importance of that second-line center role can’t be understated though, especially with the attention the Bruins will be paying Jonathan Toews.

Yerdon: Bruins in 6

It’s almost impossible to pick one team over the other but when you look at them, it’s the little differences that pile up. Tuukka Rask has been better than Corey Crawford. Patrice Bergeron makes for a slightly better second-line center than Michael Handzus. Brad Marchand is a more effective pest than Andrew Shaw. Throw in Zdeno Chara‘s dominating presence and I think this is made for the Bruins to win. That said, I’ve been pretty bad at predictions in the playoffs so Chicago proving me completely wrong wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

O’Brien: ‘Hawks in 6

Joel Quenneville nailed it when he said this series is “good for hockey.” And not just because it features two big, history-rich markets. In this salary cap era, you won’t find many teams that are as balanced and skilled as the Blackhawks and Bruins. Both boast multiple scoring threats, Norris-quality top blueliners and underrated No. 1 goalies. Boston proved it could take down a star-studded team, yet Chicago didn’t deal with Pittsburgh’s roster instability and uncertainty. It’s a tough call, but the Blackhawks were easily the best team of the 2013 regular season, so they get the nod.

Dadoun: Bruins in 7

Really, you could go with either team and have just as much of a chance of being right. They both have star players with a proven track record of success in clutch situations while still sporting four strong lines. On top of that, nothing they’ve done this year is easily comparable because the condensed schedule has kept the East and West separate until now. That said, I like the Bruins shutdown defense, the consistency they’ve gotten out of David Krejci and Nathan Horton, and the fact that they’ve succeeded thus far without Tyler Seguin breaking out. He’s the best player on either team due for a hot streak.

Tucker: Bruins in 7

Last round, the Bruins once again demonstrated a naturally ability to shut down and frustrate the big guns — in that case, it was Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Look for the Bruins to do the same to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as this Stanley Cup series progresses. They’ve also shown an ability to wear down the opposition with that physical style and they’ll do the same thing in this series. Tuukka Rask has been exceptional in net, as has Corey Crawford. If Rask continues his form and outplays Crawford, the Blackhawks will run out of answers.

p.s. Just remember that none of these experts picked the Bruins to beat the Pens

p.p.s. Someone posted the issue of multiple posts by me in another thread. I thought it appropriate to have a thread just for the Pens-Bruins since there was so much annimosity for the B's and Mr Iginla. As far as the Lord Stanley thread is concerned, it has been around for years I figured it would be nice to start a new one each year to address the teams and issues of the day. The ...Hate the Bruins... thread was a humorous parity response to Finn's ...Hate Crosby... thread. "Lighten up Francis."

p.p.p.s. I would post GO BRUINS in big letters but it worked too well for the Pens and they went in 4
-Joe

[Por_sha911]

PLAYOFF HISTORY
•7th postseason meeting (BOS won 5 of previous 6 series, leads )
•1927 NHL Quarterfinals (Blackhawks’ 1st NHL season) – BOS won on goal differential in 2 games
•1942 NHL Quarterfinals – BOS won in 3 (best-of-3)
•1970 NHL Semifinals – BOS won in 4 (best-of-7) … BOS later won Cup
•1974 NHL Semifinals – BOS won in 6 (best-of-7)
•1975 NHL Preliminary Round – CHI won in 3 (best-of-3) … April 11, 1975, last CHI postseason win vs. BOS
•1978 NHL Quarterfinals – BOS won in 4 (best-of-7) … April 23, 1978, last postseason meeting
•Blackhawks (58th postseason appearance, 12th Cup Final appearance – won in 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010)
•Bruins (68th postseason appearance, 19th Cup Final appearance – won in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011)

Chara & Hossa are friends, fellow country-men, and fellow team-mates.
Jagr knows the Pens very well: he played against them earlier this year.

[mattdavis11]

Blackhawks, it'll be a sweep, 4-0. Chicago is too fast for Boston.

[Por_sha911]

They are fast but fast doesn't fix running into a proverbial brick wall of defensive layers.

[stomachmonkey]

I gotta go for Boston.

They eliminated the Rangers and Chara is their Captain.

Yes, I'm a lowly Islanders fan.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

They are fast but fast doesn't fix running into a proverbial brick wall of defensive layers.

Crisp passing does. Chicago has it.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yes, I'm a lowly Islanders fan.

That may be "a Brooklyn fan" soon. If Tim Thomas plays I'll root for the Isles as long as they aren't playing the Bruins.

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Crisp passing does. Chicago has it.

That they do but so does Sid Crosby, Mongo Malkin, Jerome Iguana, and Brendon Morrow. I'm not saying the B's are guaranteed to win but I think it is a pipe dream to think the Hawks are going to get it done in a sweep. I do believe we will see some great hockey AS LONG AS THE REFS DON'T SCREW IT UP.

[billybek]

Maybe this game will still be on when I get up tomorrow!

Looks like a great start to the series.

[mattdavis11]

Great game. One down, 3 to go.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

A "two for the price of one" night. A tough one to lose & as the record shows - winners of game one are better than 70% to eventually win the cup. This series could be very interesting.

Cheers
JB

[mikesride]

Well that wasn't the result I wanted......Even when Boston had the lead they looked like they were getting out played and sometimes very badly outplayed. Chicago was just so much faster......

[intakexhaust]

Lurking this thread until now but don't want to jinx. Huge game 1 and a major hurt for anyone to lose one like it.

Crazy in my household.... 2nd OT, with two and half left... storming like crazy outside so of course crappy DISH Network sat fizz... and .... after a lengthy reset... back on the air! Next were in the 3rd OT and a nearby lightning strike and the blitzen power goes out! Half way into that 3rd OT and power is back on, reset the sat. and got to see the deflection goal.... SCOOOORE!

Go Hawks!

[rcecale]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye's-911T

A "two for the price of one" night. A tough one to lose & as the record shows - winners of game one are better than 70% to eventually win the cup. This series could be very interesting.

Cheers
JB

Yep! Damn near a double-header!

Amazing game. Jones-ing for more! Is it Saturday yet?

Randy

[Por_sha911]

The only thing worse than losing is staying up till 1 am to do it.

The better goalie won. Rask played very well and the Bruins defense did a decent job on the trap but in the end, Crawford and his defense made some amazing saves (especially in the 3 OT to give his team a chance to win the game).

I expect the entire series to be hard fought and punishing games like Game 1. Chicago shouldn't start planning a cup party just yet. Remember that at a time when the Bruins needed all the energy they could muster they were playing without a key player so it was 3 lines versus 4. It could have gone either way.