Obligatory NHL Playoff Thread

[rkwittem]

That Boston-Pitt game last night deserves a mention. What a game.

[TheDancinMonarch]

That Boston-Pitt game last night deserves a mention. What a game.

Yes. That is what you expect when you hear the term "play-off hockey". Kudos to both teams.

[rkwittem]

I have been totally shocked by both series in this round. Expected the Kings to compete at a much better level and I certainly didn't predict Boston to run away with their series, either.

[Gil Dobie]

Expect this years playoff star, Bickel to end up on Vancouver next year.

[rkwittem]

Expect this years playoff star, Bickel to end up on Vancouver next year.

Excuse me, but how is Bickell this year's playoff star? If anything, that honor is David Krejci's in my opinion. Leading scorer in the playoffs. Hat trick to beat Toronto in a round one game. 2 goals in game 1 vs. Pitt. Another goal 2 nights ago. The guy has been a dominant force on the ice for Boston.

And yes, Bickell will end up being very overpaid.

[Gil Dobie]

Expect this years playoff star, Bickel to end up on Vancouver next year.

Excuse me, but how is Bickell this year's playoff star? If anything, that honor is David Krejci's in my opinion. Leading scorer in the playoffs. Hat trick to beat Toronto in a round one game. 2 goals in game 1 vs. Pitt. Another goal 2 nights ago. The guy has been a dominant force on the ice for Boston.

And yes, Bickell will end up being very overpaid.

ECB

He's been a star for the Hawks.

[Ivytalk]

Original Six Cup Final!

[Gil Dobie]

Original Six Cup Final!

First since 1979 Rangers vs Canadiens

[rkwittem]

Original Six Cup Final!

I'm picking Boston. Defense wins championships. Hawks are no slouch, but the Bruins have morphed into a juggernaut since game 7 of Toronto series. Better defensemen and better goalie gets the 2nd Stanley Cup in 2 years back to Boston. Any concerns I had about picking Boston based on Chicago's superior speed were nullified when the Bruins beat Pittsburgh.

Bruins in 6...but Chicago wins game 1.

[Gil Dobie]

Hawks in 7

[Grizalltheway]

Chicago wins game 1 4-3 in OT, amazing show if you east coast guys were able to stay up for it.

[UNI88]

Chicago wins game 1 4-3 in OT, amazing show if you east coast guys were able to stay up for it.

I'm in flyover country but I watched it until the end ... great game!

[93henfan]

Chicago wins game 1 4-3 in OT, amazing show if you east coast guys were able to stay up for it.

I fell asleep after work, woke up with three minutes left in regulation, and then watched a full game's worth of OT!

Man, it seemed like Boston had all the chances late in regulation and throughout OT and just couldn't score. Tried to get too fancy on several close in chances. Just SHOOT!

[UNI88]

Another great game last night. Crawford was awful with his glove but the Hawks peppered Rask and hung in to win it in overtime.

Is it just me or did it seem like the Bruins spent a lot of time getting chippy over checks. For a big, physical team that likes to hit, they seemed to whine a lot when the Hawks finally responded with a little more physical play of their own. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.

[tribe_pride]

That definitely was one of the most fun games to watch in a long time. As someone who has no dog in this fight, it was enjoyable seeing both teams go back and forth and peppering the other with shots.

Playoff hockey is the best around. Hope this goes to a game 7 overtime.

[Ivytalk]

That definitely was one of the most fun games to watch in a long time. As someone who has no dog in this fight, it was enjoyable seeing both teams go back and forth and peppering the other with shots.

Playoff hockey is the best around. Hope this goes to a game 7 overtime.

Absolutely! No other pro sport playoffs are quite like it.

[Gil Dobie]

Thought the Hawks were dead in the water after game 3, but they showed they still have some life in them.

Maybe I'm a little spoiled with Hockey in MN. The NHL Stanley cup final doesn't have the appeal it had before I moved here 20 some years ago. I've had USHL and NHL season tickets in the past, and been to a Stanley Cup finals game. Used to watch Hockey Night in Canada all the time. My favorite team is playing for the cup, and it just doesn't feel like a big deal anymore. See if it gets better after the NBA Finals are over tonight.

[UNI88]

Thought the Hawks were dead in the water after game 3, but they showed they still have some life in them.

Maybe I'm a little spoiled with Hockey in MN. The NHL Stanley cup final doesn't have the appeal it had before I moved here 20 some years ago. I've had USHL and NHL season tickets in the past, and been to a Stanley Cup finals game. Used to watch Hockey Night in Canada all the time. My favorite team is playing for the cup, and it just doesn't feel like a big deal anymore. See if it gets better after the NBA Finals are over tonight.

Exact opposite situation in Chicago. Hockey is bigger here now than it's been at any time since I moved here 25 years ago. A Tribune article from yesterday highlights ...

Dan McNeil previously had been muzzled for much of his two-decade plus sports talk radio career when it came to discussing his passion, hockey. The WSCR-AM 670 late morning host even received an edict once when the team was in a Stanley Cup Final.

Back in 1992, the Blackhawks were playing for the title against the Penguins at the same time as the Bulls were going for a second straight championship against the Trail Blazers.

"Early management (at WSCR) was vehemently against hockey," McNeil said. "They were very direct. I was told (by a station executive), 'I don't want Hawks ratings. I want Bulls ratings.'"

Flash forward to 2013, and the Blackhawks are dominating the discussion on sports talk radio. Hockey has gone from being viewed as a ratings killer to residing front and center on WSCR and WMVP-AM 1000 for months.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/co ... 052.column" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rkwittem]

Another great game last night. Crawford was awful with his glove but the Hawks peppered Rask and hung in to win it in overtime.

Is it just me or did it seem like the Bruins spent a lot of time getting chippy over checks. For a big, physical team that likes to hit, they seemed to whine a lot when the Hawks finally responded with a little more physical play of their own. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.

It's just you. You're a Blackhawks fan, so I don't blame you for not noticing, but they are plenty cheap. Boston doesn't like cheap hits at all (look up Marc Savard hit). They're also a team that likes to punch back, even if it's not necessary. That's their M.O. I expect an ugly game in game 5. I would be surprised if Rask gives up 6 goals in the remainder of the series. I cannot say the same for Crawford....which should bring up the inevitable Ray Emery question...if game 5 follows game 4's script with Crawford playing seemingly w/o a glove at all.

All in all, it's been a fun series. Still sticking with Boston.

[UNI88]

Another great game last night. Crawford was awful with his glove but the Hawks peppered Rask and hung in to win it in overtime.

Is it just me or did it seem like the Bruins spent a lot of time getting chippy over checks. For a big, physical team that likes to hit, they seemed to whine a lot when the Hawks finally responded with a little more physical play of their own. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.

It's just you. You're a Blackhawks fan, so I don't blame you for not noticing, but they are plenty cheap. Boston doesn't like cheap hits at all (look up Marc Savard hit). They're also a team that likes to punch back, even if it's not necessary. That's their M.O. I expect an ugly game in game 5. I would be surprised if Rask gives up 6 goals in the remainder of the series. I cannot say the same for Crawford....which should bring up the inevitable Ray Emery question...if game 5 follows game 4's script with Crawford playing seemingly w/o a glove at all.

All in all, it's been a fun series. Still sticking with Boston.

I'm far from a hockey expert so I'm not sure what's cheap and what isn't but I do know that the announcers frequently mentioned that they didn't see anything wrong with a Hawks' players hit while the Boston player was acting like they'd been the victim of assault & battery.

I expect an ugly game 5 too. It will be interesting to see how the refs call it. If they let it get physical it favors the baby bruins. I'm wondering about Emery too but it's got to be tough to put a goalie in that hasn't played in so long.

Play so far favors Boston but both teams have found ways to survive so it will be interesting to see whose will prevails.

[Ivytalk]

Hawks win 3-1 to go up 3-2 in the series. Kane 2 goals, Toews 2 assists.

[Grizalltheway]

Bruins laid an egg and only decided to show up for the 3rd period. Should be interesting to see how they come out in Boston.

[Gil Dobie]

Will the Bruins pull another reverse choke and comeback from 3 goals down to win.

[Grizalltheway]

Goddamn, Boston got one hell of a kick in the shorts tonight.

[bodoyle]

I went running down the street here screaming!

Playoff beard just shaved!