Pre-Game Talk: Series Talk - Western Quarterfinal vs. St. Louis (Shaw suspended for game 5)

[Salvaged Ship]

Damn, didn't realize the Kings had a 3 goal lead late in the 2nd at home and blew it last night to the friggin Jets, wow. That could cost them the division if the Ducks win today.

 

[ndgt10]

Ducks won't win today.

 

[JaegerDice]

This is series is going to be tight.

Short of a switch-flipping, it's going to come down to the PP and Based God Corey Crawford, because STL has been a superior 5v5 team this year, both in possession and production.

Damn, didn't realize the Kings had a 3 goal lead late in the 2nd at home and blew it last night to the friggin Jets, wow. That could cost them the division if the Ducks win today.

Frankly, they may be more comfortable facing San Jose than they would be facing the Preds.

Enemy you know vs the enemy you don't know quite as well.

 

[Duke33]

Hawks in 6. Not concerned at all about St. Louis's "home" ice. A good chunk of the crowds down there will be in red anyway. Besides, it's Hawks-Blues in the playoffs, until they beat our boys, it's same old same old. I could care less about Blues fans being mouthy if they win, if they do, it will more like be an "it's about time" response to them anyway.

 

[JaegerDice]

Hawks in 6. Not concerned at all about St. Louis's "home" ice. A good chunk of the crowds down there will be in red anyway. Besides, it's Hawks-Blues in the playoffs, until they beat our boys, it's same old same old. I could care less about Blues fans being mouthy if they win, if they do, it will more like be an "it's about time" response to them anyway.

Home ice is less about the crowd and more about last change.

Given Q has 4 defenders he needs to shelter (and thats with Keith back in the lineup), and the Kane line obviously does the most damage against weaker lines, matchups will be pretty key.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Home ice is only advantage if it gets to 7.

Because each team has had an equal share of the advantage until then.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

It's good that Crawford got a game in before the series starts

 

[pvr]

Home ice is only advantage if it gets to 7.

Because each team has had an equal share of the advantage until then.

Home ice therefore in your scenario is more likely to allow a series lead. Easier to win a series when up early.

 

[TopProspecT]

If we can steal game one with keith out, St Louis will be mentally deflated IMO. Lets get that game and put ourselves in great shape to take the series.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Home ice therefore in your scenario is more likely to allow a series lead. Easier to win a series when up early.

Tell that to the 2014 Blues

 

[Marina]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks went 0-2 on the road again to start us off.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Regardless, I'm not going to jump to any conclusions, whether we start out 0-2 or if we start out 2-0 (though obviously the latter would feel damn good).

 

[Iridium128]

I think this is going to be a close battle and could be on par with a WCF series. Hawks in 7.

 

[Gooner]

If we can steal game one with keith out, St Louis will be mentally deflated IMO. Lets get that game and put ourselves in great shape to take the series.

I'd be really confident if we could steal one on the road. Go 2-0 and I think chances are incredibly slim that the Hawks will let that lead slip against the Blues with two games at the UC to follow.

 

[Duke33]

Home ice is less about the crowd and more about last change.

Given Q has 4 defenders he needs to shelter (and thats with Keith back in the lineup), and the Kane line obviously does the most damage against weaker lines, matchups will be pretty key.

Given how well the Hawks have done over the years on the road in the playoffs, I always thought the last change rule was somewhat overrated.

 

[jaysoneil]

Winning Game 1 would be huge, but I see this series going 6-7 games.

 

[BrianE]

Ducks won't win today.

Welp......2 - 0 Ducks early in the third.

 

[Ace Rothstein]

So the schedule will come out tonight? I know we are going to get boned with a bunch of 8pm and 8:30pm starts.

 

[CptnSerious]

So the schedule will come out tonight? I know we are going to get boned with a bunch of 8pm and 8:30pm starts.

I'd say that's a given.

 

[Ace Rothstein]

I wouldn't mind the late starts if half the Hawks playoff games didn't go to OT.

 

[JaegerDice]

Welp......2 - 0 Ducks early in the third.

Who would have thought ndgt10 would be wrong?

 

[ndgt10]

930et wednesday night is game 1

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I'm not surprised that we're getting screwed with an 8:30 start time, but I am still disappointed.

Scheduling is hard, apparently.

 

[BrianE]

I love the late ones as i don't get home till between 6 and 7 on average (sometimes later). Can't wait for the Hawks to start singing the Blues.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (C3) - Times CT
Wed 4/13, 8:30pm: CHI @ STL | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports

Fri 4/15, 7pm: CHI @ STL | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Sun 4/17, 2pm: STL @ CHI | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Tue 4/19, 8:30pm: STL @ CHI | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Thu 4/21, TBD: CHI @ STL | TBD

*Sat 4/23, TBD: STL @ CHI | TBD

*Mon 4/25, TBD: CHI @ STL | TBD