Pre-Game Talk: 2014-15 Playoffs - SCF: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks

[LightningStrikes]

It's happening!

Tomorrow 8:00 PM Hawks vs Ducks...

Click to read more...

 

[Kristia]

Kind of hoping for the Hawks, but tonight I don't care..

 

[Coopers Gum]

Two very good teams. I'd rather face the Hawks though.

 

[berlin]

i think the Hawks but I'm becoming less sure about that.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

I don't care, but we usually play good against the ducks

 

[Legionnaire11]

Hawks just for the earlier starts.

All the folks saying any eastern team would be murdered by any western team... Don't forget that the Lightning beat Detroit in a very tough, grinding series in round one. Detroit with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Kronwall and Babcock as the core, a very western conference type team. I'm not saying I love their chances against the Ducks or Hawks, but nothing is guaranteed!

 

[Desert Devil]

Thank you Lightning from all of the Devils fans. You made it a great Friday night. Good luck in the finals!

 

[Klutch86]

Holy **** gotta stay off the main boards. Might as well not even play since we are apparently a AHL team compared to the mighty mighty west

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

I wanted the Ducks to win if we didn't, but now that we have...

Give me Chicago, baby. Another O6 team to toss off the mountain, and a near dynasty team, to boot!



laugh: the song that plays)

 

[dechire]

I never get to see the Lightning in person so I'm incredibly excited to see them in the SCF here in the West. I know they'll make me proud especially since they mostly seem to suck at home in this post-season

 

[Coopers Gum]

They said we couldn't come back against Detroit.
They said we could never beat the MVP, Carey Price.
They said we would never win game 7 at MSG.
And now they say we don't stand a chance against the West.

Keep doubting.

 

[gocanes88]

Hawks just for the earlier starts.

8PM (more like 8:20 probably) start times regardless of who wins tomorrow night.

 

[Hoek]

No real preference. Considering we just beat better goalies than what the West offers in all three rounds, we'll light them all up just the same.

 

[Brie]

Tampa is the first team in NHL history to beat 3 O6 teams in a row in the playoffs, so impressed with our team since playing O6 teams means that you're playing big market teams which can sometimes mean that you don't have the reffing on your side, but who cares, love how our team have been able to handle that and not let it get to them.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

'Hawks because:

1) I picked CHI-TB before the playoffs began
2) Screw the Ducks
3) Chicago is the team of the NHL since 2009 and I would love if TB had a six year spell similar to Chicago's last six. My admiration for them is incredible.
4) With the way they're burning their D's into the ground, I can imagine some skating dominance there for Tampa Bay
5) Sexy, sexy hockey. The games will be lovelier to watch than the games would be against Anaheim.

If you want to be the best, you gotta beat the best. I want Chicago.

 

[gocanes88]

Also... Southeast Division pride or something?

Congrats. This wasn't supposed to happen. You shocked (EDIT: I didn't mean to do this I feel lame now) everyone... that's gotta feel good.

 

[Flat Ronnie]

I still can't freaking believe it!

Our young ass team is playing for all the glory!


Btw...I love the fact that we "have no chance" vs the west.

 

[Nanaki]

I still can't freaking believe it!

Our young ass team is playing for all the glory!


Btw...I love the fact that we "have no chance" vs the west.

You guys are winning the cup. Don't listen to the whole West>>>East bs. In Stamkos I trust. Bring glory back to the Eastern Conference.

 

[Callum]

I still can't freaking believe it!

Our young ass team is playing for all the glory!


Btw...I love the fact that we "have no chance" vs the west.

We're screwed, might as well pack it in and hit the golf course.

Not bothered on who we play in the SCF. I like our chances of containing the Hawks offense but on the other hand, I feel like we could really take advantage of the Ducks' blueline being so young.

Either way bring on the Stanley Cup Finals

 

[Lord Stan 2020]

i want the hawks I want to be only team in history to beat four original six teams to win the cup.

I know they wont go quietly and they will play us down to wire but want that status and also hate idea of getzlaf and perry against us they will be a problem at net

we can beat anyone need to play hard and really do what we have done most of the year

 

[Beleafer19]

Hawks just for the earlier starts.

All the folks saying any eastern team would be murdered by any western team... Don't forget that the Lightning beat Detroit in a very tough, grinding series in round one. Detroit with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Kronwall and Babcock as the core, a very western conference type team. I'm not saying I love their chances against the Ducks or Hawks, but nothing is guaranteed!

Likely all games will start at 8 regardless of where they play. The NHL has done that both times when the Kings were in the cup final.

 

[zeykshade]

The Bolts can beat anyone in the league if they learn to play like they played in DET gm7, MTL gm6 and NYR gms 5 and 7 consistently.

Not a team in the league should feel comfortable once that happens. Will it happen this year? Maybe, maybe not.

It's all gravy guys. No way did I think, at the start of the year, we'd be 4 wins from the Cup. I was expecting 2nd round deep with maybe a chance going further. The team started to grow and learn on the fly though and managed to implement things from game to game that work in the Playoffs. 100% buy-in. 100% belief in the guys next to you and the willingness to play for the guys next to you.

 

[IdealisticSniper]

All games start at 8 no matter the opponent.

I think TB could beat either of them but I think they would have an "easier" time with Chicago.

Both Chicago and Anaheim have good forward groups. Anaheim is more physical overall, Chicago is more skilled overall. But Anaheim has some great defensemen top to bottom, Chicago has like 3, maybe 4. I feel as though our guys would completely wear them down.

As for goaltending, neither Andersen nor Crawford are better than Bishop. Both can be inconsistent as well. And playing either of them is going to seem like a cakewalk compared to having to go through Price and Lundqvist.

The other big thing is if we play Chicago, we get home ice. Although that hasnt worked out too well for us these playoffs after being the best home team in the league. So weird.

Ill take TB over Chicago or Anaheim in 6. We can do this!!

 

[ap3x]

Good luck for the finals, guys. This is hoping that you win that cup for Stevie.

 

[Devourers]

Congratulations guys. The team and their fans really deserve it this year. All the series wins were battles and plenty of dominating games played. Now go win the cup! First time in a long time I've wanted the team that beat us to win the cup but the team is playing really great hockey.

I still can't freaking believe it!

Our young ass team is playing for all the glory!


Btw...I love the fact that we "have no chance" vs the west.

I've said it since the start, the whole "east has no chance" bit is a farce. Especially now with Tampa Bay being in the finals, IMO the lightning match up very well against western teams. I'm happy a team with some serious fire power is making it rather than a boring NJ style of hockey. In my eyes Tampa are the favorites but in the eyes of many they are the underdog. It's going to be the toughest series for sure, Anaheim and Chicago are going to be a real test but the lightning but I think if any team can win it, it's your team!

No question in my mind also that Stevie Y is the GM of the year.