Moog-Type-S

^^ @ the Preds....they are a cake-walk.

...and your birdies played the Kings IIRC a couple of times when they were in their "slump".

Yumcha

Hawks were slumping mostly all year. Hello, hangover...?

Your team is playing well. And you even went on a rant that they were not going to make it...At least I maintained my keel and knew all you needed was a mini-run of points and anything is possible in getting into the playoffs.



This is a stupid pissing contest of who's Daddy is stronger anyhow by comparing LA and Chicago.

But, generally speaking, of the teams in the running, the one team that scares me are the Preds. Their system almost ruined Chicago last year...No other team plays that style (okay, Calgary somewhat). Most of the other franchises in the West tend to skate more and so, that generally plays to Chicago's favor. Grinding-type teams always have presented a problem.

dom

Shad-Up. Its a changing of the goalie guard.

Yumcha

What about those Flyers...?

Moog-Type-S

I don't know how you think the Preds are strong
I don't see it. What's the Hawks record against Detroit? Do they grind?

IMHO
Vancouver and Detroit will be tough.....and the Yotes are a darkhorse.

My Prediction: The West is going to be FULL of surprises in the first round.

Yumcha

Hawks against Detroit has so far been okay; Chicago leads the season series 2-1 so far. But, they have 3 more games left. And oh, the lone loss to Detroit was in OT.

The other 2 wins? 4-1 victories. Sorry, your point went doink.



Hawks have a much harder time against teams like Calgary and Nashville.

Yumcha

@ Vancouver...


Sure.

Moog-Type-S

I'm betting on the Wings to win the series.

Yumcha

I'll keep that in mind.



You're about as fickle this year as anyone (you didn't believe your team could make it and didn't believe Chicago could make the playoffs). All I'll boldly predict is if Chicago plays the way they can...they will be fine.

Who would've thought Chicago would be 6 points away from Detroit earlier this year?

Yumcha

Just ask dom how much I like to remind people when they are wrong.





P.S. Chicago swept the Kings this year. Ooooo...a GUTTED Hawks team with 8 regulars traded. Ooooooo...SWEPT!

Moog-Type-S

I dunno what that means....we have the same team as last year...essentially....and yet last year we won the series.

Which makes me still wonder why you still fear the Preds a year later

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

dom

You?.....never.

Yumcha

Uhhhh...what alternative 2009-2010 NHL universe are you staring at? The one the Hawks did NOT win the Stanley Cup...?

Your Kings, lost the season series to the Hawks 3-1 last year, dude. Overall, LA was outscored 11-5 in the 2009-2010 regular season series against the Hawks. Not only that, the lone victory from your Kings against the Chicago last year was from a shoot-out: 2-1.



Sorry...try again. Not sure what you're talking about. Must be some sort of alternate universe.

Yumcha

2009-2010 Season: http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/sched...010&gameType=2

Yumcha

Waldorf, I'm truly guessing you don't watch the Preds regularly nor did you watch the Hawks against them in the playoffs last year.

And yes, anything can happen in the playoffs...but, the Preds are no fluke. For a team with essentially no-names, why are they consistently in contention to clinch a playoff spot year-in year-out? Trotz is IMO one of the most underrated coaches in the game and he has his team playing the system to a T.

And yes, you do need good players...but, Nashville has proven that those decent players who are WILLING to follow a system (i.e. 3rd and 4th line; everyone wants to be in the top 2 lines, right?) can be effective and win games.

Chicago could have potentially lost the series to Nashville if it were not for that miracle comeback which had Kane scoring on a penalty-kill with Niemi pulled to make it 5 on 5...and then, Hossa with the game-winner in OT after Chicago killed off that 5 minute boarding major penalty.

Each time Chicago plays the Preds, the games are very tight...and Nashville essentially dares the Hawks to carry a puck into their zone. When that happens, it is usually a turnover with a counterattack into Chicago territory...and at times, not a good result for the Hawks.

Teams that like to skate WITH Chicago typically match up well. What is so hard to understand?

Oh oops...I'm myopic.

dom

And I thought I was bad at beating my point into the ground.

Yumcha

I can be alot worse.




But, at least I'm right and prove I'm right and must remind you I'm right. Dammit.

<--- Neurotic.

Yumcha

BUT, Waldorf started it by stating the Hawks would do well to avoid his amazing Kings in the 1st round.

I beg to differ. And backed it up.




I never pull the first punch unless it is against the Chicken Wings.

Jonesi

My bad. I always thought the Caps goal every year was to win the regular season Eastern Conference What's this Stanley Cup playoff stuff you're referring to?

Jonesi

Jonesi

But in all seriousness I'm not sure the Caps believed in the current system. I think they're starting to believe and the hot streak is great timing. The Caps playing solid D and great hockey in a 7 game series could be dangerous!

Yumcha

Here's a team with a great system with players buying into it: Pens.



They have no Malkin, no Crosby...and yet, they are still winning games. Kinda like how the Preds do it with their no-name roster.

But, Indy Jonesi here won't comment because he's so superstitious and thinks uttering anything good about his Pens will be their demise.

dom

Prays for Hawks-Kings and Caps-Pens match ups in this years playoffs so this thread can tear itself apart.

The war of words will be EPIC!

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I'll comment, I'm loving the cohesion, heart and depth that this team is showing

Moog-Type-S

The Apocalypse!!!!

Yumcha

Meh. I have no personal rivalry/dislike for the Kings. If it were the Brown Things...sure, some venom/spew from me against the likes of Dougler, Fibs, and fattits. Otherwise, just another series if it is against LA...

If anything, it'd be more a bigger-deal for Moogie here since he likes to point out how the Hawks can't do this can't do that and uses facts he can't get straight. Last year, it was a no-name goalie. This year, who knows what it is. If it is a gutted roster, I know that. But, if that's the case...how come the Hawks are right in the thick of things suddenly and within striking distance of Detroit for the division lead...?

A mini-run by the Kings does not equate to them being an invincible super-power of the West.

dom

^ So it begins....

Yumcha

But, I still all of you guys.









In a non-:ghey: way, of course.

Moog-Type-S

You really must have hit your head....very hard

After a year goes by, and you still don't understand the whole goaltender argument that dom and I were trying to get you to wrap your head around.

Yumcha

Okay...I'll drop that then. I'll never get your point. Who's the name-brand goalie this year? Luoooooooo? Your amazing Quick?

I think the Detroit model of a no-name goalie works. Chicago used it. Philly used it. And Washington plans to use it.




But...I digress. Wrap your head around what universe you were in where your Kings took it to Chicago last season.

Yumcha

I love how I regularly get reminded that I'm "hearing voices", needing to "drop the bong"...or "hit my head"...

I must be retarded or in dire need of psychiatric help. Dammit.

dom

I gave up on trying to explain that one months ago.

Yumcha

Go Nordiques!

Yumcha

Jonesi understood where I was coming from quite clearly.

dom

See, I blame your condition on the cold. Clearly the Edmonton winters have taken a toll on a few brain cells.

Yumcha

Actually, I agree. Living in this idiotic place does lower your IQ. Notice how I've slowly moved towards a pick-up...?

The FX is just a bridge. I'll be buying a $90K pick-up shortly and trading in the Infiniti. Know where I can get those gonads so I can hang it on the back...?

Yumcha

I love how Waldorf picks on the one thing he MAY have a case on: goalies...but, won't address how he himself with bad facts about LA last season.

dom

Do I have to pull the stats again?

Again, nobody ever said it couldn't be done without a name brand goalie. This is somehow the point you've decided to continue to harp on. We said you stood a better chance with one and the stats (Cup winners) proved that. I'll be the first to admit that in today's game, that theory is out the window with so much goalie turnover and a different style of game.

There goes my promise to stop trying to explain it.

dom

But I don't expect you to stop bringing it up Yummy, its the ONE thing you can hold over my head. And since I'll never be wrong again , the only thing.