No. 2 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (52-22-8)
vs.
No. 3 VANCOUVER CANUCKS (49-28-5)
As I write this, I realize game one will have already been played, but I will be high in the Andes trekking up to Macchu Picchu then camping in the Amazon, but that is for another post.
The number two and three seeds, both won their series 4-2. Chicago over Nashville and Vancouver over Los Angeles. I think this series will be determined in 6 as well.
Kane will be key
Though they took time to warm up, the strength of the Blackhawks Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa eventually eventually found their range.
But in this budding rivalry, Vancouver is capable of putting up points as well, evidenced by the output of Mikael Samuelsson and Daniel Sedin against the Kings.
Game 1 Saturday, May 1 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Game 2 Monday, May 3 at Chicago, 9:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Game 3 Wednesday, May 5 at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Game 4 Friday, May 7 at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
*Game 5 Sunday, May 9 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
*Game 6 Tuesday, May 11 at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
*Game 7 Thursday, May 13 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
*If Necessary
Luongo is capable of shutting down any offense
In essence it may come down, as it often does, to the goalies. Chicago’s Niemi gave up a pair of fours to Nashville (though he did have two shutouts). Vancouver’s Luongo’s goals-against average (2.92) and save percentage (.893) in the opening playoff series, wont get it done against high-powered Chicago.
Still, another angle coming into play is which supporting cast will outshine the other?
Offensively both have been fairly cold. Chicago’s Kris Versteeg has just two assists and Andrew Ladd just one goal while Dustin Byfuglien and Troy Brouwer failed to garner a single point against Nashville. Things aren’t better in Vancouver where Alexandre Burrows, the team leader with 35 goals in the regular season, scored just one against Los Angeles (an empty netter). Mason Raymond scored only once against the Kings and Kyle Wellwood was shut out.
If that remains the way, the difference could be getting some offense from the defense. The key blueliners will be Duncan Keith for the Blackhwaks and Kevin Bieksa along with Alexander Edler for the Canucks.
Should Chicago get their scoring machine back on track AND the six defensemen of Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjalmarsson, Byfuglien and Sopel, provide the support to an inconsistent goalie in Niemi, look for the Blackhawks to make consecutive appearances in conference finals for the first time since 1989 and 1990.
