[thefoss1957]

The Blues have exactly ONE player that scares me...Tarasenko. The 'Hawks have a more diverse attack. Missing Keith for game one on the road, IMO, is no big deal. The 'Hawks have often dropped game ones on the road, it is GAME 2s that they have been able to steal to flip home ice advantage over the last few playoff years.

The other key, is how well Q can protect the 3rd pair...Rozival is done, he can't cover NHL forwards, at this point in his career, the rooks he has been paired with have been superior, yet, Svedberg and Gustafsson are the ones getting scratched.

Getting Kruger back, has been a tonic for a PK that scuffled during the regular season...the OT PPGA vs. the Jackets was the 1st PPGA they had given up since Kruger's return. The 'Hawk PP has roared at over 40% over the last few weeks...gotta give the special teams edge to the 'Hawks.

Late season injuries, can also sway this series...Hossa, Anisimov, Crawford, Shaw, have been out for the 'Hawks...Backes and Allen have been out for the Blues, Ott has been out long term. At times, father time seems to have been leaning on Hossa...defensively, he has been sound, but, finishing hasn't been as good as years passed. Perhaps the late season rest will have helped him...Toews/Ladd/Hossa was starting to click, late in the season.

Lastly, the mental part of the game is in play...the 'Hawks are the Blues bugaboo...and the self doubt that would creep in, on the Blues, if they fail to protect home ice, has been apparent, over past meetings, and could be fatal, finally, for Hitch, and his St. Loo. tenure.

I don't usually predict outcomes, but, I'd prefer to get the Blues in round 1, before they hit a playoff stride...and I like our history against this coach/roster.