Series Thread: WCF: Chicago Blackhawks vs Anaheim Ducks (Blackhawks win 4-3).

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

vs

Series preview:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2459716-blackhawks-vs-ducks-preview-and-prediction-for-2015-western-conference-finals
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=767322&navid=nhl:topheads

Ducks: 51-24-7, 109 points (1st in the Pacific Division, 1st in the Western Conference, and 2nd overall)

Blackhawks:48-28-6, 102 points ​(third in the Central Division and fourth in the western conference)

Regular-season series: Blackhawks won 2-1-0 (Ducks 1-2-0) The home team lost every game.

This will be the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs.


Schedule: TBA
My contacts have been telling me that Sunday, May 17 could be the first game of this series. The Honda Centre is booked for Friday and Saturday.

God I hate that place

[thefoss1957]

Only one Duck player has EVER scared this 'Hawk fan...Teemu Selanne...Who seemed to score at will against the 'Hawks...as long as he is retired, I am optimistic about the 'Hawk chances in this matchup. Andersen had some weaknesses that the Flames exposed, short side, stick side was there to be exploited.

The 'Hawks had scoring from all lines vs. the Wild, and if Sharp, a notoriously streaky goal scorer, remains hot, then Toews/Hossa on the 1st...Kane on the 2nd...and Sharp on the 3rd means defensive matchup problems for the Ducks. And the 'Hawk 4th line of Shaw/Kruger/Dejardins were excellent on the forecheck in the 1st two rounds too.

It looks like Rundblad/Keith will be the pairing, with Rozival going down...Rundblad, somehow, managed a +17 in 49 games, during the regular season, despite having absolutely NO skills on defense. He can skate the puck out, but crumples under forecheck pressure.

With a week off, the 'Hawks have been able to recover, and get some practices in...the only major injury is to Rozival, who is done for the season.

Vermette and Richards really started to finally click with their linemates in the Wild series, and the 'Hawks really have been playing well.

[OffsideSpecialist]

I'm now on the Blackhawks bandwagon. Hawks in 6 please.

[GirlySports]

Always liked the Hawks. Kane is my favorite non-Flames player. I thought once the Hawks got past an excellent Predators team they would win it all.

Hawks in 3.

[midniteowl]

Hawks in 6

CRY Kesler CRY!!!

[Erick Estrada]

I really think the Flames could have extended their series had they tested Andersen more as he's very average. The Hawks will surely put more pucks on net and I think that will be the difference as the Ducks are a good team but the Hawks are a great team. Unlike the Eastern Conference final this one won't be a snoozer so I'm calling Hawks in 6 entertaining games.

[Resolute 14]

No Selanne, no reason to like or cheer for the Ducks.

Go Hawks.

[manwiches]

I hope for the Ducks to make it through, play Tampa in the final. Series goes to 7, when Ducks were up 3-2 in the series. Game 7 third period, Tampa up by a goal, Ducks have goalie pulled. Kesler gets the puck low, makes a flub pass to the point, slides into their empty net. Kesler collapses and starts crying like a baby while Tampa celebrates the win.

Dare to dream. Regardless, I'm cheering for Kesler to not get a Cup. I think having it so close and have it pulled from him would be hilarious though. Just like when Vancouver lost against Boston.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Go Chicago.

[icarus]

I think the winner of this series will probably win the Cup. I don't really like either team but you have to give them both credit, they're good. I'd like it to be Anaheim, so that just like our great run of 2004 we can say that we were defeated by the champions.

[RyZ]

I also think this is pretty much for the cup. I expect the winner of this series to roll up the East champion in a fairly quick series for the prize.

I think Chicago is more skilled up front but Anaheim is deeper through all 4 lines and are much more physical. The d and goalies are pretty much a wash. Gimme Ducks in 7.

[GeoffSK]

[Buff]

Getlaff is likeable. I like Corey Perry, except for when he plays against the Flames. Ryan Kesler. I just don't like him, period.

As for the Hawks, I don't like Versteeg and that stems from an experience I had with him a few years ago, before he made the NHL. He is likely grown up but I still don't care for him. I hate Kesler more than him, so I'm cheering for the Hawks.

[bubbsy]

I actually have little animosity towards the duck from the series, it was generally cleanly played.

I also loved the way they played. Just so much puck pressure all over the ice, at high speed and no wimpy stick checks on the forecheck, but rather going thru the d man or making it a 1 on 1 board battle to get the puck. I will say that Anderson definitely looks suspect.

I'd be cheering for the ducks except for i'd never ever want kesler to win the cup, and as such and heavily cheering for the hawks.

Should be a hell of a series regardless of the outcome. This is basically the Stanley cup final as far as i'm concerned.

[Enoch Root]

There's only one player on either team that I really don't like. Does it even need to be stated who that is?

Go Hawks.

[Har-Calgary]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Thought I would get discussion going and start this thread. I think it will be a great series but the Hawks are too strong. I will say Hawks in 6 (maybe 7).

I will put up the game days and times when they are announced.

Oh and I was in Chicago this past weekend and it's crazy how popular the Hawks are. They have overtaken the Bulls this year in terms of street talks. It's impossible to get Hawks tickets and Bulls tickets weren't anywhere near as hard to get.

I was there last year for the first round and the Hawks had way more love than the Bulls even though they were both in the first round. We booked my friend's stag well in advance for the opening weekend of playoffs assuming that Hawks would have home ice. Of course they didn't, so instead we went to the bulls game 1, they were hosting the wizards. Even at the United Center for a bulls game it seemed like there were more hawks jerseys.

[vicarious]

Hopefully Perry doesn't swan-dive his team into the finals.

I think the Hawks skill and depth will be too much for the Ducks for match up against and I expect Kane to own them just as much as he owned the Wild.

Hawks in 6.

[northcrunk]

Go hawks. Anaheim's 2 superstars get outplayed by Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp and Keith

[Yamer]

Hawks in 7.

[codynw]

This is pretty much the Stanley Cup final. Whoever wins this walks all over the Eastern champion.

I own a Toews Olympic jersey and Kesler sucks so I guess go Blackhawks.