WC Playoffs Round 1: St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks (Blackhawks win 4-2).

[FireGilbert]

This series is off to a crazy start. 3-2 Chicago now. Toews with a sick pass to set Kane up for an easy breakaway goal.

[Jacks]

If that period is any indication this could be a great series.

[bubbsy]

what a first period, wow.

Unreal that one of these teams goes home after just 1 round.

[trackercowe]

Miller is definitely not doing himself any favors regarding his contract demands in the off-season. Brutal first period for him.

[puckluck2]

Such a shame two elite teams have to play each other in round 1. I like the old format better.

[RedCoffee]

Thought these defenses were good.

[puckluck2]

Bouwmeester in playoff form.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Such a shame two elite teams have to play each other in round 1. I like the old format better.

Wouldn't matter. There are still 6 top teams in the west. Four of them would have to play each other.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Such a shame two elite teams have to play each other in round 1. I like the old format better.

To be completely blunt, the Blues are not an elite team right now. But much of that has to do with injury and the fact that Miller has been useless.

However, the old system wouldn't be any "better" in this regard. It would have been St. Louis-Los Angeles and San Jose-Chicago in the old system. The playoff system is not why a bunch of top teams are facing each other in the first round. The fact that the Eastern conference is garbage and all of the good teams are in the West is why.

[RedCoffee]

For a game this good Dean Brown brings absolutely no emotion to it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by RedCoffee

For a game this good Dean Brown brings absolutely no emotion to it.

I'd rather have Kerr doing play by play than Brown.

[Cheerio]

This is a great game but the commentator is doing his best to put the audience to sleep.

[troutman]

Seems to me STL has plenty of really good players, but CHI has a handful of great players. The latter seems more important.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by troutman

Seems to me STL has plenty of really good players, but CHI has a handful of great players. The latter seems more important.

STL is currently missing Berlund and Oshie though

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The fact that the Eastern conference is garbage and all of the good teams are in the West is why.

Bingo, you could argue 5 of the 6 best teams in the league are in the western conference. Even Colorado isn't too far behind Pittsburgh imo

[troutman]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Bingo, you could argue 5 of the 6 best teams in the league are in the western conference. Even Colorado isn't too far behind Pittsburgh imo

People are already engraving Iginla's name on the Cup, but the Hawks handled the Bruins very well last year.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

LOL at CBC announcer just now:

"And Backes had him wrapped up..... like delicious leftovers.. aaaaand he'll sit for two."

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by troutman

People are already engraving Iginla's name on the Cup, but the Hawks handled the Bruins very well last year.

Because the Bruins didn't have Iginla.

Also, the Hawks aren't nearly as good as they were last year, relative to their opposition. It would be stupidly impressive if Chicago were to repeat.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Tied up.

[troutman]

STL with constant pressure. CHI sitting back too much.