[puckhead31]

The defending Stanley Cup Champions, Chicago Blackhawks barely scrapped into the playoffs, earning the 8th seed in the playoffs. And as many of you know they lost key players in the off season which lead them to struggling all season long.

The most important guy that was lost was goaltender Antti Niemi. Marty Turco was signed in the off season to play as the number one goalie role in Chicago. Well, how quickly that faded away. Now Corey Crawford is the starting goalie going into the playoffs while Turco sits on the bench and watches. I always thought signing Turco was a mistake, and obviously it was.

This Blackhawks team is not the team we saw last season, they still have big guns with players like Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. But these players will have to show up even more than they did last year if they want to knock off the Canucks and possibly win the Cup again.

Now what about their mediocre defense? Their defense needs to tighten up drastically if they want to compete against a team like the Canucks. Now it’s not easy stopping guys like the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler, but there is always a way to doing things, even if it’s the hard way. And that is exactly what the Hawks will have to do in order to win, doing things the hard way. It will not be an easy walk in the park like last season, especially with teams wanting to prove themselves by knocking off the defending Stanley Cup Champs.

As for the Canucks, they finished the regular season with 117 points. Only three teams in the past 10 years have won the cup after winning the president’s trophy, two of them being the Detroit Red Wings.

The question that is asked every season about the Canucks is, will Roberto Luongo come through? It is a known fact Luongo chokes every single post season, especially to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks have lost to the Hawks the past two years in the playoffs.

But this Canucks team differs from the past two years. Their defense has much improved. Which will lead to Luongo possibly playing better then he has in the past. You’re only as good as the defense in front of you.

If the Canucks defense can stop players like Kane, Hossa, Toews and Sharp then they should have no problem knocking off the Blackhawks and possibly even winning the cup, but I am not saying they will win just yet, let’s see how the quarter finals go first then I will tell you who I think will win the Stanley Cup

Prediction: Vancouver Canucks to win the series in 6

[puckhead31]

I know there are a ton of Canucks fans here, thought I would share my thoughts on this series matchup. Let's go Cancuks!

[nj6]

Canucks are soft, just like most canadiens. I expect a great series.

[DennisGreen]

Canucks are soft, just like most canadiens. I expect a great series.

You wanna talk about soft, how about Toews and Kane? They threw what a total of 3 hits all year? Sedins threw more hits than those softies.

[puckhead31]

You wanna talk about soft, how about Toews and Kane? They threw what a total of 3 hits all year? Sedins threw more hits than those softies.

I didn't understand what he meant by soft, thought he actually meant something else, in a sexual way

[DennisGreen]

I didn't understand what he meant by soft, thought he actually meant something else, in a sexual way

He probably did actually. Usually the guys who act the "hardest" on here are the "softest" in real life.

This comment was brought to you in part by Cialis.

[philliesfinest]

Yes ,dg i also believe the nucks are soft and in a 7 game series it will hurt a finesse team like the nucks ,really do not think they have the toughness to win a cup and the stat that only 3 president cup winners have gone on to win the cup also backs my thought that the nucks will not even make it to the finals!!! Sorry buddy if i disagree with you but just my thoughts!!!!

[stig99]

the last game of the regular season was the first game all season that the canucks fielded their top 6 deemen in the same game..

with no injuries to the backline the canucks roll the blackhawks

[DennisGreen]

Fair enough in regards to the Nucks doubters but not sure why everyone thinks the Nucks are so soft. We have plenty of hard nosed guys like Kesler, Torres, most of our D. Were not all sallys like the Sedins

I mean most elite talent guys are "soft" so to speak. Toews, Kane those guys play pretty well as soft as the Sedins. No hitting etc. Hossa and Sharp aren't physical players either. Keith and Seabrook are wicked D men though love those guys all around game.

[puckhead31]

He probably did actually. Usually the guys who act the "hardest" on here are the "softest" in real life. This comment was brought to you in part by Cialis.

[Fitzel]

I like the Canucks to make a deep playoff run this year if they get by Chicago. But, Chicago will be a tough one for em. Nucks in 6...

[phillip]

I think that the Canucks make a run to the WCFs.

[OTL]

LOL, the Hawks defence is anything but mediocre. They have the best top 4 in the league without question, and their #5 and 6 dmen are better than most teams top pairing.

Also disagree that Niemi was their biggest loss in the offseason. Crawford in my mind is as good of a goalie as Nemo was, and probably better. The guy is positionally sound and fills up a lot of the net. He put up some impressive stats this year despite the Hawks commitment to team D being an embarassment for the first half of the season. Guys like Ladd and Byfuglien are definitely missed more.

I think the Hawks will do well in this series if Bolland returns early and they can limit the mental lapses on defence.

[OTL]

Fair enough in regards to the Nucks doubters but not sure why everyone thinks the Nucks are so soft. We have plenty of hard nosed guys like Kesler, Torres, most of our D. Were not all sallys like the Sedins

I mean most elite talent guys are "soft" so to speak. Toews, Kane those guys play pretty well as soft as the Sedins. No hitting etc. Hossa and Sharp aren't physical players either. Keith and Seabrook are wicked D men though love those guys all around game.

Hossa, Sharp, and Toews definitely arent soft. All three hit (to varying degrees) and arent afraid to take a hit to make a play or win a puck battle. The Sedins, Kesler, Raymond, Burrows ect. on the other hand....

[chupz]

I like the Canucks to make a deep playoff run this year if they get by Chicago. But, Chicago will be a tough one for em. Nucks in 6...

I agree, I don't know if they'll win the Stanley Cup but they will for sure make a deep run into the playoffs. Chicago had a "must win" situation against the Red Wings on their last regular season game and they didn't performed well. This Vancouver team is different from what we've seen in the past 2 years. Canucks will win this series...after that who knows..........

[puckhead31]

LOL, the Hawks defence is anything but mediocre. They have the best top 4 in the league without question, and their #5 and 6 dmen are better than most teams top pairing. Also disagree that Niemi was their biggest loss in the offseason. Crawford in my mind is as good of a goalie as Nemo was, and probably better. The guy is positionally sound and fills up a lot of the net. He put up some impressive stats this year despite the Hawks commitment to team D being an embarassment for the first half of the season. Guys like Ladd and Byfuglien are definitely missed more. I think the Hawks will do well in this series if Bolland returns early and they can limit the mental lapses on defence.

Exactly the best top FOUR not SIX...four wont cut it against a team like the Canucks.

[stig99]

the biggest canuck killer the last two playoff series losses was Byfuglien .... without him things will be different

[bigsmitty]

The criticism of toughness towards VAN is overstated in my opinion. A team such as SJ may seem to exemplify "hitting/toughness-whatever you want to call it" but how many injuries have the Sedins sustained this year? You have to put Kesler's grinding presence in tough scoring areas in the top five of the league and I'm fairly sure he's been healthy most, if not all of the year. VAN has enough toughness to knock people off the puck and tons of ability to slip away from getting cranked. May prove infuriating to some teams. At any rate, I predict VAN to do quite well and like your writeup Puckhead. Cheers

[OTL]

Exactly the best top FOUR not SIX...four wont cut it against a team like the Canucks.

I dont understand your point, because Leddy and Campoli are way too good to be #5 and 6 defencemen. Leddys inexperience could be the only criticism you could level at him. The kid had a great half a rookie season. You must still think that Boynton and Cullimore are the Hawks 3rd d pairing

[puckhead31]

the biggest canuck killer the last two playoff series losses was Byfuglien .... without him things will be different

Finally somebody who see's the BIGGER picture. Thank you.....Hawks are done, they have been done since before the season even started. Why would they let a guy like Byfuglien and Niemi go? STUPIDITY

Enjoy the cup while it lasted Hawks fans because it will be another 40+ years before you see another.

[puckhead31]

I dont understand your point, because Leddy and Campoli are way too good to be #5 and 6 defencemen. Leddys inexperience could be the only criticism you could level at him. The kid had a great half a rookie season. You must still think that Boynton and Cullimore are the Hawks 3rd d pairing

I don't care what the pairing consists of, they looked like $hit all season long and will continue to look like $hit. Defense is weak, and who knows how Crawford is going to play in the playoffs. What if he chokes? Then what you put in TURCO? Oh god give me a break

[DennisGreen]

Hossa, Sharp, and Toews definitely arent soft. All three hit (to varying degrees) and arent afraid to take a hit to make a play or win a puck battle. The Sedins, Kesler, Raymond, Burrows ect. on the other hand....

Well at least you admit Kane is soft. Sure Hossa, Sharp and Toews are "tougher" than the Sedins but none of them really could be called a tough player. They tend to stay out of the dirty areas and avoid being hit. There are very few power forwards left these days that do it all. Iginla and Getzlaf are the two best "tough" guys who score and play very physical that I can think of.

[DennisGreen]

Can't wait for this series though, should be a beauty. This and the BOS/MTL series probably have the most trash talk between the fans and players. Canucks in 6

[puckhead31]

Hossa, Sharp, and Toews definitely arent soft. All three hit (to varying degrees) and arent afraid to take a hit to make a play or win a puck battle. The Sedins, Kesler, Raymond, Burrows ect. on the other hand....

Hossa is soft, the guy is injured every season. He is soft

[DennisGreen]

Keep your head up Toews!

[boeing power]

blackhawks in 6, bobby lou is gonna sht the bed again

[suicidekings]

Getting excited... 2:05

[OTL]

Hossa is soft, the guy is injured every season. He is soft

Oh come on. Steve Downie is hurt all the time too, is he soft?

[OTL]

I don't care what the pairing consists of, they looked like $hit all season long and will continue to look like $hit.

All season long? Goes to show how much you know. Leddy only played half the season, and Campoli was a trade deadline addition. The Hawks defencemen are rock solid at this point. They can skate and move the puck with the best of them, and all can contribute offensively. I think you are going to see the Canucks on their heels a lot in this series.

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

Series could go either way but for tonights game I'm leaning Black Hawks