I wouldnt pick em if I had to bet real money, but there is a good chance the kings can upset the nucks. if goaltending is at all shaky for vancouver the kings can win. the kings goaltending will be there and their offense has been better.Originally Posted by Everyday I'm Byfuglien
ESPN:
Gotta love Buccigross constantly picking series to go 7 games. So noncommittal
Melrose going with the Kings in the 1st. Odd.
My official pick is Hawks in 6
Hawks win both in Phx
Coyotes win game 3 in Chicago
Hawks win game 4 at home
Coyotes win game 5 in Phoenix
Hawks win game 6 in Chicago
Steve Konroyd high? Crawf has advantage over Mike Smith?
Homerism at its finest.
Quick can make a huge difference. Still haven't heard any update on Carter, one of the major reasons why that anemic offense has been better.
O beware...of Jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
Oh, I agree. But, what were his reasons why? Playoff experience/performance?
O beware...of Jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
Playoff experience and Crawford playing better in the last month.
Konroyd's huffing glue.
I've got more faith in Crawford than I did in February, but I don't know anyone that's fully confident in him. He'll have to prove it on the ice.
@_DaveMelton
Did he neglect Smith's recent 200 or so shutout minutes streak? Yikes.
O beware...of Jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
A much more honest breakdown and better read from Hawks fans on Smith here:
SCH's First Round Preview: The Biggest Obstacle - Second City Hockey
Reasons for pessimism:
Reasons for optimism:The big part of Smith's game, and one that is worrisome, is that he's an excellent puck handler. Combine that with the Yotes' coverage in the neutral zone, and they can smother a forecheck in a hurry by forcing you to dump it in and then watch helplessly as Smith dumps it out himself. If he gets to touch the puck, the Coyotes' d-men don't have to retrieve behind the net but can hang out on the half-wall or farther up to wait for an outlet from Smith. He's that good with the puck.
Ok, the shutout streak. Yeah, impressive. Even after it, he didn't give up more than a goal in a game. However, this streak came against the Sharks, Blues, Jackets, Ducks, and Wild. Other than the Sharks -- who aren't the bomb squad they used to be -- none of these teams are exactly the flame thrower guy from the opening scene of Lethal Weapon 4. And the Jackets threw 54 shots at him. If the Yotes let the Hawks get 50 shots per game, they'll be going home quickly.
Secondly, Smith has had a great season. But that doesn't mean he's automatically a playoff monster. As McClure calls him, HumongousBeeg put up great regular season numbers last year behind this team, and then fell apart in the playoffs. We don't have a sample size on him, he's only got three playoff appearances. I don't think he'll be bad, but nor am I ready to concede he's going to be Giguere in '04 either.
@_DaveMelton
Yet Richards still hasn't done a heck of a lot.
Kings blew it when they moved Simmonds. Love me some Wayne Simmonds.
Konroyd is a reject...
I may not like Olczyk, but I hope he sticks around so we don't have to see Konroyd too often
Mike Kitchen..epic fail.Jesse Rogers @ESPNChiHawks
5 on 3 work now...sharp and hossa are on the point with kane, toews, and bolland at forward
Jesse Rogers @ESPNChiHawks
So you know who to yell at later, Kitchen is running most of these drills
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