(1) Vancouver Canucks
(8) Chicago Blackhawks
The Canucks were the top team in the league throughout the season and actually became the first team ever to finish with the most goals for, the fewest goals against, the most power play goals and the fewest power play goals allowed. They have been the best team an NHL regular season has seen in sometime. On the other hand the Blackhawks essentially backed in to the playoffs, needing Dallas to lose to Minnesota in order to claim the 8th playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This allowed the ‘Hawks to defend their title and try to eliminate the Canucks for the 3rd consecutive year. Many people are already counting out the Blackhawks, but the great thing about the playoffs for Chicago is that the regular season standings only determine which team you play.
In each of the last two playoffs the Blackhawks were able to defeat the Canucks in the second round. Luongo did not play well in either elimination game and this will put that much more pressure on the star goaltender who has never played up to his ability in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This difference this year is that the Canucks have a backup goaltender who they feel can step in and win games at the first sign of the Blackhawks getting into Luongo’s head. Cory Schneider has gone (16-4-2) for the Canucks this season, which shows he is well equipped to take on the challenge if need be. Luongo went (38-15-7) this season playing only 60 games, which is much fewer than 68 he played last season. This added rest should also help Luongo stay focussed and bring his best game to the playoffs. The main knock on the Canucks against the Blackhawks is their goaltending, but this shouldn’t be too big a problem because Luongo should be better and if he isn’t Schneider is capable of stepping in and turning the series around. The Canucks just can’t lose too many games with Luongo before putting in Schneider because if the ‘Hawks get a lead in this series it will be hard to come back.
The Blackhawks are a different team this playoffs, but their core is still together (Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, Campbell) and they have found a solid replacement number one goaltender in Corey Crawford, who easily won the #1 role over Marty Turco early in the season. Will the Blackhawks top two lines be able to do enough to overcome their lack of depth? I think this is a very good possibility. Dave Bolland may be coming back early in the series along with Troy Brouwer. Each of these players brings a lot of depth back to the forward lines, Bolland especially. Hossa has made his way to 3 Stanley Cup appearances and has seemed to do less for his team in each playoff year. This year he will be counted on more to generate offense and score goals for the Blackhawks. The main key to the ‘Hawks victory has to be the Toews-Kane-Sharp connection however. These 3 players have to score at over a point/game pace while being responsible defensively in order to win this series. Something they are very capable of doing.
Many people are taking the Canucks in 5 in this series, but I think the Blackhawks deserve more respect. The Blackhawks are likely the team that the Canucks least wanted to play out of any time in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs and somehow they still play them even after finishing first in the league. I remember when the Senators were a dominant team, but could not beat the Maple Leafs in the playoffs for the life of them. I’m expecting a similar story in this series, except that the Blackhawks are actually a good team who have the ability to win a series after beating the best team in the league, which the Maple Leafs did not.
My Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +190
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Tagged with: 2010-11 • Chicago Blackhawks • first round • Stanley Cup Playoffs • Vancouver Canucks