OT: You want (Red) Wings with your hockey playoffs?

so quiet, so fast, as I did in Boston last night.

Having said that, I think we take game 1, and win the series in 7.

/sarcasm

I think the Hawks stack up well against the Red Wings. Three keys to the series

1) The Hawks need better 1st periods
2) Stop the the stupid early penalties.
3) Yeah, you have been coming back in a lot of games…but the Red Wings are NOT the Flames and Canucks. Don’t make it a habit

I could see them taking it in 6. If it goes back to Detroit for a game 7 all bets are off. They’re going to isolate Toews and Kane and try to take them out early… hopefully Kane can respond to the physical attack he’s going to see and not pull those stupid penalties he did in the Calgary series. Hawks can out skate and outlast the wings, but we’ll see.

A guy my dad works with is a blind detriot fan. He will bet anyone every time that the Lions play that they will win. Living in Central Illinois, he is surrounded by new hawks fans. In an effort to shut them up, he put a bet out on the table, $300 on the series and $100 per game, meaning if a team were to sweep, the payout would be $700.

I have watched most of the Hawks games this year, I know a lot about hockey, used to play so you can talk X & O’s with me, but I can’t say I’ve watched many redwings games nor can I look at hockey like I can baseball and analyze a matchup.

I like the way the Hawks skate, and I believe they have attitude that can take them far.

Tim gave me some great input yesterday, but I’m open to other’s opinions as well.

there will be an OT Hawks Gamethread as there was for the last game, which was a much better success than I expected originally. Look forward to more joining in, and the possibility of needing an overflow to an OT thread.

Hawks in 6 would be ideal (my heart says that)
Red Wings in 6 is what I would project, based on the Red Wings talent, and that they will not come in and try to intimidate like Vancouver and Calgary did. The Wings will play hockey and not lose focus. Hawks inexperience might catch up to them in this series, with the veteran stacked lineup from Detroit.

This series may be more “boring” to many fans since it likely will be cleaner, and will be more up and down ice than fighting and hard hits. Those who enjoy a more European style of hockey will get their wish with this series.

but my head says Wings in 6.

Most important game of the series is gonna be game 2. Hawks need to win that one if they want to take the series….

Unlike the blatantly obvious things like starting fast and no stupid penalties, the ’Hawks must match their lines and change their lines based on match-ups especially on the road with the Wings having last line changes after timeouts.

Q may have a few tricks up his sleeve as how best to match certain Wings lines when the Toews line is out there. I fully expect the spirit of ‘76 line to take on the Wings top scoring line, perhaps even the line with Datyzuk. I wouldn’t be surprised at times to see Toews centering for Sharp and Kane either.

Hjalmarsson and Campbell have been rather good together but I’m not sure Nik is a 100% after taking a pounding in Canuck games 5 & 6. Barker may end up being paired again with Soupy perhaps too on the PP.

If the ’Hawks can use their speed to their advantage, not just at centre but with the carry-in or dump-n-chase forecheck, I think they can wear the Wings down a little.

I don’t expect the ‘Hawks to take the same type of physical approach like the Flames and Canucks did with them. See where it got them? (The ’Hawks are 15/51 on the PP and have the highest PP% in the playoffs). I expect the ’Hawks to be physical but not chipppy. There’s several Wings players that will not be able to withstand a beating so if guys like Walker, Burish, Eager and Big Buff can dish it out and not get any penalties it will pay dividends.

Of most concern is taking care of centre if they don’t get the puck in deep. The Wings are very good in transition and the young ‘Hawks will have to stand up at the line a little more than they did the previous 2 series. They can’t get away with the crap they did previously. It will come back to hurt them with the Wings.

They must screen Osgood. He’s not as good as Kip and Lou the past two series so screening him (BUFF!) especially when working from the perimeters and behind the net to out front in the deep slot is very important. If it comes down to a battle of the goalies, the ’Hawks have an advantage.

If the Bulin Wall holds up and the kids stick to Q’s plan: PROTECT THE PUCK, they have a very good chance to win. Of course I’m a die hard and that does impact my view & a few things have to go very well. But I’ll go out a bit on a limb and say ’Hawks in six.

I can’t see anything more fitting, it’s like a Cubs Cards NLCS.

The Hawks need to draw the series out, they’ll be better the longer it gets. They also need to exploit Osgood’s flaws, he’s not a very good goalie to being with. We can beat the Wings, but it won’t be easy.

LET’S GO HAWKS! DETROIT SUCKS!