I have just come up for air after two double overtime games last night followed by the Red Wings closing Phoenix out after 1:00 am. Time to get up to date on the two series we featured as the playoffs commenced, Bruins-Habs and Hawks-Canucks. Both series resume tonight with the Eastern Conference game at 7 and the Western Conference at 10. Let’s look briefly back at both series and set the scene going forward.
Boston vs Montreal, 2-1 Canadiens.
Home ice advantage has been anything but advantageous thus far as the home team is yet to get in the win column. The first two games in Boston were won by the hustle of Montreal. The Habs looked like they were catching Boston on short rest both nights, and that perception was certainly buoyed by Zedeno Chara exiting Game 2 with dehydration. It’s not like Montreal dominated these games, in fact the Bruins outshot them in both, but the Habs created their bounces and capitalized on them. With a series so rich in history it makes more sense to recall previous meetings between these two to describe the Habs’ efforts in the first two games, but it looked just like their first round series against Washington a year ago. They put the first goal on the board in both games then pushed that button that makes the walls start moving closer together slowly on Boston. In Game 3 the Bruins did the same to the Habs in Montreal. Check out Days of Y’Orr for an in depth Boston preview and agreement on the importance of the first goal.
I’m trying to come up with some players who have had major impacts on the series past “these guys scored goals” level, but the difference in each game has been about a team-wide mindset. Montreal had superior drive and focus in the first two games and when they relaxed on their home ice Boston counter-punched. Tim Thomas looked much better in Game 3, but it’s not like he was terrible in the first two. PK Subban has been on the ice almost as much as the referees.
From what I have seen so far, Montreal seems to be the better team. Their 4-2 record against Boston in the regular season plays into that opinion, but taking two in Boston was very impressive. I don’t think the Bruins get it done in Montreal tonight. Bet the Habs -105.
Vancouver vs. Chicago, 3-1 Vancouver.
The defending champs looked to be on their way to getting swept out of the first round. Luongo was steady in the first three games and Chicago lacked the physical element that led to their success against the Canucks the past two seasons. The Sedins were lethal, the blue line was strong, and Luongo cleaned up whatever made its way through. Then the Blackhawks won 7-2 in Game 4. Was it a case of Vancouver taking a night off or are the Hawks spying some light as they dig out of the 3-0 hole?
I’ll tell you right now that the Blackhawks have a shot here. Now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be sent packing tonight when they travel to Vancouver. Brent Seabrook is out for the second straight game after taking a head shot from Rafi Torres in Game 3, but Dave Bolland is good to go again after his return sparked the Hawks in Game 4. Bolland is an expert at frustrating the Sedin line and it showed to the tune of about a minus-10 for the Canucks’ top line in Game 4. Bolland also adds a scoring punch to take some pressure off Sharp, Kane, and Toews. Corey Crawford might not be the type of goaltender that is likely to steal you a game in the playoffs, but he can be consistent enough to give the Hawks a chance to make this thing interesting. Don’t discount the backs-against-the-wall factor here either. As I heard an NHL coach say last night, “the playoffs aren’t about momentum, they’re about desperation.” Cool quote, but that coach is down 3-1 in his series against Pittsburgh. Speaking of desperation, the Hawks are desperate for production from Marian Hossa. The guy disappears come playoff time and he’ll need to amend that policy if the Hawks are going to move on.
For Vancouver’s part, a little desperation couldn’t hurt and shouldn’t be hard to find. They’ve been dominated in the playoffs by Chicago too many times to think this thing is over. Even the prospect of a Game Six in the United Center should be enough to create urgency tonight. Mike Babcock said that Game 4 in Chicago was all the motivation the Red Wings needed to close Phoenix out, so maybe the Canucks learned something from the Wings last night. Easier blogged than done, but a Game 7 mentality is required from Vancouver tonight. Still, I’m taking the Blackhawks at +175.
