Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[brinoch]

I'd say in terms of injuries, the delay helps both teams. We all know that players are beat up by this time of the year and we have Olympians who have played extra games. A couple days off is going to help everyone.

 

As for the preparation argument, more time practicing against the trap and working on the PP is going to help the Hawks more than the Preds. In my opinion, anyway. The Preds do what they do, and you can't really practice or prepare for the speed and athleticism of the Hawks. The Hawks' puck possession game can be defended and what the Preds can do is practice their system and commit to the discipline needed to slow our attack. I suppose they might work in a more aggressive forechecking game to pressure the D-men, but that would probably hurt them more than it would help them.

 

I think if the Hawks commit to rushing the net over too much "perfect passing", they'll do very well in this series. (And they did last year.) I think the PP's problem has been letting the PK get the box set up and being unable to shoot through it. They aren't entering the zone well and the lateral passing has been bad. Toews at the base moving to the net with the puck is a solid recipe for success. He'll draw defenders opening Kane at the circle or a cross-ice pass. It also creates scrums in front of the net, and that's a good thing.