CDSF: (2) Nashville Predators vs (3) Chicago Blackhawks

[Amish Rake Fighter]

Chicago still needs a 2nd line center, Vermette's been a dud since he got there, he plays too slow and passive for the Hawks' style.

He was the extra forward at the last practice so he might even get scratched in game 1.

Right now it's looking like...

Toews

Richards

Shaw

Krueger

down the middle....meh

Nashville in 7

[Guest Dasein]

Why? What does that accomplish?

There is no way they clear Kane if he isn't ready. Him playing with a broken clavicle that just had surgery would seriously hurt him long term.

Kaner is back. Hawks take this easily now imo and go to the conference finals.

I'm thinking that the OP is conspiring that Kane was good to return earlier, which implies that CHI kept Kane on the LTIR for longer than necessary to evade cap complications

[canucks.brad]

I'm thinking that the OP is conspiring that Kane was good to return earlier, which implies that CHI kept Kane on the LTIR for longer than necessary to evade cap complications

Ah makes sense. Its okay, Canucks did the exact thing with Manny Malhotra.

[Miltt]

I'm not impressed by the Hawks anymore and I do not believe Kane will make enough of a difference to beat Rinne and the Sexual Preds.

[PredsFanFromLa]

there is no such thing as a easy series in the stanley cup playoffs

[The Magician]

I'm thinking that the OP is conspiring that Kane was good to return earlier, which implies that CHI kept Kane on the LTIR for longer than necessary to evade cap complications

[Delta76]

Chicago still needs a 2nd line center, Vermette's been a dud since he got there, he plays too slow and passive for the Hawks' style.

He was the extra forward at the last practice so he might even get scratched in game 1.

Right now it's looking like...

Toews

Richards

Shaw

Krueger

down the middle....meh

Nashville in 7

Hawks arguably won their last 2 cups without a 2C

[The Bookie]

I find this series harder than any of the others to predict. Gonna go with NASH just out of a hope for the general 2015 trend of the giants falling early to continue. LA + BOS miss, PITT + CHI out in round one. Anyone's to take.

Preds in 6. Rinne stacks the pads to the rafters.

[BeefcakeBo]

I feel like Webber and Rinne can pull off the upset in this series. Webber is a beast, and Rinne is going to be the better goalie easily. Plus the forward group in Nashville has never been this good before.

The odds are pretty against nashville though, the Hawks are better offensively by a good margin. If they get Kane back it would probably put them over the top.

[Nuxfanabroad]

Nash in 6.

[King_Canuckian]

IMO, the best series to watch aside from Vancouver/Calgary. Two very good teams against one another. This one will be a war, but Chicago has players that have been through tough wars before.

Chicago in 6

[Amish Rake Fighter]

Hawks arguably won their last 2 cups without a 2C

They also had the best 3rd line in the league in 2010 with Bolland between Versteeg and Ladd and Madden in the 4C, pretty good depth to cover for any perceived lack of a 2C. I never understood why they didn't just stick Sharp there, he can play the middle.

Plus Handzus came up huge in 2013, last year not so much.

[TOMapleLaughs]

My gut feeling is that Nashville takes this and Chicago begins a bit of a reset.

[UFCanuck]

The Hawks should be able to feast on Rinne. Laviolette better tighten up his defense.

[Jiggs50]

Preds score first! 1-0

[Down by the River]

Is this game on TV somewhere?

[cyoung]

Ya hawks desperately need cup butter cause that roster won't stay together to long

[Jiggs50]

2-0 Preds baby!!!!! Stalberg. The ex Hawk!

[The Magician]

Love it

[Canucks-12]

Is this game on TV somewhere?

Sportsnet 360.

Nashville dominating so far.