Comrades
2nd round; Blackhawks vs. Canucks. I'm extremely impressed with the overall competence of the Canucks this year, and their hardwon dispatching of the Blues. However, the Hawks looked pretty good vs. the admittedly underperforming Flames. The Canucks shutdown the Hawks in their last two games, inlcuding a dominating 4-0 shutout at the end of the season. A key points:
Goal Tending: I will give 'Bulin credit where due, he played very well against Calgary, a team whose number he's had for a long time (odd stat: 1/4 of 'Bulin's lifetime playoff wins have been against Calgary). However, it's pretty hard to deny that Luongo is the best goalie and maybe the best hockey player in the world. The guy has some kind of superhuman will of iron and you can just feel that he wants a cup. If Bobby Lu brings his 'A' game then Chi can break out their driving irons.
Defence: Both teams have strong defensive cores. I am thinking that the Canucks is deeper defensively, while Chi's is very strong offensively. Brent Seabrook is pretty much in a league with Pronger, Burns, and Green as the best D'men in the league (no Phaneuf you say? Lifetime thus far he's a black mark in the playoffs), but the Canucks D core has no holes in it at all and the ability to roll three shutdown pairs is pretty significant. Certainly that's what Calgary couldn't do vs. Chi.
Offence: There can be no doubt that Kane/Sharpe/Toews is a better line than almost any other in the league. All three are superstars and I am licking my chops to see them play for the Red Leaf in international competition. After that it's Havlat. Sedins, Kesler, and Burrows the wonder boy are solid threats for the Canucks. However, the question for the Nucks comes back to the big horse; will Sundin step up? If YVR can field two real scoring lines I don't see that Chi has the defensive depth to shut them down.
The question for me is how Vancouvers consistentcy and solid balance throught its lineup will match up against the star power of Chicago's marquee talent.
I'm predicting Canucks in 6.