Hawks/Canucks: The Kids Vs. Some More Canadia (e) ns

So you thought the Blackhawks/Flames series was rough and tumble? The Blackhawks/Canucks series should see the intensity taken up a notch. The Blackhawks and Canucks had a good ol' fashion line brawl (complete with hair pulling) in their final game of the regular season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCCR0PcT4_E

You wouldn’t even see hair pulling in the NBA, and that is saying something. I have been to tea parties (don’t ask) that are more physical (please do ask…women fighting women) than what takes place in NBA games. Don’t be mistaken by Burrows' hair pulling and the Sedin sisters presence; these Canucks are a rough group who have no problem mixing it up. Let’s get to match ups (from a Chicago perspective):

Blackhawk Forwards vs. Vancouver D:
The Blackhawks forwards were surprisingly physical in the first round series against the Canucks, but their strength remains their speed and skill. The St. Louis Blues were unable to make Vancouver pay on the power play in the first round this is one of the few keys to the series. The Blackhawks must continue to convert on the power play on a high clip. This is easier said then done when Roberto Luongo is staring you down like an Irishman eyeing the drink (I love the drink…yes THE DRINK). The line of Byfuglien, Pahlsson, and Versteeg (amazing only one Euro on that line; someone named Kris Versteeg should not be from western Canada) was arguably the Blackhawks most effective in the first round. This is where the Blackhawks have a distinct advantage over the Canucks: Scoring depth. The Blackhawks three lines must be able to consistently put pressure and create traffic in front of Luongo. The fourth line (Burish is such a sob…its great) must continue to play the irritating role they played to perfection.

Blackhawks D vs. Vancouver Forwards:
Can we have a moment of silence in honor of Brent Seabrook? What a f***ing series. He was my MVP for the first round as he played a shut d own role alongside Duncan Keith. They compliment each other so well and have started chatter about being a pair for Team Canada at next years Olympics. The Canucks will rely heavily on the Sedin sisters to carry the load, who surprisingly didn’t crumple like a deck of cards in the first round, and it will be up to Seabrook and Keith to mimic their success against the Iginla line in the first round. The mobile Hawks defensemen should present problems for Vancouver. Cam Barker and Brian Campbell (boo!!! If you love him just wait to see how his contract screws the cap next summer with Toews, Kane, and Keith set to be restricted/unrestricted free agents) must be strong in transition and provide offense from the point.

I really don’t feel like talking about how great Luongo is…so I won’t. The key to beating him will be traffic and getting pucks to the net (same as with every goalie). If he can see it he will stop it, he is the best goalie in the league (ok I lied, I had to say something about his greatness). The Blackhawks cannot fall into their tendency of trying to make the pretty play and instead must hammer the net.

Prediction time: This series is going to be a battle. The young and “inexperienced” Blackhawks proved to the hockey world they can not only stand up to a physical assault, but dish out some punishment of their own (Remember Bourque? Yea I don’t either after Burish broke his stick over him). The resiliency they showed in round 1 will lead them to ultimate victory in the series. Blackhawks in 7 (game 7 will be referred to as 'the apocalypse').

Oh and Khabibulin rocks….just not normally against the Canucks…let us never speak of that again.