<p>It was nice to see the Leafs play in the playoffs, let alone win a few. 
Seriously, though, the state of the franchise is better than it’s been in a long time, personnel wise. Several good young players, a respected coach, excellent prospects on their farm team, the largest and most loyal fanbase , and, of course, it never hurts to be the richest franchise in the league. Here’s to next season!</p>
<p>As to the analysis of the teams, the most important and dangerous fact for the hawks is their horrible power play against a team with prodigious penalty killing. Rask is smaller and faster than Crawford, though he had a better defense in front of him in the last two overtimes. I’ve always liked the leafs. When we weren’t playing them. Oldest will be living and working in Toronto for the next couple of years. Amazing city. Love it</p>
<p>On my phone so I can’t edit. To be clear, Crawford had a better D in front of him in the last two OTs</p>
<p>poetgrl, if I can ever be of any assistance to your oldest in Toronto, just let me know.</p>
<p>Thank you. Such a nice offer</p>
<p>Crawford is actually smaller than Rask. But then goalies now are huge compared to the old days of Rogie Vachon et al.</p>
<p>Crawford: 6’2", 200 lbs, $2.25 mil
Rask: 6’2", 171 lbs, $3.5 mil</p>
<p>according to the rosters on yahoo.com.</p>
<p>Hockey is a strange game…meaning very tough to predict. Before this series, many were saying that since these 2 teams were so evenly matched, that the series was bound to go 6 or 7 games. I disagreed. One team could win 4 straight 2-1 games and the play could be about even, or maybe even the winning team being mostly outplayed in a few of the games.
With goals being so hard to get, a bounce off a skate or a deflection(or double deflection…lol) could be the difference. So different than say basketball.
I have no idea how this series will go from here…but it wouldn’t surprise me if it goes 4 or goes 7 or anywhere in between with either team winning.</p>
<p>Thanks NRE. I totally agree. The only thing certain for an outcome is that we will see some high quality team play from both teams.</p>
<p>Here we go again! Into OT with a 1-1 tie.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen the entire game but Jagr sure is playing well tonight.</p>
<p>Bruins can’t catch a break - 2 shots off the iron tonight.</p>
<p>YES!!! Finally!</p>
<p>There you go, nre! Finally a break. Daniel Paille scores on a nice pass from Seguin.</p>
<p>WOW…looked like Chi was on the verge of a blowout in the 1st period…Bruins dominated OT and deserved the win. This is going to be one helll of a series.</p>
<p>The Bruins survived a hellacious effort by the Blackhawks in the first period, but I think they controlled the 2nd and 3rd periods, and dominated the overtime. Whew! I was sure the puck would pop out and Chicago would get a breakaway or something. :D</p>
<p>Great game for Boston. Hawks were beaten. Crawford and the posts did everything they could, but we got schooled in 3 and in OT</p>
<p>OMG! So another great game. Sounds like it should go 7. The O6 (well, 2 of them) coming through.</p>
<p>Thanks for the congrats, notrichenough.</p>
<p>The second goal by the Hawks was disallowed because the ref behind the crease blew the whistle. It could have gone the other way but sometimes luck plays a lot into each game.</p>
<p>I know this isn’t what fans want to hear but I didn’t much enjoy the game. The teams - both but the Bruins more - understand that nothing much will be called in the way of interference or holding (and hooking). The holding penalty called involved the head and that’s the only hot button call these days. So much of the game is clutch and grab and get in the way of free skating players, which is interference in the regular season. </p>
<p>This, to me, is the downside of the “let them play” mantra you hear from old-time hockey farts on TV. The point of the rules is to encourage a specific kind of hockey in which skill can flourish. This is more like 90’s hockey, of the type where NJ in particular held on to you and played a lot of defense. Too bad. </p>
<p>Why care? Because outside of the two cities involved and parts of Canada, no one gives a darn about this series. And hockey won’t grow - if it can - when the marquee games that truly count revert to who can get away with the most interference.</p>
<p>Yeah. I don’t think you know as much about hockey as you seem to think you do, Lergnom. Sorry, but even though Chicago lost? I’m not sitting here thinking they were robbed. And in game 1, I didn’t hear any Boston fans talking about being robbed, either.</p>
<p>It’s hockey, not girls lacrosse.</p>