The Way The Cookie Crumbles: Nashville vs Chicago - WCQF
Posted 11:29 PM ET | Comments 4
Hello all, time for a new look at this matchup in Cookie's eyes. I am going to break this down into 5 "bites": Forwards, Defense, Goaltending, Special Teams, and Coaching
Bite #1: Forwards
This is like comparing David to Goliath almost. I know this may seem exaggerated to most, however we have to really look at the seriousness of it:
The top 6 Blackhawks forwards are:
Patrick Kane
Jonathan Toews
Patrick Sharp
Marian Hossa
Kris Versteeg
Troy Brouwer
The top 6 Predators forwards are:
Steve Sullivan
Patric Hornqvist
Martin Erat
Jason Arnott
J.P. Dumont
David Legwand
Let's look at some of the specifics here. In the Hawks Top 6, they have only two players under 50 points, Preds have only two players over 50 points. Hawks Top 6 have only one player under 20 goals, Preds Top 6 have only two players over 20 goals. Predators Top 6 are a combined +16, while the Hawks Top 6 is a combined staggering +103. I can go on and on and on, however the results are simply this:
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
While the Predators do have the heart, determination, and grittiness; the Blackhawks have the talent, speed, skill, and domination to flat out take the puck and literally ram it down your throat till you choke on it.
Bite #2: Defense
Statistically speaking, both teams are fairly even. However statistics don't begin to matchup the blue-liners for these teams. But, instead of going deep into this matchup, I can only say:
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Nashville Predators
The Blackhawks DO have a very good defensive corp, and they might have won this segment if Campbell wasn't hurt, however the Predators have too much riding for them with Weber/Suter/Hamhuis and company (YES, I said Hamhuis) on the blue line. If the Predators can keep from turning over the puck, their defense could be a pivotal turning point in this series
Bite #3: Goaltending
On paper, it looks like you could easily hand this to the Blackhawks due to GAA/Save%/Wins/etc., however there is more than meets the eyes here. During the second half of the season, the Blackhawks had unstable, shaky goaltending, which could easily be an understatement (this has ultimately led to them grabbing the #2 seed instead of the #1 seed). Post-Olympics, the Preds goaltending finally showed some consistency with Mr. Pekka Rinne. The Preds went a combined 14-7 with 4 shutouts while Chicago went 11-10 with 3 shutouts
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Nashville Predators
Huet/Niemi just can't instill faith into the crazies on West Madison Street, which can spell a quick first round exit for the Hawks. The Predators don't have the experience in the Playoffs besides a 2-4 record for Danny Ellis, however Pekka Rinne is starting to show why the Predators drafted him in the first place. This could be JUST like 2008 where the Hawks start one goalie, have him chased after 4 games, and ride the other goalie to the cup. However, this could be a J.S. Gigure-type moment for Pekka Rinne, coming from nowhere to get the team further than where it's ever gotten before.
Bite #4: Special Teams
Wow. Um...let's just hope the Preds don't go in the box often...even though they were looking RELATIVELY good over the past few games, it almost seems like every game for the Preds look the same: Dread the Penalty Kill........AND the Man Advantage. Chicago on the other hand? Life's a bit brighter when you can actually count on your Special Teams to do something
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
Hands down, the Blackhawks are DANGEROUS compared to the Preds when it comes to the Man Advantage, even though they are only 1.3% better than the Preds. Penalty Kill? That's like East vs West. Chicago is ranked 4th, while the Preds are ranked 28th.
Bite #5: Coaching
Quenneville VS Trotz. EPIC SHOWDOWN! The only problem here is that one coach knows how it feels to get past the first round while the other doesn't even know how it feels to win a road playoff game. Don't get me wrong, Trotz can take an Orange and make a Mimosa with it (he could SQUEEEZE the Champagne out of the Orange), however for some reason or another...the playoffs just seem to be like a big roadblock in one sense or another. Quenneville, on the other hand, knows how it feels to be in this position, he's been here many times before...and succeeded quite well as well.
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
As much as I want to give the bite to the Predators, I can't just overlook the continual playoff failures here. Quenneville has the touch to lead his troops to the Cup, while I can't say the same about Trotz. Hopefully, the Predators will learn a different side of Trotz this Post-Season, but only time will tell.
WHO GET'S THE COOKIE: Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have what it takes to get out of the first round and further, The Predators have yet to do that however there is always a time for a first. A first round exit for the Blackhawks would be extremely devastating for Hawk Nation, but I found it hard to see the Predators escaping this first round match-up without all hands being healthy, goaltending playing on their heads, and the special teams actually acting like special teams.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but I see another 2 win-total exit for the Preds. Personally, I'm pulling for a 4 to 2 upset of the Hawks in the first round, but just being realistic.
Bite #1: Forwards
This is like comparing David to Goliath almost. I know this may seem exaggerated to most, however we have to really look at the seriousness of it:
The top 6 Blackhawks forwards are:
Patrick Kane
Jonathan Toews
Patrick Sharp
Marian Hossa
Kris Versteeg
Troy Brouwer
The top 6 Predators forwards are:
Steve Sullivan
Patric Hornqvist
Martin Erat
Jason Arnott
J.P. Dumont
David Legwand
Let's look at some of the specifics here. In the Hawks Top 6, they have only two players under 50 points, Preds have only two players over 50 points. Hawks Top 6 have only one player under 20 goals, Preds Top 6 have only two players over 20 goals. Predators Top 6 are a combined +16, while the Hawks Top 6 is a combined staggering +103. I can go on and on and on, however the results are simply this:
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
While the Predators do have the heart, determination, and grittiness; the Blackhawks have the talent, speed, skill, and domination to flat out take the puck and literally ram it down your throat till you choke on it.
Bite #2: Defense
Statistically speaking, both teams are fairly even. However statistics don't begin to matchup the blue-liners for these teams. But, instead of going deep into this matchup, I can only say:
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Nashville Predators
The Blackhawks DO have a very good defensive corp, and they might have won this segment if Campbell wasn't hurt, however the Predators have too much riding for them with Weber/Suter/Hamhuis and company (YES, I said Hamhuis) on the blue line. If the Predators can keep from turning over the puck, their defense could be a pivotal turning point in this series
Bite #3: Goaltending
On paper, it looks like you could easily hand this to the Blackhawks due to GAA/Save%/Wins/etc., however there is more than meets the eyes here. During the second half of the season, the Blackhawks had unstable, shaky goaltending, which could easily be an understatement (this has ultimately led to them grabbing the #2 seed instead of the #1 seed). Post-Olympics, the Preds goaltending finally showed some consistency with Mr. Pekka Rinne. The Preds went a combined 14-7 with 4 shutouts while Chicago went 11-10 with 3 shutouts
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Nashville Predators
Huet/Niemi just can't instill faith into the crazies on West Madison Street, which can spell a quick first round exit for the Hawks. The Predators don't have the experience in the Playoffs besides a 2-4 record for Danny Ellis, however Pekka Rinne is starting to show why the Predators drafted him in the first place. This could be JUST like 2008 where the Hawks start one goalie, have him chased after 4 games, and ride the other goalie to the cup. However, this could be a J.S. Gigure-type moment for Pekka Rinne, coming from nowhere to get the team further than where it's ever gotten before.
Bite #4: Special Teams
Wow. Um...let's just hope the Preds don't go in the box often...even though they were looking RELATIVELY good over the past few games, it almost seems like every game for the Preds look the same: Dread the Penalty Kill........AND the Man Advantage. Chicago on the other hand? Life's a bit brighter when you can actually count on your Special Teams to do something
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
Hands down, the Blackhawks are DANGEROUS compared to the Preds when it comes to the Man Advantage, even though they are only 1.3% better than the Preds. Penalty Kill? That's like East vs West. Chicago is ranked 4th, while the Preds are ranked 28th.
Bite #5: Coaching
Quenneville VS Trotz. EPIC SHOWDOWN! The only problem here is that one coach knows how it feels to get past the first round while the other doesn't even know how it feels to win a road playoff game. Don't get me wrong, Trotz can take an Orange and make a Mimosa with it (he could SQUEEEZE the Champagne out of the Orange), however for some reason or another...the playoffs just seem to be like a big roadblock in one sense or another. Quenneville, on the other hand, knows how it feels to be in this position, he's been here many times before...and succeeded quite well as well.
WHO GET'S THE BITE?: Chicago Blackhawks
As much as I want to give the bite to the Predators, I can't just overlook the continual playoff failures here. Quenneville has the touch to lead his troops to the Cup, while I can't say the same about Trotz. Hopefully, the Predators will learn a different side of Trotz this Post-Season, but only time will tell.
WHO GET'S THE COOKIE: Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have what it takes to get out of the first round and further, The Predators have yet to do that however there is always a time for a first. A first round exit for the Blackhawks would be extremely devastating for Hawk Nation, but I found it hard to see the Predators escaping this first round match-up without all hands being healthy, goaltending playing on their heads, and the special teams actually acting like special teams.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but I see another 2 win-total exit for the Preds. Personally, I'm pulling for a 4 to 2 upset of the Hawks in the first round, but just being realistic.
Nice, Cookie!
I agree with you, although the goalie component could be huge. It's really the only chance the Preds have. Trotz has yet to prove he can coach in the post season. We already know Horachek can't coach in the regular season or post season. I'm good with Peterson in both. Maybe an infusion of youth on this year's team will bode well for the Preds.
Nice blog, thanks for the link, I give the coaching to Trotz, the D by a hair to Chicago. You are underestimating Byfuglien and Hjalmarsson, methinks. Also, I don't think you can look at just the top 6 among forwards, or just their offensive stats. The bottom 6 play 25 minutes a night. And forward defense is almost as important as that the blueliners play. Those are big pluses for the hawks.
Thanks John. I appreciate the input! I didn't really think about them when I factored it in, so that's my mistake