Western Conference Final: Blackhawks 4, Ducks 3 – Recap

Game 1 Recap

Game 2 Recap

Game 3 Recap

Game 4 Recap

Game 5 Recap

Game 6 Recap

Game 7 Recap

The Hawks advanced to their third Stanley Cup Final in six years after defeating the Anaheim Ducks in seven games. It was a tough, physical series, but the Hawks’ stars stepped up when they needed to. While Michal Roszival wasn’t playing spectacular hockey prior to his injury, the stability in the lineup he provided was missed early on as the Hawks worked to find a combination of blue-liners to fill their bottom two spots that worked, ultimately settling on David Rundblad and Kyle Cumiskey. For all the questionable-to-downright-brainless plays Rundblad has made this year, he was fine in this series, as was Cumiskey, who played only seven games in the NHL this year.

I have thought for a long time now that Jonathan Toews is the best 200-foot player in the world. He not only bolstered those thoughts in this series, but made a claim to the title of “best player in the world.” While he was great throughout the entire series, he took it to another level in game 7. This is what leaders do, and Jonathan Toews is the best in the NHL in that regard, and whomever is second is a good deal behind him. Toews is a quieter Mark Messier, a bigger, stronger, faster Steve Yzerman, and before you roll your eyes and that statement and call me a homer, know that that statement came from Yzerman himself. There are people who wear a “C” on their sweater, and then there are captains. Jonathan Toews is the latter.

Looking at the Stanley Cup Final, the series could bear a lot of similarities to the one we just saw. Both the Ducks and Lightning are quick teams, with plenty of guys who can put the puck in the net, and goalies playing very well. However, I don’t see this series being quite as physical as the Western Conference Final, and the Lightning don’t have the defense the Ducks do.

The Lightning do have Steven Stamkos and the Triplets, though. It looks like Q plans to keep Saad, Toews, and Kane together. Normally, I would rather balance the lines and save the option of putting Toews and Kane together for later on, if needed to bring an extra spark to the offense. However, keeping those three together is the best way the Hawks can match up with the Triplets. As far as Stamkos goes, I’d try to have Keith and either Seabrook or Hjalmarsson on the ice against him.

Blackhawks 3 stars of the series

★★★ Brandon Saad, LW (3 G, 2 A)

★★ Duncan Keith, D (8 A)

★ Jonathan Toews, C (5 G, 2 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com