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NHL Playoff Preview: Blackhawks vs. Coyotes
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 6 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
vs. No. 3 PHOENIX COYOTES
Starts: Thursday in Phoenix
Season Series: Coyotes Won 3-1
Series Price: Chicago -130, Phoenix +110
After two consecutive first round exits, the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes look to finally break through to the second round when they take on the No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Most experts agree that the Blackhawks, ironically, lucked out by finishing fourth in the Central Division, which allows them to avoid playing a division rival like Nashville or Detroit in the first round. Chicago must be sure not overlook a very well-disciplined Coyotes team, though. Phoenix won three out of four regular-season games against the Hawks and is the hottest team in the playoffs—entering the postseason on a five-game winning streak to secure, seemingly out of nowhere, the Pacific Division title. Don’t expect the Yotes to simply be content to be here, though. After losing in the first round to the Red Wings in 2010 and 2011, the Coyotes hope to win their first playoff series since moving to Phoenix, and the franchise’s first since the then-Winnipeg Jets won in the first round in 1987. The Blackhawks, just two years removed a Stanley Cup championship, look to make a run after losing in seven games to top-ranked Vancouver in the first round last season.
Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. Captain Serious
The Blackhawks are expected to receive a gigantic boost on Thursday as team captain Jonathan Toews (29 G, 28 A) appears set to return to the ice after missing 22 games with a concussion. Not only does Toews bolster Chicago’s already stellar offensive depth, the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner also brings the intangibles and experience every team needs to make a deep playoff run. With Toews back in the lineup, the Hawks have two of the most dangerous scoring lines in the NHL with fellow C Patrick Sharp (33 G, 36 A) and RWs Marian Hossa (29 G, 48 A) and Patrick Kane (23 G, 43 A). Assuming Toews returns in solid game shape and can shake off the rust, the Hawks will be a dangerous out in this year’s postseason.
2. Powerless Play
Despite boasting some of the best offensive talent in the league, the Blackhawks have a woeful power play that ranks 26th in the NHL, converting at an unimpressive 15.2 percent rate. This phenomenon isn’t unique to Chicago—the uber-talented Pittsburgh Penguins ranked in the bottom half of the league for three straight seasons leading up to this year, including their Stanley Cup championship season in 2008-09. And just last year, the Bruins won the Cup despite a horrendous 11.4 percent conversion rate (10-for-88) with the man-advantage in the postseason. But what might be more problematic for the Hawks’ special teams is their penalty killing unit, which is equally terrible at 78.1 percent (27th in NHL). Fortunately, the Blackhawks will face one of the few power play units worse than theirs, as the Coyotes converted at a pathetic 13.5 percent clip this season. It looks to be a battle of who could care less, but something has got to give in this special teams battle.
3. Can Mike Smith Stay Hot?
Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith (38-18-10, 2.21 GAA, .930 SV Pct.) has allowed just two goals during this five-game winning streak, turning aside 190 of 192 shots to carry the Coyotes to the division title. Smith notched three shutouts in a five-game stretch where the Yotes outscored their opponents by a combined score of 16-2. His numbers speak for themselves—Smith has been one of the best netminders in the league this season despite not getting the attention or praise of some of the other big-name goalies. Chicago counters with Corey Crawford (30-17-7, 2.72 GAA, .903 SV Pct.), whose numbers have been average in his second full season in the league—giving Phoenix a clear edge in the all-important battle between the pipes.
******* Analysis:
The only clear advantage the Blackhawks have in this series is their top-end offensive talent. They are rightfully favored in this series—Chicago earned 101 standings points to Phoenix’s 97—but the Coyotes have the better goaltender and a much deeper defense. Phoenix allows just 2.4 goals per game (5th in NHL) compared Chicago’s 2.8 goals per game average (22nd in NHL). Obviously, you need to score goals to win games, but in the playoffs—where the margin for error is so slim—defensive depth is sometimes more important. If the Yotes score the first goal, they are extremely difficult to beat, posting the fourth-best winning percentage in the league (.767) after tallying the opening goal. Even more impressive—Phoenix is a near perfect 33-1-0 when leading after two periods. The Hawks have one of the best shutdown D-pairings in the league with Duncan Keith (4 G, 36 A) and Brent Seabrook (198 hits, 165 blocked shots), but very little blueline depth otherwise. And while Phoenix doesn’t boast any big-name goal scorers, the Coyotes have a proven playoff winner in 39-year-old Ray Whitney (24 G, 53 A) and RW Radim Vrbata who posted a career-high 35 goals. Chicago certainly has the offensive ability to steal this series, but more factors point in favor of Phoenix, so there’s better value in taking the rare underdog with home-ice advantage. Prediction: COYOTES IN 7.
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 6 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
vs. No. 3 PHOENIX COYOTES
Starts: Thursday in Phoenix
Season Series: Coyotes Won 3-1
Series Price: Chicago -130, Phoenix +110
After two consecutive first round exits, the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes look to finally break through to the second round when they take on the No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Most experts agree that the Blackhawks, ironically, lucked out by finishing fourth in the Central Division, which allows them to avoid playing a division rival like Nashville or Detroit in the first round. Chicago must be sure not overlook a very well-disciplined Coyotes team, though. Phoenix won three out of four regular-season games against the Hawks and is the hottest team in the playoffs—entering the postseason on a five-game winning streak to secure, seemingly out of nowhere, the Pacific Division title. Don’t expect the Yotes to simply be content to be here, though. After losing in the first round to the Red Wings in 2010 and 2011, the Coyotes hope to win their first playoff series since moving to Phoenix, and the franchise’s first since the then-Winnipeg Jets won in the first round in 1987. The Blackhawks, just two years removed a Stanley Cup championship, look to make a run after losing in seven games to top-ranked Vancouver in the first round last season.
Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. Captain Serious
The Blackhawks are expected to receive a gigantic boost on Thursday as team captain Jonathan Toews (29 G, 28 A) appears set to return to the ice after missing 22 games with a concussion. Not only does Toews bolster Chicago’s already stellar offensive depth, the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner also brings the intangibles and experience every team needs to make a deep playoff run. With Toews back in the lineup, the Hawks have two of the most dangerous scoring lines in the NHL with fellow C Patrick Sharp (33 G, 36 A) and RWs Marian Hossa (29 G, 48 A) and Patrick Kane (23 G, 43 A). Assuming Toews returns in solid game shape and can shake off the rust, the Hawks will be a dangerous out in this year’s postseason.
2. Powerless Play
Despite boasting some of the best offensive talent in the league, the Blackhawks have a woeful power play that ranks 26th in the NHL, converting at an unimpressive 15.2 percent rate. This phenomenon isn’t unique to Chicago—the uber-talented Pittsburgh Penguins ranked in the bottom half of the league for three straight seasons leading up to this year, including their Stanley Cup championship season in 2008-09. And just last year, the Bruins won the Cup despite a horrendous 11.4 percent conversion rate (10-for-88) with the man-advantage in the postseason. But what might be more problematic for the Hawks’ special teams is their penalty killing unit, which is equally terrible at 78.1 percent (27th in NHL). Fortunately, the Blackhawks will face one of the few power play units worse than theirs, as the Coyotes converted at a pathetic 13.5 percent clip this season. It looks to be a battle of who could care less, but something has got to give in this special teams battle.
3. Can Mike Smith Stay Hot?
Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith (38-18-10, 2.21 GAA, .930 SV Pct.) has allowed just two goals during this five-game winning streak, turning aside 190 of 192 shots to carry the Coyotes to the division title. Smith notched three shutouts in a five-game stretch where the Yotes outscored their opponents by a combined score of 16-2. His numbers speak for themselves—Smith has been one of the best netminders in the league this season despite not getting the attention or praise of some of the other big-name goalies. Chicago counters with Corey Crawford (30-17-7, 2.72 GAA, .903 SV Pct.), whose numbers have been average in his second full season in the league—giving Phoenix a clear edge in the all-important battle between the pipes.
******* Analysis:
The only clear advantage the Blackhawks have in this series is their top-end offensive talent. They are rightfully favored in this series—Chicago earned 101 standings points to Phoenix’s 97—but the Coyotes have the better goaltender and a much deeper defense. Phoenix allows just 2.4 goals per game (5th in NHL) compared Chicago’s 2.8 goals per game average (22nd in NHL). Obviously, you need to score goals to win games, but in the playoffs—where the margin for error is so slim—defensive depth is sometimes more important. If the Yotes score the first goal, they are extremely difficult to beat, posting the fourth-best winning percentage in the league (.767) after tallying the opening goal. Even more impressive—Phoenix is a near perfect 33-1-0 when leading after two periods. The Hawks have one of the best shutdown D-pairings in the league with Duncan Keith (4 G, 36 A) and Brent Seabrook (198 hits, 165 blocked shots), but very little blueline depth otherwise. And while Phoenix doesn’t boast any big-name goal scorers, the Coyotes have a proven playoff winner in 39-year-old Ray Whitney (24 G, 53 A) and RW Radim Vrbata who posted a career-high 35 goals. Chicago certainly has the offensive ability to steal this series, but more factors point in favor of Phoenix, so there’s better value in taking the rare underdog with home-ice advantage. Prediction: COYOTES IN 7.
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