Preferred 1st Round Opponent

[PocketNines]

LA has matched up quite well against Chicago this year. They won 2 out of 3 in regulation including two shutouts and won the fourth in a shootout. They held Chicago's offense to 4 goals in 4 games, something the Blues haven't been able to do. The other potential Blackhawk opponents have generally split but nobody shut down the Hawks offense like LA.

Of course, if the Blues get the 1 seed they don't want the 3-seed winning because that almost certainly means the Det/Nsh winner is the round 2 opponent barring a Vancouver upset. That winner is going to be a very strong team, much stronger than Chicago or any of the four teams who could finish 3d would be.

[Alklha]

Originally Posted by PocketNines

Here's the #1 reason not to be scared of LA – they're terrible through neutral ice on offense. They don't have much of a forecheck. This is against anyone. Their offensive impotence is totally real. Yeah, it would be a pain in the ass to score and they'd be physical, but they are easily the worst of the six clubs when it comes to offense. And Quick is definitely great, but part of what makes him look great is that LA gives him so little margin for error. Having watched Smith and Lehtonen these last couple months they're playing every bit as well as Quick, and Quick has had some soft goals there too. He allowed the Grand Rapids Wings to score 4 easy ones when the game was in hand and they choked it away. He's a difference maker, but the Blues are superior to LA on the ice and both Halak and Elliott are every bit as good as Quick this year. LA isn't going to magically start being able to score. Believe me, I've been rooting for them to win a lot of their games and their offense is just bad. It's not a sleeping giant. It's a sleeping mouse.

I totally agree about their offense. It isn't just going to "click" in the post-season and go on a tear, but they have enough talented individual forwards to turn close games.

I think it is wrong to focus on opposition offense. I think our team defensive play is so strong that we can realistically expect it to hold most opposition down to a similar level of goals against over a series. The focus should be on our teams ability to get goals and not get drawn into close games that could go either way.

We have 3 goals in our 4 games against LA. We have 11 in our 4 games against each of the Sharks, Avs and Coyotes (in only 3) and have 8 in our 3 against the Stars.

Their offensive impotence is pretty meaningless if we aren't able to score.

[PocketNines]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I totally agree about their offense. It isn't just going to "click" in the post-season and go on a tear, but they have enough talented individual forwards to turn close games.

I think it is wrong to focus on opposition offense. I think our team defensive play is so strong that we can realistically expect it to hold most opposition down to a similar level of goals against over a series. The focus should be on our teams ability to get goals and not get drawn into close games that could go either way.

We have 3 goals in our 4 games against LA. We have 11 in our 4 games against each of the Sharks, Avs and Coyotes (in only 3) and have 8 in our 3 against the Stars.

Their offensive impotence is pretty meaningless if we aren't able to score.

This is a fair point. Yeah, the odd bounce could go in, the odd play here or there. I just never get nervous with the Kings offense against the Blues. I do respect their defense and goaltending but against a team like the Blues I just can't see them winning four 2-1, 2-0, 1-0 games in a short span. Would be very interested to see Kings-Hawks.

[Guy Legend]

Coyotes or Sharks. Not the Kings.