12/21/24
June 09, 2013
2013 SpoFi Stanley Cup Pickem - Finals edition: When the NHL added six teams in 1967, it brought an end to the Original 6 era. No two Original 6 teams have faced each other in the Stanley Cup Finals since then...until now. Result after the conference finals and picks for the Finals inside...
Oh, for those not paying attention, the Finals are Chicago vs. Boston...
posted by MeatSaber at 02:01 AM on June 09, 2013
Blackhawks in 6. Crawford.
posted by owlhouse at 05:18 AM on June 09, 2013
I can't pick the Bruins, only because if they win then it would imply that if the Leafs...well...hadn't...um...you know.
I won't even entertain the thought.
Blackhawks in 7
Patrick Sharp
posted by grum@work at 09:06 AM on June 09, 2013
Boston in 6
Raask
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:10 AM on June 09, 2013
Chicago in 7. Corey Crawford will win the Conn Smythe trophy.
posted by NoMich at 09:25 AM on June 09, 2013
Huh? "... not since 1967?" That's totally incorrect.
After the 1967 expansion, Original Six teams still faced each other 6 more times in the next 12 seasons. The last time was in 1979 (Canadiens vs. Rangers).
posted by Snewter99 at 03:01 PM on June 09, 2013
Chicago in 6
Hossa
posted by bender at 03:44 PM on June 09, 2013
Boston in 7.
Chara (he's gonna be a fuckin' monstah!)
posted by tahoemoj at 04:54 PM on June 09, 2013
Hawks 6 Kane
posted by holden at 05:10 PM on June 09, 2013
Bruins in 7 Raaaaask
posted by myshtigo at 05:25 PM on June 09, 2013
The Bruins are playing some fine team hockey, but ... If the Bruins were to win all Canadians will have to endure an entire year of hearing nightly how the Leafs "could have won the 'Cup".
Hawks in 6, Toews.
posted by cixelsyd at 08:54 PM on June 09, 2013
Bruins in 6
Crawford for Conn Smythe
That's totally incorrect. After the 1967 expansion, Original Six teams still faced each other 6 more times in the next 12 seasons. The last time was in 1979 (Canadiens vs. Rangers).
You're right, of course, Snewter99...I promise to never again do historical NHL research after a night of drinking...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:59 PM on June 09, 2013
I'd like to change my pick to Boston in 5. Still Raask for MVP.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:12 PM on June 10, 2013
Better get at it tonight. My son is leaving tomorrow to backpack his way around Europe for a few months, so we'll be busy with the last minute stuff. What is really surprising is that this will be the first time Boston and Chicago have met in the Stanley Cup final. One would think that a couple of Original 6 clubs would have had at it more often, but not so. Still, there has been a healthy rivalry between the 2 that goes back a long way. The playoff series in 1970, when the format had the Original 6 playing down in order to meet the survivor from the expansion 6, pitted the Bruins of Orr, Esposito, and company against the Blackhawks of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, and a lot of really good others. Esposito had been traded to the Bruins from Chicago, and a chance to beat his old team was a great motivation. The series was 4-0 for Boston, but it wasn't all that easy. Harry Sinden, Boston's coach, put Eddie Westfall, a former defenseman turned forward out on the ice as Bobby Hull's shadow. The story is that Westfall stayed so close to Hull that when Hull took his sweater off in the locker room, Westfall fell out. I remember clearly the handshake line when Hull and Westfall met, Hull grabbed Westfall and embraced him, congratulating him on the great defensive job he had done on the Hawks star.
Enough of the history lessons. I suppose you want my predictions now. Truly this is a tough one to call. I can see it going several ways. Chicago's speed and size at forward could give some of the Boston defensemen trouble. B's defense is strong enough, but they are not the fastest group in the league. Thus, the forecheck could bother Bruins. Boston's size on the Krejci/Horton/Lucic line could do the same thing to Chicago's defense as well, so call this a push. The second line for each club has skill and speed; again, there's not much to differentiate the clubs here. Third and 4th lines come up in a similar manner. I give a slight edge to Boston's defense. It's not because of the individuals but rather because of the overall scheme that they play. I also give Rask a slight edge over Crawford, but again, it's an eyelash worth of difference. Penalty killing is a strength of both teams, but I rate Chicago's power play as perhaps the best in the playoffs. Here's where the real edge could lie. If Boston stays out of the box, and the PK stays as solid as it did against Pittsburgh, the Boston has a chance.
Who will hold the Conn Smythe? This is the hardest pick to make of all. Having watched Bruins more closely than the Blackhawks, I would pick Chara right now. I don't see him doing anything to put himself out of the running, but it would be rare for a member of the losing team to win the Smythe. On the Chicago side, it has to be Crawford. Bruins will not light him up unless the entire Chicago defense goes on strike. He'll give up a few, but not too many cheap ones, and he'll make a few saves that will leave Boston heads shaking. If I could make 2 picks, I'd say Boston in 6, with Chara taking the Smythe, or Chicago in 5 with Crawford receiving the MVP accolades.
What do you mean I can't have 2 picks? I'm in 1st place; I deserve to have 2. Oh, OK, I'll make the one pick. Logic says I should pick Chicago, but logic said I should have take NY and Pitt. Bleep logic, I'm going with my heart again. Boston in 6, Chara holds the Conn Smythe Trophy, and I'll head to Boston for the Duck Boat parade.
posted by Howard_T at 11:38 PM on June 10, 2013
shit , hawks in 6
posted by Debo270 at 09:31 PM on June 12, 2013
Now, I'm usually "meh" on any Finals matchup that doesn't involve the Winged Wheel, but I'm actually a little juiced about this one. Seems like a good challenge for both teams, and should be a great series. Anyway, here's the standings so far:
Now, the picks for the Finals are slightly different. Pick your winner, the number of games, and also your Conn Smythe prediction. Winner gets you 2 points, # of games gets you 1 point, and picking the Conn Smythe winner will net you 3 points. This game is still up in the air folks, so get those picks in...