3 units on Chicago to win the series -105
What can we say about this Blackhawk team, this team just knows how to win and when to win. Early on in the season, critics were quick to point out the Blackhawk's questionable special teams #'s as the chink in it's armor. While we know they can score on the PP there were issues with the PK, hovering at around 77-78%. Since the second half of the season however Quenneville has the team playing exceptional special teams, ranking top 10 in scoring and racking up an impressive 86-87% on the PK. Many people had the Blues locked as a Stanley Cup finalist early on in the season but these guys just aren't proven yet and well we know all about these Blackhawks and their ability to turn it up when it matters. Very few teams can match the depth of St. Louis' 4 lines but Chicago is certainly one of those teams. This team is still young and albiet talented but for me it's always experience over talent in the playoffs. Many will question the goaltending match up and while Crawford may not be your run at the mill dominant goalie he has easily dominated St. Louis in his career going 11-2-3 with a .914 SV% and 2.26 GAA. The regular season matchup was 3-2 in favour of St Louis, but if you looked closely 2 wins of St Louis' were SO wins and came before the turn of the New Year into the second half of the season, since the second half Chicago had won both matchups 4-0 and 4-2 while outshooting St Louis 65-46. This will be one of the better matchups in the first round and fade or follow let's enjoy some great playoff hockey. Cheers.