Fast Start = Victory

Back to the West Coast tonight.  Hopefully when this one is over the Hawks will be heading south to San Jose for a date with the Sharks.  The game starts at 8:30 Chicago time, don’t be late.  The big thing to look for in this one is a fast start from our boys.  The Hawks have made it fairly obvious over the duration of the year that no team in the NHL can go shot for shot with them on a regular basis and come out victorious.  With that being said, the Hawks need to put themselves in a position to dictate the pace tonight.  I don’t care if it’s a deflection from center ice off of Kane’s skate or a triple deke from Patrick Sharp on the breakaway; the Hawks need to score first if they want to be victorious.  

The Hawks are like a brand new red Ferrari.  They want to be on the Autobahn in 6th gear, flying around at upwards of 200 mph.  The Canucks are like a city bus; cruising around, making stops, doing everything necessary to complete the route.  Whichever car can get off of the line quicker tonight and force its opponent to follow will lead its team to victory.

With that horrible attempt at a metaphor behind me, let’s get to my prediction. I’m saying 4-1 Blackhawks.  On the one year anniversary of his first career playoff hat trick, Patrick Kane will shine tonight.  With added help from Toews, Sharp, Hossa, and Buff, the Blackhawks will find themselves on a plane to San Jose sometime tomorrow.

*One side note:

Dear Blackhawks,

If you win tonight and find yourselves celebrating in B.C., please take cabs.  And if for some reason any of you have a lapse in judgment and find yourselves naked in a limo with fully clothed women, please make sure that they are smokin’ hot.

Thanks a bunch,

The Manchise