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NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

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Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Most of me thinks this will be an entertaining and hard fought series. A small part of me thinks the Hawks go through Tampa Bay like crap through a goose.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

I'm tentatively holding to my East winner. The solid D that New York and Tampa demonstrated fell apart a few times during that series. But I still have more confidence in that compared to Crawford having a bad game.

The big question is if that D can deal with the team offense that Chicago plays. One of those can vs. will things.

If Tampa wins, the old time purists will have a fit- with one team beating 4 of the 6 original 6.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

I may have posted this earlier but I said, after Chicago overcame a 3-goal deficit in game 1 vs. Nashville way back when that they were winning the Cup. I stand by that statement.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Its clearly the year of the (s)Chitheel, so I'll take Hawks in 5
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Lightning in 6, more out of hope than anything because I know more than a few Hawks "fans" who are only following the Hawks now because the Bulls are out. More than likely believe Toews is Toes.

But, it'll probably be Chicago in 6.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Spartanforlife4 said:
Lightning in 6, more out of hope than anything because I know more than a few Hawks "fans" who are only following the Hawks now because the Bulls are out. More than likely believe Toews is Toes.

But, it'll probably be Chicago in 6.
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I've always enjoyed this line of thinking, because so few successful sports teams have bandwagon fans. So, if you find one that does, be sure to root against them! #PinkHatSchadenfreude
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Bomber said:
I've always enjoyed this line of thinking, because so few successful sports teams have bandwagon fans. So, if you find one that does, be sure to root against them! #PinkHatSchadenfreude
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It's not even bandwagon in this case, given that the Hawks have been the most successful franchise since Jordan left. It's more of just flat out ignoring the Blackhawks because the Bulls showed a smidgeon of a chance.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Brad Richards has been in 8 game 7's over his career. He is 8-0 in those games. That's nuts.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Spartanforlife4 said:
It's not even bandwagon in this case, given that the Hawks have been the most successful franchise since Jordan left. It's more of just flat out ignoring the Blackhawks because the Bulls showed a smidgeon of a chance.
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Well, Chicago is a self-confident city. Chicagoans aren't shy about extolling the virtues. This can lead to annoying instances of arrogance without substance.

Old 1980's story concerning a Bears Fan: Personally I have no allegiance whatsoever to the Chicago Bears. One of their fans tried to sell me on the idea that the Bears were the best franchise in the NFL. Taking on the topic, I gave her the opportunity to tell me why. The response? They lead the league in charitable giving. My reply? That's genuinely commendable. But besides winning a Super Bowl, tell me what they've done on the field that makes them the best. She had NOTHING. So your complaint is valid, and it is an irritating problem.

Still, it really is just a variation of the bandwagon issue. The more a team wins, the more these goofballs insist on making themselves heard. We certainly have our share of nut cases here at Ohio State. Michigan has its Walmart Wolverines. And don't think the Spartans are exempt. You've done really well in hoops for long time, and your football team has been top notch for a while. The more you win, the more you'll find yourself embarrassed by members of your own fanbase. Count on it.
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Spartanforlife4 said:
It's not even bandwagon in this case, given that the Hawks have been the most successful franchise since Jordan left. It's more of just flat out ignoring the Blackhawks because the Bulls showed a smidgeon of a chance.
Click to expand...
Because of Jordan, it's a basketball town. When the Bulls are bad, it's a Blackhawk town (AHL is now suffering, ECHL failed, USHL continues to somehow exist with zero attention).
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

aparch said:
Because of Jordan, it's a basketball town. When the Bulls are bad, it's a Blackhawk town (AHL is now suffering, ECHL failed, USHL continues to somehow exist with zero attention).
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Well 1999-2009 Chicago would like to have a word about that... Seriously, the Bulls always have been the main team in the Stadium/UC even with the Hawks resurgence...
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

RaceBoarder said:
Well 1999-2009 Chicago would like to have a word about that... Seriously, the Bulls always have been the main team in the Stadium/UC even with the Hawks resurgence...
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Wait, you mean the Blackhawks aren't an expansion franchise from 2008?!?


Right. I should amend my post to clarify that when the Bulls were terrible, and the Blackhawks were terrible, the Bulls were still a better draw.

Still bummed I can't use my college ID to get $8 middle of the third deck hockey tickets anymore. :(
 
Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

If I understand the argument correctly: The least informed, most casual fans gravitate to the NBA, at the "expense" of the NHL. Further, because of the "Jordan Factor," this is a bit more noticeable in Chicago than elsewhere.

I'd tend to agree on both counts. But my question is, what's the problem? Why not let the NBA have airhead nation without complaint? The NHL sells lots of tickets; our players do fine financially.

OK, when there's a whiff of a championship, the casual fans drift in our direction. Then when the moment passes, they drift away. Totally predictable. Like the rise and fall of the tides.

Perhaps even more to the point, Chicago isn't all that unusual in this regard. By my count, there are 14 markets where the NHL and NBA go head-to-head:

1. Boston
2. Chicago
3. Dallas
4. Denver
5. Detroit
6. LA/Orange County
7. Miami
8. Minneapolis/St. Paul
9. NYC/NJ/Long Island
10. Philadelphia
11. Phoenix
12. San Francisco/San Jose
13. Toronto
14. Washington DC

Working through that list, assuming typical seasons: I'm guessing that the NHL is the "better draw" in the Twin Cities and Toronto. Detroit and Boston might be in play. But I've got to believe that the NBA would be the better draw in the other ten markets, long term. So I've got it at 10-4, at best. If that's at least close, why the angst? Chicago is in pretty good company in that group of 10 markets.
 
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Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

pgb-ohio said:
If that's at least close, why the angst? Chicago is in pretty good company in that group of 10 markets.
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He's a Wings fan stuck living in Chicago for the best run in Hawks history. It's hard on him. :D


Good points on your part.

The NBA and basketball itself are simply more popular that hockey. Chicago is no exception.


I remember when the Jordan Bulls were doing their thing and the Hawks were pretty good and contenders. Not being much of an NBA fan, I was hoping that the Bulls would get eliminated so that my favorite team could get top billing and the attention I felt they deserved.

Even back then - when the Hawks were perennially good/in playoffs - it went Bears... Bulls... a big gap and then Cubs/Hawks/Sox.



PS. I'll even admit to bandwaggoning for the Bulls' second 3 peat run. The Jordan/Pippen/Rodman Bulls were a lot of fun to watch. After that, I went back to general apathy towards the NBA.
 
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Re: NHL 2015, Part II - Stanley Cup Playoff Race and Beyond

Hawks in 2.

(And I agree about Jordan/Pippen/Rodman. Rodman was so much fun to watch. He was frickin' amazing at rebounding. If he wasn't so **** crazy, he would get a lot of recognition for that.)
 
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