June 01--Stanley Cup Final Offense
Thanks in large part to coach Joel Quenneville putting Patrick Kane on the top line along with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad, the Hawks exploded for 15 goals over the last four games of the Western Conference finals against the Ducks. Throw in Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Shaw and the Hawks have the ability to put some big numbers on the scoreboard. An emerging Teuvo Teravainen and veteran Bryan Bickell need to create chances.
The Lightning have a ton of talented forwards who can put the puck in the net. While Steven Stamkos (43 regular-season goals) is the most dangerous, the "Triplets Line" of Tyler Johnson (league-leading 12 goals plus nine assists in the playoffs), Nikita Kucherov (nine, 10) and Ondrej Palat (seven, eight) has done the most damage. Alex Killorn and Valtteri Filppula are also part of a big and fast offense that won't be afraid to skate with the Hawks.
Edge: Hawks.
Defense
Two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith is playing at another level for the Hawks. Keith leads all NHL defensemen with 18 points, including 16 assists. Brent Seabrook has six goals and has stood his ground in the defensive zone. Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson have been typically solid. The depth is being tested with Kyle Cumiskey and David Rundblad seeing quality minutes because of a season-ending injury to Michal Rozsival and ineffective play from Kimmo Timonen.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper has at times taken to dressing seven defensemen. Offensively, there hasn't been much production, but Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman are capable of chipping in. That pair also has been tasked with shutting down opponents' top lines. Jason Garrison and Stralman were plus-27 and plus-22 during the regular season. Veterans Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn haven't been as consistent as Cooper would hope and can be vulnerable to a high-flying attack.
Edge: Hawks.
Special teams
Despite units that can roll out offensive talents the likes of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Saad and Keith, the Hawks' power play has been inconsistent all season. At times, it appears they have righted the ship and at others, the units drain energy and momentum from the Hawks' attack. Toews has been particularly strong with the man advantage of late.
A strong suit during the bulk of the regular season, the Hawks' penalty kill continues to have its struggles in the playoffs. The Hawks rank 11th out of 16 teams with a 75.5 percent kill rate in the postseason. Marcus Kruger, Toews, Hossa, Keith, Hjalmarsson, Seabrook and Oduya have to find ways to clog the shooting lines.
The Lightning's firepower really shows while the team has the man advantage. The team is fourth on the power play during the playoffs at 22.2 percent. If Stamkos gets any time and space, the center unleashes his rocket of a shot and the Lightning crash the net to clean up rebounds. Palat, Kucherov and Johnson can be difference-makers.
Solid describes the Lightning's penalty kill. It ranks eighth during the playoffs at 81.2 percent as Brian Boyle, Cedric Paquette, Hedman, Stralman, Garrison and Filpulla have seen the most duty.
Edge: Lightning.
Goaltending
Corey Crawford's shaky start is long forgotten as the veteran has been steady -- and often spectacular -- while helping the Hawks dispatch the Predators, Wild and Ducks en route the finals. Crawford has been particularly brilliant in overtime, displaying the poise of a goalie who has been through battles and helped his team win a Stanley Cup in 2013. Calm and confident, Crawford is at the top of his game when it counts the most.
Ben Bishop is big. Really big. At 6-foot-7, 209 pounds, the 28-year-old doesn't leave much room for opponents to pick a spot to shoot. He also can handle the puck as evidenced by his three assists in the postseason. While Bishop has been excellent in the playoffs, it's his first NHL postseason and his nerves will be tested on the biggest stage. That could be a huge factor, especially when facing the Hawks' high-octane offense.
Edge: Hawks.
Chris Kuc's prediction
The Lightning have shown they have what it takes to be a champion, having negotiated their way past the Red Wings, Canadiens and Rangers en route to the finals. They will put up a fight, but the Hawks are hitting on all cylinders, have the experience and skill and in the end will hoist the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons.
Blackhawks in 6.
ckuc@tribpub.com
Projected forward lines and defensive pairings
BLACKHAWKS
Forwards
Brandon Saad--Jonathan Toews--Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell--Brad Richards--Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp--Antoine Vermette--Teuvo Teravainen
Andrew Desjardins--Marcus Kruger--Andrew Shaw
Defensemen
Duncan Keith--Niklas Hjalmarsson
Kyle Cumiskey--Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya--David Rundblad
Goaltenders
Corey Crawford
Scott Darling
LIGHTNING
Forwards
Alex Killorn--Valtteri Filppula--Steven Stamkos
Ondrej Palat--Tyler Johnson--Nikita Kucherov
J.T. Brown--Cedric Paquette--Ryan Callahan
Brenden Morrow--Brian Boyle--Vladislav Namestnikov
Defensemen
Victor Hedman--Anton Stralman
Jason Garrison--Braydon Coburn
Matt Carle--Andrej Sustr
Goaltenders
Ben Bishop
Andrei Vasilevskiy
