Originally Posted by icehog3

Make it 5 and I am in....that's my standard sports bet, and I do have other bets going. You should just send me your address now since you seem so certain the Hawks don't stand a chance.

My breakdown on this one?

Forwards: I think this is Vancouver's biggest strength, epsecially the 3rd and 4th lines. Both teams are stacked on the top two. The Sedins and Samuelsson and all playing great hockey, Kessler is a great two-way player, and Burrows scored 31 goals this season. I give the Canucks the edge offensively with their depth...Demitra, Raymond, some good support players.

Hawks have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Versteeg...but some of their role players like Brouwer and Bolland need to get their heads into the game. Eager and Frasier will probably sit in favor of Burish and Bickell...Burish's only potential upside will be getting Canucks to punch him in the face and draw some penalties.

Slight edge to Vancouver.

Defense: I am not even going to go through the individuals...the Hawks defense outclasses Vancouver's by a wide margin.

Bid edge to the Hawks.

Goalies: Luongo's big game experience gives him the mental edge over Niemi. Hawks need a good net presence to be effective against him...maybe moving Byfuglein back to forward will be necessary.

Edge to Vancouver.

So the bottom line will be, can the Hawks limit the Canucks chances enough to keep their shots on goal totals low and allow Niemi to have an easier time than Luongo? That's the million dollar question.

I will take the Hawks in 7.