Blackhawks have series edge vs Kings

Much of what I heard from analysts and writers was the awesomeness of Jonathan Quick. One them surmised that the Hawks and Kings were even on the offensive and defensive ends, but gave the goalie edge - and the series win - to the Kings.

Jonathan Quick is all-eyes on the puck against the Hawks (image credit)

Here are some facts:

1.

Corey Crawford is a very close second, through Game 1: Just .11 behind Quick on GAA (1.65 - 1.54). The margin is even tighter on SV% (.939 - .947). Not only has Crawford improved from last year's playoffs, but also he's elevated his game big time from the regular season. Sure, he's given up a handful of questionable goals, and his confidence has been shaken. But he's proven his mental toughness - and his elite status - among NHL goalies. So, really, anyone who mentions Quick must also mention Crawford, because the fact is that they're actually even.

Corey Crawford checks the big scoreboard in the United Center (image credit)

2.

For me, here's the more telling fact: Compared to Crawford, Quick has faced a whopping 59 more SOG (418 - 359). Hawks are superb at preventing shot attempts, because our defenders defend very well and our forwards forecheck very well. So that analyst who said the Hawks and Kings were even on defense doesn't know his facts!

3.

Finally, on goals scored per game, the Kings faced the 17th and the 24th in the NHL: Blues (2.58) and Sharks (2.42), respectively. Of course, they will slow down the Hawks, but they simply haven't faced a team with our kind of firepower: Hawks were 2nd (3.10). By comparison, the Kings were 10th (2.73).

These are regular-season stats, because I think we can see how these two teams stack up on a level playing field (i.e., before the playoffs). But the playoffs stats mirror these stats: Hawks are 6th on goals scored per game (2.69), and the Kings are 12th (1.93). So no analyst or writer can tell us that these two teams are even on offense!

Of course, hockey is more than just numbers, and the Hawks and Kings still have a very long, grind-it-out series ahead of them. These are two Stanley Cup champs that know how to win, so this series could go 6 or 7 games. But, on several facts, the Hawks actually have the edge!

And Corey Crawford is a major factor in that edge. How about giving him some love, Hawk fans!

For your reference, here is a well-written, nonpartisan preview of the series from the NHL senior writer Dan Rosen.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD