Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzz41
Agree with all this. The physical nature of the Ducks forwards could also take a toll.
On the other hand, I know of no Ducks defenseman that I think has the consistent ability to contain Patrick Kane shift in and shift out. That will be big.
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I don't think there is a defenseman on this planet that can contain Kane. He's the #1 skill player in the world, hands down.
That's what separates the Hawks. If you want to throw your top defensemen and shut down line up against the Kane line, you're left needing to figure out how to stop a line of Saad - Toews - Hossa. They'll just dominate the puck with power and skill every shift until your defensemen can't stand. The opposite is true as well...wanna matchup against Toews and Hossa? Kane is left to dance around your 2nd best checking line, which, we've all seen what he can do to that. You saw it falter while 88 was hurt, he's just so vitile in the game plan. He opens up so much, both for his line and other lines.
He's so good at finding open space and creating in that space that he opens up things to other lines. Teams are so worried about 88 that you end up with lines as hilariously scary as Saad - Toews - Hossa and Sharp - Vermette - Taco going against 3rd lines and 3rd pairing defensemen.
Add in that you have (in my opinion) the best defenseman in the world on the ice half the game, and it's just impossible to game plan against...especially in a 7 game series. Duncan Keith's ability to transition the puck from one end of the ice to the other with those insane 100 ft. tape to tape stretch passes he makes are impossible to defend, especially when they are going to players as skilled as 88 and 19.
This team as literally built itself into the best franchise in sports on the backbone of 19/88/2.