As the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Finals get underway, I would like to dissect this
series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. This should
be a good primer for a fan of the sport as well as those just flipping past
NBC on their way to other programming. What follows are factors that can decide
who is awarded the Stanley Cup:
Goaltending: Tampa
Bay Lightning : Ben Bishop stands
tall in net figuratively as well as literally. At 6’7’’ tall, he has a 5 inch
height advantage over Chicago’s goalie Corey
Crawford…Ben Bishop has been able to rely on his team’s defense to prevent
shots getting to the net, which give him less traffic to deal with. However,
Bishop can make excellent saves when his team is protecting a lead.
Chicago Blackhawks: Stanley
Cup Champion netminder Corey Crawford is a great goaltender… Chicago’s style of
play evenly distributes the burden of defense between the three forwards, the
two defensemen, and the goaltender on the ice during every shift…Crawford has seen more offense-minded teams
in the Western Conference, which gives him the edge in fielding shots that
approach his net.
AHL Calder Cup
Finals Experience v.s NHL Stanley Cup Finals Experience: Tampa Bay Lightning: This team has not
been in the NHL finals since they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. While the franchise
has no recent championships to speak of, that does not mean that their roster
of former American Hockey League (AHL) stars lacks recent experience. In the
2011-2012 Calder Cup Tournament, the Norfolk Admirals went on to defeat the
Toronto Marlies for the AHL championship. While they would go on to become the
Syracuse Crunch the following season, the following names were etched into the
Calder Cup as the 2011-2012 Champion Norfolk Admirals: Forwards Mike Angelidis, Tyler
Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Ondrej Palat; Defenseman Mark Barberio.
Chicago Blackhawks: They last appeared in
the NHL finals in 2013, when they defeated the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley
Cup. The team’s chemistry has remained mostly intact, which only enhances the
experience edge in this match-up. Among the Blackhawks to be a part of the
journey to a 3rd championship in 6 years, here are a few examples of players who were a part of the 2010 or 2013 championship
rosters: Forwards Bryan Bickell, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, and Patrick Sharp;
Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook; Goaltender Corey Crawford.
Team Dynamics:
Tampa Bay Lightning: They have the
veteran leadership to nurture the youth on their team. Through their AHL
Affiliates -Syracuse Crunch and Norfolk Admirals-Tampa Bay has been able to
create the solid offense it has today. These players, among many, have made
contributions there and continue to do so: Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Alex
Killorn.
Chicago
Blackhawks: An Original 6 team,
Chicago relies on their championship roster for its experience and
effectiveness. History shows that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have matured into their
leadership roles....Duncan Keith has been able to anchor their defense...Cory Crawford
has proven himself a Conn Smyth Trophy candidate in the playoffs.
New York Rangers
Effect: Tampa Bay Lightning: The New York Rangers tie to this NHL team comes with the trade
that sent Tampa Bay’s team captain Martin St. Louis to the Rangers in exchange
for Rangers’ team captain Ryan Callahan...Free agency would see further intrigue as
Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman signed with
Tampa Bay after their Rangers' contracts expired and Tampa Bay's Michael Kostka agreed
to terms with the New York Rangers...While Stralman and Boyle remained on the
Tampa Bay Lightning roster for much of the season; Kostka split his time between the New
York Rangers and their AHL affiliate, The Hartford Wolfpack.
Chicago Blackhawks:
As part of the new CBA, the New York Rangers were gifted two compliance
buyouts. While the first was used on Wade Redden, the Rangers waited until June
of 2014 to use their second on Brad Richards. Richards signed with the
Blackhawks as soon as Free Agency began a month later. He has added to the
leadership on his new team, and is now facing former teammates Ryan Callahan,
Anton Stralman, and Brian Boyle in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.
Key Players: Tampa Bay Lightning: Forwards Brian Boyle,
Ryan Callahan, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, and Steven Stamkos;
Defensemen Anton Stralman, Andrej Sustr; Goaltender Ben Bishop
Chicago Blackhawks: Forwards
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, and Antoine Vermette; Defensemen
Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook; Goaltender Corey Crawford
Final Overall
Assessment: This series is really about youth versus experience. The
Blackhawks have been at the pinnacle of hockey supremacy twice before in recent
memory...While they have that knowledge on their side, Chicago should not take
Tampa Bay lightly; Tampa Bay has been able to use their speed against the more
experienced teams and won...This series will come down to the age-old sports
question: “Who wants it more?”
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| Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Ryan Callahan(#24) |
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| Chicago Blackhawks Forward Patrick Sharp |
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