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Both Chicago and Ottawa have been built from scratch from the very beginning of the CDNHL by only one manager apiece.  Both franchises have been to the conference finals at least once before.  Neither have hoisted the cup, or even competed in a Stanley Cup Final.  This year both the Sens and Hawks are in, one will hoist the ultimate prize after years of building their franchise from a blank slate – the other will have come so close, but end in heartbreak.

 

Chicago swept both Anaheim and Calgary before being pushed to a deciding 7th game against Los Angeles, pulling out a 5-2 victory in the hostile Staples Center to win the Clarence Campbell Trophy.  Ottawa beat always tough Tampa Bay, before squeaking out a 7th game win of their own over Washington, then sweeping Montreal to make their first Stanley Cup Final appearance.

 

Up front, both teams have loads of star power with Chicago’s Toews, Kane, Kopitar, and Nyquist lining up against Ottawa’s Giroux, Duchene, Marleau, and Foligno.  I feel Toews and Kane deserve the edge, but comparing skill, ratings, and numbers, it seems very even between the two sides down the lineup.  The Blackhawks are built around Keith/Seabrook on their backend, which gives them the advantage over the Senators top duo of OEL/Methot.  Both clubs have solid depth right through their top six.  Bishop has both better numbers and better ratings than Quick, so Ottawa gets the upper hand in goal.  The Sens also win the special teams battle so far in the playoffs, as their numbers are superior to the Hawks in both the PP and the PK.  Ottawa will have to be much more disciplined in the Finals, as they lead the league in post season penalty minutes, almost doubling the time in the sin bin as Chicago thus far.

 

Their records are identical, both in the regular season (106 points for Chicago/105 for Ottawa) and in the playoffs (12-3 for Chicago/12-4 for Ottawa).  The Sens are the best defensive team in the playoffs, but will be put to the test as the Hawks offence is tops in the post season as well.  This series really looks to be a tossup.  In the end, I feel Chicago will pull it out, but it really is too close to call between two very equally matched franchises.  It could come down to an overtime goal in game 7 for the win.