much needed win, sure, but it has to be considered a huge letdown that neither Bertuzzi nor Kronwall suffered season ending injuries. In a related story, I'm sure the usual 99.8% of Red Wing fans were all over the interwebs today voicing their displeasure (you know, because the NHL/Bettman are perpetually out to get the Wings despite the franchise being a top ratings draw) over Zetterleto being handed a penalty with less than a minute remaining in the 3rd (despite the fact that he hooked and held Kane five separate times in the course of one single play).
oh, I see why everyone hates PK Subban now. Loses an edge and then feigns like he was tripped leading to yet another horrible call (from across the ice on a ridiculously long delayed whistle). Price + zebras = 2, Hawks 1.
where's the Hawks bump? You bump the Bulls thread (when no one cares about the NBA) but not the Hawks after boat-racing their rival on the final weekend. How are we supposed to get our Hawks analysis if you're not bumping your season thread? Make no mistake, this wasn't a 2 goal game. The Wings were never in this one. Yet another Red Wings goal off of a defender's leg...making that occurrence 3 out of the last 4 goals they've scored on the Committed Indians. Too bad for them they no longer have Ville Leino, they probably would have won both of those games since he's scored 98.9% of his career NHL goals off of defenders legs or sticks. Datsyuk was a complete ghost, and I was looking forward to seeing Modano for one final time but sadly he didn't play*. Hawks 36 to 23 at the dot. Kronwall was listed as 'out with injury" but we all know he is battling his latest yeast infection...and most importantly, Marian Hossa had one of those "I'm Marian Hossa and you're not" games using Rafalski, Ericsson, and Brad Stuart as the human pylons that they are. Oh, Patrick Kane locked up Filppula defensively...yeah you heard me.
Any predictions? Do we have their number or is it time for them to take a couple years of playoff frustration out on us? Of course I bet with my heart, but I call Hawks in 7.
Borat Luongo will be the deciding factor. If the Hawks can win Game 1 in VAN, I'd like our chances. Luongo is still soft mentally, so if the Hawks can come out flying and put a ton of pressure on him like the last two years then there's a chance. That said, VAN's banged up D-core is back, and nothing over this weekend has proven to me that either Campbell or Sharp are anywhere close to 100% so in reality VAN should win 4-2. If the Hawks continue to have zero net presence aside from Kopecky, I like VAN's chances . VAN is still pretty deep so if the Hawks continue to receive zero scoring from the bottom two lines and Q continues to shuffle those idiotic defensive pairings like Keith & Leddy together, it's going to be tough.
yeah but a lot of the success the Hawks have had against VAN is the result of Bolland & Ladd locking up/getting under the skin of the Sedin sisters and Buf constantly in the face of Borat Luongo. If Bolland can't go, or even play at 80% = Ryan Johnson on the shutdown line when he's barely a 4th liner, and Tomas Kopecky replaces Buf as that crease presence....both of the latter obviously are a huge step down.
The Hawks lost Game 1 the last two years to VAN. They also thoroughly outplayed VAN after the first period. Borat was pretty lucky with those 4 post shots + the Campbell shot off of his skate that he barely got a piece of. On the flipside, both Kopecky and Johnson both left with injuries.
It appears that there are several hawks that are tired of playoff hockey 5 periods into the first round. I hope someone is breaking sticks in the locker room right now because this is shameful.
I was at a party tonight and happened to meet a kid who is actually from Chicago and moved down here for school, and is a big Blackhawks fan. I had the score updates going on my phone and we were sitting there refreshing every few minutes. Obviously didn't watch the game, but we kept waiting for that 4-4 score to pop up! At least they fought back some, I guess?
Dave Bolland's return was huge - he was definitely the #1 star last night. It sure seemed like the Hawks had a little more jump in their game with him on the ice, and his line totally neutralized the Sedin line as well.
I felt that moving Patrick Sharp to center paid off too.
Since that cheap shot artist Raffi Torres wasn't suspended for his hit on Brent Seabroook in Game 3, I figured that John Scott was going to be moved back to D for Game 4 just to keep him in the lineup...too bad the refs didn't let them guys go towards the end of the 3rd period.
After that offensive outburst by the Hawks, maybe they are in Roberto Luongo's head again...and we've seen that movie before during the last two playoffs.
Hopefully Tomas Kopecky and Seabrook can make it back for Game 5, and the Hawks can build on the momentum from last night's beatdown of the Canucks.
I agree with the Crawford assessments. Played well most of the year and seems capable of being a team leader. The struggles they had in this series reminded me of the Detroit series they lost two yrs ago. Inability to get out of their end, inablilty to get in the offensive zone, weak clearing attempts, and back handed passes that turned into bad turnovers.
Comments
The refs made a good call at the end on the game. BTW I missed bertuzzi's elbow how bad was it?
* he did play. No one noticed.
I call Hawks in 7.
is shameful.
I felt that moving Patrick Sharp to center paid off too.
Since that cheap shot artist Raffi Torres wasn't suspended for his hit on Brent Seabroook in Game 3, I figured that John Scott was going to be moved back to D for Game 4 just to keep him in the lineup...too bad the refs didn't let them guys go towards the end of the 3rd period.
After that offensive outburst by the Hawks, maybe they are in Roberto Luongo's head again...and we've seen that movie before during the last two playoffs.
Hopefully Tomas Kopecky and Seabrook can make it back for Game 5, and the Hawks can build on the momentum from last night's beatdown of the Canucks.
Collecting: Topps 1952-79, Bowman 1952-55, OPC 1965-71, and Pre-War White Sox cards
<< <i>will game 7 be on versus? >>
Yes, Tuesday night at 10 pm ET, or 9 pm for you folks in Chicago.
Btw, thought this was pretty funny...
<< <i>
<< <i>will game 7 be on versus? >>
Yes, Tuesday night at 10 pm ET, or 9 pm for you folks in Chicago.
Btw, thought this was pretty funny...
dats funny
they lost two yrs ago. Inability to get out of their end, inablilty to get in the offensive zone, weak clearing attempts, and back handed passes that turned into bad turnovers.