Hard Hawk Hockey

Please Dale Be Smart

In about 60 minutes NHL free agency begins and the Hawks have some definite questions that need to be answered. Will Martin Havlat be resigned? Will Nikolai Khabibulin be resigned, or allowed to test the market? Will Cristobal Huet be traded?

As these situations present themselves either together or independently, my vote first is to make sure that the Hawks re-sign Martin Havlat who last year was their leading scorer during the regular season, and provided the most consistency of all throughout the season, and until the Kronwall hit, was a major factor in the playoffs as well. I am not sure what he would get on the open market, and we know the Hawks have some cap issues in the coming years, hopefully both sides can see that the future here is bright and that Havlat needs to be part of the equation. His health has been a risk in the past, but this past season showed he can play a full year, and he registered the most points of his NHL career. Six million per is probably too much, but if they can settle at 4.5 or 5 million, maybe that can work.

As for the goalies, I am not really too scared if either one of Nik or Huet is the # 1. We don’t need a goalie to steal games every nite, just to be consistent, keep the Hawks in the games, yet when the big save is needed, be able to make it. Huet’s save in game 5 against the Wings was a classic. That being said a 2 year deal for Nik is ok, if Huet can be moved. If not, keep Huet and let Nik go. The problem with trading Huet is his contract. Also, he has never really played more than 50 NHL games during the regular season and is this the year to find out if he can? Big things are going to be expected of this team in Chicago this year and whoever is tending goal as the number one is going to be under the microscope.

That being said, at 36 did Khabibulin have a big year just because it was a contract year, or does he have 2 or 3 more of these left? Which Khabibulin did we witness last year, the one that helped Tampa win the Cup a few years back, or the inconsistent goalie of the Hawks prior to last season. Again, who knows and is this the year to find out.

In closing, I would prefer to sign Havlat as the priority if it is doable. Then deal with the goalie situation. If indeed Havlat cannot be signed, then please go and get a player of similar offensive caliber. I am fine with either goalie at this point if that happens.

We will see how this unfolds, but not since the 90’s have the Hawks brass had this much pressure on them to make the right moves. With all the front office braintrust, hopefully and collectively they can make the right decisions!

Thanks for reading!

Shattered!

My dreams, my hopes, my anticipation of the season continuing all down in flames! I am not sure how to recap game 5 other than the Hawks played a solid game, there were a few things that could have gone their way, and a couple things that didn’t, which ultimately did them in.

Let me start with Cristobal Huet. Talk about redemption! I don’t ever remember him playing as well as he did, especially in the first period stopping 21 Detroit shots, and surviving 2 power plays. The game could have been over alot sooner, but Huet rebounded nicely and his play continued throughout the game. I cannot blame the winning goal on him. It was an unfortunate bounce, and a Red Wing player who happend to be standing in the crease eating a hot dog (i.e. untouched) put the loose puck away.
I don’t know if the Hawks brass feels better about the goaltending situation after that performance, but at least they know he has it in him.

Patrick Kane finally on the scoreboard! I would say that Kane stepped up last night. He said he needed to and wanted to and sure enough he did. Only thing is that the Wings were without their top D-man Lidstrom, and who knows if his results would have been the same. Regardless he made some nice plays, was creative and tied the game giving the Hawks hope.

Colin Fraser had some nice chances to score and if not for the play of Chris Osgood, could have provided the goals the Hawks needed. However Osgood was better, and honestly as much as I never cared for him, I have to hand it to him, he played the best game of his life.

As for the bad, well the bench minor for too many men wasn’t a good thing. There were alot of turnovers, and a few too many fancy plays, which helped the Wings create more offense, scoring opportunities, and time in the Hawks zone. Let’s face it, the Wings are a better team. The north south game that was being played was exciting, and nerve racking, but in the end, Detroit showed why they are the champs.

All in all the Hawks have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Thank goodness the memory of game 4 has been erased by last nights performance. 5 games, 3 in overtime, and except for game 4 the Hawks were competing in all of them. Would Havlat or Khabibulin have made a difference last night? Who knows, and we can’t dwell on that. The effort was there, and they proved that they can play with anyone. What’s that old saying, in order to win, you have to lose? Don’t know if I like that, but I think that there is something to build on here.

In closing, the way the Hawks played this year has made me fall in love with them all over again. My renewed passion for my team has been rekindled. Shades of Roenick, Larmer, Chelios, Belfour and even my fond memories of my favorite coach, Iron Mike made this season enjoyable. The future is bright in Chicago and is going to be for a long time. Never would I have believed that when the season started in October that here in the dying days of May would they still be playing. A tremendous season for these guys. A real thrill ride. I know that some faces are going to change in the offseason. They have to. There are a few things that need to be done, but the core of this team is solid. With the way this season unfolded and ended comes the expectation of next year. There will be more pressure to be better and to do better. Everyone else in the conference is going to try to improve, and the Hawks need to stay with that and keep moving forward, so some little changes are to be excpected.

While I’m not happy about the loss I ultimately will be pleased with the season. It may take a few days to realize that, but I am looking forward to next year, anticipating the draft, and the usual free agent frenzy that goes along with it.

As for the cup final, sore loser that I am, I cannot root for either team. I might watch, I might not.
The pain of this loss is too much for me to stomach right now, and I have absolutely no desire to cheer either team on. As passionate as I am about hockey in general, my passion of dislike for these 2 teams is just as deep.

That being said, thanks to everyone for reading, and commenting. I will continue to provide news and notes during the off season as things develop.

Thanks again to the Chicago BlackHawks for an absolutely enjoyable season. I can’t wait for next year!

Thanks for reading!

Can Hawks Avoid Elimination?

With both teams having players that will not be dressing for tonights game, the Chicago Blackhawks regardless must pull out all the stops in order to prevent their season from being over tonight.
The Wings will be without Lidstrom, Datysuk and Draper. Same as Sunday. The Hawks look like they will be without Khabibulin and Havlat. Almost the same as Sunday, since Havlat only played 7 minutes, and Khabibulin sat out the entire game.

What needs to happen for the Hawks to win? Well for starters, they need to play 60 minutes of solid hockey. No letting up, no mistakes and most of all no dumb penalties.

Cristobal Huet needs to stop everything shot at him. If he gives up an early goal or two, this game could be over. He has to play the best he has ever played tonight. He potentially is the number one goalie for the Hawks for the next couple seasons and if the team ever needed a confidence builder, tonight is the night.

How about a goal or two for Patrick Kane? He has yet to score in this series, and that could be a difference maker for the Hawks. He doesn’t have to get a hat trick, but an early goal or two goals from him is going to be helpful.

No bonehead plays by Bryan Campbell. I may have been a bit harsh on him with my last post, but for godsakes, just have better judgement. We know you can skate, we know you can create offense, but at some point you need to realize that you are not the second coming of Bobby Orr. There is no time for forced plays unless you are absolutely sure you have it!

Kris Verstreeg, I hope you have learned that if you can’t carry the puck over the blue line cause the “D” is stacked, then just dump it in. Please! No need for individual play by anyone here. This is going to have to be a team effort in every sense of the word.

Play like they played in games 2 and 3, and don’t let frustration in. There are no excuses after tonight, so no reason to not let loose and give it everything you have. As Patrick Sharp was quoted as saying, we can’t win 3 games in one night. He’s right, the final game of a series is usually the most difficult to win for some teams. All the Hawks need to do is what I listed above and win this game. Then we can worry about game 6.

They have had 2 days off, and if they win tonight, they’ll have two more days off since game 6 isn’t until Saturday night at the UC. So being tired should not be an excuse. They can win on the road, and maybe being on the road will force them to play a pure and simple game with minimal mistakes. Get an early lead, and take the Wings fans out of the game.

As numb as I felt after Sunday’s debacle, and as sick and tired as I have grown listening to everyone write this series off, I have new found hope today! Hope is good. Hope can transform any situation into a positive one. I have resigned myself to feel that anything is possible. Win this game first. Redeem yourselves tonight boys. Prove to the NHL and the rest of the viewing public that Sunday was a mistake, that as part of growing up, frustration took the better of you. However also prove that you learned a valuable lesson, even though that lesson may have cost you your season, all that can be wiped away and forgotten with a solid effort tonight.

Another positive note is that those of us in the states won’t have to listen to that windbag Pierre McGuire as he genuflects all over his microphone about his love affair with the Wings. I swear that if I have to listen to his blabber any more I am going to shoot myself. His obvious preference for the Wings to repeat as champions has become very obvious with his erection speaking prose! Enough already!

Once again, I look up to the hockey gods (as if there are any) and ask for your guidance for our boys. I don’t want this season to end. I need at least one more game after tonight. I’ll probably ask for another after that one too! Just don’t give up boys. Believe in yourselves and each other.

I do!!

Go Hawks!!

Thanks for reading.

What Was That?

I’m not really sure what I was watching Sunday afternoon, but I can tell you this, I never want to see it again. Shades of Tyler Arnason, Kyle Calder, Sergei Krivokrasov and Craig Anderson seemed to be playing game 4 at the United Center. The game was awful from the beginning and progressively got worse as the afternoon got longer. Remember what I said about afternoon games in my previous post? I don’t like them, and apparently neither do the Hawks.

Not to point blame, but one has to be concerned with a few things. First of all the play of Cristobal Huet. He probably should have stopped 3 of the first 4 goals he gave up. He honestly didn’t look good on any of them. The Hawks needed him to step up and play big, yet he laid a real egg. I know that he hasn’t had any real action for a month and a half, but for godsakes at least look like you’re ready to play. If Khabibulin isn’t ready for game 5, I am not sure what’s going to happen, but I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.

Bryan Campbell. I don’t know, but I am not 100% sold on this guy, at least for the money he’s being paid. He looked ok in the Calgary series, got much better in the Vancouver series, but now looks like a complete jackass out there. What was he thinking when he went for the hit shortly after the Hawks scored to cut the lead to 3-1? Therefore because he missed his hit, the Wings came down and promptly scored to make it 4-1, and thereby killing any chance of a comeback. I think he’s trying to do too much and his high risk, high reward story is getting old, and think, we have how many more years of him?

Kris Versteeg! When Kris are you going to learn that when the defense is stacked at the blue line that you cannot carry the puck over, and that you must dump it into a corner? I must have seen this from him at least 10 times during these playoffs. I know that Coach Q has said something to him about it, but it must be stubborn youth because he’s not listening. As for the dumb penalties, well if the hawks weren’t short on forwards at that time, I am sure he would have been benched.

I’m not going to point any more fingers at any one in particular. There were alot of things that went wrong with game 4, and I am not sure if it’s possible to win 3 in a row against the defending Stanley Cup Champs. Possible, sure anything is possible, but with the injuries to Havlat, Khabibulin, and other stuff going on, I just don’t know if the Hawks can pull it off. In addition, the Wings were without 3 of their better players, including their best defenseman, and the Hawks still couldn’t overcome that.

By the time the game was over I was numb! I didn’t know how to feel. I had such a good feeling Sunday afternoon before gametime and had so much hope that I really thought that if the Hawks could tie the series at 2, then anything is possible. But maybe they aren’t there yet. Maybe this is another lesson that they have to learn and accept the fact that they are still a player or two away.

Coach Q blue his top at a phantom call that allowed the Wings to start the second period with a powerplay. Was it a good call on Matt Walker? I don’t know, but I watched the replay a few times and not sure what he really did that was any worse than whatever else was going on. So I know the coach has to keep his composure, but let’s face it, I don’t think too many other coaches would have let that slip either.

Finally the broadcast team that includes Pierre McGuire. I wish he would get his lips removed from the rear ends of the RedWings. He is so much in love with that team, I think he’s broadcasting the game with an erection! Sorry but I can’t resist. As one Hawk fan posted on their blog, “What would Pat Foley charge to come over to my house and broadcast the game?” The only good thing NBC did Sunday was show the National Anthem. Other than that, I swear I was watching the RedWings feed.
Which made it much harder to watch. I know the Hawks looked terrible, I know they lost their cool, and put themselves in a real hole for the rest of the series, but my goodness, let’s not be so dramatic.
I used to like Pierre, now, I don’t think I ever want to see his shinny head again.

Yes, words spoken by a sore loser, I know. I take losses hard. I love my Blackhawks, and wanted them so badly to do well in this series. It felt like old times again this year. Everything was going in the right direction and I know that if they lose this series it’s not the end of the world. I also know that they have gone farther than anyone expected. But they are here. They got here for a reason, and for that I want them to keep going.

Cinderella team? Possible, but the thought of potentially watching Pittsburgh and Detroit play for the cup makes me want to vomit! Two teams that I cannot stand (no offense to anyone) are about to ruin my playoff watching. Unless…, well I can still hope right?

Go Hawks!

Thanks for reading!

Do We Have a Series Now?

Wow! What a game, and what a turn of events. Last night the Blackhawks skated to a 3-0 lead and I am sure everyone was thinking that this game could possibly be in the bag. I for one however was not. This is the Detroit Red Wings, the Stanley Cup Champions. There’s no way to rest on your laurels for 2 periods. NHL rule: No lead is safe.

Detroit tied it up in the second period with 3 goals in less than 5 minutes and the quesy feeling in my stomach that had been there all day, but went away after the first period, suddenly came back. Now we have ourselves a game. What was to happen next.

Before the second period, Hawk winger Martin Havlat was knocked into next season by Niklas Kronwall on a it that could have been clean, yet at some points looked a bit not so clean. Did he leave his feet? Did he use his elbow? Not really sure, but if Havlat gets up, there’s probably no call. Such is life with the refs in the playoffs. It appeared that after giving Chicago a 5 minute powerplay as a result of that call, the officials appeared to make up for it in the second with the Wings getting a few powerplays which apparently helped them get back in the game. The third period, the whistles were in their pockets, for both sides. Not complaining, but it is what it is.

As the third period started, there was a hush in the crowd. Nikolai Khabibulin had been replaced by Cristobal Huet who had not played since April. Khabibulin who had taken a couple days off and did not face many shots in the friday morning skate left the game with a lower body injury. Quite timely I might add. He was so hurt that third goaltender Corey Crawford was now dressed as the backup.

Huet however was up to the task. He didn’t have to be brilliant, but he needed to make every save possible and he did. The question now becomes, is he the guy the rest of the way? It will be interesteing to see how this unfolds.

The the third period ended with a 3-3 tie and the second consecutive overtime was upon us. At 1:52 of overtime, Patrick Sharp received a nifty pass from Sammy Pahlsson and made no mistake, one timeing it into a half open net for the game winner! A needed victory for the Hawks to keep this series going. Now game 4 at the UC is even bigger than game 3.

Some good things for the Hawks. Seabrook and Keith looked much better last night. I thought that Andrew Ladd had a real nice game and a good move by Coach Q putting Byfuglien on a line with Toews and Kane. Big Buff creates space and is a pain to deal with. Hopefully that line stays together.

No word yet on Havlat other than his condition has improved. Whatever that means. He’ll be evaluated today and we’ll see if he plays Sunday afternoon. Hope so, cause the Hawks need his speed and skill, and he’s one tough customer if he can come back that quickly.

Next up Sunday afternoon. The Wings get Kronwall back, and possibly Datsyuk which could be a blessing for them, and a problem for the Hawks. No matter, I believe in this team and feel that this win can catapult them into another one Sunday.

Let’s make it 2-2, then we have a best of 3!

This is fun and let’s keep it going. Somehow a 6 or 7 game series might just favor the Hawks. We’ll see.

Go Hawks!

Thanks for reading.

Let’s get this thing going!

It’s about six hours plus to game time and for the first time in quite awhile, I am feeling extremely anxious about a game! Tonights tilt is a huge one for the Hawks where winning can begin to sway things, even if a little bit. It’s a shame that everyone seems to be writing them off. All the Detroit papers, even the Chicago ones! This thing isn’t over. Not yet.

If we lose tonight, then I can honestly say that yes, it’s probably over, but until that happens, I am not conforming. As mentioned in my post from yesterday, alot has to go their way, and a few players who have been invisible need to appear, but it can happen. Beating Detroit 4 out of 5 seems like a very daunting challenge but I truly believe that if the Hawks can win their home games and get this series tied up at 3 each, then I don’t care where we are playing game 7, anything is possible.

So for all the Hawks fans out there, if you’re going to the game, bring your passion, wear your gear and be loud! For those of us watching at home, I strongly suggest watching the same way!

My nerves are shot!

Go Hawks!!!!

Thanks for reading.

It’s Not Over!

Despite being down 2-0 in this Western Conference Final, I have not given up hope that the Chicago Blackhawks can come back with two wins at the UC and make this a series again. As Scotty Bowman says, “Your not in trouble until you lose at home”. I honestly have to go with that theory right now and hope and pray that the Hawks can put together two very solid performances at home this weekend to tie the series. If there’s a way to get to 2-2, then it becomes a 3 game series where as we all know, anything can happen in a game seven.

While I was not able to watch any of game two (work), I am not really able to comment too much other than what I have heard and read. I did watch some of the replay on versus last night and unfortunately the result was still the same! I can say this, that the Hawks were better in game two then game one, and for that there’s something positive. Losing in overtime is never a good thing, however the Hawks did play better, just not good enough. Which could mean a few things. It is apparent that first and foremost Keith and Seabrook have to play better. Keith could be hurt, no one really knows. Seabrook just isn’t himself. Khabibulin is going to have to stand on his head and stop virtually everything. Havlat, Ladd, and a few others seem to be missing in action. If the Hawks are going to get past the Wings, they are going to need Havlat to score.

Also, let’s face it, Detroit is good, maybe too good to lose this series. They don’t seem to get bothered by any extra pushing, shoving, etc. after the play. They are composed for the most part, and play whatever style they need to play. Want to play run and gun, ok. Want to play dump and chase, they are ready. Want to toughen up, allright let’s go. It just doesn’t matter, and maybe those are the reasons that they are ahead in this series. Granted they were one loss away from losing to the pugnacious Ducks, but they did prevail and that’s all that matters.

The one thing that I am not liking right now is that Sunday’s game is a 2:00 PM start, the second one of this series. Early afternoon games just don’t make too much sense. I realize that both teams have to deal with it, but for the playoffs I truly believe the games must be played at night. Everyone’s schedule and routine is off and this is not the time for that. Realizing that it could favor the Hawks or Wings, I am just not all that crazy about it.

I have not given up hope by any means, but for godsakes (can I say that?) if Dan Cleary haunts us one more time I am going to break my TV. Typical in a playoff series where that 3rd or 4th line player does some real damage that you wouldn’t expect. He’s an ex-Hawk to boot.

Also, I am not one of those fans who is going to sit back and say, well, we have gotten farther than I ever would have dreamed of at the beginning of the season, so I am happy regardless of what happens. Not in a million years! The Hawks have gone farther than alot of people expected and have a team that if kept together can maintain the excitement that has come back to Chicago that has been missing for so long. Let me tell you though, I am not going to be pleased at all if they lose this series, and will not hang my hat on the fact that they just aren’t ready, or too young, or whatever excuse is out there. Balderdash!!!!! I still have never forgiven the Penguins for stealing our glory in 1992. Never will I forget that. I had the complete displeasure of watching those jokers carry the Cup around the Chicago Stadium. I think I am still throwing up!

This team can play with anyone. They can beat the Wings. It’s not like they are getting blown out, or that they are that far behind them. Hockey sometimes is a game of inches. It’s a game of breaks and mistakes. Right now the Hawks need a couple breaks, so that they can capitalize on a couple mistakes.

In closing, Friday night at the UC is going to be crazy. Will that be enough? Will the Hawks be too emotional? Fortunately I think that coach Q can get them in the right frame of mind and being at the UC can only help. Get an early lead, finish all your checks, keep banging, and just take it to them as much as possible. Osgood is beatable. The Hawks just have to believe it. If they can beat Luongo, there should be no problem beating Osgood. Problem is, Osgood has a better supporting cast. So does that mean that Osgood is better than Luongo? I don’t know, but see who has more Cup rings and that might just tell us. But it’s not about those two. It’s about the Hawks and Wings, two very solid teams that are at different points in their era. I still say, if the Hawks win two, it’s anybody’s series, and I am begging the hockey gods to help make that happen.

Excuse me now, my nerves are shot!

Go Hawks!!

Thanks for reading.

Lessons Learned…Hopefully

Play a full 60 minutes. That’s the message, or one of the messages that Coach Q should be preaching to his team. While the Hawks did not necessarily look tired yesterday, they failed to play their best and use the tools that got them this far. For awhile it was hard to tell which team just finished a seven game series a few days ago, and which one had been off for 6 days.

Both teams came out skating hard, and creating chances. The Hawks however are still learning, and at times are trying to be too fancy. Can’t do that against the Wings. While the score was 5-2, it could easily have been 8 or 9-2. Not that Khabibulin was great, but he did make some clutch saves, yet there were at least 2 goals that I think he wishes he had back. The Cleary goal, and the Franzen goal, both could have been stopped. I will admit that if Seabrook doesn’t whiff at the puck and keeps it in the zone, then Cleary does not get the scoring chance. Once however he scored, the momentum changed and was clearly (parden the pun) in favor of the Wings.

Other notes, Patrick Kane needs to keep moving at all times, and not swipe at pucks he’s not reaching. I would like to see him finish his checks a bit more. He doesn’t have to bulldoze anyone over, yet a little body contact in the corners just to slow someone down would be a good thing.
Versteeg must learn that if he doesn’t have the play crossing the blue line, then he better chip it in and go get it. I am not saying that the Hawks need to play more dump and chase, cause that’s not really a good solution for Detroit, but they cannot take chances that aren’t there. The Wings transition game is too good, and being a puck possession team, they pass very well.

When the Hawks were using their speed they created chances and got some shots on goal. They need to keep doing that. They have to remember that they have to not only create more scoring chances, but also to get alot of pucks on net, and spend some time in Detroits’ zone. Point being, the more time they are controlling the puck and the boards, the less time the Wings have on offense. I don’t think that Chris Osgood had too difficult of a game and they need to change that.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook must also play better. They looked sloppy at times as well as timid. Need to have quick reactions and better control. Big Buff had a decent game, but must be more of a pain. Just plant yourself in front of the net, and good things will happen.

It’s early to say how this series is going to go. The Hawks can play with the Wings, but everything must work. I am however tired of hearing that the Hawks are young, and how that may be a bad thing, blah, blah, blah. Enough already. Yes they are young, yes Detroit is older and seasoned, but those two attributes don’t make the series one sided in favor of Detroit. The Hawks can play, and they can score. Everyone though needs to work hard. I did like some of the work that the Burish, Sharp and Eager line did, but I am thinking that if things don’t change, Sharp needs to get on the line with Toews and Kane. In addition, where the heck is Sammy Pahlsson? He has been virtually invisible and I think really needs to step up his game.

Game two is crucial, yet not the end of the world if the Hawks don’t win, but it will be alot better going back to the UC 1-1 as opposed to 0-2. Play 60 minutes, use your speed, fire alot of shots on goal, stay out of the box, and don’t let the Wings dictate the play. Play a simple road game and things will be fine. They aren’t a fluke and certainly wouldn’t have gotten this far if they were.
Regardless of their age, this team can play with anyone, on any night. Nothing is impossible!

Go Hawks!!

Thanks for reading.

We Believe!

Eight victories! Half way to Lord Stanley’s Chalice! Eight more to go! If you would have told me at the beginning of this season that the Chicago Blackhawks would end up in the Western Conference Finals, I would have asked you to please attend some AA meetings cause you certainly were not sober when you made those comments. However, here we are and it is such a good feeling, and by the way they have played, it’s for real. Maybe we should be in a drunken stupor!

Balanced scoring from all four lines. Solid defense with everyone contributing. Goaltending that has been solid, yet exceptional when needed. As for coaching. What can you say? Coach Q has done a hell of a motivational job and between him and the balance of the staff, the Hawks have done some magical things so far this spring.

Patrick Kane’s hat trick Monday night was a thing of beauty. Jonathan Toews came alive as well. Dustin Byfuglien, or Big Buff as we like to call him continues his havoc on goalies. Toughness, grit and skill. All the ingredients are in place and how far they can go is anyone’s guess. But I can tell you this, this team is not afraid of anyone or anything. Maybe they are too young to know any better, but the way that they continue to just bounce back is amazing. Not once in the Canucks series did the Hawks score the first goal. On Monday they let a 2 goal lead slip by, yet still managed to beat the Canucks and their alleged world class goalie (sorry I am not sold on him as an elite goalie), and won the series in their own building in front a raucous crowd.

Now for the next task. Do we want Detroit or do we want Anaheim? Well it would be nice to face the Wings since that’s the rivalry that the NHL would love to see. Two skilled teams with similar yet different styles of play. The Wings with their puck possesion and skill, and the Hawks with their speed and skill and new found toughness. It would be a solid matchup. On the other hand, facing Anaheim, they are similar to the Hawks. Young, fast, big, talented. Either one is a good series, but in all honesty, I’d rather play the Wings based on the rivalry.

Either way the Hawks must continue the same game plan. Stay out of the penalty box, play smart, make traffic in front of the net, and instead of carrying the puck over the blue line, when that’s not available, get the puck deep, make the defensemen handle it and get their backs turned. Use the speed that we have and put alot of shots on net.

How far can this group go? Don’t think anyone can really answer that. One thing for sure is that they aren’t afraid, and they sure are for real. You don’t get past the first two rounds playing lousy hockey and getting lucky. This team is for real. Yes they need to learn about getting ahead, holding the lead, but other than that, just stick to the plan. Game six was not perfect from a defensive standpoint. The offense however was great. Game 5 was probably a better display, but either way they are getting the job done and that’s all that matters right now.

Bring on the next opponent whoever you are!

We believe!
The Roar is Back!
Go Hawks!

Thanks for reading.

Yes It’s True!

Believe it folks! I thought that I was going to pass out form all the excitement/potential depression that was setting in. With a 2 goal lead sqaundered, then tying up the game, then trailing again, then taking the lead back for good, what can I say? It was a tremendous victory for this franchise.

Talk about emotion swings! This game had one hell of a third period. It could have gone either way, but the young Hawks prevailed cause they simply don’t know any better.

I will have more of a wrap up later today/tomorrow. Work calls!

Just want to say that this team has gone way beyond my expectations.

Eight more wins!

Go Hawks!

Thanks for reading.