Here’s to hoping Sam has to write another one!
This is stupid: Chicago Tribune
Hawks once again to face “an all world goalie” CSN Autoplay
But they will be important: Cheer The Anthem
New History for Old Rivalry: Mr. Verdi
Hopefully Fro-Yo can contain himself: PuckDaddy
Education for the unwashed masses: Globe and Mail
From the ghosts of 2010:Suntimes
Hopefully our Governor will be drunk again reading proclamations on Michigan Ave: Daily Herald
Four more wins for a fifth big banner: TSN
Hollywood Ending: Cheer the Anthem
Overcoming the odds: Globe and Mail
The Stage is set: CSN Chicago
6-8-13 will become a date in Chicago Sports Lore: Mr. Verdi
Vets know that there is nothing accomplished yet: Daily Herald
5: TSN
3-2: Chicago Tribune
Hossa’s goal is the difference: Daily Herald
“Soft” Kane scores a pretty hard goal: CSN Autoplay
Outpaced: Cheer The Anthem
Breathe: HockeeNight
Deep and going deeper: Verdi
Well, sometimes that’s gonna go happen.
I can’t decide what’s the more obnoxious trend after losses like this. The people actually losing their mind or the people so eager to make fun of the people losing their mind that they haven’t actually bothered to notice that no one is losing their mind. I’ll let you all debate that.
While the Hawks weren’t near the top of their game and the Kings certainly upped theirs, we’re talking about a broken-stick goal and some pretty nifty Quick saves in the 3rd leading to a one-goal loss in a building where the hosts haven’t lost in two months. Excuse me while I set my hair on fire. Oh wait, I don’t have any hair. So I guess we’ll just calm ourselves down with the notion that it was highly unlikely that the Hawks were going to get both of these games and move on to Thursday night. Deal?
In all the visions I’ve had of this series in my own mind, not one of them contained Jonathan Quick getting pulled from a game. Hasn’t happened in the playoffs since 2010 (that’s nice symmetry), and though I don’t think it marks some sort of landmark or sea change more than just a quirky note, it does feel good. But then again, this is why The Fifth Feather is simply a manly man among just men, because he said the floodgates would open at some point if the Hawks maintained this kind of pressure. He knows so much, and is so handsome. He really doesn’t belong on this planet.
It’s a funny old game though, because it was the reverse of Game 1’s 1st period in that it ended with a false scoreline. While the Hawks were up 2-0, they really didn’t deserve to be based on balance of play. Just like the Kings had no business being up 1-0 after 20 in Game 1. But thanks to a couple handy saves from Crow, some wayward finishing from the Kings, and utter ruthlessness from the Hawks, they were already halfway home. To me, a two goal lead is nearing the horizon for this Kings team (especially without Richards), and a three-goal one requires a team from NASA. They just don’t generate that much.
Once again, the Hawks speed didn’t have an answer from L.A., and now they face all the questions going into Game 3.
Bullets after the jump.
Everyone is tired: LA Times/Chicago Tribune
Composure is key: Comcast
Western Conference Finals by the numbers: HockeeNight
A “Regular” Dog apparently is a good luck charm: PuckDaddy
A Tender subject: ESPN Chicago
Ready for more moments: Verdi
He is capable: Daily Herald
One day I will sit down and teach myself advanced metrics: Puck Prospectus
While his analysis has gotten better lest we forget his track record:The Hockey Writers
The two league system which must exist:Winnipeg Sun
Numb.
That’s how I’ve felt since it all ended. I’m not sure where my feet are. I only have a loose grasp of where my hands are occupying. I’m sure you get it.
Maybe it’s fitting. Maybe this is how it had to be. To rip the hearts out of your most loathed rival they way they’ve been doing in various fashions for so long I think I just want to hurl and cry at the same time. And I can’t afford to lose that many liquids out of my face. Maybe that’s the ultimate justice.
Does it erase all the scar tissue? No, of course not. Is it pretty fucking sweet that the end of the Hawks-Wings Western Conference rivalry will forever be known on Brent Fucking Seabrook mind-shifting one home? Yeah. Yeah it is. There’s no other way to say it.
And here we go: CSN Autoplay
Tonight, Tonight: Daily Herald
How to survive Game 7: Cheer The Anthem
A fitting conclusion: Verdi
Great Moments, were made from great opportunities? CSN
Get ready for one unproductive day: CBC
Just in case you need a refresher: NHL
They are here because of strategy: Verdi
One goal at a time: Daily Herald
He just needed a Marlboro 72: ESPN
The Wings want to go California Dreamin: Sportsnet
But it won’t be easy: Free Press
Game 7: PuckDaddy
In 16 months of doing links, this is the fifth time I have linked such a piece: SN
Not today. Or yesterday. Whatever.
I wasn’t sure what the invasion of Jesus freaks outside the UC meant for the Hawks before yesterday’s game. Was God coming to help? Was he coming to condemn? One thing is for sure, I and all my readers are going to hell. Dude on the megaphone told me so. So you’ve got that going for you. (Sidenote, I love when these nutjobs get one of their kids to preach on the megaphone. Like that kid’s belief system doesn’t have a great chance of altering forever the first time he sees a pair of boobs.)
Anyway, the Hawks finally found some power play goals (you can score two in a game?), and pretty effortlessly closed out a 3rd period lead to keep breathing in these playoffs. What’s funny is that aside from the power play, and the lineup shuffle, I don’t know that all that much changed in this series.
