We here at C.I. are having a little trouble putting our thoughts into words. So we asked Michael Jordan to help us out, as we were inspired by his overly gracious and in no way vindictive Hall of Fame acceptance speech.
I’m so glad the guys at The Committed Indian have asked me to be here today and provide such a glorious service. There are so many people out there who made winning this Stanley Cup so special, I hope I can remember them all.
#19 is optimistic: Chicago Tribune
You know what tonight could bring: SunTimes
The hit will not be reviewed: Daily Herald
I hope it ends this way with a bigger trophy as well: Sportsnet
Many of them have been here before: Comcast Chicago (AP)
Axl Rose mode: Blackhawks.Com
Break their neck: Globe and Mail
I remember this from three years ago.
I remember when they flash that “1” all around the U.C. I remember the chills you get when you see it. Because though we spend most of our days dreaming about the Hawks winning The Chalice, and though that thought infuriates our bosses or significant others or whoever else because you are pretty much useless in any other way when thinking about it, when you see that “1”, it becomes all too real. It’s right there. You feel like you can touch it. It’s not just theory any more. It’s like when you first step into that girl’s/guy’s apartment that you’ve been chasing for so long. It’s not just a dream or a wish. There’s so little to execute now to have what you dared not speak of before. IT COULD REALLY HAPPEN AND OH MY GOD JUST BREATHE AND ALL I HAVE TO DO IS NOT CRIMINALLY FUCK UP AND….
And yet…there’s still so far to go.
Just cleaning up some stuff from last night, whatever that was. Or maybe trying to sort out why I’m not dead yet. I should be. Maybe that’s waiting for the conclusion of this madness.
I’ve said all along this series that I will no longer doubt this team. That every time I felt the axe about to fall I would no longer accept that it was coming down upon them. Of course, I can’t actually follow my words, because after the Looney Tunes marathon of last night I once again felt the cold chill and was ready to embrace it. No way could they find the reserve to conjure up one more goal in OT with a ravenous Bruins team looking sure to score on the first clean look they got. And yet the Hawks just seem to have this We’re-Not-Fucking-Losing gear that they can bring out when they absolutely have to have it. While I hate comparisons to the 2010 team, and will even if they end up accomplishing the same thing, I will say this version’s balls are bigger because they don’t have as much talent to simply break teams over time. But no one’s told them that, and no one should.
I’ll learn too late. And that will probably be just fine with everyone if it keeps going the way it has when I lose the faith.
Break Point: Cheer the Anthem
Barnburner: HockeeNight
Needed: Daily Herald
Fire Wagon Hockey: TSN
Patrice Bergeron is good and lucky: PuckDaddy
Real rule changes approved: Globe and Mail
Was it Al Michaels that recently described watching a hockey game like dying a thousand deaths? I think it was. Either way, I would probably describe watching this game as feeling like William Wallace as the English unstrung his intestines and lit them on fire as he watched while tied to an iron maiden.
Let’s not waste anymore time. To the bullets.
Just some things to clean up after Game 3 before we turn toward what’s ahead in Game 4.
-This Hossa injury thing is just weird and I can’t believe it’s not getting the screws turned to Quenneville. Actually, I can totally believe it because it’s long been accepted in hockey circles that your coach can spill out pure drivel and everyone will just dismiss it as him simply being “hockey” or “Canadian.” Jesus, you’d think a lot of Canadians would take great offense at that, because though I don’t know that many I’m pretty sure an overwhelming amount of them are articulate and pretty intelligent.
If it was known well before that Hossa might not go, then not having Smith take the warm up when Mayers already was is just….well isn’t it ridiculous? Smith hasn’t played a game since the last game of the season. Doesn’t he need as much time on the ice as possible? You’re already hedging your Hossa bets by having Mayers skate in the warmup. I was under the impression that anyone who has the slightest chance of playing takes the warmup just for this exact purpose.
Boom! ESPN
Bad: TSN
Blanked: Sportsnet
Bergeron: PuckDaddy
Beaten: Chicago Tribune
Ok I am no Dr. Emrick: Suntimes
Time to worry? Comcast Chicago
Phoenix isn’t the only team that may need U-Haul: TSN
AV to NYC: New York Times
I’m not sure where to start this. I think the best place is to separate the optics of it from what the reality might be.
I understand what some people are seeing. Because the Bruins are bigger, their hits tend to knock Hawks to the ice, whereas the Hawks’ don’t. Because the B’s are so good defensively, even when the play is even the Hawks aren’t creating chance after chance (even though the B’s actually aren’t creating that much either). There’s this impression that it should always look like the 1st period of Game 2, but the Bruins are too good for that. The Hawks can’t get to rebounds that are there, Rask isn’t working all that hard, I can see where some people might mistake it for an ass-kicking. But it just doesn’t feel to me that’s what what we’ve witnessed here.
Let’s just get to the bullets and we’ll see if I can’t prove my point:
I’m not sure where to start this. I think the best place is to separate the optics of it from what the reality might be.
I understand what some people are seeing. Because the Bruins are bigger, their hits tend to knock Hawks to the ice, whereas the Hawks’ don’t. Because the B’s are so good defensively, even when the play is even the Hawks aren’t creating chance after chance (even though the B’s actually aren’t creating that much either). There’s this impression that it should always look like the 1st period of Game 2, but the Bruins are too good for that. The Hawks can’t get to rebounds that are there, Rask isn’t working all that hard, I can see where some people might mistake it for an ass-kicking. But it just doesn’t feel to me that’s what what we’ve witnessed here.
Let’s just get to the bullets and we’ll see if I can’t prove my point: