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
at 
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, CBC (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Feed The Tree: Cup of Chowder, Days of Y’Orr
Dating back three years to the 2010 Final against Philadelphia, the Hawks have lost the first game away from the United Center in six straight series. Overall in that time frame, the Hawks have gone 7-10 on the road, and 3-4 this post season. And in order to win this series, the Hawks will now have to win at least one game on the road, with the first of potentially three games in Boston tonight.
Absolutely nothing about his performance was unsung: PuckDaddy
Off days are good days: Comcast Autoplay
Bruins hopeful that Nathan Horton isn’t done: Chicago Tribune
I love shin pads: Cheer the Anthem
The legend grows: Globe and Mail
The love-hate relationship with him: Backhand Shelf
Setting the bar high: Mr. Verdi
vs
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBC, CBC (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720
The Impression That I Get: Cup of Chowder, Days of Y’Orr
Now the real fun begins. After an abbreviated 48 game season of intra-conference play and three playoff rounds with their fair share of scares for each team, the Hawks and Bruins will meet in the post season for the sixth time ever, and for the first time ever in the Stanley Cup Final. With the Bruins two years removed from their last title and the Hawks three, it’s a juggernaut matchup that the league has dreamed of, but probably doesn’t deserve after what it’s put everyone through. And though superficial analysis would have one believe that these two teams are diametrically opposed stylistically, they’re actually far more similar than one would expect.
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
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
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
So much to say when so confused and so shocked.
I don’t think anyone, whatever side you’re on, though we’d find ourselves here. While the temptation is to start pointing fingers and do the postmortem, we’re not there yet. Because after two very close games, the Hawks have come up on the wrong end for small reasons. Let’s try and parse out how they got here, who’s responsible, and why they’ll come back in this series (and they will).
Most arrows in the quiver are being aimed at Q. Most of them are justified, some aren’t. The rest are being aimed at Toews. Mostly fair too. But for the first time tonight in the 3rd with a 2-on-1, Toews deferred when he shouldn’t have. That’s discouraging. But it’s not the end of the tale.
