Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Thread!!!!!!

[bukie]

FWIW, Puck Daddy still has Pronger in the Conn Smythe lead after game 5. It isn't unprecidented to see the losing team win it. Remember the trophy is for most outstanding player of the playoffs, not just the finals. It just happened back when Giguere won it in like 04.

I think if the Hawks win, it'll be Toews or Kane. Maaaaybe Byfuglien if he has another performance like yesterday.

 

EDIT: I'd actually like it if they somehow shared the trophy between Toews and Kane. Symbolic and all that.

[Old Style]

According to Puck Daddy:

 

Byfuglien was actually asking his teammates to set up situations where he could go at Pronger one-on-one. Did you ever think you'd see the day that a team told its forwards to carry the puck down Pronger's wing by design?

 

And holy lord Buff....

 

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nhl_experts__65/ept_sports_nhl_experts-297903128-1275916330.jpg?ymrQoQDD5ATzKxjt

Joakim Noah is jealous of that jacket.

[Banedon]

From a Flyers blog:

 

But despite the fact that the Flyers played an atrocious first period, they still had a chance in this game in the final five minutes. That says a lot about this team and their character, and it also says a lot about the Blackhawks. They have no killer instinct. Despite five separate three goal leads, Chicago never had this game solidified until there were two minutes, five seconds left.

 

What game was he watching?

 

That's a pretty dumb comment. Not having a killer instinct would be letting the Flyers close to 1 goal, or even tie the game. The Hawks matched every single time the Flyers tried to pull closer. The Flyers didn't quit, but neither did the Hawks.

 

Who is Puck Daddy anyway? Stupid name.

 

That quote is from the Flyers blog... http://www.broadstreethockey.com , and yeah...it's a pretty homerish perspective.

 

Puck Daddy is a yahoo NHL blog.

[bukie]

Scoring chance analysis, and the best player of the game may surprise you: http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/6/7/1504960/blackhawks-7-flyers-4-game-5#storyjump

[hawkeyecub]

That 5th goal was such a thing of beauty. Sharp has the puck with 4:21 left and all 5 guys touch the puck until it goes in with 4:17 left.

[Banedon]

Asked later about Leighton's play, Pronger said he knew nothing of his goalie's ailment. Asked then if he, himself, was physically up to par, given his poor outing, Pronger answered, "I'm day-to-day with hurt feelings."

[inari]

Asked later about Leighton's play, Pronger said he knew nothing of his goalie's ailment. Asked then if he, himself, was physically up to par, given his poor outing, Pronger answered, "I'm day-to-day with hurt feelings."

 

Can't say he's not pretty funny.

[Soul]

He's pretty crafty.

[Banedon]

Can't get enough Bill McCreary in your life?

 

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=531097&cmpid=rss-Feature%20Stories

[Soul]

LOL, great.

[kujay]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

[Soul]

It's funny. I just had a nice conversation with a co-worker who is a big Bruins fan, and a pretty knowledgeable hockey fan in general. His take on Pronger is that yes, he's good and has been good through his career, but he's also a hack and not really as great as he is often cracked up to be. Yes, he's an important piece for the Flyers but he's not winning anything by himself, or even close.

[kujay]

It's funny. I just had a nice conversation with a co-worker who is a big Bruins fan, and a pretty knowledgeable hockey fan in general. His take on Pronger is that yes, he's good and has been good through his career, but he's also a hack and not really as great as he is often cracked up to be. Yes, he's an important piece for the Flyers but he's not winning anything by himself, or even close.

 

Clearly he has been a great player, but these days the refs give him way too much deference. If he couldn't get away with all the felonies he gets away with, he wouldn't be in anyone's Conn Smythe conversations.

[UMFan83]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

[Soul]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

 

My take is he was suggesting the latter. But I don't really know for sure.

[kujay]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

 

My take is he was suggesting the latter. But I don't really know for sure.

 

I thought he was implying some combination of "he's been worthless" and "he's been dogging it."

 

Which was hard to argue with. No doubt, when Buff goes max effort, nobody can stop him. He's just always been one of those guys who can't get himself to stay at top speed for more than a game or two at a time. Remember when he went nuts earlier this year when he was trying to make the olympic team? Then he disappeared again.

 

Just give us one more game, big guy. Then you can go shopping for a new blazer.

[Banedon]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

 

Pronger is implying that Buff hasn't shown up for the series.

[Soul]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

 

My take is he was suggesting the latter. But I don't really know for sure.

 

I thought he was implying some combination of "he's been worthless" and "he's been dogging it."

 

Which was hard to argue with. No doubt, when Buff goes max effort, nobody can stop him. He's just always been one of those guys who can't get himself to stay at top speed for more than a game or two at a time. Remember when he went nuts earlier this year when he was trying to make the olympic team? Then he disappeared again.

 

Just give us one more game, big guy. Then you can go shopping for a new blazer.

 

Yep. I was OK with Pronger's comment because I figure it would be the best thing for Buff to hear to get him angry.

 

Angry Buff is usually good Buff, unless he starts committing penalties.

[UMFan83]

Pronger has gone from being surly to just being a downright [expletive]. Yeah, he's good. But you'd think he would show a little more humility given that he's a 40-year veteran of the league who just had quite possibly the worst game of his career.

 

That quote about Buff being "well-rested" is mostly what I'm referring to.

 

But screw all that. 60 more minutes and it's over.

 

By "well-rested" does he mean because he's been in the box a bunch for retaliating against Pronger, or does he mean that Buff hasn't been giving 100% in this series?

 

My take is he was suggesting the latter. But I don't really know for sure.

 

I thought he was implying some combination of "he's been worthless" and "he's been dogging it."

 

Which was hard to argue with. No doubt, when Buff goes max effort, nobody can stop him. He's just always been one of those guys who can't get himself to stay at top speed for more than a game or two at a time. Remember when he went nuts earlier this year when he was trying to make the olympic team? Then he disappeared again.

 

Just give us one more game, big guy. Then you can go shopping for a new blazer.

 

The goal at the end of this game shows me what Buff is capable of:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yaqBQDIhNA

 

Edit: It's also my favorite goal of the regular season.

[kujay]

The goal at the end of this game shows me what Buff is capable of:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yaqBQDIhNA

 

Edit: It's also my favorite goal of the regular season.

 

Exactly. The dude can skate. You just don't see it all that often.

 

And wasn't that a pretty goal? Was a little startled when Pat said "save by Huet."

[UMFan83]

Random but if you had to pick your favorite goal of the playoffs so far, which would you pick?

 

I'll start with my honorable mentions: Kane's SH goal G5 vs. Nashville, Hossa's GW goal G5 vs. Nashville, Sharp goal on 2-on-1 G2 vs. Vancouver, Any of Buff or Toews' goals in G3/G4 vs. Vancouver, Kane's goal from the Neutral Zone faceoff circle G6 vs. Vancouver, Buff's GW goal G1 vs. San Jose, Buff's GW OT goal G3 vs. San Jose, Buff's GW goal G4 vs. San Jose, Kopetsky's GW goal G1 vs. Philly, Hossa/Eager goals 28 seconds apart G2 vs. Philly, Kaner's breakaway G4 vs. Philly (only one in a loss), Sharp's goal to put away Philly in G5.

 

But my favorite goal of the playoffs was Versteeg's GW goal with 90 seconds left in Game 2 against Vancouver. I'd say the goals in Game 5 vs. Nashville were probably bigger in terms of not going down 3-2 in a series, but that goal really changed the entire complexion of the Vancouver series. If he doesn't score there, the game probably goes to OT, and the Canucks could have easily won and taken a 2-0 lead heading to Vancouver. Instead the goal ties up the series 1-1, gives the Hawks a crapload of confidence after falling behind 2-0 in the first 5 minutes of the game. It was a gutcheck moment and possibly the lowest point of the playoffs so far, and they responded. Plus I love how the goal was scored. Steeg did his trademark "hold the puck way too long" and passed up a freaking open net, but the Hawks recover, pass it around, it gets to Versteeg again, and puts up a beauty right past Lu, pops the water bottle, and leaves the memorable image on Lu lying face first on the ground in defeat.

[bcl412]

I'd have to say Kaner's shorty vs Nashville to tie it. Who ties a game in the last minute when you are shorthanded? It just seemed so improbable.

[kujay]

I'd have to say Kaner's shorty vs Nashville to tie it. Who ties a game in the last minute when you are shorthanded? It just seemed so improbable.

 

Because I was there, I'd go with either that one or Hossa's GWG in that game. Probably Hossa's, actually. The crowd was ecstatic when Kane scored, of course, but Hossa's came right after that long and very tense four-minute penalty kill to start OT. It was an amazing atmosphere.

[UMFan83]

Geez, the cheapest tickets on Stubhub for Game 7 are $780 for a SRO seat.

 

Another random thing I was thinking about....

 

If you could for some reason choose how you wanted the last 2 games to be played, what would you choose?

 

A) Game 6 at home, Game 7 in Philly

B) Game 6 in Philly, Game 7 at home

 

Basically the Hawks have 2 chances to win the series. The commonly used phrase is that "in a game 7, anything can happen". No doubt the Hawks would have the advantage at home, but with everyone giving everything they got, I feel like the advantage is less than another random game of the series. So you could choose to play Game 6 at home, giving you your best chance of winning on the first of your 2 chances. The risk is of course, if you lose that game you have to play game 7 in Philly. I do like having that home game as a fallback in case of losing on Wednesday, but I'd love this series to end without going to a game 7.

[kujay]

By the way, just came across this old favorite and I apologize to Buff for making fun of his snazzy blazer. The man knows what he's doing:

 

 

http://paintitblackhawks.com/files/2009/10/dustin-byfuglien-in-red-suit.jpg