Blackhawks 2010-2011 season

[kujay]

Bickell laid some epic hell on Canucks tonight.

 

Some of the best hockey I've seen him play.

 

He really did. He was doing the crazy [expletive] Versteeg would do once in awhile last year. Insane hits. Everyone was hitting. That's why I suddenly love this team. Not only are they managing to score more goals than the other team, they are beating the [expletive] out of them. Crushing hits. Love it.

 

And Ben Smith and Nick Leddy -- no matter what happens in Game 7, those two make me optimistic. We talked last summer about how the Hawks needed to replenish with cheap, high quality players if they wanted to be a consistent contender like Detroit. These are exactly the kind of guys I was talking about. How ridiculous does MN feel for throwing Leddy into the Barker-Johnsson deal about now?

[UMFan83]

Canucks fans are stupid.

 

They are all bitching about the break in the action with just under 10 minutes left to clear up the ice. There aren't supposed to be TV timeouts in OT, and they think the refs just randomly granted one just for fun.

 

I thought these guys were supposed to know hockey? One the first stoppage of play after 10 minutes left in OT, the ice crew is supposed to come out and clean the ice. It happened last year in the Sharks-Hawks game (game 3, the game where Buff scored the game winner), so its not some brand new rule they just made up on the spot.

 

They also think the Hawks got away with murder in the game, but that's expected.

 

You know I love to stick it to the Canucks, but there have been some well-balanced opinions coming from their fan base as well.

 

Yes, there's the hysteria and general butt-hurtedness that comes with blowing a 3 game lead, but it hasn't been all bad.

 

I'll be honest, their reactions that I read actually scared me. If this were the Cubs, NSBB would be catatonic. Their biggest thing is that they believed the Canucks dominated the Hawks in the 3rd and OT (which isnt unreasonable to say) and that if they put that kind of effort into game 7, they will win. The calmness and rationality of their response kind of went against what I was expecting and made me doubt, just a little, that we will see or morgue like setting if the Hawks get an early goal. Maybe I'm wrong though.

 

For the record, the players were surprisingly upbeat and calm about the situation too. Not that I expected them to sound like they just lost the series, but I was surprised at how reletively poised and confident their interviews sounded.

[Old Style]

Man, what a game last night. The pressure on Vancouver, Luongo especially, must be HUGE right now. If the Hawks can score 1 or 2 early goals tomorrow, I can see them just imploding. I haven't been this excited for a hockey game since the Cup clincher last year.

[Banedon]

Freaking 9pm game.

[Derwood]

Freaking 9pm 10pm game.

[E.J.]

Freaking 9pm game.

 

I think it's a perfect time. We'll be able to watch almost all of the Bulls' game before the Hawks start. What a glorious night of sports.

[Magnetic Curses]

Canucks fans are stupid.

 

They are all bitching about the break in the action with just under 10 minutes left to clear up the ice. There aren't supposed to be TV timeouts in OT, and they think the refs just randomly granted one just for fun.

 

I thought these guys were supposed to know hockey? One the first stoppage of play after 10 minutes left in OT, the ice crew is supposed to come out and clean the ice. It happened last year in the Sharks-Hawks game (game 3, the game where Buff scored the game winner), so its not some brand new rule they just made up on the spot.

 

They also think the Hawks got away with murder in the game, but that's expected.

 

You know I love to stick it to the Canucks, but there have been some well-balanced opinions coming from their fan base as well.

 

Yes, there's the hysteria and general butt-hurtedness that comes with blowing a 3 game lead, but it hasn't been all bad.

 

I'll be honest, their reactions that I read actually scared me. If this were the Cubs, NSBB would be catatonic. Their biggest thing is that they believed the Canucks dominated the Hawks in the 3rd and OT (which isnt unreasonable to say) and that if they put that kind of effort into game 7, they will win. The calmness and rationality of their response kind of went against what I was expecting and made me doubt, just a little, that we will see or morgue like setting if the Hawks get an early goal. Maybe I'm wrong though.

 

For the record, the players were surprisingly upbeat and calm about the situation too. Not that I expected them to sound like they just lost the series, but I was surprised at how reletively poised and confident their interviews sounded.

 

the crowd will be pumped, but they've been pumped before and ended up booing luongo.

[Banedon]

Freaking 9pm game.

 

I think it's a perfect time. We'll be able to watch almost all of the Bulls' game before the Hawks start. What a glorious night of sports.

 

It'd be great if I didn't have to be up at 5:30am.

[Exile on Waveland]

One year ago today:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

 

Yeah, as great as last night was, it pales in comparison to Game 5 against the Predators last year. I still believe that without Kane's shorthanded miracle goal, the Hawks lose the series to Nashville. Such an awful feeling thinking they'd lost (the series, in my mind) . . . to a goal with 13 seconds left and a win in OT . . . and later a Stanley Cup, of course.

[Exile on Waveland]

I thought it was definitely over when Campoli went down trying to keep the puck in their zone in OT which led to the 2 on 1. Thank God Johnson got on his horse and disposed of that rebound with a wide open net.

 

Campoli had two huge mistakes. The near whiff that led to a goal, then failing/trying to keep the puck in the zone that you mentioned. Not his best game, at all.

[UMFan83]

One year ago today:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

 

Yeah, as great as last night was, it pales in comparison to Game 5 against the Predators last year. I still believe that without Kane's shorthanded miracle goal, the Hawks lose the series to Nashville. Such an awful feeling thinking they'd lost (the series, in my mind) . . . to a goal with 13 seconds left and a win in OT . . . and later a Stanley Cup, of course.

 

I know, what a disaster that would have been to have a team as good as last year's was losing in the first round to a clearly inferior team (no disrespect to Nashville). We were so close to that happening. Every cup winning team needs a little luck somewhere along the way in their quest for the Cup, and for us, this was the biggest piece we got.

[Soul]

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+with+more+fear+than+fear+itself+wrap+their+heads+around+Game/4668266/story.html

 

So the Canucks are attempting to remain calm. Which sucks. I want more hand-wringing :)

 

 

I do take issue with the idea that the Ben Smith goal was just a lucky goal -- which is mentioned in another VanSun article.

 

Yes, Luongo stopped some shots, which is certainly a positive for him. But he was giving up rebounds, which isn't. The Ben Smith goal was at least the 3rd big rebound he gave up. He actually was the lucky one -- lucky that the other two rebounds that I saw didn't find Blackhawk sticks.

 

Also, while they dominated the 3rd period, I thought the Hawks did a nice job changing that in the OT, generating some offense, which eventually resulted in the winning score.

 

So I guess it's all about how you look at it.

[kujay]

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+with+more+fear+than+fear+itself+wrap+their+heads+around+Game/4668266/story.html

 

So the Canucks are attempting to remain calm. Which sucks. I want more hand-wringing :)

 

 

I do take issue with the idea that the Ben Smith goal was just a lucky goal -- which is mentioned in another VanSun article.

 

Yes, Luongo stopped some shots, which is certainly a positive for him. But he was giving up rebounds, which isn't. The Ben Smith goal was at least the 3rd big rebound he gave up. He actually was the lucky one -- lucky that the other two rebounds that I saw didn't find Blackhawk sticks.

 

Also, while they dominated the 3rd period, I thought the Hawks did a nice job changing that in the OT, generating some offense, which eventually resulted in the winning score.

 

So I guess it's all about how you look at it.

 

There was nothing lucky about Smith's goal. He positioned himself where he needed to be, and made a great shot while being pushed to the ice. It was a great play.

 

34 hours can't go by fast enough right now.

[jersey cubs fan]

Confidence

 

http://mit.zenfs.com/206/2011/04/AP110421127314.jpg

 

This is not it

[bukie]

Encouraging stat of the day: There have been 45 prior instances in the NHL playoffs where a higher seed has lost consecutive games by at least 5 goals. The higher seed has won the series in 9 of those 45 instances. Broken down by specific results:

 

Blown out games 1 and 2: 7 times, 3 wins

Blown out games 2 and 3: 12 times, 1 win

Blown out games 3 and 4: 15 times, 3 wins

Blown out games 4 and 5: 8 times, 0 wins

Blown out games 5 and 6: 10 times, 2 wins

Blown out games 6 and 7: 3 times, 0 wins (obviously)

[UMFan83]

I've always enjoyed this picture from last year:

 

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6355/kaned.jpg

[SouthSideRyan]

Stealing.

[Magnetic Curses]

dan hamhuis, lol

[Magnetic Curses]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjVXlPxkhMc

[SpongeWorthy]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/sigzeon/lolongo.png

 

And you wanted to be my latex salesman.

[Z38Cubs]

Has anyone been reading Canucks message boards? Ive been checking the one they have at NHL.COM, and it is absolutely a riot to read. They are all claiming that the refs have given the Hawks the last 3 games, that there is a conspiracy to let the Hawks win, and they are calling for Bickell and Bolland to be suspended for their "illegal" hits yesterday. It's not just one poster either. They are all saying the same thing. It is quite a read.

[UMFan83]

Has anyone been reading Canucks message boards? Ive been checking the one they have at NHL.COM, and it is absolutely a riot to read. They are all claiming that the refs have given the Hawks the last 3 games, that there is a conspiracy to let the Hawks win, and they are calling for Bickell and Bolland to be suspended for their "illegal" hits yesterday. It's not just one poster either. They are all saying the same thing. It is quite a read.

 

Meh...when the going gets tough, blame the refs. It's what every fan base in every sport does.

 

Still funny to read though :)

[Magnetic Curses]

posted originally on NM, re-posted on SCH:

 

I keep trying to remind myself that there is still a game 7. But I feel today like I felt last year when we were dumped out of the playoffs. I hope the Nucks win tomorrow night. But I do not think they will. Which is a horrible feeling as well. I keep trying to tell myself that I don’t really care. It’s just sports. It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. And it almost works. Until I remember that it does indeed matter. It matters to me. And then I feel like [expletive] all over again. I want to be funny and lighthearted and am trying to get back to that place. But it isn’t going well so far.

[Old Style]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/sigzeon/lolongo.png

 

And you wanted to be my latex salesman.

:clapping:

 

Well played.

[rocket]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/sigzeon/lolongo.png

 

And you wanted to be my latex salesman.

 

early poty candidate