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If you would have told me just over 5 months ago that Chicago would be planning a Stanley Cup parade on Friday, I would have smacked you and told you to quit bullshitting me. Look where we are. At around 11am on Friday, the Blackhawks will board busses, at the United Center, and begin the trek a few miles east to Grant Park for a celebration with a few hundred thousand of their closest friends. I will be one of those people. Thank you, Chicago Blackhawks.
Some of you are aware that I started thoroughly covering the Blackhawks following the 2010 cup run, so I went through that purely as a fan, not a wise assed blogger. This was not because I wasn't a fan, because I was a huge fan, but I just didn't jot my disturbing anecdotes down for the entire intarwebz to enjoy. This time around, I was much more thoroughly entrenched in the chase and it was mildly stressful. OK, it was infinitely more stressful. I felt like my heart was going to explode more than a handful of times and I'm pretty sure I pulled a muscle, jumping around my living room when the Hawks scored the game winning goal Monday.
I'd like to take this time to thank all of you that read my stuff and those others that also cover the Blackhawks. Friday is our day too. We have given up a significant amount of our free time and dedicated it to the Chicago Blackhawks, purely for the love of the team. We do this willingly, and voluntarily because we love hockey and we love the Blackhawks. Take some time to bookmark some of my fellow bloggers/writers that probably do the job more eloquently. These are people I highly respect, even if I don't always agree with their views. They deserve your attention.
Thanks to the Blackhawks and some shenanigans they pulled Monday night, there won't be much of a break from hockey this summer before action starts up again. The Draft is this weekend in New Jersey, and free agency right around the bend. Take this time to enjoy what little summer we will all have, and gear up for a FULL 2013-14 season and Blackhawks title defense. Have fun Friday, and please be safe! Until then, lets dance...
For the first time since 2010, the Blackhawks had the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup Monday night, in Boston. After the war in game 5, there were some question marks as far as injuries went. Toews said he was 100% after what looked like concussion protocol in the 3rd period of game 5, and the Bruins had what seemed like a more significant injury of their top center, Patrice Bergeron. Whatever the case, the Blackhawks had to win one of the next two games to be crowned champs once again. Here we go:
The Bruins had a blazing blue flame under their asses for the first period, dominating the Blackhawks for the entire first twenty minutes. It's amazing that the Hawks were only out shot 12-6 in the period and down one goal, because I could only recall one Hawks shot on net.
Not that the Hawks play could have been any worse thank the first, but they actually played a solid second period. If it weren't for a bunch of penalties, the Hawks may have even scored a goal. The Hawks out shot the Bruins 9-6 in the middle frame which is about all we could ask for.
The third period seemed like it was heading to a game 7 in Chicago, but the Blackhawks had a very different plan. With two goals in the final minute and twenty two seconds the Blackhawks brought the Cup back to Chicago. They ended up out shooting Boston 16-7. Enjoy this video I put together......2013 Chicago Blackhawks, Stanley Cup Champs!!
The Good
El Capitan took advantage of a Chara neutral zone turnover while the Blackhawks were shorthanded that ended up a Toews and Kane 2-on-1. Toews took it himself and beat Rask 1-on-1 to tie the game. The penalty had just expired so it wasn't a shorthanded goal, but you can basically call it a shorthander.
The Blackhawks controlled most of the play in the second and third periods, which is a tall task after the terrible first period they had.
With just over a minute left in regulation the fireworks began. The Hawks rushed the zone with their MVP, Crazy 8s, leading the way. He worked it deep and kept it in the corner long enough for Toews to dig the puck out and hit Bickell on the back door. The big mule slammed the puck home and there was life. More life than anyone realized!
SEVENTEEN seconds later the Blackhawks looked to throw the fourth line out there just to kill some time, after busting their humps to tie the game, but David Bolland had other plans. Johnny Oduya took a long shot after the Hawks swarmed the zone, and the puck bounced past Rask and hit the post. Bolland was "Johnny on the Spot", and out muscled two Boston defensemen (Ference and Boychuk), and jammed the puck into the net for the game winner with 59 seconds left in the game. Shine up that Stanley Cup, because it's coming home!!!
Patrick Kane took the Conn Smythe trophy home, but probably stole it from Corey Crawford.
The Bad
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead about 7 minutes into the first, as the Bruins 4th line won a faceoff, and then just outworked the Blackhawks defense. Chris Kelly was left all alone on the back door, after the forwards got caught running around high in the zone. Bolland, Kruger, and Seabrook left Keith to fend for himself, and the result was a 1-0 Bruins lead.
The Hawks turned the puck over behind the net, with just under eight minutes in the third period and David Krejci worked the back of the net until Lucic found the soft spot between Toews, Bickell, and Kane. Lucic settled the puck down and beat Crawford, just past his blocker. 2-1 Bruins.
Only El Capitan was able to win more than 50% of his draws, and the team was 40%. In fact, the other 4 centers they dressed, weren't any better than 40%.
For some reason Leddy sat the bench once again. In those three minutes he played, he drew a penalty and had a few nice rushes. I don't get it, but hell, no use crying now.
The Ugly
Late in the first Shaw was hit in the yap with a deflected puck at the Hawks blue line and he went down like a bag of bricks. Sure enough he came back out for the second period stitched up. What a warrior.
The Hawks were called for four straight penalties in the first half of the game, some of which were really soft. The Hawks killed all four and even scored a goal immediately following the third one.
Sure, you may notice Stalberg's speed, but halfway through a 1-1 Stanley Cup game with he puck on your stick, you HAVE to get the puck deep into the opponent's zone.
The Blackhawks didn't exactly come out with authority in the first period, even though they led 1-0 after the first period. Boston out shot the Hawks 11-8 and were much more physical. The good news was that even though they came out a little flat, they were still able to win the period.
The Blackhawks came out with a little more fire in the second period, scoring a second goal, and out shooting the Bruins 11-5. Play was a little closer than the stats indicate, but the Hawks looked good. Twenty more minutes and the Hawks had a 3-2 lead going into game 6.
Due to some injuries, the third period was a shitshow. The Bruins were able to cut the Hawks lead on 13 shots, and the Hawks were able to manage 9 shots of their own. A late open net goal cemented the Blackhawks win as they took a 3-2 series lead into game 6, Monday night.
The Good
The Blackhawks took a late 1st period lead when Crazy 8s picked up a loose puck to Rask's right. The original play was set up by Toews using his strength against Chara and dumping the puck across the Bruins slot area. The puck ended up going to Oduya, who let a shot go. The shot went off Seidenberg's stick which slowed it down to a crawl. As the puck was going wide and past Rask, Kane grabbed it and stuffed it past the post. 1-0 Hawks.
Kaner scored his second goal of the game about 5 minutes into the second period. The play was started with a Toews and Bickell working a nice little give-n-go that ended up with Bickell one-on-one with Rask. He ended up carrying the puck wide and around the net, banking it off the side of the net to Kane. Kane put the puck up and over Rask's glove for a 2-0 Blackhawks lead.
Dave Bolland was able to ice the game with an empty net goal from the red line.
Crawford rebounded after a weak game 4 and was huge in net for game 5. He made 24 of 25 possible saves, and stood tall in the 3rd. The only goal he gave up was nearly impossible to stop.
The Hawks were listed as having 21 takeaways, which is 12 more than the Bruins had.
With Bergeron out, the Blackhawks were huge at the faceoff dots. They were 58% as a team, and all the Hawks centers were 50% or better.
As bad as Hjalmarsson's night was in game 4, he was a plus three to lead the Hawks in game 5.
I keep waiting for the luster on Andrew Shaw to wear off, but he just keeps making things happen. He gets the hell beat out of him game after game, and just pops back up and takes it all over again. How he has enough score goals or do anything else is beyond me.
The Bad
FrankenChara cut the Hawks lead in half about 4 minutes into the third period, when the Hawks got caught running around in their own zone. Krejci saucered a perfect pass from behind the net to Chara and he one timed the puck past, you guessed it, Crawford's glove.
Patrice Bergeron seemed to tweak a back or something, in the second period, and was reportedly taken away in an ambulance during the second intermission. He's been a monster in this series, and would definitely help the Hawks with his extended absence.
Lucic, Horton, Krejci, Chara and Seidenberg were all minus 2, for game 5. More please!
The Ugly
Early in the second period, the Hawks looked to draw a penalty and got tagged for a diving call. I guess NOW we're going to start with the diving calls, now, right NHL? Weak call.
About halfway through the second, El Capitan made a nice rush through 3 Boston defenders, and it was finished up with a borderline head high hit to his head. But let's call diving penalties. Ridiculous. I don't have a problem if you ragdoll Toews with a clean hit, but when it's head/neck high, I have an issue. Of course, then he didn't play at all in the third period. Might not be a suspension, but it should be looked at and it should have been a penalty. Lets home he's alright for Monday night. He was a plus 2, with 2 assists before he was forced to sit out.
After a total let down in game 4, the Blackhawks were back in Boston, Wednesday night, to try and even up the series. Marian Hossa was back in the lineup for the Hawks, but how effective would he be? The Hawks were going to need some help to even this thing up, because the Bruins were whipping the Blackhawks all over the ice. This one was worth the money.
The Blackhawks came out in familiar fashion with momentum, and even scored an early shorthanded goal, but all that came crashing down with a Bruins powerplay goal. Following the Bruins goal, all the pressure favored Boston, even though the Hawks early pressure left them with a 12-9 lead in shots.
The second period was a complete shitshow and track meet. There were 5 goals scored and 24 total shots. The Hawks were lucky to come out of the middle period up one goal, but beggars can't be choosers. The Hawks had three of the five goals, and 13 of the 24 shots.
The third period wasn't AS bad as the second but the Hawks defense didn't do much better either. As fast as the Hawks took the lead back, they gaveth away. The Bruins were able to tie the game and take it to extra time. After all the fireworks, the Hawks had 16 shots, to the Bruins 8 shots. The fire drill of an OT went the Hawks way and they headed back home with a tied series.
The Good
The Hawks started off on what seemed to be a sour note, taking a soft penalty, but thanks to Tyler Seguin and Brandon Saad the Hawks scored a shorthanded goal. Seguin tried a fancy play on the boards, and Saad picked his pocket. Saad then rushed in on Chara, and was able to work a pass across to the late man, Handzus. Zus one timed it past Rask for a 1-0 Hawks lead. Great start for the Hawks. Love to see Chara picking the puck out of his own net, and slow ass Handzus beating Mr Universe Patrice Bergeron back on the play.
Just about halfway through the second period, El Capitan made an appearance. He started the rush up the left side and was able to throw a puck across the Bruins crease. The puck worked all the way back to Roszival who put a shot on net. Toews tipped the puck under Rask's pad and into the net, for a 2-1 Hawks lead.
Just a two minutes and eight seconds after the Toews goal, and following the Sharp breakaway, Crazy 8s picked up a very generous Bickell rebound. With the net wide open, after Rask committed to the Bickell shot, Kane put the Hawks up 3-1.
Less than a minute after the Lucic goal, Frolik and Kruger worked a 2-on-1 against Chara. Frolik waited out a prone Chara, and got the puck to Kruger. Kruger cut back across the crease, but couldn't get the puck around Rask's toe. Luckily, he had the presence of mind to put the brakes on and put it up over Rask, for a 4-2 Hawks lead.
After a 5-on-4 Bruins powerplay turned into a 4-on-3 Hawks powerplay, the Blackhawks eventually got their first powerplay goal of the series. Nothing special, just threw the puck at the net and Sharp jammed it in.
After the Hawks played pretty terrible defense the entire overtime, some diligent offensive zone work finally went the Hawks way, and Brent Seabrook was the fortunate son. Lucky Number Sleven beat Rask to tie the series up, and send the Hawks home with regained home ice advantage.
Funny how the play stays even when the Blackhawks score on the powerplay and win some faceoffs. If it weren't for Handzus and his 38% at the dots, the Hawks would have been over 50% for the first time in the series.
The Bad
Sharpie had a breakaway on a long Nick Leddy feed, just prior to the Kane goal, and there was no trailer to follow up the play, AT ALL. You have to follow that up looking for a rebound.
The Bruins briefly cut the Hawks lead to 3-2 after Patrick Sharp blindly threw the puck up the boards to Chara. Chara got the puck to Lucic who was planted in the high slot. If Sharp didn't pull a total fly-by of Lucic, he wouldn't have been able to get the shot off, but instead he beat Crawford.
Just under two minutes after the Hawks went back up by two, they surrendered another powerplay goal. Chara took a shot that went over the net, hit the glass, bounced back off the top of the net and fell in front of the net, just outside the crease. Bergeron was standing there waiting for it, while Seabrook and Oduya stood around hugging the posts and watched. If Bergeron didn't bury it, Marchand was in position to get a hold of it, too. 4-3 Hawks.
Just two minutes into the third period, Jagr and Bergeron worked over the Hawks 4th line deep in their own zone and after all the running around, Bergeron was left wide open at the top of the circle. Jagr got him the puck and he beat Crawford with a one timer to tie up the game.
Just a minute or so after the Hawks went up 5-4 the Bruins came back and worked a Hawks makeshift line and Horton fed Boychuk, who blasted a shot past Crawford, for the 5th glove side goal of the game.
For some reason, Nick Leddy was held to a total of four shifts, equaling 2:37, but was still on the bench. I'm not sure I saw him do anything that would result in a benching, so I'm completely baffled. All Quenneville had to say after the game was, "Nick is fine". Eat a bag of dicks, Q! What the hell is going on?????? 67 and a half minutes on the bench for your best puck moving D-Man and only decent powerplay QB is NOT"fine".
The Ugly
The Bruins tied the game on a powerplay, after the Hawks took exception to a late Chris Kelly check on Shaw. The Hawks won the faceoff and Saad picked up the puck and tried to fire it out, but ended up not getting all of the attempt, and it went right to the Bruins D man. He kept the puck in but Saad had a second chance to clear the puck. That didn't go so well either. He blew a tire and ate shit right in the middle of the Hawks zone coughing the puck up to Peverley. Crawford was cheating, and expecting a pass across to a wide open Paille. Instead Peverley shot and beat Crawford. Ugly, Ugly goal. As responsible that Saad was for the Hawks goal, he was just as responsible for the Bruins goal.
Tyler Seguin, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand. Combined minus NINE. Consequently, Nik Hjalmarsson was the only Blackhawk worse than minus 1 with a minus TREY himself. Hammer was also listed as having 3 turnovers.
Doc Emerick is going senile. With 4:33 left in the game, he says, "Just over half way through the third period." I'm not a math whiz, but I think he might have been SLIGHTLY off.
We had all hoped that the Blackhawks could run away with this series before the Bruins realized what happened, but in our heart of hearts we all knew this was going to be a dogfight. That's exactly what we have, here folks. After the Bruins stole game 2 away from the Blackhawks in Chicago, the series headed back to BAAAAAHSTUHN, for games 3 and 4. A weeks worth of Clam Chowder should slow the Hawks down. A late Blackhawks scratch was Marian Hossa and he was replaced by Ben Smith, to join Viktor Stalberg in the lineup for the night.
The Blackhawks deserved to go into the first intermission down 2-0 or 3-0, based on their early sloppy play and godawful powerplay, but they got a reprieve. Great goaltending was what kept them close, and only that. Miraculously, the shots were only 11-10 in favor of the Bruins, and the score was 0-0.
The roof came crashing down in the second period, and the Blackhawks surrendered 2 goal on 15 shots, including a Boston powerplay goal. The Hawks surprisingly had 8 shots, none of which were memorable or even threatening. This one was on the verge of being a blowout, if not for some fortunate bounces.
The third period was pretty much just more of the same for the men in white. Shots were almost even (10-9 Hawks), but the play told another story. Maybe a good ol fashioned ass kicking is what the Blackhawks needed to wake them up...or maybe they are the 06-07 Bears. Only they can decide. Next up, Game 4 in Boston Wednesday.
The Good
Corey Crawford. He's the only reason this game didn't end up 6-0. If I see any of you mention Ray Emery, I'll send an envelope of anthrax to your home and feet your cat arsenic.
The Bad
Again, like Saturday night, it was a matter of time before the Hawks surrendered a goal. Especially after the in zone pounding they were taking. Less than 5 minutes into the second and a turnover in the corner turned into a Paille goal. Bolland half assed an attempt to pick up a loose puck low in the Hawks zone and Paille beat Crawford. 1-0 B's and that would be all they need.
After the Hawks proceeded to take two straight penalties, which resulted in a short 5-on-3, the Bruins found a wide open Bergeron on the back door and he made it 2-0. The moment the Hawks were called for the second infraction, a Hjalmarsson trip, I posted on twitter: "And queue up Bruins Powerplay goal". Right was I. The Hawks felt they could rely on picking off a knee high saucer pass going across the crease, and well, we see how that worked. They went with the same approach later in the second and almost surrendered another goal to Seguin.
Six penalty minutes and a minus 1 for Bolland. If Toews and Handzus aren't going to show up, it would be nice if ONE of the centers would make an appearance.
I never thought in a million years that I would be able to put Jonathan Toews and choke in the same sentence, but he has been invisible. This has become a glaring hole in this team. Maybe he's hurt, maybe the rest of the league has figured out how to neutralize him, but for at least 15 games he was been a non factor. It kills me to have to point that out, because I think the world of the guy, but with their captain goes this team.
The Ugly
The Blackhawks powerplay reached a new low late in the first period. They gave not one, not two, but THREE full or partial break-a-way chances, and none of them ended up in the back of the net. How that happened, I'll never understand. Oh right, Corey Crawford is why.
Calling El Capitan.....Calling Pat Kane.......Your flight to Boston was Monday. We would all appreciate your participation. Toews apparently had 5 shots on net and I can't recall a single one.
TWENTY FUCKING NINE PERCENT at the dots. that's right, TWENTY NINE. Bolland and "noted faceoff specialist" Michal Handzus a combined 1-for-17. In the Stanley Cup Final! Kruger's 29% made him look like an expert next to the other two dopes. Jonny Toews' 42% effort looked Herculean.
I always think more clear the morning after, and yes the Hawks have come back from a 3-1 deficit before. What people leave out is that it was against an inferior Detoilet team that barely made the playoffs in the first place. This is the Bruins, who would eat the Wings for lunch. No team would come back from a 3-1 Boston lead. None! So, if the Hawks are to stay in this, they NEED to win Wednesday. Otherwise, start digging the burial plots because this series will be over Saturday, or Monday at the latest.
The first period was ALL Blackhawks. they came out and out shot the Bruins 19-4 and out scored them 1-0. If it weren't for a great effort in net, the Blackhawks would have been up 2-0 or 3-0. Utterly dominant effort.
It couldn't keep up long, and it didn't. The Bruins tied up the game late in the second period, on six shots, while holding the Blackhawks to four shots.
The Hawks third period was atrocious. They couldn't even get the puck to the red line without icing it. It's amazing that they didn't surrender any goals, but they held the Bruins scoreless while getting out shot again 8-5. Game two was following the theme of game 1, going to overtime
The Hawks could barely get the puck out of their zone and the Bruins were able to jump on a huge mistake. Shipping out to Boston tied at 1-1.
The Good
Sharpie opened up the scoring for the Hawks, as there was complete chaos in the crease. All 10 players seemed to end up in the crease, with the puck bouncing around all over the place. The puck squirted out to the left circle and Sharp just grabbed it, turned, and fired it over the down Rask. 1-0 Blackhawks
After taking a second period penalty for tripping Bolland pulled the old "two for flinching" move on Marchand, which was hilarious!!
For the entire first half of the game, Patrick Sharp was into everything. Shooting, Passing, Hitting, Scoring, Drawing Penalties. He was doing everything.
The loss is not on Crawford. He, once again, made several huge saves and kept the Hawks in the game. If you even thought of blaming Crawford, kindly guzzle a bottle of Drano.
The Bad
Doc Emerick must have been high, because he called Johnny Boychuk, Niklas.
The Refs were the only reason the Hawks didn't go into the first intermission up 2-0. The Hawks jammed a puck past Rask, but the Ref "intended to blow". I can tell you first hand that the Refs blow. Cost the Hawks the game.
The second line got worked by a good portion of the Bruins 4th line and Seguin, late in the second period, and the puck ended beating Crawford to tie the game up. Just when the Hawks were dominating play but not able to beat Rask, the Bruins get a fortunate bounce, and the game is all even. Leddy and Roszival were definitely having issues on the play, as well.
Jagr had a great chance to snipe Crawford, early in OT, and hit the post. WHEW!!!
I could predict a few things every game. The Hawks will suck at faceoffs (46%); the Hawks will get out hit (34-50), and their powerplay will be terrible (0-3). Two of those three matter, and need to get better.
The Ugly
Fuck Comcast, and their bullshit. The HD feed went out in the first period, and unless you knew to scramble over to the Standard Def channel, you missed the first goal. $200 a month well spent.
Well, in overtime it was only a matter of time before the Bruins won the game. Color me surprised that Brandon Bollig was front and center leading up to the goal. He had plenty of time to clear the puck out of the zone, shit is diaper, and then allowed the Bruins to keep it in. The puck ended up on the puck of Dan Paille, who took a great shot that beat Crawford of the far post and in.
The Hawks had 19 shots in the first 20 minutes, and 24 shots in the remaining 53 minutes. That cannot happen.
I have to keep pointing it out, but we are all aware that the Blackhawks powerplay is rancid dogshit at the Clown College. They had chances to pull away and completely choked.
2013 Stanley Cup Final; the Blackhawks and Bruins. Get on with the track meet!
The first period was fairly even, Wednesday night, although the Bruins had a slight edge in play with their eleven shots and one goal, compared to the Hawks 7 shots. This wasn't the first time the Hawks went down early, only to come back.
The Hawks started the second period in terrible fashion, surrendering the second Bruins goal early. But, as good teams have been known to do, Blackhawks answered and then took control of play, out shooting Boston 16 to 6. Unfortunately, only one of those 16 shots ended up in the net but it was progress, and a one goal game, going into the third.
The Hawks began the third period digging themselves into a 3-1 hole and things didn't look good for the home team. I have to give them credit, because they didn't get down on themselves and fought back to eventually tie the game. Once again, they grossly out shot the visiting team 15-8 to give the Hawks a 60 minute total of 39-25. It was going to take at least one more shot to win this one, because game one was set for extra time. LOTS of extra time.
This one did not dissappoint. These two exhausted teams took the game to TRIPLE overtime, which is almost entire additional game. At the stroke of midnight, and almost 5 hours after the puck drop, the United Center erupted and "Chelsea, Chelsea" rang out. The Blackhawks are up one nil on the Bruins, and three wins away from another Stanley Cup.
Breathe, tranquilizer, blackout.
The Good
Saad took advantage of playing with two of the toughest players in the NHL, as he was paired back up Hossa and Toews. Hossa dug the puck out of the corner and got it to Saad, who was wide open at the circle. Saad then one timed a shot over Rask's glove to give the Blackhawks life, when there seemed to be none. Finally, something to cheer about.
With twelve minutes remaining in the third, and two minutes after the Bergeron goal, Dave Bolland took a pretty slick Andrew Shaw feed and cut the Bruins lead, again, to one goal. Shaw stole the puck at the Bruins blue line and led the rush, while
Johnny Oduya was the fortunate recipient of a weird bank shot off a Bruin's skate and into the net, tying up the game with 7:46 left in regulation. The Hawks were buzzing around the zone and a shot that was actually going to go wide. It hit the back side of Ference and dribbled past Rask. All treys!
I'm a big enough man to eat my words, but David Bolland was ENORMOUS on both ends of the ice. He probably saved at least three goals, while scoring one and being in on the game winning goal.
Well, the Blackhawks weren't AS bad at the dots, as in previous series, so I guess this has to be a small victory. They were 49% as a team, but if you exclude Bolland's paltry 31%, the rest of the team looks much better.
As the watches in Chicago struck midnight, in the third overtime, a long Michal Roszival point shot tipped off the stick of Dave Bolland, Andrew Shaw, and finally into the net. Bedlam ensued. That Shaw kid sure has a potty mouth. Good thing all the little kiddies were in bed.
I'm going to keep saying it until the wheels fall off the wagon; IF the wheels fall off. Take your Ray Emery horseshit and shove it up your dopey fair weather fan asses. Corey Crawford was a BEAST! I cannot count how many times he saved the Hawks asses, AND held the Bruins at bay long enough for the Hawks to rally back and support him. If the Hawks can really pull this off, Corey Crawford is your Conn Smythe Trophy winner. He made a HUGE glove save in the first period, which could be one of the best of the entire playoffs.
Well, I suppose this means we are going to see more Brandon Dullig. In his defense, he didn't do anything to hur the team, so as long as that continues, I'll be on board. I still prefer Smith, but Dullig played 14 minutes and had 9 hits.
Believe it of not, the Blackhawks outhit the Bruins in regulation and in the overtimes (61-59). I didn't think they were physically able to accomplish that, especially without taking stupid penalties.
Shaw...how about this kid? A goal, an assist, and 9 hits. Looks like the real deal, to me.
The Bad
Milan Lucic scored the first goal of the final, just over half way through the first period. Hjalmarsson went for a big hit behind the net and that left an odd man situation in the slot. Lucic had all day to pick Crawford apart, and did just that. 1-0 Bruins
Just 51 seconds into the second period, Milan Lucic scored his second goal of the game. How do you miss a guy that big, moving that slow into the zone? He was WIDE open, and was given FAR too much time and space.
A bad tripping penalty in the third period let to a Patrice Bergeron goal with 5 minutes gone in the period. The Hawks were running around on the kill and Seguin got the puck, wide open in the slot. Seguin chose to dish to Bergeron instead of shooting, who unleashed a blazing shot past Crawford.
If Horton is as hurt as he looked going off the ice, that is a huge blow to the Bruins offense.
The Ugly
The powerplay is god fucking awful. Just terrible. In the second period alone, the Hawks blew a 5-on-3 and another powerplay, that could have tied the game at the very least. I'm not going to buy into this, "well it got them this far" crap. If the powerplay scores just one goal, the wouldn't be packing urgent care centers for ulcer treatment.
A terrible pinch on overtime caused Thornton to end up 1-on-1 with Crawford, and Crawford beat him. I was sure the game was over. Absolutely sure!
The Hawks took a bad too many men penalty with just over 8 minutes left in the first overtime. Luckily the Hawks killed it off, but that wasn't all. Not to be out done, they took ANOTHER one late in overtime number 2. A long Chara shot off the post is the only thing that saved them from losing the game on that powerplay.
Bruin Chris Kelly was minus three on the night and 32% at the dots. More of this please? WOOF!
