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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
I wish I had some pithy package in which to present last night's 3-2 overtime for the Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.
But it's a simple story: the Hawks adjusted, played their game and still lost to a great hockey team.
As I've said previously, moral victories are for losers. There were flashes of silver in last night's cloud, some of which I'll detail in a moment. But the larger issue is the Hawks are now down 2-0, and the task of actually winning the series has only gotten larger.
I've said it before; I'll say it again. Credit the Red Wings. They take the slightest mistake and put it in the back of your net. And I suspect, as long as #5 is still in Detroit at least, that will continue to be the case.
So the challenge for the Blackhawks, starting Friday and in the offseason, is to become a much more disciplined team.
Brent Seabrook has had brutal giveaways leading to goals in both games.
While Brian Campbell has clearly been the Hawks' best defenseman in the playoffs and not deserving of blame for the loss, his turnover was sloppy. And it obviously came at a bad time.
Hawk fans have to be somewhat encouraged with how the Hawks adjusted their game and with how they competed. And I think staying the course, maintaining the effort and the physicality gives them a good shot to win Game 3 at home in a rocking UC.
The Toews/Byfuglien/Brouwer line was kept together to good effect. That is definitely something to build on for Game 3. In spite of the giveaway in overtime, Campbell and Hjalmarsson were again very, very good. The Hawks mounted a lot of pressure and the Wings looked tired at times.
While the "official" hit count had the hits roughly even, the Hawks had the bigger hits from bigger players. Eager, Byfuglien and Brouwer combined for 15-20 of the Hawks' 37 hits. Yes, it's a hockey game and not the UFC, but big hits can take their toll over the course of a long series (though right now, that's not necessarily in the cards).
And pressure and hitting are the foundation of the Hawks' "A" Game.
The tough thing in the cold light of morning is: it gave them a good shot to win a huge game last night. And they couldn't seal the deal.
I am in no way blaming Nikolai Khabibulin for the loss, but we have yet to see #39 steal a game as many other goalies have in the playoffs. If he stops Dan Cleary last night (by no means an easy save— but it's a shootout save), the Hawks likely win in regulation. He and Chris Osgood saw the same amount of shots (actually Osgood saw more). But Osgood let in one less.
Again, kudos to the Red Wings. They know how to win. They act (and play) like they've been to the top of the mountain before. Because they have.
JJ
But it's a simple story: the Hawks adjusted, played their game and still lost to a great hockey team.
As I've said previously, moral victories are for losers. There were flashes of silver in last night's cloud, some of which I'll detail in a moment. But the larger issue is the Hawks are now down 2-0, and the task of actually winning the series has only gotten larger.
I've said it before; I'll say it again. Credit the Red Wings. They take the slightest mistake and put it in the back of your net. And I suspect, as long as #5 is still in Detroit at least, that will continue to be the case.
So the challenge for the Blackhawks, starting Friday and in the offseason, is to become a much more disciplined team.
Brent Seabrook has had brutal giveaways leading to goals in both games.
While Brian Campbell has clearly been the Hawks' best defenseman in the playoffs and not deserving of blame for the loss, his turnover was sloppy. And it obviously came at a bad time.
Hawk fans have to be somewhat encouraged with how the Hawks adjusted their game and with how they competed. And I think staying the course, maintaining the effort and the physicality gives them a good shot to win Game 3 at home in a rocking UC.
The Toews/Byfuglien/Brouwer line was kept together to good effect. That is definitely something to build on for Game 3. In spite of the giveaway in overtime, Campbell and Hjalmarsson were again very, very good. The Hawks mounted a lot of pressure and the Wings looked tired at times.
While the "official" hit count had the hits roughly even, the Hawks had the bigger hits from bigger players. Eager, Byfuglien and Brouwer combined for 15-20 of the Hawks' 37 hits. Yes, it's a hockey game and not the UFC, but big hits can take their toll over the course of a long series (though right now, that's not necessarily in the cards).
And pressure and hitting are the foundation of the Hawks' "A" Game.
The tough thing in the cold light of morning is: it gave them a good shot to win a huge game last night. And they couldn't seal the deal.
I am in no way blaming Nikolai Khabibulin for the loss, but we have yet to see #39 steal a game as many other goalies have in the playoffs. If he stops Dan Cleary last night (by no means an easy save— but it's a shootout save), the Hawks likely win in regulation. He and Chris Osgood saw the same amount of shots (actually Osgood saw more). But Osgood let in one less.
Again, kudos to the Red Wings. They know how to win. They act (and play) like they've been to the top of the mountain before. Because they have.
JJ
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