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Blues fans will likely disagree. Hawks fans will take solace. Regardless, it’s all a question of degree. The Blackhawks fairly convincingly shut out the St. Louis Blues last night at the United Center.
It was a win—and the kind of win—the Hawks needed last night, and have needed all season versus the Blues. The Hawks controlled the puck most of the night, handled St. Louis’ at times withering forecheck efficiently, and played an intense physical game from horn to horn.
The statement is this: the Hawks can beat St. Louis if they play their game. It doesn’t mean anything else beyond that. They can. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they will.
Conversely, there has to now be a significant seed of doubt planted in the minds of the Blues. They didn’t just lose. They got pretty soundly beaten by the defending Stanley Cup champions.
As I pointed out in the preview blog yesterday, this has been the kind fof game the Hawks rise up and win convincingly this year—coming off a road defeat in the East the night before, they play a terrific game against an “elite… rival for the Cup, as they did against Pittsburgh in the Stadium series game a few weeks ago.
But one great game every 5 or 10 isn’t going to cut it in the playoffs. The Hawks need to get—and keep—their A game, starting in just a few weeks. And they need to do so absent Patrick Kane, now out for three weeks with a knee injury.
What was great about last night’s game for anyone who watched it—and has to be encouraging for the Hawks and their fans—is that it was played at a playoff tempo and intensity.
The Hawks have been there and really seem to thrive in that context—with the possible exception of the 6 game, first round fizzle in 2012 versus the Coyotes.
But it’s a regular season game regardless. And the outcome of the playoffs is why they play the games . . . in the playoffs.
All for now,
JJ