BONERTIME!!! Hawks 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)
Reports of the Blackhawks' death were greatly exaggerated. Still, it was a lot more interesting than it should have been.
The Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead, coughed it all up in the last 5 minutes of the second period, then ended it in 1:52 of overtime with Patrick Sharp's roofer into an wide open net.
Let's get to it:
THE GOOD:
The character of this team. They looked like they were melting down against the Champs, because they were. They went into the locker room, and got their shit together. They came out and looked like a team ready to contend for a Championship.They held it together, then in overtime they took the game right to the Wings. They've really got something hanging in their jocks. The credit begins with the Captain.
Christobal Huet. He hasn't played in well over a month, he stepped in and stopped every puck he faced. He's the goalie who will own the net starting next year, so this is encouraging.
Patrick Sharp. Goddamn, that's one handsome man.
The first goal, and the walk-off. Half of the United Center is ready to go gay for him.
He's done it all in this playoff run for the Hawks. Power plays, penalty kills, blocking shots, on any and every line combination, even taking the body from time to time. And all while scoring 7 goals. Dayum.
And, of course, the return of the RALLY MULLET!!!

THE BAD:
Brian Campbell. This is two games in a row I sounded like a parrot, just saying "Goddamnit, Soupy!" Over and over again. He can be so unbelievably good, and so ungodly dumb...man, is it frustrating.
THE UGLY:
Niklas Kronwall's hit on Martin Havlat. Damndest thing is, it looked like a totally clean hit. It just looked absolutely grisly, given that it looked like manslaughter. Seriously scary. I don't think anyone is expecting to see the Bohunk on the ice anytime soon.
Game 4 is Sunday afternoon at the United Center. The Hawks will try to even things up. At any rate, with 2 overtime games so far, the Wings sure as hell know they're in a series. And a longer series favors younger legs.
Oh, and since CT is such a damn slacker, here's an old school brawl for you...Big Behn Wilson squaring off against our beloved Keith Magnuson...




Technically, the call on the Havlat hit was correct. Marty didn't have the puck. Kronwall came in awfully high, as well, and any hit of that variety above the shoulders is going to draw a major. I think it had every intention of being a clean hit, but it was up high enough that it gave the refs room to ring him up. Kronwall lowers his shoulder six to eight inches and that's probably a no-call.
The refs gave it back, anyways, with that horseshit penalty on Bolland -- the third consecutive PP in the second period that started the Detroit rally.
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"Damndest thing is, it looked like a totally clean hit. It just looked absolutely grisly, given that it looked like manslaughter."
This is probably wrong on some level, but that was funny.
You've got a badass blog here (as devoted Red Wing whores this is hard to admit after an OT loss), the best of which is the thing that counts the characters and you type.
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After seeing the replays, the hit was definitely clean. While I'm sure there are Wings fans who think they got robbed on the call, there was also no way to tell at full speed what happened. The ref simply made a judgment call.
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Huet Lewis and the News. The power of glove!
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The one good thing that came from last night is Huet getting in net. Khabi wasn't gonna get you there, and you now have the future in net. Christobal can win this series for you.
But...after watching your savior get crucified on what might have been the singe-best hit thrown this whole hockey season, it's gonna be tough to replace that offense.
If Havlat is done for the season--even if the Hawks win this series--their Cup chances just took a big hit...no pun intended.
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Also, the Sun Times writers lick donkey balls. What's wrong with this?
"The Hawks got the start they wanted. Brent Seabrook set up the first goal, a one-timer from 10 yards inside the blue line off a feed from Dave Bolland 8:45 into the game."
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First down!
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Not for nothin' - but Havlat says on his twitter account (yes, it's really him) that's he's ready to go. That said, what hockey player wouldn't say that? Point is, he's not in intensive care or anything. Add to that Q said he's optimistic Havlat will be available.
I'm hoping we get to see Jesus Havlat Christ get his smote on.
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You mean you weren't excited about seeing what kind of beard Colin Fraser is rocking?
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The Hawks got the start they wanted. Brent Seabrook set up the first goal, a one-timer from 10 yards inside the blue line off a feed from Dave Bolland 8:45 into the game .
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