FEAR THE FINN: Blackhawks 2, Sharks 1
Wow.
If this game didn't take you from grabber to boner, then there's absolutely no hope for you.
The Chicago Blackhawks went into HP Pavilion in the strange position of not having home ice, and yanked it away from the San Jose Sharks, winning 2-1 despite taking 5 penalties to none for San Jose today, taking a one game to none edge in the Western Conference Finals.
Let's get right to it:
THE GOOD:
Antti Niemi. He flat-out won this game for the Blackhawks. 44 saves, many of them in the pyhä paska (Glove tap to the Hockey Broad )category. The Sharks got some really good looks, especially in the early going, but Niemi denied all but one shot. The only person more excited than Niemi about this game has got to be his agent.
Duncan Keith. It took less than one game to see the one area the Blackhawks can completely exploit, and that's speed. Especially on the blueline. The Hawks, even Jordan Hendry, were pretty much moving the puck at will the last 40 minutes of the game, and Keith (and Brian Campbell) were able to show the disparity. Keith was able to jump into the play more in the offensive zone, knowing the Sharks lacked the speed to make him pay.
The paradigm shift. This time last year, the Hawks were in the Western Conference Finals against the Red Wings, and were the neophytes to the big stage. Now they're the experienced ones. They gave up an early lead in a hostile building, and were able to initiate the play and keep their attack going. They are peach-fuzzed veterans now.
Extenuating circumstances. The Hawks took 5 penalties, to the Sharks' none. Nothing much there to complain about from a "we're getting jobbed" standpoint. The Hawks took some dumb penalties. However, the referees bailed the Hawks out on one call. Dave Bolland clearly tripped Devin Setoguchi, but for some reason the zebras sent Kris Versteeg off. This allowed the Hawks to keep one of their better penalty-killing forwards, and a defensive force since the start of the Vancouver series, on the ice.
THE BAD:
Those penalties. They were all dumb, dumb, dumb. Sure, there were a couple Sharks' infractions that could have/should have been called, but once you start falling behind in calls like that, you have to play it smarter. Each guy who went to the box should buy Niemi a steak dinner and a lapdance. They all got bailed out.
THE UGLY:
That imbecile Pierre McGuire. As much as I'd like to see him get the Tampa GM job just to get him the fuck off my television, I'd love to see him get a gig with a Central Division team. He's an idiot.
Tuesday night, it's on like Donkey Kong. Game 2 in the HP Pavilion. The Sharks are already being faced with a "must-win", and the series is only sixty minutes old. See you in the Shoutbox.
Posted by Forklift at 5/16/2010 4:48 PM 
Categories: San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Tags: San Jose Sharks Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals Antti Niemi BONERTIME!
Categories: San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Tags: San Jose Sharks Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals Antti Niemi BONERTIME!
Any truth to the rumor that Pierre's microphone is actually a Fleshlight?
Reply to this
PLUS how about props to Lady Fork for calling the game winner off The BuffStar's stick?
Reply to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEMzM8JNW-U
Reply to this
Gold, MGRW.
I noticed how not only Pierre but the whole NBC production seemed to focus more on San Jose pregame. Toewes was the only Hawk discussed...if they want to play down the Blackhawks, fine by me. The only thing I see stopping this team is themselves so let these jagoffs blabber on about those San Jose dandies...speaking of whom, is it me or did Thornton whiff on an open net toward the end?
I know it's one game, but it beats losing. Obviously. So fuck yeah.
And where the hell was CT?
Reply to this
I'm not sure if he broke his stick or not, but he definitely whiffed. Cue sad trombone riff.
Reply to this
Best hockey game I have seen in about five years. Too bad CT had to miss it.
Reply to this
Denny> agreed...one darn fine ice hockey match.
Now the challenge is for Les Hawques to keep applying that pressure and speed they showed today against the Sharks D.
And give Niemi more support...can't expect the young feller to stop forty-plus shots every time and steal a game.
Todd McLellan and his staff watched very carefully...McLellan in the postgame presser was very clear about the gaps in SJ's execution. "Our passing in the second period wasn't good and we fed the Hawks' transition game."
The Sharks also gave the puck away way too often.
Expect McLellan and the team to make adjustments.
On the other hand, Nabokov showed his vulnerability. Now, if Chicago can exploit that...
The euphoria of this win is now to be put aside...just take care of business.
The Sharks are a much better team than the Nux.
But this victory's definitely a key step forward.
Reply to this
now thats what i am talking about! gotta love it when dave means business lets hope hawks mean the same and Q has his bag of tricks open and ready to use. it will be needed in this series
Reply to this
IMO hjarlmasson is the best hawks defenseman. nothing against keith or seabrook they have been good but #4 has been almost perfect and looks like he's getting better and better each game.
Reply to this
I watched the game at my parents' home, and even though they seldom watch hockey, they both noted how the NBC clowns were really emphasizing San Jose in their comments. I was glad it wasn't just me.
Absolutely huge to win Game 1, especially on the road. San Jose will be gripping theirs sticks very tightly Tuesday night.
As a minor laeague off-ice official who works as a penalty timekeeper and penalty box attendant, on more than one occasion I have asked the referee if he had the right number if I saw soemthing different than what he reports. And they will always check with their linesmen if there's any doubt. That was a bad mistake by those refs yesterday.
Reply to this
What goes into being a penalty box attendant? Me and my friends reference it 3-4 times every game.
Reply to this