Landed: Hawks 4, Sharks 2 (Hawks win series 4-0)
As this was not your standard game, this will not be your standard recap. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly will have the day off, as there can be nothing but good when your team advances to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 17 years.
The San Jose Sharks did not come out and roll over for Chicago. Despite a deep hole, they probably played their best all around game since the series opener. From the opening faceoff until Patrick Marleau scored a short handed goal to put the Sharks up 2-0, San Jose completely controlled the tempo of the game. The Hawks managed some pressure in fits and starts, but it was San Jose's pace. For 30 minutes, they held control of the game. They say you can tell the most about people when things are at their worst. Well, today the Chicago Blackhawks confirmed for all of us just how fucking awesome they can be. With Andrew Ladd out with an injury (Ladd did not return) and Ducan Keith out temporarily after tooth reduction surgery and a two-nothing hole on the scoreboard, the boys could have folded up the tent and looked to game 5 to close the series out. Instead, they stormed back, getting two goals from the Bolland/Versteeg line to tie it up before the end of the third period. And then in the third period, Dustin Byfuglien (he only scores game-winning goals) did what he's done in the playoffs. Stood in front of the net on the power play and pushed a puck through Evgeni Nabokov legs for the go-ahead. Kris Versteeg sealed the deal with an empty netter, and the Hawks are through to the final round.
A word on the Sharks. I'm sure that there will be much of the standard lines in the media about them being a playoff failure, and I'm sure there will be a hilarious eulogy for them on Puck Daddy tomorrow (hopefully written by Earl Sleek) but it's unfair to judge them failures because they were swept. The Hawks played their 4 best games of the playoffs in this series, and they needed every minute of that to beat San Jose. If Sharks fans want to bitch about that last slashing penalty that lead to Buff's game winner, I won't argue, it was a break for the Hawks. But both teams saw breaks in the series, and in the end, you've got to exploit those breaks for them to mean anything. The NHL playoffs are a harsh world where teams are graded on pass fail, and each round, only one team can get the passing grade.
Regardless, after waiting an entire year for another shot at the Cup, the Blackhawks are exactly where we expected them to be. I don't believe the talk that this series determined the Cup winner, no team that fights through three full rounds of playoffs is going to be simply satisified to be there. Be it Philly or Montreal who advances, they'll be just as desperate to win as our boys are, and there will be no "respect" given the Hawks due to their status as higher seed or media darlings.
So, my friends, sit back tonight and toast your Blackhawks. The Conference Championship, while nice, should not induce the drunken revelry of a Stanley Cup win. Instead, just a few drinks, as there's more work to be done.
Raise your glass to the Chicago Blackhawks - for only two teams play for the Stanley Cup in the end, and they are one of them.
Cheers.
Posted by CT at 5/23/2010 4:59 PM 
Categories: San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Tags: Playoffs Blackhawks Sharks
Categories: San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Tags: Playoffs Blackhawks Sharks
Goddamn, this shit is fucking glorious.
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A word for Mr Todd McLellan, who showed just what a classy guy he is.
Every press conference, he never whined about anything. Not the calls. Not the bounces. Not the crease crashing. And not the effort from his team. He was gracious in defeat.
We all know how close this series was.
So...the Chicago Blackhawks get their first shot at the Stanley Cup since 1992.
A great day.
And now, the real fun starts.
Here Come The Hawks. The Mighty Black Hawks.
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these sharks are really good team and the hawks swept them never expected this
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Whoo Hoo!
They beat a very good team that played very well.
They are peaking at the right time.
I concur with Dave on the Sharks' coach. He gave the Hawks credit and didnt make excuses.
Is it too late to make a Heatley joke?
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It's nice to be able to take a breath for a couple of days. The Hawks are just now peaking.
It's never too late to make a Heatly joke, I'd like to hear it.
PS. Morris is always right.
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Pierre the P stunned me with his journalistic insight when he reported that a discussion between McLellan and a ref "had good arguments on both sides." I was waiting for him to say that they were submitting a joint press release that stated that although they couldn't reach an agreement at this time, progress had been made.
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Yesterday McLellan said Heatley hurt his groin in the Colorado series.
This may have affected his ability to drive and crash.
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do you mean "affected his ability to DIVE and Cash Paychecks?"
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There's no truth to the rumor that Jose Lima was out riding with Heatley the night before he died.
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sorry I asked
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Best I could do on short notice. I should get credit for a cross sport reference.
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Well said, Chris.
And excellent allusion to Cris Carter! Oh, that Buddy Ryan!
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Is it just me, or is anybody else worried about Philly using goon tactics on our start players?
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Nope.
Just win, baby.
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