I'm not going to be gracious.  I know everyone is supposed to be impressed with the super awesome Vancouver Canucks, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, fuck these whiny bitches.  Vancouver came into the game as the hottest team in the league, and didn't impress me as being anything more than they've been for the last two years.  Chicago outplayed Vancouver and lost due to a terrible outing on the power play and some head-scratching calls made by the officials.


THE GOOD

Jonathan Toews - Captain Serious was, well his old self.  After looking banged up prior to the All-Star game, Toews seems to have benefited from the rest (despite taking part in the festivities) and played like a beast again tonight.  While his goal was impressive, more impressive was the fact that he was able to create a chance that not even Nick Boynton could botch.

Bolland/Bickell/Pisani  - Joel Quenneville did his best to match his shutdown line up against the Sedin twins and did a good job holding them down at even strength.  The Sedins line managed a flukey goal which was matched by Bolland's own flukey goal.  Good enough.

THE BAD

The Officials - Wow.  These guys were just terrible, to the point where it became a distraction during the game, because Pat Foley and Steve Konroyd ended up questioning every call/non-call.  The worst calls came on the biggest plays though, as the Hawks had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference on Brouwer, who never touched Luongo and Christian Erhoff scored on a slap shot despite the puck slipping out of the zone and the entire play being offsides.

Marian Hossa - Somebody put out an APB for this guy.

Power Play - The unit that had been best for Chicago all year failed them tonight.  The Hawks were 0 for 5 on the power play, including a lengthy two man advantage.

THE UGLY

THE HAWKS NEED DAT BURISH GUY BACK!  HE WAS ALWAYS FIGHTIN' AND HE...oh, oh my.