CrashingTheGoalie

by desertdawg

You’ve heard it a zillion times: Age and treachery will always beat youth and talent.
A line that is oft repeated by those who must compete against youth…youth with all the attendant marvels that being young can offer. Like speed, energy and emerging talent. And that state of affairs best describes these youngblood Hawks.
After playing lights out for most of the season, the Hawks experienced a couple of injuries and a slight case of adversity recently. And although it looked like the guys from the windy city were well out of reach of our boys by the new year, the Hawks caught a case of the colds and we caught fire at the All Star break.
So here we are.
Experience versus youth. Age versus treachery. And that is the subtext of the argument why most fans would rather face Chicago in the post season. And by the way, isn’t it great to be speaking so casually, so confidently about the post season? Yep, we are in the Playoffs! And a lot of folks want to face this team we are playing this afternoon.
Well, let me say, once again for the record. I don’t think it matters who we play in the first round. If we play our game then it does not matter who we play…we can beat anybody in this league in a seven game series. I’m just not sure we will be playing our game. Our game is three lines scoring and the D joining the rush. Roberto closing the door tight and our special teams functioning in top form.
Well, Geeze of Nazareth dawg, that sounds like everyone’s game!!!
Okay, but it is our game as well and we play at our top level, we will not be beat no matter who we play. And if we are looking at a weak sister to go up against in the first round, I would not be looking particularly hard at Chicago. Their goals for and their goals against are better than ours. So yeah, they score and they play good defense. Hallmarks of a Joel Quenneville coached team.
I said last blog that I thought Calgary is much more pretender rather than contender. Their defense can be slow, their systems play suspect and they’ve played the ass off Kipper and Iginla. Now Jerome is one of my favourite non-Canucks and he’s a guy who thrives on work. But Kipper has shown obvious signs of meltdown.
And the big deal is still home ice. Most teams are superior on home ice and our two prospective dance partners are no different. So that’s why there’s so much interest in today’s game. Sure we are chasing Chicago…but we really want to take the Division crown. It’s a big game today.
Firm grasp of the obvious there, dawg.
So Tommy Larscheid, the best colour man in the biz, announces in the pre-game show that Crabbibulin is oh-eight-and-one against us. Nope, he has not beaten the mighty Canucks…yet. Because, like the Avs record thing against LaBarberra the other night, that kind of thing can turn around pretty quickly.

So the joint’ll be rockin’ tonight!
Okay, here’s my impressions of the first period. One, we are skating well. Everyone is moving their feet. Two, the passes are short and crisp, just the way I like my French fries. Third, we are hitting. Bernier is a beast in games like this. And Hordichuk wiped out two Hawks in one series. Unfortunately, that lead to the penalty trouble…and the Hawks have one of the better PPs in the league. And of course we compound our woes by going down two men. But as I’ve often said, the two man advantage only helps you when you score. We played them perfectly keeping most of the shots to the outside.
A couple more things. We had the greater number of quality chances. And we scored on ours. Once again the Sedins get us going. And to all the fans who think we should let them walk, I’d like to point out one other fact about the twins that is not often commented on. The critics have said the guys are weak, easy to play against and disappear when the going gets tough. And yet, how many times have you seen these guys score goals like that one in the first period? Lots, right? Lots and lots of goals scored within two or three feet of the crease…where the going is extremely tough. Sure you can play the Sedins hard. But they never back off, they just keep coming at you.

They are tough.

Finally, Lou shut the door with great rebound control every time. Both teams had some interesting chances (Sundin/Demitra; the Sedins, again; and Bieksa by himself) but one of the prettiest plays was Ladd to Havlat that lead to the close in breakaway. To be honest, it looked like Havlat had Lou beat, but he put the backhand up on the glass. No goal for you!
But this game has lots of life left.
And in the second period I see both teams taking the green flag approach. Lots of caution here as no one wants to wear the goat horns. But Chicago can’t resist and slowly they start to open up. Hey, we can play it that way too. And again the Sedins combine with Alexander the Great (I know, it’s obvious…I’ve never been anything but.) and we go up another goal. Well this has to make the Hawk underarms test out their Right Guard. But we are used to this kind of game. We can check and we can hit and we can score. The Hawks were expecting one of those early season games where they ran people out of their building.
Not tonight.
Quick comment on Mason Raymond. This guy is not needed in the goal scoring column right now. There’s time for that in the future. But watching this kid beat everyone…EVERYONE… to the puck, time after time, is a pure joy. He makes that third line go.
Our PP, on the other hand looks moribund. On a night when te Sedins and Burrows are going so strong, we put Bernier out with the twins. I know I’m harping on this but I don’t care about the ice time issue. Alex makes things happen and should be playing regularly on the PP (and the PK and the last minute of the period…he’s that good).
We show some game fatigue at the end of the period but the Hawks cannot put the puck where they want to…in the net. We are full value for the two goal lead.
The third period again opens cautiously and I’m thinking well, there’s a few different ways we can win this game. One is for Lou to just shut the door. The other is to score another goal. A two goal lead for the Canucks going into the third is pretty solid. A three goal lead is insurmountable.
And wouldn’t you know it. Henrik makes a behind the back pass and Daniel scores from the goal line and we are up three digits. The Hawks’ faces are as red as their jerseys. This is getting embarrassing.
But folks, not as embarrassing as Byfuglien taking the cheap shot at Luongo. Coach Joel, you should be ashamed as well. Because that was just bush league all the way. And even though Kevin took a hard shot from Eager (right on the chin) he fought back in a rage. Good on you Kevin. That will not go unnoticed. And I think the Hawks should thank their lucky stars that O’Brien could not get his fists free. SOB was ready, willing and more than able.
And there’s no better way to say “shove it up your brownie” than scoring on the ensuing PP. Sundin to Kesler. Great stuff. We are up by four now and in cruise control. The only thong to be decided is the shutout. And don’t forget how many times the Hawks ran the score up on teams this year. I have no problem with the Canucks making the Hawks their prison girlie boys.
And Lou did close the door. And we did win the game. And it was statement. I love this game.

I love this team.