NHL 2009 Official Thread

[C.C.R.]

Really not sure what to make of the Hawks.  Two periods of really bad indisciplined boring hockey and then one period of skating.  Not sure if it was the Hawks waking up or the Canucks falling asleep after taking a dominating lead.

We will see in game two.  But it doesnt look like the Hawks have the same scoring threat the Blues had against Vancouver.  Every game in the Blues series was close in every period.  This one could have been a blow out if the Canucks got half their shots on net.

The Blues are very, very tight consistently, while the Hawks tend to get better as the game goes on.  They're also a bit streaky, in that if you can play a perfect game & continue to frustrate them you'll own them, but if you give them an inch they'll take a foot (i.e. three third period goals tonight).

Again, Blackhawk penalties were the story tonight.  I thought that every single call made tonight was valid, but I would put both of those double-minors in the category of "Bad Bounces" -- sticks that happened to slip up & catch people in a spot that bled.  That's just hockey.  In fact, that's the coolest thing about hockey (especially in the playoffs):  it all comes down to who gets the bounces.  Vancouver definitely got them tonight & made the most of them, but I saw enough out of the Blackhawks tonight that, on a game-to-game basis, every night is "Anything Can Happen Night."  We'll see what we can see.

Personally, from the outset I was hoping that the Blackhawks could steal one of the first two games & then take it from there.  They weren't successful in Game 1, but I think that they definitely showed that the potential was there to possibly do it in Game 2.

Or something.  I'm just pissed that the 1st two games of the series is only on Versus down here instead of Comcast Sports Net, so I'm forced to watch the games in the house (where the one digital cable box is) instead of getting to watch it out in the garage where I can drink & smoke & scream & cuss & have fun with it...

[PRC]

The Blues are very, very tight consistently, while the Hawks tend to get better as the game goes on.  They're also a bit streaky, in that if you can play a perfect game & continue to frustrate them you'll own them, but if you give them an inch they'll take a foot (i.e. three third period goals tonight).

Again, Blackhawk penalties were the story tonight.  I thought that every single call made tonight was valid, but I would put both of those double-minors in the category of "Bad Bounces" -- sticks that happened to slip up & catch people in a spot that bled.  That's just hockey.  In fact, that's the coolest thing about hockey (especially in the playoffs):  it all comes down to who gets the bounces.  Vancouver definitely got them tonight & made the most of them, but I saw enough out of the Blackhawks tonight that, on a game-to-game basis, every night is "Anything Can Happen Night."  We'll see what we can see.

Personally, from the outset I was hoping that the Blackhawks could steal one of the first two games & then take it from there.  They weren't successful in Game 1, but I think that they definitely showed that the potential was there to possibly do it in Game 2.

Or something.  I'm just pissed that the 1st two games of the series is only on Versus down here instead of Comcast Sports Net, so I'm forced to watch the games in the house (where the one digital cable box is) instead of getting to watch it out in the garage where I can drink & smoke & scream & cuss & have fun with it...

Good analysis.  The Hawks do get better as the game goes on.  I think the Canucks played a solid 40 minutes and thought the game was over before the 3rd period started letting the Hawks get back into after a lucky first goal in the third.

If the Canucks can play a solid 60 minutes for a few games in a row then the series belongs to them.

[C.C.R.]

If the Canucks can play a solid 60 minutes for a few games in a row then the series belongs to them.

Agreed.  But by the same token if the Hawks can play a solid 60 minutes for a few games in a row then the series belongs to them.  "A game in the hand is worth two in the bush," yada yada yada -- but I cannot stress enough that this is going to be a series where every night is Anything Can Happen Night.  The Canucks might go on to sweep the Blackhawks in this series, or the Blackhawks could very well win the next four straight (my money is on somebody winning the series in six games).  In any event, the Blackhawks are coming up due SOON to light Luongo up like a pinball machine in a game.  I'm hoping that it's Game 2, but it might be Game 3, Game 4, Game 5 or the next time they meet in the regular season.  Who knows?  Only The Hockey Gods, and they're cruel, fickle motherfuckers...

[PRC]

Very true.  At any rate were in for treat, this will be a hell of a series.

[crazy canuck]

This is the most goals Luongo has allowed in many games and certainly a huge amount for one period.  The Canucks will likely clamp down their defence like they did in the Blues series.  They were not collapsing around the net and throwing their bodies in front of shots like they were before.  In other words this is the game the Hawks lite Loungo up and it is likely the game the Hawks needed to take in order to take the series.

I think that in the third period the Canucks started to believe all the Vancouver media predictions that this should be an easy series and their intensity level vanished.  I dont think they will make that mistake again.  They now know how opportunistic the Hawks can be and the Canucks should be ready to play the full game like they did in the Blues series.

[Grey Fox]

I'm unsure whats going to be worse/is worse, the Languish Steelheads or the Canucks fans if they win.

[saskganesh]

that's it. I'm sending Orland Kurtenbach to your house to beat you up.

[Grey Fox]

I'm hiding behind Scotty Bowman. We'll see who's the better coach!

[crazy canuck]

I'm unsure whats going to be worse/is worse, the Languish Steelheads or the Canucks fans if they win.

What do you mean "if" the Canucks win

[saskganesh]

anyhow a 5 game winning streak in the playoffs is pretty good by any standard. odds are, it will be a long series.

[crazy canuck]

I just got offered tickets from a client to go to the Saturday game .

[Grey Fox]

I just got offered tickets from a client to go to the Saturday game .

Down enough so we can see you on TV?

[saskganesh]

wear a  John Tortorella facemask. your "visage" will be broadcast coast-to-coast.

[crazy canuck]

I just got offered tickets from a client to go to the Saturday game .

Down enough so we can see you on TV?

I think so.  I will stand up so you cant miss me.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

lol.... I notice Neil's silence on this game.  :p  I think it will be a long series. I only saw the end of second and the third, and was (like I was anytime i saw them all year) impressed by the young Hawks team. Fun to watch.