Chicago Blackhawks Complete Historic Comeback, Advance To Conference Finals
The Blackhawks put the finishing touches on a historic comeback, overcoming a physical game and a blown call with less than two minutes left in regulation, and sent the Red Wings to the golf courses with an epic overtime victory.
For those that had questioned Corey Crawford’s ability to win a series for the Blackhawks, the Chicago netminder played a phenomenal Game Seven. He allowed only one goal, to Henrik Zetterberg in the third period, against 27 shots in over 63 minutes. The Red Wings had a number of good scoring opportunities, but Crawford slammed the door shut.
In the series against Detroit, Crawford allowed 14 goals and posted a .929 save percentage.
Coach Joel Quenneville continued with the lineup that had worked well in the two previous games, and received similarly solid performances from all over his lineup.
The new-look third line was strong once again. Andrew Shaw was credited with one hit and three shots on goal, but continued to agitate the Red Wings all over the ice. Brandon Saad continued to look more comfortable in his role, and was credited with three hits and one takeaway in the game.
Meanwhile, Viktor Stalberg’s speed created a number of scoring chances; his six shots were the high total on the night. Stalberg did skate himself out of position a few times, but the third line continued to create opportunities and control the puck in the offensive zone late in the game.
On the second line, Bryan Bickell had five hits, three of which came in a first period, and was also credited with two takeaways in the game. Michal Handzus was credited with three hits and won seven of 16 faceoffs in the game; Pavel Datsyuk picked his pocket on a couple occasions, but strong play by Crawford and the Hawks defensemen kept the turnovers from impacting the scoreboard.
On the fourth line, Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik continued to be dominant penalty killers. Kruger led the Hawks with four blocked shots in the game, and Frolik had as many scoring chances as the Red Wings while Detroit had a man advantage.
Dave Bolland, playing center on the fourth line again, had a game that left a lot to be desired… until the end. His big hit on Gustav Nyquist led to Brent Seabrook finding open ice and the game-winning goal. The hit was one of four in the game for Bolland, but undoubtedly the biggest.
Seabrook had a bad start to the series, but looked like a different player after Quenneville put him back with Duncan Keith. His performance in Game Seven wasn’t exceptional through much of regulation, even though he led the team with six hits. He struggled to clear the puck a number of times, but was physical whenever a Detroit player got near Crawford.
After seeing his ice time slide to just over 12 minutes in Game Four, Seabrook skated over 23 minutes in each of the Hawks three wins to close out the series.
Seabrook’s performance was aided by Keith, who had a fantastic series. Keith finished the series with four assists and looked like the confident defenseman that won the Norris Trophy in 2010. In the clinching finale against Detroit, Keith was credited with one blocked shot, one hit and one takeaway in almost 27 minutes.
The Hawks best defensive pair in the series should have been credited with the series-winning goal. Niklas Hjalmarsson appeared to score the Hawks’ second goal of the game late in the third, but a questionable terrible call wiped the goal away.
What Brandon Saad did to earn a roughing minor was… land hard on the ice? The call was awful, but it didn’t cost the hawks the game.
With Johnny Oduya, Hjalmarsson continued to skate heavy minutes and contribute to a stellar postseason penalty kill. In the series, the Hawks allowed only one powerplay goal; Chicago carries a 97.6 penalty kill percentage into the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Kings.
Those conference finals will begin on Saturday afternoon.
Tab, thank you for a(nother) great game summary.
Honestly, I thought the play was pretty even throughout the game. I’m completely certain that I am not alone opining that “the call” was horseshit – one of the worst ever (…anyone remember John Ashley in the ’71 final?). I guess since it didn’t ultimately decide the outcome we just move on(?). I’m pretty sure Ed Blowczek stated that it was a good call(?) – it seems that if he didn’t spout “the company line” he might lose his job as Network Color Analyst. (I guess compared to Micheletti or Engblom he’s a “Shining Star”…)
LA will be tough. I believe if the Hawks (are able to?) play their game, they can win – just my opinion.
GO HAWKS!!! (“drivel”?, really…?)
Proud of the boys! More tomorrow. Sleep well Hawks fans. A memorable hurdle jumped tonight. More hockey this weekend, woohoooo!! Bring it on.
What did Saad do to deserve a call there? This ref thinks getting thrown into the bench and on to the ice warrants a coincidental that erases a game winning goal as its happening half a rink away in the last minutes of game 7. Where did they find this ref, fire him immediately. Also great game by the Hawks, they didn’t let the call stop them from winning. Unlike myself, they got over it and won the game. Great job. GO HAWKS
Let me start off with a face full of humble crow pie. I thought we were done after Game 4’s loss / three L’s in a row and wow did the Hawk’s battle back hard.
However, I have real mixed emotions from Game 7.
Obviously I’m thrilled with the outcome and I’m very, very happy that a bad call didn’t ruin this season (two bad calls really… the Shaw no-goal in Game 3 was a huge call at the time as well).
Starting with the pro’s, Crawford has played great all season and shined tonight. Hammer and Keith were unbelievable. Hammer played a great series and I wish his goal had stood for the game winner – he earned it. Sharp had a lot of jump. I thought Shaw was the best forward all night. Despite another overly agressive penalty, I found myself waiting for 65 to get on the ice the entire second half of the game. He was the spark plug – he had the assist on the Hammer no-goal, he drew a penalty, that whole line had great scoring chances.
Cons… um, we could have easily lost this game. I’m sure there were some nerves but we let Detroit hang around way too long and it came back to bite us. I don’t think Seabrook had a particularly strong game despite his ice time and GWG. Toews was neutralized again. Lots of turnovers in the neutral and defensive zone. We didn’t get particularly strong play from our centers. PP – jesus.
Again, very happy with the win. Enjoy it tonight. Forget about it tomorrow. And get ready for a great match up against the Kings.
I’m sure Walkom knew he made a mistake as soon as he’d blown the whistle, but he couldn’t take it back once he’d blown the play dead, he had to call the goal off. Horrible, horrible call; glad the ‘hawks overcame it and pulled out the deserved win.
Poor Hammer though :( If anyone deserved that game-winner it is him. He’s been the most consistent defenseman all year, all playoffs, and all series. Still think he has an underrated shot that I’d like to see him unleash more often.
how many hawks goals wiped out this series?
wow. glad for the win.
very respectful handshake line by the wings.
did i read right? back to back games 1 and 2 on sat and then sun? ouch.
So on a breakaway the team defending can committ an intentional penalty to stop the play dead on the other side of the rink. And what did Saad do to even approach having a penalty called on him. I mean this guys a ref in a game 7. If Detroit had won in OT it just turns people off to the NHL. They have to get rid of him.
HARRISON FORD.
Oh, and Crawford is now 7-2 in elimination games with a .935 Sv% and 1.80 GAA. A BEAST when his back is against the wall.
Lots of talk about how he’s become more mentally tough this year, but I’d contend that he was always mentally tough. The problem with those awful goals last year is that they came in OT and he didn’t have an opportunity to bounce back from them like he did in game 6 this year.
He now has 17 games in 26 playoff starts where he’s given up 2 goals or less in regulation; he’s allowed more than 3 just 3 times and he’s yet to give up more than 4 goals in a playoff game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47OmzqOnc9Q
Minute 1:30. “I’m going to make Wayne Gretzky’s head bleed for super fan #99 over here.”
@Pete: Veterans correct me if I’m wrong, but it wouldn’t work if a team intentionally committed a penalty because it would be a delayed penalty. (whistle wouldn’t be blown) It only worked tonight because the ref decided Saad was also roughing…coincidentally. I’m not seeing what Saad did either tho.
Cristoferson, that makes sense. So the issue is what did Saad do to deserve the call and is it reasonable to stop play at a crucial moment when its half a rink away. Im sorry to obsess on this as I should just be happy that we won after an awesome game 7
It feels soooo good to be soooo wrong! I didnt see this at all, it feels good to eliminate the Wings forever~!!!
Yes, Pete and Cristoferson, you’re both right. While the procedure to blow the play dead on a matching minor was technically correct, how that’s a matching penalty on Saad is a massive question mark.
Saad did commit a penalty. According to the NHL rulebook, section 30.2:
“When a rookie gets the shit kicked out of him at a critical juncture of a Playoff game, for example late in a Game 7, that Player will be penalized with a 2-minute minor for being weak at such a key moment.”
Great call by Walkom, and a stick tap for his detailed knowledge of the rulebook.
Where is JS? I think he was the first to say it… Hawks in 7 baby!
I didn’t jump off the deep end like some people, but I can say that I didn’t see us winning a game like that… i thought we would jump on a mistake or two and put it way 3-2, 4-2, something in that range (but since Hammer scored, im calling this one a 3-1 game). I didn’t think detroit would give us much, and they didn’t. I knew we would have to take it.
SEABROOK TOOK IT!
Beat LA!
I just read that the ref that blew the call last night is the same ref that blew the call on the torres/hossa hit. This guy needs to be fired for the integrity of the game.
This was a HUGE monkey off Q’s back. Now he can look at the next series more objectively. LA is going to be tough. Their stars are much more physical than Datsyuk and Zetterburg. Bolland is going to have to come up big…..but who should he shadow?
I’ll take the high road and try to avoid mentioning all the people crying about Bowman’s roster and a lack of heart/size/everything after game 4. I was fully confident the Hawks would win in 7, and even though they made it really close, they did!
What a game. For the casual fan that tuned in to watch that (besides the joke call at the end), how big of a treat did they get? Tons of scoring chances, good physical play, Patrick Kane reminding people that he’s really good at dropping his balls on their face, and overtime! Now, if I was a fan of neither team, I would have loved that game. Being emotionally invested in the Hawks? Yikes.
Seabrook was absolutely awful for the majority of the game and then he TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF (quote?). Had Crawford let in the goal that beat Howard, no one would have ever forgiven him. It would have been declared soft and he would have been the reason they lost. Crawford was incredible last night but I’m sure the Hawks only won because of a great defensive effort.
Speaking of awful defensemen. When Odyua turned the puck over 3 times on one shift I think I actually started crying. I thought it was all over.
Patrick Kane- even though he might not want to battle for the pucks along the boards, he is pretty awesome at hockey.
Handzus had a couple horrible turn overs, but also did a beatiful thing on the first goal and that goal in Game 6 was pretty awesome too. Not the worst tradeline acquisition, I guess.
Pretty excited for LA. As long as they can put a couple past Quick, I can definitely see them making it out of the West. Might take 7 games though.
Excellent comments everyone…great analysis by Tab.
I haven’t said much about the refs during this series, as typicially things even out, but honestly, one of det’s secrets during this series was having the refs in their back pockets. The ridiculous call that wiped out Hammer’s GWG aside, the bias against the Hawks all series long was staggering. Just think of Toews in particular…McKay talked about Tazer being neutralized again last night, as he was, but much of it legally? NO. Every time the cameras pannned on Toews a penalty was being comitted, and yet no calls…okay, it’s playoff hockey right, you know, throw the whistle away and let the boys play…right? WRONG…almost every time Toews did anything to defend himself or retaliate, he was targeted. You wonder why Toews had a tough series? He looked to the refs to make things at least fair and level, and they spat in his face. Shaw’s disallowed goal, Hammer’s disallowed goal, staggering examples of bias. How many Hawks had to be pulled down on breakaways before a penalty shot was called? It’s over, it’s an epic comeback, it’s a great series win, but what horseshit from the NHL’s not only incompetent refs, but biased as well.
I guess the good thing about this is that its made Toews and the team (including Crawford) razor sharp mentally…and let’s be honest, we are going to have to be this way to beat the kings and then the winner between bos/pit. Because thus far in the SC playoffs, not much of the hockey has been about skill, the game has collapsed in on itself, thanks to the refs, to become not much more than a wrestling match, where for a brief moment, when a player breaks free from the scrum they are able to work their magic, until the refs blow the play dead from behind. Actually, NHL playoff hockey reminds me a lot of rollerball and Toews is well on his way to becoming the next Jonathon.
Thought that the game last night could go either way, or that we were one mistake away from losing? Get used to it…this is what the SC playoffs have become…anyone can win on any night because skill has so little to do with the outcome…just look at the wings…Datsyuk, Zetterberg, aging stars? How about outright criminals…the 2 of them turned before our eyes into a couple of energy vampires, clinging to the Hawk’s living flesh with their aging claws…sucking life, fun, and energy from the games.
And Darryl Sutter and the Kings will be NO DIFFERENT. Once they get a lead, they set one forward on the forecheck with 4 hanging back. They entrust their mammoth goalie to block out the net (and the sunlight), and hang on to win 1-0 and 2-1 games. And in these games you can’t lose your nerve or focus for a minute or you will find yourself down and out. So I guess a hearty thank you is in order to the Wings for prepping us for this madness to come.
I think we actually matchup well with the Kings, because with Handzus our size has gotten a lot bigger. The Toews line will have another huge challenge/struggle in front of them, but the Handzus and Shaw lines should thrive. It’s actually our 4th line that leaves me a little worried. The LA 4th line is big and physical and great at the dot…with Bolland as its centre, our’s is undersized and can’t win a faceoff. I know Bolland made a great hit on the series winning goal versus det, but he’s either got to step it up for the LA series (as a 4th liner) or be out of the lineup.
Anyways, great win by the Hawks, it showed their mental toughness…and they will need to continue this into the LA series…let’s hope we are fresh and active come Saturday afternoon.
Championship teams overcome adversity. Although the reffing, at times, was questionable, the Hawks found a way to work through it and win the series.
Ref’s get evaluated on a game by game / series by series system. We will see if this crew moves onto the next series of games.
Being a former ref, I always side with them based on the fact that the game is so fast, the players are so big and the ice is becoming smaller and smaller. On Shaw’s goalie interference call, it was clearly a goal. No interference. Bad call.
On Hammer’s “no goal” call, Walkom clearly blew the whistle before the goal. You can clearly hear the whistle in the CSN broadcast from ice level. So if he blows the whistle BEFORE the goal, it’s no goal, just as it stood. However, the question is, “what did Walkom see to warrant the whistle”? In my opinion, no penalty is called on anyone until Saad throws his hands up toward the Detroit players face. Walkom was put in a “no win” situation, so he called “off setting” penalties, thesefore nullifying the goal.
Now, in Walkom’s defense, he doesn’t know that Hammer will score, shoot wide, hit Howard, or even fall down while shooting the puck. What he does know is that he raised his hand for a penalty and blew the whistle. The easy way out is to call “off setting” penalties. Any ref worth his salt will never admit a mistake because that means he needs to “make up” a call somewhere along the line. The easy way out is to call “off setting” penalties. Walkom had to save his butt, here, and he did. He can explain his call to the NHL by simply saying, “I called “off setting” penalties and blew the whistle BEFORE the goal, so the goal is washed out. Whether the NHL supervisors believe his judgement was correct is a WHOLE other story.
In the end it doesn’t matter. Championship teams overcome injuries, chippy play, bad reffing and all the obstacles that are thrown at them in order to win it all. So far, the HAwks are on the right track!!
Great game.
Just wanted to add something I would hope we don’t over look.
Shaw made a GREAT pass to Hammer to score the GWG, oops not.
So really 4 scores and Shaw and Saad assist on a series winning Game 7 goal. I hope that helps each of their confidence. Saad wins a battle with Zetterberg, wow, and Shaw takes it deep and than makes a nice pass #99 would be proud of.
I hope they don’t forget that. Earlier in the year I was for Carbomb on the #1 line. I was off on that. Saad continued to come and started to produce. He had no assists at the time. Saad away from the laser like focus on our #1 line is starting to make plays.
I just love our depth that our 3rd line scored the winner, not. But then when we did score, for real, our 4th line was out there.
I hope Shaw does not get suspended.
Brad, We will probably see our 3d line out when they have their 4th line out…..particularly when the games are at Chicago. What worries me more is that LA will be more physical up and down their roster. If the Hawks are trapped in the neutral zone alot, that will favor the Kings. Also I think Q may use Bolland to disrupt Kopitar’s line while Q tries to expose LA’s big but slower 4th line.
Hawks power play has to get better as this SC season wears on. Looked good on some PP but awful on others. Last night again the PP has standarounditus. I just don’t get it.
Looking forward to Saturday and Sunday. Hawks in 6
Ok JS. I’ll say it: Crawford was BIG when we needed him last night. He needs to keep winning, but great series by both Crow and the team in so many ways. Incredible that the Hawks overcame so many challenges to win the series (some of them self-inflicted.) It simply couldn’t be any better pulling the curtain on the Wings in the last meeting these teams will ever face in the conf playoffs! (I would also agree with poster who noted classy handshake line by Wings, hats off.)
Next up we face Quick and and a much more physical team in the Kings. Home ice is critical and it will be important to get off to good start by winning both Sat+Sun.. Need CC to keep stepping up and have to do better at the dot (#40 and #13 were tough on us.) Love the Bickell line and hoping we’re up for the pounding games that are coming.. Likely going to be a lot of 1-goal affairs and a 7-game series.. Wow, still riding high from that finish..
A classic nail biter if I have ever seen one. The game last night presented all of the drama one could possible ask for in hockey. The outcome could have gone either way of course, but in the end the guys found a way through. Brad is correct in stating how bad the refs were in this series, but we thought the Wings would be up to their usual tactics and they did not disappoint. The league has seen this go on now for years, and basically they can’t call everything. So the Wings play it to the max. The only real way to combat that tactic is to score power play goals when a penalty is actually called, which is what the Hawks did mid series to get themselves back in the hunt.
From the my vantage point at the game last night I saw the bizarre play that took place when Hammers goal was disallowed. Saad tackled on the Detroit bench and then dumped to the ice. I was watching the Hawks with possession in one eye and the other eye on the official overseeing the melee by the Detroit bench. I figured play on, but then as Hammer drills the shot into the back of the net I watch the official wave his arms. The dreaded no goal signal. Everyone around me was incredulous, in shock.
If the Hawks had lost that game this ref would have feared for his life. It could have gotten really ugly. There was so much pent up anger with the refs in this series anyway. Hard to believe it was same guy that blew the Torres assault on Hoss last year! This crew should not ref another game in the playoffs for what they screwed up last night.
Ironically, the group sitting near me all were roundly abusing Saebs for having a really bad game in the minutes that preceded his game winner goal. He was terrible last night with decision making, lack of hustle, and otherwise soft game. Not acceptable for a high paid player with that much experience. I mean the guy must be hurt, right?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am finding great hilarity with the NBC color guys. Am I hearing this wrong or were these guys basically pulling for the Wings this entire series? And then after the Hawks make a heroic comeback to win the last 3 games and the series, these clowns start talking about great LA is and how much trouble the Hawks are going to have with that team. One would think the Hawks are some upstart lucky bunch! It’s great being at the home games and not have to listen to Pierre blather on with stating the obvious, and then the NBC trio of talking fools between periods and post game.
I like our chances against LA. The series will not be easy, but why should it be? I think Quick is beatable and like Howard he gets way to far out of his net sometimes. Key will be patient shots inside after quick drops from Quick to take away the lower net. Also remember that Quick was really soft in the first round. The guy is not invulnerable despite what the media tries to color. LA is a big group that will bring a tough forecheck, so zone clean zone clearance is huge for breakouts into the offence. LA is better down the middle than we are, I accept that. Our centers must be better at the dot. I also think that Doughty is very prone to taking stupid reaction penalties. Our forwards need to pound on him relentlessly. He will retaliate, mark my words. A very short fuse there.
Let’s get it on! Go Hawks!!
Brad and Pete- agree on refs… The officiating in this series- is the kind of thing that can turn fans away… It is becoming WWF/NBA like-
Like Brad said- it is turning a highly skilled sport into mud-wrestling- which does not favor the Hawks/speed/skill set.
Tom- I have officiated several sports for over 15 years- I understand “you protecting ” the refs… BUT ANY good ref in that situation- lets the play/puck come to a neutral situation- YOU CAN ALWAYS PENALIZE AFTER the fact- there is no statute of limitations- Let the play- playout!!! A ref is only looking for trouble when he blows whistle too early!!!
And it is only natural that when Saad his being Hip tossed that You grab at the player to try to slow the fall (hardly a penalty). Lastly, with all the little/dirty/shit going on… the play was LEGAL in the context of that Game!!!
JS- you must be too hungover to BOAST!
Crawford played well- but I really think people are giving him too much credit… Can someone tell me how many GREAT saves he made last nite??? IMO- He was in excellent position and the Hawks minimized Grade A scoring chances-period. That is not to bash Crow- just saying the Hawks entire team is responsible for the GAA.
JS-this one is for you and your man-crush.
Kudos- to 25- I think he saved the game in OT and no one has mentioned it.
The puck squirted to Datsyuk in between the circles- 25 came back from near the blueline and tied up 13’s stick just as 13 let it go… weakly to Crow… if 25 doesn’t get Datsyuk’s stick- I think it’s 50/50 that he wins the game!!!
Whelp that was fun.
I guess on the plus side LA doesn’t score much past their top two lines. Scuderi is skating a lot of minutes which doesn’t say much about their blue line. Hopefully LA does something stupid like give them space in the first game or two. Gonna be a long weekend.
First, I’m a Red Wings diehard. Congrats to Chicago on an epic win. Way to battle back and win an epic game 7, in OT no less. I have to say the refs in this series were far from biased towards the Wings. The Shaw no-goal was a TERRIBLE call, and should have counted. But it seems we were apparently watching a different series. Chicago got away with so much, as did the Wings. Saad clearly and blantantly tripped Zetterberg, to cause the turnover, which is why Quincey decided to go WWF on him, I wonder if the ref saw that too? In OT Bolland, damn near boarded Nyquist, that check had been called all series,(minus Franzen, though he acted like a chump, which he is, and laid there like a woman) I wonder if Nyquist would have stayed down, would they have blown the play dead? Andrew Shaw, while a good player, is a cheap shot artist. He gets away with as much as he gets called on. He broke Fillpula’s leg. All because Fil took acception to Shaw fucking with Zetterberg. I agree with all you, Toews got no love from the refs all series, the Red Wings made it a point to consantly fuck with him, before and after whistles. I am actually glad the Hawks won, after that waived goal by Hammer. I would not have wanted to win the series after that bullshit. If I were a Blackhawks fan I would be a bit trepidatious about playing LA. As good as Jimmy Howard played, Jonathan Quick is 10 times better. Good Luck with that. Bottom line, be objective and realize that both teams took liberties, and the refs MISSED CALLS both ways. Chicago is NOT innocent, nor is Detroit. Good luck to you guys next round. But I’ll be real: The Kings have been my team B since the purple and gold days. Hope they do what the Wings couldn’t.
Missed Calls-
you must not own a DVR- I Looked at the play in Slow Mo several times…
Saad made no contact w/ Z-berg’s legs – no stick on leg or leg on leg!!! The man Child has a very strong stick which he checked on 40’s stick/ some upper body contact…
NONE on legs- Z-berg just got caught in prone position – lost balance!!!
“Damn near Boarded Nyquist”??? Near does not equal Penalty! In your own words.
MC, You might be right that both teams got away with a lot. From our perspective, it is not the hard hits, the accidental trip etc. It is the constant clutching and grabbing the Wings are so good at. There were missed calls on both sides (like Kane getting a stick in the face while he had the puck no less). But Bolland’s hit was not one of them. The hit shoulder to shoulder and Nyquist lost his balance. Nyquist was not in an defensible situation.
Nyquist was not in an UN-defensible position
Lot of good comments, I want to say kudos to the UC fans for not going totally off on
‘the call’. If that happens in a few other NHL arenas (joe maybe) we have alot of cleaning up to do and a lengthy delay. Looked to me like Saad was only trying to keep himself upright by hanging on.
I was shocked to see how far Seabs game had fallen off from G5. But happy for him to get the winning score. You could see the relief in his eyes when he was swarmed by mates. 3rd line was great all night. It seemed only a matter of time before they scored.
Great comeback going 3-0
Tom, please explain to me what Saad did to get called for the coincidental. Leaving aside whether there should have been a call at all in the neutral zone when the puck is deep in the offensive zone in the middle of a scoring chance. What I saw was Saad driven into the bench and then thrown down on the ice. As he is being thrown to the ice he weakly throws his hand at the detroit player. If you can explain to me how Saad deserved a call there I would appreciate it so I can move on.
Great comments guys…
Wall great point on Stahlberg coming back to disrupt Datsyuk’s shot in OT…big play, and he has done them all year on the back check.
JS, if I haven’t said it enough, Crawford has played very well, and the best part of his game is the much, much tougher mental aspect. As Tab has pointed out all season long in his blogs, each time CC has had one of hit brain farts, he has been able to put it behind him and shut the door…not so as recently as last year…typically there would be 2 or 3 more behind him and then a goalie change. Not anymore…now if CC would stop allowing the super softies, he would become one of the elite goalies in the NHL. And remember, Crawford was an unheralded Hawk draft pick who spent time in Rockford, forever, patiently working on his game (never great) until he got his chance here. He’s had a tremendous journey that has brought him character every step of the way, and you can see it in his game now…nothing came easy to CC…now it can!
As to the comments about the refts…first, Bolly’s hit was close to being boarding, but it wasn’t. Nyquil turned just at the right time…nothing more to say there. As to Zetterberg falling down, watch it again, Saad’s upper body strength caused Z to lose his balance, he does NOT trip Z. Finally, as to the penalty call by the ref waiving off the goal. Every ref is taught what I call “down and distance”…its like being the QB in football, you must know where you are in the ice/field, where the play is headed, and time it is in the period. There’s NO WAY any ref makes that call with 2 minutes to go in game 7 with the home team leading an odd man rush into the opposition zone…NO WAY! Plus, did any one notice that he WAS NOT going to call a penalty while the det DMan essentially took 5 seconds to abuse Saad??? Nada, nothing…no arm movement…but as Saad hits the ice (just as Shaw passed to Hammer) and swings his arm upwards in self defence, THEN the arms wave and the whistle is blown to stop the play…WTF??? How does ANYONE try and defend this crap. Saad was attacked, the det player should be fined for the BS wrestling move that could have easily injured a valuable player on our team…but no single penalty, matching minors, and the GWG waived off.
As Wall said, that’s what turns average fans trying to like/justify the NHL away from the game for good…and this is the guy from the Raffi Torres hit on Hossa???
Walkhom has pretty much sealed his fate with Hawk fans. 2 high profile blown calls in the last 12 months! It was nice to hear the NBC studio guys tell it straight after the in game crew balked initially (surprise)
Lets fire Quenneville!!!
I’d have to believe every sane person thinks that was a botched call with under 2 minutes left. No reason to keep harping on it. Hawks powered through and won with two horribly botched calls.
Wow, that was a nail biter and so happy the outcome was not affected by that call. Ok guys let’s not get down 3-1 in games again. Go right after the Kings. The only avantage the Kings have is in goal, skate these Kings into the ground ah!! ice that is.
I only saw it (saad, zetterberg)as it happened, and a few replays, that’s the result of not watching it at home. I’m curious what you guys think about Shaw “slew-footing” (not my quote, tv’s) Fillpula resulting in a broken leg… I can tell you one thing, the moron Red Wings fans (I omit myself from this, I try real hard to be objective, and not a big time homer) are screaming suspension. The radio waves are filled with bitter fans today. :( . We lost. Focus on how we get better so we are not bottom dwellers in the east.) it seems both fan bases are bitching about the refs. Overall, I believe that’s warranted. They officiated this terrible on both sides. And it’s amazing the red wings have done a complete 180. They went from complaining about the clutching and grabbing, to being the clutchers and grabbers. I saw that on both sides tho.
RD, Eddy O could not contain himself all series. He is a Hawks announcer and fan. As one sided as he was I think he had to lay low on that one. I was a little surprised when one of the studio guys not only labelled it a bad call but said “the right team won”. He is right, but I was still surprised.
On the Shaw play, that’s a heat of the moment play. It’s a bit of a “let me help you down” slew foot – I’ve certainly seen (and done) worse. Maybe if Zetterberg doesn’t give Shaw a nut shot and Cleary doesn’t grab him from the bench, then Shaw doesn’t take a “next man up” approach and deliver the take down.
Very unfortunate Filpulla breaks his leg. Suspend-able? No way. The most offensive thing in that whole altercation is Clearly for being the fourth man in from the bench.
I appreciate the wing pov but suspension? wtf… that’s nuckin futs. fwiw, I heard this evening it was only a high ankle sprain for Filp
Pete, BOTH players did something that drives referees crazy……the both put their hands up in the other players face. Quincy did it on the initial hit, driving Saad into the bench and Saad when he was lying on the ice reached up and gave Quincy a double glove right in the chops. If I’m reffing, they both go to the box. Walkum saw the same thing. BTW, so did the Hawks coach, Jamie Kompon who, after seeing the replay, said it was the right call to make.
It’s past news. Let’s move on to the Kings!!