NHL Playoffs: The Blackhawks Capitalize against the Canucks

Sorry this is a bit late, but the golf tournament yesterday had me getting home late and THEN I had to watch the game on tape.

At least I was able to watch a bit of the game during the dinner portion of the golf awards, so I knew it was 2-2 when I headed home.

After watching the game into the wee hours, a number of things stood out.

First of all, if I’m a 'Hawks fan I would be concerned that two games in a row now they have come out flat in the opening portion of the period and fallen behind.

Absolutely, the 'Hawks were full value for the win, but the Canucks let them off the hook. Any one of the three 'Hawks penalties that occurred after the 'Nucks were up 2-0 could have put the game away—if the Canucks had scored.

Instead, it turned upside down on them when the 'Hawks scored on a short-handed (horrible giveaway by Ehrhoff) goal to tie it up.

The 'Nucks hit a couple of goal posts, which could have also decided the game. There were a few passengers that need to pick up their game, which I will speak about later.

The Canucks' penalty killing continues to improve with Chicago going 0-2, but the game was really decided by Chicago being the hungrier team.

No surprise there.

The game went pretty much as I figured, with the 'Hawks inserting Ben Eager and Adam Burish, both being more physical (38-30 hits). After they got going, they came wave after wave.

Surely the Canucks fans didn’t think that the 'Hawks would just disappear.

Like I said, it’s going to be a long tough series.

Brent Seabrook had an outstanding night, defending, being physical (just ask a number of the 'Nucks—eight hits), jumping up into the rush, scoring a goal, adding two assists, and helping shut down the Sedin line.

When you shut down the Sedin line, you have done a tremendous job!

As Pierre McGuire from TSN would say, “He had a monster night.”

Best Canuck on the ice was Mason Raymond, who for some reason likes to play these types of games that the Blackhawks provide. He was one of the few 'Nucks that provided any push-back and energy.

Another goal for him, as he opened the scoring. Although he was only credited with one official hit, I counted a total of four.

Noticeable change is his speed and aggressiveness on the forecheck, which has really picked up.

He looks like a totally different player from the L.A. series. Too bad the rest of that line can’t play like that.

Alex Burrows continues to struggle to find the score sheet, but is contributing with his aggravating play (four hits).

One of these games you would think he’s got to break out.

Ryan Kesler, where are you?

I haven’t quite figured him out yet on the road. Where is that Tasmanian Devil who flies around on home ice, hitting everything in sight?

Hardly noticed him last night, which is not good.

That’s two games now that Christian Ehrhoff has struggled in his end. For a guy who’s supposed to have all this mobility, how come he is coughing up the puck so often, and is weak in the down-low coverage?

He led the 'Nucks D-men in plus/minus with a minus-3.

Are he and Alex Edler having a contest on who can get hit the least? They are handling the puck like the proverbial hot potato when confronted by a 'Hawk checker.

When a little guy like Kyle Wellwood is paying the price by going to the tough areas, throwing hits (four), then surely Michael Grabner, Rick Rypien, and Jannik Hansen can at least deliver ONE hit between them!

Hansen, I think, is due to come out. He is totally ineffective, and so is Rypien at centre. That’s why Pavol Demitra was moved down to the fourth line.

Here is my guess as to why Darcy Hordichuk has not been inserted into the lineup: The coaching staff does not figure he can keep up with the pace in the playoffs.

Look for Ryan Johnson to maybe slide into the next game in the centre spot, with maybe a cast of new wingers on the fourth line.

I liked Andrew Alberts, Shane O’Brien, and Kevin Bieksa’s physical game.

O’Brien definitely is more controlled this year in these types of games, is making good reads, jumping up into the play, and staying away from taking the dumb penalties.

Alberts and O’Brien were the only D-men to come away without a minus in their plus/minus column.

So as we head back to Game Three in Vancouver, let’s see how Coach Vigneault handles the Sedin line matchup. The one thing that 'Hawks Coach Joel Quenneville is very good at is matching lines.

He should be.

He has the luxury of having the master of that, Scotty Bowman, as a senior advisor on the staff.

Scotty actually used to practice line changes when he was with Montreal. He considered it another part of his drills.

Can’t wait for Wednesday’s game to see how the 'Hawks do in the Garage with the 'Nucks Nation!