2010 Playoff Nightcap: Goin' Back To Vancouver
by Art Middleton on May 9, 2010 10:19 PM CDT
in Dallas Stars Game Recaps
Email
PrintVancouver: 4 - Chicago: 1 (Blackhawks Lead Series 3-2)
I have a feeling based on the comments we've seen over the last few days here, most of you were hoping for a much different result and an end to this series. Lest though we forget about the Canucks though is that beyond all the lack of composure moments and the waving of arms frantically as they beg refs for more favorable calls, is a fairly talented and deep team.
Give the Canucks credit, they put their head down and they played hockey without any of the theatrics or whining... Roberto Luongo was more focused on stopping pucks and that in turn was helped by the Canucks defense which seemed more focused on being tougher around the net. Kevin Bieksa stepped up his game tonight and the Sedins refocused themselves on the offensive side of things and didn't get rattled any time a Hawks player got in their face.
As for the Hawks, I don't think that they played overly poor in this game but I do think the two things where they did go wrong was that they didn't seem to really engage the Canucks as physically as I would have expected and secondly they had a pretty poor night on the faceoff dot. It also didn't help that Marian Hossa took a high sticking penalty mere seconds after Jonathan Toews got the Hawks on the board with about eight minutes left in the game killing any momentum they had just gained.
Unlike the Sharks last night and their 3-1 lead where game five was pretty much a must win for them, I don't think this loss for Chicago is as dramatic. Hawks of course have already proven they can win in Vancouver quite easily and the onus is really more on Vancouver to keep playing like they did tonight and not let the emotion of what will be a riled up Canucks crowd get to them.
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Context
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=321121
Blogging about the Texas Stars at HundredDegreeHockey.com
Ohhhhh my.
"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."
Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.
DefendingBigD
Saw him holding himself while he was down on the ice last night.
It was hard to tell at the time, but I had a feeling that was what the problem was. Ouch.
Updated
Per old pal BW, those reports turned out to be not quite true.
Obviously, he took what amounted to quite a bit more than your average shot to the family jewels.
But our prayers have paid off.
Sami’s boys are still in tact.
by Brandon Bibb on May 10, 2010 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
So I know this isn't Stars related, but...
Tim Cowlishaw has put out another “wonderful” piece of writing about the mavs saying that Dirk is useless in the playoffs, and the Mavs should dump him now….
What?
In defense of Tim
The Mavericks will never win a title as currently constructed.
And as great as Dirk is, his biggest weakness is at the defensive end. Junior Miller pointed out that nearly every great power forward in the game at the offensive end also consistently defended the rim at the other end of the court.
Except for Dirk. That’s his fatal flaw.
So unless the Mavs can get a premier center in free agency who can cover up that weakness, all the Mavs will ever be is a 50 win team that will never compete for a championship as presently constructed.
That said, blowing the roster up isn’t necessarily going to guarantee a title. If anything, it could guarantee another repeat of the 90’s to some degree, where the team is terrible for a few years and has to rely on the draft to rebuild.
Even though Donnie Nelson found a gem in Roddy Beaubois last June, do you trust his ability to rebuild the Mavericks through the draft? Especially since he wanted to draft Pavel Podkolzin in the first round in 2004 and had to be talked out of it by his dad?
by Brandon Bibb on May 10, 2010 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, but
He also thinks Ott and Kari are the only “positives” about the Stars…
While I do agree that they can’t make it to the finals like they are now, all they need is the right tweaking. Getting rid of the best piece of the puzzle doesn’t really seem like it will help. Trading big names almost NEVER works out anyways.
sigh
If we had our own hockey team in the playoffs to talk about, I don’t think I would be nearly as upset about this as I am :-P
For the record
I’m semi-rooting for the Nucks over the Blackhawks…but I’d be okay with either getting in. I was hoping for one of two scenarios this year:
A Canadian team finally wins a Cup again
The two teams in the Finals are both “Original Six” team- except no Detroit allowed :)
Was also hoping for a Montreal vs Boston Conference Final. I guess that means Montreal needs to beat the Pens and the Hawks would have to beat the Nucks with the Habs winning the Cup.
I’d be okay with that.
Haha. That’s punny :)
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on May 10, 2010 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Wild prospect Justin Fontaine suspended by team for using gay slur on Twitter
- Monday’s Three Stars: Staal leads Hurricanes; Pavelski’s four-point night
- Capitals’ Holtby rocked from the red line, juggles shot into own net (Video)
- Report: Rick Nash on the trading block; are the Rangers ready to pounce?
- Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo suspended two games for high hit, being Zac Rinaldo
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
