Game 5: Blowing all the other kids away.

by gmh on May 10, 2009 3:10 AM CDT

Big Buff played most of the regular season with a grin on his face. Now, in the postseason, he's out there every shift grimacing and panting with an ungainly concentration winding up his features, and there is absolutely no mirth in him at all, not even when he scores. Slowly, he's learning what it means to labor. I kind of want to post every single fucking newspaper article written in the past week that has called him overweight and unmotivated, every single quote from a Vancouver player denying his impact on the game, every single doubtful post from Blackhawks fans. Tonight was worth enduring all of that.

Mad appreciation for Brian Campbell. Vancouver keeps thinking that they can hit him out of the game -- muscle the game out of him, if you will. Demitra is still day-to-day, last I checked. And Hordichuk certainly didn't exactly feel too good after he tried the same ploy tonight. The forcefield of bewilderment that surrounds him is alive and well, even if he is still the player most likely to lose his mind in front of the net and score a freak own goal. Tonight, though, he's +2 with two assists, and I'm proud to have him on my team.

I was experiencing some existential rage when the Canucks drew blood from Kaner TWICE and escaped penalties BOTH TIMES, but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic.

The stat sheet and TOI are both mistaken: Sammy Pahlsson was not a -1 tonight, and Dave Bolland should have been a +1 instead of +2. Sometimes I wish the league would employ stat keepers who aren't dyslexic. (Because yes, that one erroneous minus is KILLING my buzz right now.)

That game ran like the warm currents beneath a turbulent ocean surface.

DO IT IN SIX.

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Jesus

That was a most powerful wrap… and I couldn’t agree more. Plus Cappy showed up tonight and about Dave Bolland, wow. SIX it is then. If the boys have it in them, then I can honestly believe the whole thing now is theirs for the taking. Your post delivers some substance, so thanks.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on May 10, 2009 3:34 AM CDT reply actions

Bolland has been a beast in this series, PLUS his scruff is better than Sidney Crosby’s. I’m pretty happy about both these things. Thanks for the comment!

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Well said.

I was thinking the same think about Campbell and Big Buff all night. That game had to be very satisfying for Big Buff

The Picker

by Cherry Picker on May 10, 2009 8:32 AM CDT reply actions

past due

He was OWED this game. He’s paid his dues for about a dozen games now!

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice wrap

Buff and Campbell took tons of (well deserved) shit during the regular season. They’re getting well deserved props for raising their game when it counts.

My goal? World domination.

by stickhandler on May 10, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions

Campbell

So true — toward the end of the season, I started getting so sick of so many fans continuously piling on him for something as small as the puck skipping off his stick, so I’m really glad he’s found his groove. Same with Buff, although admittedly he didn’t really play up to his standards for a lot of the season.

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Nicely done gmh.

Reading through that brought back the same excitement level I had just after the game finished.

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on May 10, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions

thanks

Now they just gotta blow the roof off the UC on Monday!

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I may be the only one...

…who gets the Secret Machines reference, but I love it. Well done. You a Ten Silver Drops man or Now Here Is Nowhere?

www.secondcityhockey.com

by SamFels on May 10, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions

"The Road Leads Where It's Led" is one of my theme songs for the playoffs.

Ha, thanks! I prefer Now Here Is Nowhere, but like ’em all. :)

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Great wrap up!!!

Phantom 51 has been stellar and might be the tipping point of the series too. he’s been highly effective both offensively and defensively.

I’m so F’n stoked for game 6 Monday!!

by Roos-34 on May 10, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions

Some of his work in the own zone gets overlooked, especially in the wake of 2A +2, but you’re right — last night he was huge both ways.

SAME HERE!

by gmh on May 10, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

the perfect play

Great wrap.

What a keep in by Kaner. The move he put on Raymond along the boards was disgusting, he skates by Raymond and basically says “hey Mason, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and Gosh darnit, Dave Bolland likes me!”

Glorious!

by Hack on May 10, 2009 5:27 PM CDT reply actions