Buff’s “goaltender interference.” He looked like he was pushed. It looked tame compared to Ladd’s screen on Kipper in Game 1 of the Calgary series. That definitely should have been a Hawks PP. But referees don’t win and lose games, and the Hawks have plenty of room for improvement. Here’s hoping that extra day off helps.

The call on Buff was one of the weakest calls I have ever seen, he was pushed into Osbad, and he at least showed enough effort to show he was trying to leave the crease while Osbad decided to try and wrap him up and take him to the mat and see if he could get him to stay there for a 3 count. I hate complaints and whining about those blind mofo’s known as zebras, but really? I do not blame those tards for the loss, but I think the only thing anywhere near as sweet as seeing the ‘Hawks hoist the cup would be to see a game that the zebras don’t blow a few major calls

Brouwer could have done a better job back checking on the 3 on 1. I don’t know. Maybe I need to watch it again. I really don’t want to though.

I don’t care if they go back 2-2 or 1-3, this series will be detirmined with Game 5.

settle the fucking puck Seabrook.

Keith on the other hand has been a total disappointment since the Calgary series. For all his speed and stick work he has been beaten A SHITLOAD of times. This isn’t a fucking free kick in soccer where we have to guys at the post. Move people from in front of the net. Keith has been Walker-esque in his consistent failure to clear the puck.

OT loss is never easy to take. They definitely played well enough to win. They looked lighter on their feet last night and were able to skate with the Red Wings. Down 0-2 isn’t the best situation but coming back home for 2 can certainly cure that. Eventaully some of the calls and bounces gave to go the Hawks way(not that there have been too many terrible calls)
Friday night will be a big one, they have to play right on the edge of emotional but not too emotional. They need to use a loud crowd to their advantage.

you Blackhawk fans have a right on bitching about a few calls. I think you’re right, Buff was pushed and it did look like Helm just fell down. Thems the breaks. Believe it or not, the Wings usually get shitty calls against them all the time, last night not being one of those nights.
I’m glad these 2 teams are playing meaningful games, the rivalry never died, it was just in a coma. The Blackhawks have a great, young nucleus. If they can keep them together in the salary-cap era, you guys should be in it every year for quite some time. This is a growing pains year for them-lose now to learn how to win for many years in the future, just like the Wings in the early 90s. You’re D is solid, the young forwards need to get better with their defense. You’re also 2 solid front-liners away. Split the Toews and Kane line up so you have 2 excellent scoring lines and not have to depend on 1 line all the time. This is just an outsiders objective view, bash if you want, IDGAF

Yes, the Hawks were much, much better than in game 1, but they still seemed to get to a plateau and think to themselves “this is good enough”. They were wrong. They still need to step it up a notch or two, stop standing around so much, sustain the offensive pressure and really get up in the Wings faces.

While I am trying not to view this series through rose colored glasses, I think it is valuable to remember that although down 2-0, we are coming home, where we might get some calls or breaks to go our way.

We also can adjust. Q has done a good job thus far in being nimble. We improved over the last game, and the Hawks’ MO this entire run has been the ability to come from behind.

That being said, they need to win both games at home to stay in the hunt. It is a tall order, and there is enough blame to go around on the team for who could pick up their game. It must be remembered that Detroit will make you pay for EVERY mistake you make.

One positive observation I can make though is that the emphasis on more physical play is and will continue to reap benefits for the Hawks. IMHO, that can be an equalizing factor against the experienced team they are playing.

The boys need to hit the gyms hard today, hit the bikes and push themselves. Then take the day off tomorrow.

Regroup and be ready to work hard on Friday.

After game one I had my doubts, after last night I believe. The Wings are a better team, there is no doubt about that, but the Hawks can beat them. I believe it. It is the resilient nature of this team, the fight, the guts that I hang my hat on. Yeah it sucks down 2 games, nobody said this was going to be easy.

I believe that the Hawks have outplayed the Wings for most of the two games (OK, maybe not for the most of two games, how about for the most part?) and were it not for a couple of weird bounces and two breakaway goals by Cleary, I believe the end result would be different. Seriously. The Wings are a better team, but the Hawks can win.

Detroit held serve at home, and now we need to do the same. We can win this thing.

..could have picked a better time to decide he was Bobby Goddamn Orr.

That being said, his work in the playoffs has not gone unappreciated in this quarter. I just wish he had kept it simple there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sahSEi7diAc&feature=channel_page

I’m done dwelling on last night. I’m looking forward to Friday. No more use in sulking. I’m sure Q will run a damn good practice and the hawks will come out Friday looking like the sharper team. I’m gonna start getting psyched up now.

Even though I’m the first person to criticize our players, I have to commend them for playing a much improved game last night. If anything, I think it’s a sign of things to come. Yes, I was pissed at what unfolded at the end of OT, but I’m not going to put the blame solely on one person especially not on one play.

Osgood is a good goalie, but he’s not better than Luongo or even Kipper. The key to beating him is getting a body in front of him. He’s way too short and immobile to get around a screen. Even if we’re not going to have one person stand in front of the net, at least getting close enough to him that a defender has to position himself in Ozzie’s eyeline will work to our advantage.

1. Must score > 2 to beat Scum. Great Scum D again covers for average goaltender . Good effort and a lot of shots, but few quality chances, and those ended up in Osgood’s glove.

2. Best back-to-back games of year for Khabi wasted. If he keeps it up though, we still have life.

3. Just inside offensive zone is most dangerous place on the ice. Two more goals and other scary shot blocks etc. Most odd-man rushes develop here.

4. Playing good enough to beat Vancouver does not make one Cup-worthy.

5. On the other hand, a win Friday and Hawks are back to where they were after game 3 against Vancouver.

6. Keith has to be hurt. More mystifying play and misses on open-ice passes. “The Hawks have been mum on Duncan Keith, who hasn’t practiced or participated in morning skates during the series. After Tuesday’s game, Keith’s voice was hoarse during postgame interviews and its possible he’s battling an illness. Keith’s ice time has been down a bit as both Brian Campbell (27:05) and Brent Seabrook (26:53) played more minutes than Keith’s 21:48.” Tough luck, that.

7. Maybe I’ve been watching too much hockey, but I could have sworn (a) Toew’s first goal was intentionally off the D’s skate,, not fluky, and (b) Cleary’s breakaway wasn’t lucky, but a great read on Seabrook.

What does this guy have to do to gain respect? Right now you could make the case that Osgood has not only been the difference maker in this series but as the Conn Smythe for MVP of this year’s playoffs so far. Osgood could possibly backstop the Wings to their 5th cup in 12 years and his 3rd as a starter. How many goaltenders have done that in recent times? Fuhr, Roy, and Brodeur are/were first ballot H.O.F. yet most snicker at the thought of Osgood being mentioned. Yes he doesn’t face a high percentage of quality chances per game, and yes he does play on argueably the best defence and defensive system in place right now in the NHL, but can’t that also be said of Brodeur and his 3 Championships with the Devils, and wouldn’t that make him a modern-day Dryden? How often did Dryden face 10 or more chances per game? Not many, not with that team not with that defence.
Osgood has had his meltdown moments like the MacInnis goal in 98 and in the same playoff year the Langenbrunner OT winner in the Conference Finals and both times rebounded with SO to clinch the series. Has anyone seen Ozolinsh’s goal on Brodeur in Game 3 of the 2003 finals? Even the great ones have their moments and Osgood is no exception.
We all agree his regular season numbers were awful this season, but when it came down to crunch time in the money season Osgood has been at his very best and that’s why the Hawks need to treat him just like Luongo and Kiprusoff. Traffic at all times and rattle him any chance they get (verbally, bump him, whatever) for he is definitely right now in his ZONE!
In the end stats don’t lie and neither do championships and if Osgood is successful again one has to wonder why he wouldn’t be a ‘no doubt’ first ballot H.O.F.!

“The team that is most consistant during the series more often than not wins”-Sidney Crosby. Why quote Crosby? The Hawks are in a similar position that the Penguins just found themselves in against the Capitals. Now the Wings are much more talented group and the task of rallying back from 0-2 seems much more daunting the fact remains that in Game 2 the Hawks were the better team and if it weren’t for 2 offensive zone mishandles this series would be even coming home, and that is were hope lies.
If the Hawks can bring the same type of effort (but eliminate those 2 mistakes) in Game 3 there is no doubt they will be victorious and start to put pressure on the seemingly tired Wings. The fact that Babcock mentioned in his post-game press conference that his Wings were showing the effects of the last series makes one wonder that if the hawks can take full advantage of home-ice in the next 2 games then the opportunity of winning this series could become a greater reality. Injuries and fatigue are definitely two components that could drastically change the momentum of a series.
The fact remains can the Hawks be positively consistant? Can they continue to get the first goal? Can they add on to leads instead of squandering them? Can they put the Wings on their heels trailing heading into the 3rd? We’ve seen them do it all season and especially the playoffs, were comebacks have been as regular as the sun rising in the east, so why not now? why not this series? If the Hawks are to beat the Wings they’ll need a consistant effort for 60 minutes for the next 4-5 games and if they do the possibility of this historic comeback is real.
Consistancy is the key and if they can unlock it then 48 years of waiting may be served!!!