By Jim Coffman
How could the teams that faced off in convincing Vancouver victories in Chicago in Games 1 and 5 of this Western Conference semifinal series have been the same squads who did battle when the Hawks absolutely took it to their hosts in Games 3 and 4 in British Columbia? Is it the game itself? Is there something about hockey that makes these sorts of series’ almost inevitable?
One thing we know is that goalie play could not be more pivotal. And it isn’t just the giving up of goals, it is the timing and tenor of the scores that slip through, especially early in games, that sets the tone for everything that comes after.
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But back to the uneven play. At least there was a transition between the Canucks dominating Game 1 and the Blackhawks overwhelming their foes in Game 3. The second game of this series was a tight-checking affair where the Hawks had to rally for three goals in the third period to eke out a win that wasn’t secured until an empty netter in the final seconds. There was no transition between Games 4 and 5. The Hawks were an unstoppable force in the former but just never got going in the latter.
Of course, there is the worst-case scenario: Game 5 could have been the transition, from the Hawks in command to Vancouver claiming the overall upper hand. But surely that isn’t the case. The Hawks have two more chances to close this thing out. One is on the road, where they have rocked. And then there is a possible Game 7, which they worked all year to ensure would be on home ice. As long as they don’t give up a goal in the first minute of both of those games, they should be fine. Shouldn’t they?
There are ebbs and flows in any playoff series in any sport (except of course in sweeps – but no signs of those in these parts the last two years as the Hawks have won three playoff series in six games each and lost one in five). But these aren’t ebbs and flows, these are crashing stops and tire-squealing accelerations.
The best explanation is probably the simplest. We love the work goaltender Antti Niemi has done at critical points so far this postseason. But he still has plenty to prove. The goal he gave up with all of 59 seconds gone last night, whiffing on a long shot from the point that he saw all the way, was just the sort of early setback that puts hockey teams on their collective heels. From then on, the Canucks played a disciplined, determined game, refusing to take stupid penalties and severely limiting serious Hawk scoring chances.
Still, it is just goofy that the Hawks have been so bad at home two out of three times in this series. In this topsy-turvy sport it seems like whatever is clear one night invariably turns completely murky the next, but one can’t help but be a bit concerned about a team hasn’t been close to truly taking advantage of its home-ice advantage.
Here’s one theory about why Vancouver has been so much better in Chicago than in its home town: The home crowd makes the Canucks anxious. There is only so much you can draw from the telecasts, but it sure did seem like Vancouver’s fans are especially attuned to the officiating. When one of the Canucks flops but doesn’t get the call, there is a much louder, outraged reaction than in many other hockey venues. That has to contribute to Vancouver’s fundamental belief that the Hawks are taking liberties and bending the rules and the officials are letting them get away with it. And of course that attitude is about as self-defeating as an attitude can be.
If the crowd was anxious during Games 3 and 4, imagine how it will be when elimination is on the line tomorrow night.
Game Notes
* Vancouver’s Alex Burrows was sent off for tripping Duncan Keith relatively early in the first period, but it was clearly a terrible call. Just as early goals against don’t seem to do as much damage if they aren’t soft, early penalties aren’t as disheartening if they aren’t the result of clear lapses in self-discipline.
* Roberto Luongo may have shaved off his beard but he’s still the same guy. He was much better about controlling rebounds in Game 5, but he still had a few of those awkward falls where he pitches over forward apparently because he is so sure someone is on the verge of absolutely running him over. Kris Versteeg scored his game-winner in Game 2 in large part because Luongo was down on his stomach and out. If he keeps doing that, the Canucks are toast.
* TV voices Eddie Olczyk and Pat Foley got a little carried away with the “they only need one (goal)” thing when the clock ticked below 10 minutes remaining in the game and the Hawks still trailed 3-0. You understood what they were trying to say earlier in the third period, that if the Hawks could just score one goal it could give them enough extra energy – and the Canucks enough doubt – to lead to more tallies. But when the clock ticked under four minutes remaining and the Hawks still trailed by two and Olczyk again said “they just need one” you couldn’t help but disagree, vehemently. On this night the Hawks needed a hell of a lot more than “One Goal.”
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Jim Coffman rounds up the sports weekend every Monday in this space. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on May 10, 2010