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Sofa King Depressing: Stanley Cup Defense Ends in Game 7
Apr 27th
UPDATED APRIL 27 @ 10:47 A.M. with Henrietta Sedin’s asshole comment
(Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Blackhawks’ defense of the Stanley Cup ended just as it began — with an overtime goal no one saw coming. Fittingly, the Blackhawks’ season ended on an in-zone turnover, which has plagued them all season.
If you’re looking for any “Rah-rah! They came back from 0-3 and that’s great in itself!”, then go somewhere else. You’re not going to find that here. At least not yet. The ups and downs of tonight’s game have put me into a state of depression only alcohol can lift me from. And even that didn’t do much help tonight.
It’s going to take some time for me to gather up any rational thoughts regarding the Game 7 overtime loss, so your best bet is to check back later. I’m in no mood, and I can’t guarantee when I will be.
Not one thing is screaming positive to me, and rather than put up another post like the one I did in last year’s playoffs, I’ll just concede to the night and bury my thoughts deep inside one of the worst sports moments I’ve ever experienced in my 29-plus years on this earth.
UPDATED, APRIL 27 @ 10:47 A.M….
With Our Heads Held High: Game 7 Tonight
Apr 26th
Photo: Getty Images
First thing’s first: We’ve already won. Win or lose tonight, the Blackhawks have scored a victory. After falling behind 3 games to none, they have fought their way back in a manner worthy of the defending Stanley Cup Champions. They have played hard, they have given their fans a thrill second only to the Cup victory last year, and they have overcome significant adversity in doing so.
The Chicago Blackhawks, and their fans, can accept the outcome of tonight’s game with our heads held high. It’s been a fantastic series, and it will be coming to an end tonight.
That having been said, let’s go out there tonight and demolish those whiny, overrated choke-weasels.
‘Hawks & ‘Nucks Bloggers, Mano a Mano!
Apr 26th
UPDATE: The Pulse Network’s hosting service is having difficulties, so this a broken link for the time being. When the interview is re-posted I will link it again.
The Pulse Network’s “Sports Buzz” show was nice enough to invite us on again to talk about the Blackhawks vs. Canucks game 7 tonight. Joining us was Larenzo Jansen, blogger for The Canuck Way blog, our evil-ugly-red-headed-step-sister blog out of Vancouver on the Fansided Network.
Don’t worry, I was nice.
Thanks again to host Tyler Pyburn and producer Phil Dimartino for the gracious invitation, and to Larenzo for agreeing to come on despite the fact that I was going to be on with him. :0)
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The Day-After Calm: Blackhawks Haven’t Won Anything Yet
Apr 25th
Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune
I know first-hand the excitment everyone is feeling after the Game 6 overtime victory, which forced an improbable Game 7 on Tuesday in Vancouver. Battling back from 0-3 to force a deciding game is an accomplishment in itself – and a rather exciting one to boot.
After Ben Smith flipped the winner over Roberto Luongo, I was so excited I couldn’t be cooped up in a cab or on the bus. I live two miles north of the United Center up Damen Ave. in Wicker Park, and I walked every step of the way home. I even stopped in a couple bars to have a celebratory drink.
Some gloating and a nice sleep later, I’ve finally come back to Earth to realize the most important thing: The Blackhawks haven’t won anything yet, and they may have put us fans in a worse position to suffer heart failure than if they were simply swept away.
The roller coaster ride of this series resembles the entire 82-game season nearly as much as the Sedin twins do each other – and it’s been nearly just as ugly. Injuries, storylines, depths of despair, moments of hope, more painful miscues, then a rise to get us all back on the teeter-tottering bandwagon named “Repeat.”
‘Vigneault’ Is French For ‘Wussy’
Apr 25th
Photo: Vancouver Sun
We were all blissfully confident that we knew who was going to lead the Canucks out of the tunnel on Sunday night. Vancouver Coach Alain Vigneault was adamant in his response to a reporter’s question following his team’s game 5 loss: Roberto Luongo would start. Call it stubborn, call it stupid, call it Shirley. Whatever you call it, everyone was on the same page.
So when the reports from the United Center started blazing across the Twitterscape that Cory Schneider was leading the team on to the ice for warm-ups, heads spun around. What happened? Was Luongo hurt? Did Vigneault get overruled by the Canucks’ General Manager? Did Luongo chicken out? Or was this some calculated move on Vigneault’s part intended to make bloggers and the press look like idiots?
Given some time to think about the move to start Schneider instead of the poorly-performing Luongo, it was the desperate move of a coward who cares less about winning than he does about saving his job.
Game 89. See You There, Vancouver: Boxing with ‘Hawks/Canucks, Game 6
Apr 25th
Looks familiar. (Chicago Tribune)
Epic.
Game 6 had it all. Pregame storylines, dismay, euphoria … then overtime, with the Blackhawks season either continuing or crumbling with the next goal.
Alain Vineauglt displayed his 10-pound sack by benching Vezina Trophy finalist Roberto Luongo in favor of 25-year-old Cory Schneider in a game Vancouver absolutely needed to head back home happy. And even the most daring of moves left Luongo skating off the ice with his hair gel being the only thing waiting at his locker not passing judgment.
Much like the ‘Hawks have been doing thing this entire series, they fought from behind. Down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, the Blackhawks tied it each time. Then Ben Smith flicked the end of Game 88 past a sprawling Luongo to guarantee a win-or-go-home Game 89. While Blackhawks fans are celebrating just getting back into this series, hoping to complete a historic comeback in Game 7, Canucks fans are already sending out their mourning letters to their beloved squad, demanding – not hoping for – a victory before all faith is lost.
There’s plenty of bad we can go over. Farting pucks all over the ice, the three third-period shots – two if you don’t count Michael Frolik’s penalty shot – the Canucks seemingly dominating most of the game, and the heart-wrenching which goes along with overtime playoff hockey knowing your team will meet its demise with the opponent’s next goal.
Things need to be fixed before Tuesday, and part of me believes the Blackhawks were lucky to get out of Chicago with a victory knowing Vancouver played nearly its best hockey of the entire series. On top of that, 1:43 of 5-on-3 went to waste, with the kick in the dick coming when Coach Q used his only timeout to draw up a bunch of shit which obviously didn’t work. The fact the Blackhawks’ only lead came after Smith’s goal is indicative of how a good portion of Game 6 played out. While it feels good to celebrate now, Game 7 won’t go as well if the same screw-ups happen as they did Sunday.
For the second time in this series, each member of the Dave Bolland line notched a goal. Bolland played a key role in two, destroying Dan Hamhuis to force the turnover on Bryan Bickell’s goal, then potting his own off Kaner’s feed from Schneider’s piss-poor clearing attempt.
The Blackhawks still will be facing elimination in the next game. But so will Vancouver, which seems improbable after the first three games of this series. The pressure is still on the Canucks, who need to avoid a collapse of epic proportions and the most embarrassing “History Will Be Made” video ever.
I’ll do the rest of my talking in Boxing…
Seabrook Back, Luongo Starts: Game 6 Preview
Apr 24th
Phot: Getty Images
Short one here before game time, as Chez Currell is a bit chaotic this afternoon.
Brent Seabrook passed his NHL concussion protocol late this morning, and will be dressed and ready to help this freight train deliver a win to the Blackhawks’ faithful at the Madhouse tonight. Canucks fans seem to think this spells doom for Chicago, since Seabrook has been the team’s rallying cry these last two games. Let’s let them keep thinking that, shall we?
Norval Nelson, 92, to be honored during Game 6 National Anthem
Apr 23rd
D-Day veteran Norval Nelson, 92, will be honored during the National Athem on Sunday at the United Center prior to Game 6. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ciepley)
Taking part in the National Anthem tradition Sunday at the United Center will be a bit more special for me after receiving a message from loyal reader Jennifer Ciepley.
Mr. Norval Nelson, one of the last surviving U.S. Navy divers from the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, will be next to Anthem singer Jim Cornelison while more than 20,000 fans at the United Center celebrate the tradition.
Mr. Nelson, 92, is the grandfather of Jennifer’s husband.
“He really is an amazing man and at 92, still is bright and quick to smile and he loves this country,” Jennifer said. “Can you imagine the changes this man has seen in his lifetime?”
Mr. Nelson was 26 years old when he and 199 other divers — or “frogmen” as they were called — crossed the English Channel on D-Day. Though suffering five combat injuries in six days, he was one of only 17 divers to survived the invasion. Nelson is one of only four divers still alive today.
Hungry and seemingly terribly injured, Mr. Nelson said, “I asked God, ‘Please let me die.’”
Mr. Nelson was one of 199 members of Navy Combat Demolition Force O, which had the duty of blowing up obstacles the Germans put on the beach to prevent landings of allied forces. The naval demolition units were precursors of the Navy SEALs.
Westminster Christian High School in Elgin raised money through its basketball team’s Free Throws for Heroes movement to send Mr. Nelson to Fort Pierce in Florida, where he trained before the war and always wanted to visit.
Upon his arrival, he was honored with a celebration.
The Chicago Blackhawks will help provide Mr. Nelson with an experience he and his family likely will never forget, as the United Center cheers during the National Anthem prior to Game 6.
Hopefully the Blackhawks give Mr. Nelson something to cheer about as well.
Thanks again to Jennifer Ciepley for providing the photo and information
Tim’s Bits: Back To The Madhouse!
Apr 23rd
Thanks to Rich Lindbloom
Some notes for you to mull over as we get ready to welcome our Blackhawks back to the Madhouse on Madison tomorrow night.
In Thursday’s post-game press conference, Vancouver Coach Alain Vigneault was asked if Roberto Luongo would start game six. The reporter didn’t even finish the question before Coach Pouty-Face snapped, “Yes.” Pride goeth before destruction, methinks.
BlackhawkUP on The Pulse Network
Apr 23rd
We were lucky enough to be invited to join Butch Stearns on his show “Sports Buzz,” which happens live on The Pulse Network every day from 9am to 11am Chicago time. Tim drew the short straw, changed out of his jammies and brushed his teeth, then went on live via Skype to talk about the Blackhawks’ maybe-it’s-a-comeback the last two games.
Click on the video link below to view the segment, which lasts about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Thanks to Butch and producer Phil Dimartino for giving us the opportunity, and we hope to be on again — talking about game six!
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