Games 79, 80 & 81 - Mel tries to remember

Since I pretty much neglected to talk any hockey during the week, we'll have to recap them all here. Sadly Game 79 and part of 80 are faint in my memory so off to check the box scores I go...

Hawks 5, Stars 2

Gee the only thing I remember was I surprised Huet wasn't in net - even though he's had two of his most shitastic games against them this year. But Niemi should rest some time during the playoffs (though it looks like not) and what better time than on the away end of a back-to-back. Q says no. Anyway, let me refresh my memory . . . Oh yes, Fraz (he of the mighty fro) netted two, and Hossa scored less than a minute in on the Stars' backup-backup goaltender Matt Climie. Wonder where we're going to see Marty Turco and his C-3P0 pads next year. In any case, a solid win against a team who really couldn't be arsed to care for most of the game. Next.

Hawks 6, Blues 5

This was a much more interesting game - and not in a good way. It looked like the Hawks were on their way to a steamroll of a win reminiscent of games earlier in the season. Keith, Eager (?!) and Bickell (in for a slightly injured Kopecky - I love me some Icehogs) scored in the first eight minutes of the game, chasing Chris Mason out of the net. Versteeg scored a shorty soon thereafter on Conk-Block to give the Hawks a 4-1 lead into period two. Ladd and Hendry made it 6-1 in the second, and the Hawks went into the dressing room with a comfortable 6-2 lead. Then the third period happened. It was as if the Hawks were just going through the motions, perhaps envisioning a pleasant limo ride to the airport. 6-3. Then, 6-4. At this point, the boys need to start waking up and realizing that two points are really important at this juncture. But they were flailing away like a bunch of squirts. Lo and behold, with left than a minute left, Boyes is in on a breakaway. Trailing, instead of a hook or trip, Buff WACKS HIM ON HIS BACK WITH HIS STICK. A five minute major, ten minute misconduct, and successful penalty shot later, I'm wondering who is going to feel my wrath the next morning at work. By some stroke of luck, the Hawks manage to survive (including a nice attempt by Bolland of sitting on the puck to run out the clock). I understand that with a five goal lead against a team whose only goal is to goon it up, you're going to lay off a bit. What frustrated me was when the Blues started to get back into it, the Hawks seemed incapable of getting their head back in the game. Buff's play was inexcusable - I was calling for someone to take at shot at one of the Blues all game as they were being their usual asshatted selves. But not on a breakaway, in the last minute of a game! Had the Blues managed to score in that last minute (they had a 6 on 4 as they pulled the goalie) they most likely would have won being on a PP for almost all of OT. Buff is lucky that a) the league didn't suspend him and b) we can't afford to bench him due to our patchwork D. If we could of, I would have parked his useless ass in the press box for at least a couple of games.

Hawks 5, Avs 2

Well, I missed the first period of this game. Seeing as a local bar/restaurant is an "Official Blackhawks Bar" and they have pretty good food, we'd thought we'd go over there to watch. The game was on one of the local channels I don't get in HD because the Hawks, Cubs, Sox and Bulls were all playing at the same time causing a major TV scheduling clusterfuck. Apparently the bar didn't realize what channel the game was on, so we were instead subjected to watching the Cubs' bullpen choking away another game to the Reds. *sigh* it's going to be a long season. Apparently I missed Toews scoring on the power play for the first time in 600 years and Fraz scoring yet again. By the second period the bar finally must have found a TV Guide so we watched that and went home for the third. The Hawks led 3-1 going into the third, with the Avs making it 3-2 halfway through. Instead of folding like a tent as in the last game, Fraser scored again (two 2 goal games in 3 games!) and Versteeg! sealed it with an empty netter. Versteeg is the sixth Hawk with 20 goals this season along with Kane, Toews, Hossa, Brouwer and Sharp. Q better not scratch Fraser during the playoffs. Notice the fourth line has been unstoppable since he's started to center that line. Not a coincidence I think . And I have to say, if the 'lanche end up being our first round opponent, I'll breathe a lot easier.

The Sharks-'Yotes game will be starting within an hour which I'm sure myself and many other Hawks fans will be watching intently. Seeing as the Sharks and Hawks are tied atop the Western Conference, a Sharks regulation loss clinches the #1 seed for us as we hold the tie-breaker. It would be nice to have a less stress inducing game against our favorite team, the Red Wings, during tomorrow afternoon's regular season finale. Go Puppies (as Amy likes to call them)!