Western Conference Semifinals Game Three: Hawks 5, Nucks 2 - Mel wants McNuggets

image courtesy of Second City Hockey

Well that was fun wasn't it? Unless of course you're a Nucks fan - then I just pity you and your trash throwing brethren.

Even before the series started, all the media wanted to talk about was Dustin Byfuglien and Roberto Luongo. Unfortunately, Buff was useless as a forward in Game One - well in all fairness, most of the Hawks were. He was shuttled between D and Forward in Game Two depending on what Q's magic eight ball told him. Finally by scratching Troy Brouwer in Game Three (which I hope is a wake up call and we see him tearing things up tomorrow), Hendry was brought back to pair up with Sopel (which makes me twitchy every time they have a shift) and Buff was moved to the top line with Toews and Kane.

I think Booby Lu and the Nucks must have thought the hot tub in their locker room was actually a time machine and it was 2009 again. Wow. Buff is maddening because he only seems to play when he feels like it. Imagine if he could put this kind of effort and consistency in a game on a regular basis. He'd be unstoppable. Here's what's scary: with last night, Buff now has two career hat tricks. Kane and Toews? One apiece.

Of course the Nucks and their fans have spent the last 24 hours wearing the tin foil hats and complaining about Buff's third goal and our running into Lu. Hey, you guys brought all of this up before Game One. How about instead of whining, your goalie not look like his pads are made of trampoline and your asshats stop going after noted tough guys Brian Campbell, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa. I don't know what Bolland did to one of the creepy ginger twins (I'm not going to bother to find out which one it was), but he looked like a guy who was just told there's no Santa Claus. Here's a thought: maybe if you stop bitching to the refs and the press about everything and just play hockey, the calls will come your way. Because I'm sure this is how the refs see you:

Back to the Hawks' play: Without Nemo in the first, this would have been a completely different game. He made some incredible saves and I am in awe of his splits. One day some woman's going to have a very flexible husband there. The Hawks power play finally came to life - thanks for the opportunities Vancouver! Bolland must have finally heard the Hawks' faithful bitching about him lately because this was his best game in the playoffs by far. I thought Toews didn't have one of his better games, but he still managed to get three helpers. That's how good he is.

We'll see if the bloodbath continues in Game Four. I fully expect the Hawks to get called for at least one goaltender interference against them, as to just shut up Lu for five minutes. It'll be interesting to see if the Nucks continue to try to goad us, or just play hockey. In any case, the worst we can do is split the two games in BC, which is what I wanted anyway. I hope the Hawks decide not to let up, and head back to the UC with the opportunity to shut the door before the weekend's over.

Oh and if you're wondering about the McNuggets reference:

I couldn't find a better picture of this, but this was Buff at some McDonalds shin-dig a few months back. Thus the moniker, BUFF MCNUGGETS!