Game 1: Cubs 12, Brewers 2 @ Miller Park

Game One refers to the fact this is the first Cubs game I've attended this season. Thus far I have tickets to four games total. I had an opportunity for free tickets last weekend, but was obligated to attend a wedding shower instead. For now, I'll spare everyone my thoughts on the institution of marriage. In any case, the Cubs bullpen blew that game anyway, and everyone who went said they froze their ass off.

To be honest, I didn't much look forward to going to this game. I'm completely engrossed in the Hawks and the entire NHL Playoffs and don't have time for baseball - especially since the Cubs have been even worse than I expected thus far. I think this game was the first Cubs game I've watched in its entirety all season. Amy's folks went up to Milwaukee this weekend and we stayed up there Saturday night. That is why I was stuck watching Game Five in a hotel with a TV older than half of the Hawks team. Oh Well.

Now I love Wrigley Field, but the older I get, the more I realize what a piss smelling shithole it is. I'm all for architectural preservation, but after attending several new ballparks (AT&T Park in San Francisco is my fave), I won't shed a tear if they tear down everything but the bleachers and scoreboard and start from scratch. Miller Park is a nice ballpark. Bathrooms without cardboard in the stalls, wide berths in the concourses, a roof to close when it's ass freezing/raining (as it was Sunday), and a fine food and drink selection. Although I must say the bratwurst was just ok (I've been spoiled since having one in Germany) and you'd think the folks in Wisconsin would know better than to put nacho cheese on cheese fries. Speaking of brats:

Amy and I deemed this UUP: Unnecessary Umlaut Placement. According to Amy, the umlaut in "Brat" would cause the word to be mispronounced "Brait", as in rhyming like "wait."  Perhaps I should start an UUP Facebook group. Although I bet there is one already.

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 5: Hawks 5, Predators 4 (OT) - Mel confesses.

Bless me Father, for I have sinned.

You see, I'm rather sports obsessed. And when I'm a loyal fan, I'm a *loyal* fan of a team. So much so that when things aren't going my team's way, it can literally make me ill and crazy. Just ask Amy - she didn't speak to me for the second half of Game Three and went to bed before the game was over. The stress of a hotly contested game drives me up the wall. This is why I will never go to a Game Seven as I'll be dead before the second intermission. I never go to "rivalry" games either - such as Hawks/Wings, Cubs/Sox or Cardinals, Bears/Packers - oh who am I kidding - you have to sell a major organ to even get tickets to a Bears game, no matter how bad they suck. The hatred and vitriol between fans in the stands is too much for me to bear.

So after blowing a two goal lead (this is a way too familiar refrain in the last couple of months), and being down a goal with about a minute to play, I was at my wit's end. Then Hossa hit Hamhuis into the boards and gets a five minute major. I couldn't stand it. We're going to go down 3-2 to the fucking *Predators* heading back to Nashville?

I turned off the TV.

Luckily I had been keeping up with the Game Thread at SCH (in reality I paid more attention to the computer than the game in the third due to aforementioned stress issues). About a minute after I turned the TV there was an explosion of "OMGs" and "HOLY FUCKING SHIT" on the blog. I turned the game back on to see the Kane goal celebration. I couldn't believe it. Oh ye of little faith.

The waiting between the third and OT was painful. Beside mentally kicking myself for missing the fourth goal (though I'm telling myself they scored *because* I turned it off. Shut up, let me have my moment),  I knew we hadn't won anything yet. Especially considering we had nearly four minutes of PK time to start OT with Hossa in the box. Deep down in my heart, I knew if we killed that PP we would win.

I didn't think we'd win that quickly after the penalty expired. And the GWG scored by Hossa no less? That's a big ouch coming from the Preds fans. Believe me, as a lifelong Cubs fan (Five More Outs Goddammit!) I share your pain. Sorta. HAWKS WIN!

I watched this game from a hotel in Milwaukee (on a really crappy SD TV), and am surprised they didn't call security after all of the whooping and clapping I was making after OT.

Anyway, more thoughts after the jump.

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 4: Hawks 3, Predators 0 - Mel exhales.

This is going to be a shortie, since it's late and my tired ass has to get up early in the morning - well for a Saturday anyway.

This was a game the Hawks *had* to have. Sad that it happened so early in the playoffs, but they got themselves into this mess. They had to dig themselves out of it. Play hard, win battles, finish every shift as if it's your last. Thank Jebus they did.

Two MIAs, Sharp and Toews, made their presence known with two and one goal respectively. Niemi got another "No-No" - way impressive for the rook's first two playoff wins to be shutouts. Soupy was back on the ice (albeit for only 14 minutes) and I think his mere presence lifted the team. Can't say much about his actual play - I didn't really notice him, but seeing as our D has been way too visible in its deficiencies since he's been gone, I consider that a victory. Q's line roulette seemed to work with Bickell (or as Amy calls him, Pickle) and Burish returning to the lineup. Whether the lines were a true success or if it was the sense of urgency that made them click, I don't care. Sopel blocked a million shots again - seriously, how this man doesn't need a one of those motor scooters for old people after each game I'll never know. My only real complaints were the play of Keith and Bolland. Keith made several bad turnovers in his own zone and took a stupid penalty in the third. His offside on Hossa's empty net attempt was almost comical if not sad - I hope he at least bought Panda dinner for that gaffe (btw - I swear the shoot the puck bimbo has better aim than the Hawks when trying for the empty net). Keith did play 30+ minutes in game three, so I'll give him a pass for this game. Bolland though is pretty brutal. Honestly, I think his back is still giving him fits. I'll give him props for toughing it out, but when you're becoming a liability on the ice, it's time to sit. I hope Q sits Bolland and puts Fraz back out there, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think whomever wins game five probably takes the series. I think the Hawks definitely have the Preds on their heels a bit and the UC will be off the charts. We tend to suck when we're on NBC - but I don't know if Nashville has ever been on the NBC Game of the Week, so perhaps that will cancel it out.

I'll probably be watching this game in a hotel room in Milwaukee. Amy's folks are in for a visit and we're spending Saturday there, and seeing the Cubs game at Miller Park on Sunday. God, I hope there's a great alcohol selection at the Park because the Cubs are even worse than I thought they'd be so far. A long playoff run for the Hawks would distract me from the inevitable train wreck this Cubs season will be. Ugh, why must Chicago sports fans suffer so?

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 3: Preds 4, Hawks 1 - Mel searches for the barf bag.

LOST:

One hockey team. High amounts of talent, potential and bad hair. Last seen being Ackbar'ed in a stadium on the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon Line. If found, please return by Thursday, 7:30pm CST. Unless of course the team chooses to continue to play like freshly made pile of dogshit. In that case, please return to sender - no forwarding address.

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 2: Hawks 2, Predators 0 - Mel approves.

So because I’m a superstitious creature, I decided waiting to the day of the next game to write the recap was good luck. Thus, this post is late. I did really mean to do this last night, but adult things (like dishes and such – nothing dirty!) kept me away from it. But I’ll hold onto the whole superstition reason – right now the only one I have going is not washing my Toews jersey until after the playoffs like last year. Don’t worry – I only wear it to games or if I’m going out to watch the game somewhere and I always take it right off when I get home. So, it shouldn’t get too rank. I contemplated not shaving my legs in solidarity of those growing beards, but I do like to wear shorts when it gets hot and my legs get super dry. I’ll have to find a different good luck charm though – the mini Hawks Zamboni from 1998 I brought with me to Game One failed miserably.

After the jump: Recap and Bonus Material from those other games that are being played!

I Can Breathe

Full recap tomorrow (along with thoughts on the other seven playoff series) but wanted to give a big THANK YOU for whatever deity was listening that gave the Hawks a fairly convincing win tonight. This series is not over - not by a long shot, but I think this win not only takes a lot of pressure off the Hawks but by the way the Preds were gooning it up at the end, I think we got in their heads a little bit.

I love you Antti Niemi.

Good Night!

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 1: Preds 4, Hawks 1 - Mel wants a refund.

I really meant to get this up yesterday, but I didn't wake up until almost 2pm and then had a migraine most of the day which rendered me more useless than normal. I had family obligations this afternoon and just got over *another* migraine, so I have to persevere and get this done before Game 2. Sheesh.

It really sucked we had to wait until Friday for this game (Damn you Harlem Globetrotters!) as half the teams were playing game two while we were hadn't even started yet. So, the excitement was horrible - even more so because we actually ended up going to this game. They released a bunch of tickets Wednesday, and through tweets and blogs found out about it in time to snatch up some pretty good seats at face value. So Friday at work was pretty much a waste as I was a jittery as a six year old on too much sugar. Don't ask me how I'll be at work tomorrow morning with another loss. I'm PMSing as it is - folks best just steer clear of me if that happens.