Hawks advance to conference finals for 1st time in 14 years
By PAUL LADEWSKI - editorial@nwherald.com
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| Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (39) celebrates with Brent Seabrook (left) and Martin Havlat (right) after the Hawks defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 7-5, in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday at the United Center. (AP photo) |
CHICAGO – For decades, Blackhawks fans have hoped for it. For months, league and TV executives have wished for it. And even if the Hawks players won’t admit as much publicly, they want it, too.
In this case, “it” is a dream matchup between the Hawks and the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals.
The Hawks earned their first trip to the conference finals since 1995 on Monday night, when they beat the Vancouver Canucks, 7-5, at the circus tent known as the United Center.
The fans screamed their familiar off-color, anti-Detroit refrain in the third period, shortly after winger Patrick Kane scored his third goal of the night to give his team a two-goal lead.
“A series against the Red Wings would be fun for the fans, obviously,” said forward Patrick Kane, who scored three goals, two in the final seven minutes.
Said forward Patrick Sharp, “It would be fun to play against them. Every time we play, it’s an intense game. To be honest, if it’s the Ducks or the Red Wings, it will be tough competition either way.”
In the words of forward Adam Burish, the sixth game of the series resembled “a pingpong match” more than it did a tense semifinals game. The teams combined for six goals and five penalties in the wild third period, which saw the Hawks overcome 4-3 and 5-4 deficits.
“I don’t think anybody could anticipate the twists and turns in the third period,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “The swings were gigantic.”
The Hawks were able to get away with numerous mental and physical mistakes they made against the Canucks. They might not be as fortunate against the Red Wings, who have the best blend of skill and experience in the league.
The good news is ancient Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood mijght prove to no better than Canucks veteran Roberto Luongo, who was abused throughout the series.
Kane made Luongo look especially bad midway through the third period, when he scored on a wraparound shot to tie the score, 5-5.
“The puck came to me behind the net, and I don’t think Luongo knew where I was,” Kane said.
Afterward, Luongo was right to shoulder the blame for the outcome. He played nothing like the best goaltender in the league, as he was widely reputed to be in recent years.
“Roberto was left out to dry a lot,” forward Kris Versteeg said. “You have those games as a goaltender.”
After consecutive losses in physical games, the Canucks tried to quicken the pace this time.
Bad idea.
The Hawks don’t require many chances to score, and they had a slew of them from start to finish.
“We were behind the 8-ball,” Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. “We had to make a push, which we did to tie the score, but we weren’t able to maintain it.”
Now the Hawks will await the outcome of Game 6 between the Ducks and Red Wings tonight in Anaheim. The Red Wings have a 3-2 advantage in the series.
“I know the fans want It,” Burish said of a Hawks-Red Wings showdown. “I could hear them chant ... at the end of the game. They love it.”
And they won’t be alone.
